Igbo's Culture Comparison In West Africa

Their roles are not just merely promoting their appearance in male dominant society, it also fosters women’s self-esteem and self-reliant in the contemporary African society. As more and more women engage a part of the Yoruba community, women are progressively walking out of subordination. We have to give credits to the Europeans to bring in western culture that amends Yoruba women’s lives, but nevertheless people in Yoruba traditional society suggested the insertion of western culture would be detrimental to the women’s values of Yoruba traditional culture. Fortunately, Bateye(2007) pointed out that in spite of how much the missionaries tried to indoctrinate western ideologies to Yoruba women, most of their minds subconsciously still maintain the customs and rituals of Yoruba religion. This suggests that the profound influence of Yoruba religion is adamant in Yoruba women’s minds regardless the attempted segregations from missionaries. It seems that Yoruba women and their religion are inherently intertwined. With the addition of western cultural and educational adaption, Yoruba women become more aware of the equal degree of power between sexes while they are still able to preserve their traditional

From the moment young boys were born they was treated better than the young girls. As the children grow up their parents ways of life imprint on them and then the children grow up and treat their children the same was the parents did so to them. The men and women were not aware of different ways of life. Gender roles in Igbo society keep things from falling apart because their way of life has been based off of gender roles for so long that if they were to change the whole justice system and everyday life would fall apart. Because Igbo people have developed a different way of life than others does not make them wrong or bad

In the Igbo culture language is regularly used to express honor towards one another. They have a unique way of addressing each other, and their Gods. Communication in their culture is formal. For instance, when Okonkwo pleaded with the priestess that his Ezinma was ill, “The priestess screamed Beware Okonkwo she warned…Does a man speak when a God speaks? Beware!”(Achebe 101)Gods and people with authority get the privilege of talking while people below them must wait and address with in the right

“I was born in Nigeria, I came to Maryland when i was still in diapers…” Omokore insures her cultural roots remain a part of her everyday life. Although she can’t speak her language, yoruba, she can understand it well. At age one Omokore and her mother moved from Nigeria to Maryland, where her grandmother was living, due

Polygyny and father-son Inheritance are important aspects of the igbo culture although they are only two of many. Polygyny is the practice of having multiple wives, which in the igbo tribe determined your social status. “ There was a wealthy man in Okonkwo’s village who had three huge

For the Igbo tribe, their language not only consisted of everyday dialogue, but it also included oral stories. These stories have been passed down from one generation to the next. In Nigeria, the Igbo language is spoken by eighteen million people. This language is one of the largest spoken in West Africa. The popularity of the Igbo language can be contributed to the fact that historians believe the language first originated around the ninth century.

Religion in Pre and Post Colonial Igbo Culture Throughout Africa there are many diverse cultures that all have their own religions. The Igbo people are a tribe in Africa that had been affected by colonialism. From the Igbo perspective, the colonization of Nigeria had negative effects on the Igbo community and their religious culture due to the diffusion of Christianity, mainly brought about by missionaries.

Other observations 2: My Nigerian friend has a young child who is not able to walk on his own yet. I noticed that she carries her child on her back. The child would be carried by fastening a broad cloth or fabric which is tied around the baby and fastened at her bosom. When the baby fusses, she would fasten him to her this way and walk around the house doing her regular household chores, even when she is prepping to cook. I observe that children are very important to them and the relationship between mother and child is very strong. I realize that Nigerians regard newborns with a high pride because they represent the community and the family’s future. Being invited to the home of a Nigerian, I am immediately offered food. She likes to entertain in her own household and finds it rude not to offer a guest or friend something to eat. I was asked to remove my shoes at the door before coming in. Though the main language is English, she speaks tribal languages from

This novel is set in Enugu, Nigeria West Africa, a central African nation located along the Atlantic Coast. Nigeria is made up of a largely diverse group of people with different ideas and beliefs. In Nigeria there are over 250 ethnic groups, who speak more than 500 languages. Before Nigeria was colonized by Britain, the citizens of the country were doing quite well. “Nigeria contains more historic cultures and empires than any other other nation in Africa” (historyworld.net).

Indian Activist, Mahatma Gandhi, once said, “A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” Igbo culture was unique to the outside world. The book describes how the killed twins and how they believed in many gods. When the colonists came to Africa they changed everything they believed in; brought in Christianity and a court system. After reading Things Fall Apart and researching on Igbo culture I have noticed that gender roles and religion have changed rapidly and completely from colonization from Europe to Africa.

Lineage is highly valued in Ibo culture. This divide of faith and culture conveys the author's message how culture is binded together and how culture can fall apart easily. Customs have staying power when people and families stick together and believe in each other. When Nwoye leaves, the author creates a personal connection and leaves a greater impact for readers who can relate and see the pain for the family and culture as their brothers

They were presented as the ruler of the family, because in the Igbo culture women are presented as the weaker gender, which leads the men to be the ruler and having control of everything. Men

Traditions and customs serve importance here because if you hold a position of a women in the tribe you have specifics mannerism to men like Okonkwo. Rules on how to address one another, gods and spirits are all different and hold meaning in the culture and symbolizes identity amongst tribe members. On the other hand, the British christians require an interpreter who is not from the Umuofia clan and has translated words that are not to clear to the native people. Furthermore, the schools which are built in the African land are also a factor to the receding rich Igbo language. These schools with christian missionaries that institute english customs and values bring despair to the traditions of the Igbo people and this is clearly shown in Okonkwo and his friends reaction to the British people. As a result of the colonization the language of both native people are lost in meaning and significance. A overbearing power instituting its own language upon another's is demeaning in many ways. When one takes another languages for granted important history can be lost. Important concepts and essence is lost in the

The book is set in 19th century Nigeria, portrays the conflict between British colonial and local Igbo people. Africans’ life has been changing dramatically since the arrived of European powers, the major affected aspect is the local religions and traditions, and then it affects other aspects. Many Europeans brought the belief of spreading the God’s name to Africa, in the hope to convert every African to Christianity. However,

Since it is cheaper to marry divorce women versus marrying a first-time bride, women did not find any problems remarrying. Some etiquettes to remember when visiting Yoruba or southwest Nigeria, is a nod of acknowledgment is acceptable for informal greetings but “Good Morning, Afternoon, or Evening” are reserved for formal occasions. The women usually do not wear shorts unless participating in sports, other than this; the women dress conservatively covering their heads, arms, and legs. Many different ethnic groups wear traditional national clothing that recalls the Yoruba history and the colonial influence of the British, French, and Portuguese. In some of the Muslim homes, the men and women may eat at separate dining tables. Many restaurants found in Nigeria do not have restrooms. The use of facial expressions is essential, and the lack of facial expressions are rude. People tend to disregard personal space when talking or standing line. It is considered rude to ask someone to move back. Giving the thumbs up is considered extremely offensive. In the Yoruba religion, there is one supreme god, called Olódùmarè. The people pray to Orishas as a way to connect to the spiritual realm. Orishas are similar to angels or saints uniting humanity to the divinity. Yoruba has influenced many forms of religion or spirituality such as Kélé in Saint Lucia, Shango in Trinidad, and