The Igbo Research Paper

The treatment of women and children has changed over time all across the world. In the Ibo tribe of Nigeria, the changes have been drastic. Although women and children were mistreated in the traditional Igbo culture, they have gained many rights and better treatment with the spread western cultures and advancement of technology.

Many people see others fairly balanced than others. In the Novel, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, states that their Igbo culture is important to them. Men focus on taking titles to show supremacy and admiration, their culture runs on tradition, respect, and reputation. The novel takes place in a small village called Umuofia, Nigeria in the twentieth century. Therefore, social groups in the novel are represented by their successfulness, power, and credibility towards their role in the Igbo culture.

The way women and children are treated differed greatly across the world as time passed. In the Ibo Tribe, time caused major changes in the way the women and children were treated. At first, they suffered but soon they gained more rights and better treatment from the rest of the tribe due to influence from the rest of the world.

Miles, William. Hausaland Divide: Colonialism and Independence in Nigeria and Niger. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1994Obi, Cyril. The Changing Forms of Identity Politics in Nigeria under Economic Adjustment: The Case of the Oi

War was inevitable: ‘This simple and seemingly innocuous action broke the last thread and split the last institution symbolizing Nigeria's nationhood and cohesion which had been regularly tampered with by the politicians since 1962. The rift between the Eastern Region and the rest of the country was total’ (ibid). In a meeting convened in Aburi, Ghana, by Ghanaian general Gen. Ankrah, leader of the eastern region military Lt. Col. Ojukwu understood the real issues at hand and convinced attendees that the only way for Nigeria to stay together is that it has to break apart, effectively implying secession. After a breakdown in communication, a frustrated federal government passes Decree no. 8 of 17th March 1967, which split Nigeria’s regions into twelve states. This was seen by Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon as a pre-emptive, non-violence weapon against the east. The eastern region was split into 3 states. Lt. Col. Ojukwu unsurprisingly rejected Decree no. 8 and states that the Enugu, (capital of Nigeria’s eastern region) is headed for secession. On the 30th of May 1967, the eastern region of Nigeria declares itself as the independent sovereign state of Biafra. The Federal military fired the first bullet on the 6th of July 1967. Now this essay will turn to providing a background to the development of Realism as an analytical theory of International Relations.

Women have always been partly equal to men in pre colonial Nigeria, having equal but separate roles politically and shared authority in the home. Colonialism changed this form of life of the Igbo culture by imposing Christianity and the idea of the man being the head of the village and the women inferior. Women were also stripped of their rights to have or not have children and forced to be in abusive arranged marriages. Colonialism then ended because the natives felt that self-determination had to replace colonialism and the colonizing nations were bankrupt from World War I resulting in small investment to the colonies. Decolonization was not an effortless trouble, but rather arduous and extensive, especially to women’s rights. Women’s roles in the Igbo culture changed drastically from equal, to less than men and to struggling to get by in each stage of colonialism within the work force, family and rights.

How does the collision challenges the character’s sense of identity and how his response shapes the meaning of the work as a whole? Set in Pre-colonial Nigeria in the 1890s highlights the fight. The igbo culture is a terrible culture in which they are very uncivilized. The igbo culture is civilized by solid/traditional religious beliefs and the uncivilized or barbaric behavior. Darkness held a vague terror for these people, even the bravest among them. Children were warned not to whistle at night for fear of evil spirits. In Umuofia’s latest war he was the first to bring home a human head. It shows how the igbo culture can be civilized with religion. The Igbo culture of being uncivilized is family structure polygamy and gender inequality. Okonkwo’s

Thousands of years ago there was a tribe filled with people known as the Ibo, now known as the Igbo. The Igbo were one of the first tribes to really be able to thrive and have order in their villages. Igboland is now one of the most populated countries in Nigeria. Though Igboland is now one of the most populated countries, it has managed to keep its historical charm. Igboland is now a very well thriving country, but it is still facing many hardships regarding their political system.

Coming of age is very important. It is when you prove that you can take care of yourself and when you set off on your own and become independent. Also, it is when you begin a new life, one where you can make your own decisions. This is very important in the Igbo culture. When the child turns of age to become an adult, it is not that different than western societies.

There was a time when Europe had fallen into a deep dilemma due to their debt. Africa was introduced to Europeans as Europe started to prevail through this tough time, known as the Long Depression. What started as a simple system of trade soon turned into utter exploitation of Africa and its vast resources. The news of what riches Africa possessed soon spread to all of Europe. This, in turn, resulted in what is known as the Scramble for Africa. During the Scramble for Africa, natives of Africa were traded as slaves to Europeans, natives had their homelands destroyed, and many natives were killed for resisting European colonialism. Through all

Missionaries have had a profound and resounding effect on southeastern Nigeria that remains today, missionaries still playing a significant role in the culture of the Igbo. Although missionaries were initially synonymous with colonization, European coloniasts enforcing Christian ideals on the ‘save’ natives in an effort to civilize them, missionaries remained in Nigeria even after it gained its independence on October 1, 1960 through a series of constitutions legislated by the British government. Despite the abolition of British colonial forces, missionaries remained, exerting extensive influence on local culture. Missionaries promoted western education, which was widely popular among the Igbo and viewed as a method to move up the social ladder.

This is not a woman’s place to be talking!” It echoed throughout the small outhouse. The air was stale like week old bread. Women looked up or away pretending to not have heard the dispute. They knew their place.

Igbo land holds many festivities and cultural performances, most notably are the masquerades. This festival has a very special clothes, and calendar time. The Masquerades festival happens every year and it is usually every November. In their anniversary, they have social gathering and burial rites. During this festival are geared in colorful robes and different styles of masks that made either with wood or with fabric. Masquerades are very connected with spiritual elements that relate it to Igbo belief or dead relatives, which show the uniqueness of masquerade festival as one of the well-kept secret and preformed completely by men. As people would always take corrections from these exposures, the masquerades were effective in keeping up with

Throughout the course of history, ethnic and racial issues have always been on the rise across the globe. In fact, there have been many horrific atrocities committed world-wide under the name of ethnic cleansing. However, it is important to note that ethnic issues have risen up to a new level in the late 20th century. One such example of a horrific atrocity of the 20th century was the Holocaust, in which Germany’s leader Adolf Hitler decided to exterminate the Jewish people because he believed that Jews were dominating Germany in all fields. Furthermore, in words of Samuel Huntington in the era of globalization the clashes will occur between civilizations rather than ideologies because due to rise of

This paper reflects the novel “Things Fall Apart” written by Chinua Achebe in 1958. Achebe gives an overview of pre-colonialism and post-colonialism on Igbo, detailing how local traditions and cultural practices can “fall apart” in some scenarios through some introduced, externally created hassles elevated because of colonization. The protagonist named Okonkwo mentioned in the story is a proof showing the lifestyle of the tribe. My main objective and focus is to lay emphasis on Africa specifically the Igbo society, before and after the arrival of the Europeans in Umuofia community; the results of their arrival concerning Igbo culture, thus leading to the clash of cultures between the two categories. I will also draw on post-colonialism with respect to globalization.