Socio-religious Analysis of the Effects of Modernity on Igbo Families
ABSTRACT
Igbo family is faced with the challenges of modernity evident in innovations and changes in patterns of life. In the light of this, the study examined the socio-religious effects of modernity on Igbo family.
The work studied patterns of life in the traditional Igbo family such as economic life, social life, political life and religious life. The researcher discovered that many of the norms and values found in the traditional Igbo family are no longer observed in the modern Igbo family. The study also discovered that modernity has impacted both negatively and positively on Igbo family.
Paramount among the negative effects of modernity on Igbo family discussed are individualistic spirit, ill-training of children by some parents and some good traditional values such as morality, good sanctions and taboos, respect for elders, decent dressing, etc. positively, modernity has brought about western education and eliminated some of the harmful cultural practices of the Igbo like human sacrifice, killing of twins and slave trade.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The Igbo people live in the eastern part of Nigeria. They are bounded in the East by the Efik and Ibibio who seem to share some cultural similarities with the Igbo. In the North are the Idoma and the Igala while in the West are the Benin, the Urhobo and the Isoko ethnic groups. The Ogoni and the Ikwere are in the South. Majority of the Igbo live in Anambra, Abia, Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi States of Nigeria.
Others also live in parts of Delta and River states.
The above geographical background explains the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo.
One of such cultural institutions being approached is the Igbo family system. The origin of the Igbo family system is difficult to trace in spite of the long years of education, and -the influence of western civilization.
The reason for this could be due to different traditional world views, external influences and cultural meanings. From such names as Ahudie or husband’s body, Nkem or mine, Enyidie or husband’s friend or companion, one could deduce that it is as old as man or started with the origin or man. It is a social fact that Igbo family came into existence in order to integrate Igbo cultural values, norms and traditions into a web of relationship.
Consequently, one is related to another in Igbo society either by blood or by marriage.
Igbo family is therefore defined as the basic primary social, religious, economic and political unity of the wider society made up of the father, mother, child(ren) or ward(s). Individualism is said to have no place in Igbo family system. The reality of this is found in the extended family system.
As an integral part of Igbo family system, the extended family members include patrilineal and matrilineal uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephew and in-laws. In Igbo family affairs, they have a say and have always made moral, social, economic and religious commitments to the growth of Igbo family system.
They have craved and encouraged traditional values of their family members and their firm grip on their members has promoted the traditional Igbo pattern of life. Igbo people abide by the norms and traditions of their culture.
This explains the reason why certain characteristic features can be predicted of the Igbo. For instance, the Igbo people are hard working and believe strongly in the dignity of labour. This is so because agriculture was their chief employment and everyone, even the children and women are engaged in it.
Igbo tradition explains that the need for increased labour and agriculturally enhanced productivity explains the need for more than one wife in the traditional setting of Igbo family life. It was so too because they had no beggars and could not be acquainted with idleness. Igbo family had respect for elders because they believe that the elders are the closest link to and represent the ancestors.
They believe in the enhancement of life, that is the reason why they abstain from bloodshed. This enhancement of life has added value for the unborn and the living dead in Igboland. Thus through this unborn and the living dead there seems an endless communication between the world of the spirit and the world of the living. Through this, they could reincarnate to their families from time to time.
The value system of the Igbo family life concerns every member. The family members believe in the brotherhood of every member. Thus they love to serve not to be served.
They abhor jealousy because it could cause one to harm another. The spider web relationship which exists among the Igbo is shown in such expression as “onye bebe nwanne ya ebebe” (when one cries, his relatives cry also).
The above mentioned spider web relationship has promoted Igbo religious morality which has impacted good moral conduct on every member of the family. They also set taboos and place sanctions which serve as a moral guides to Igbo family life. These socio-religious moral background in traditional Igbo life gave a bearing, a guide and principle on which the people hinge their whole life activities.
Traditional Igbo people believe in achievement orientation and self-efforts which are still rewarded with traditional titles or merit awards such as Ogbuagu, Ikemba, and Dike.
In Igbo family system, there is no room for celibacy. Life is seen as a continuous circle of events revolving around the family.
Every member is an active participant. In marriage, the bridegroom makes the approach indirectly through an intermediary “onye aka ebe” (witness) or “onye ajuju” (an inquirer or middleman). It is assumed that the matter remains secret between the three parties namely; the bridegroom, the bride and the intermediary.
Until public declaration, if a bridegroom mismanages his marital approach and the matter gets to a public talking point in the village, the intended marriage could miscarry. This could be based on the activities of evil or wicked tale bearers whose intents and purposes arc to misinform and misrepresent issues concerning the persons and families concerned.
These are called ndi agbugba or ndi emu (the gossipers). In spite of these characteristics of Igbo family pattern of life, there exists equally some harmful marital practices in Igbo family institution.
The advent of colonialism and missionary activities in Igboland brought about western education and civilization. This meant culture and in the words of Chinua Achebe things fall apart and things are no longer at ease. There were tremendous changes in authority and every sphere of Igbo life.
However, the researcher’s concern here is on the effects of modernity on Igbo family, respect for elders seems to be affected because the spirit of individualism has taken place. Modernity has its influence on worldly passions, materialism and affluence.
These are in enmity with Igbo cultural norms and values such as diligence, respect, honesty, hard work, patriotism, patience, truth telling and responsibility in Igboland today. The negation of patriotic acts has negatively affected Igbo cultural institution exemplified in Igbo family life.
Less premium is placed on moral character of spouses because materialism seems to becloud their sense of objectivity to ideals and principles upon which Igbo family is built upon. Some parents especially mothers insist that it is either the men after their heart or no marriage.
The men in question may be of questionable character but due to financial and material gratification, they see giving their daughter in marriage as an appreciation to such men who might be as old as their husbands.
There are few cases such spouse must have been dating their would be mother-in-laws. In order not to loose them, they shift such relationship to their daughters in the name of marriage. Such mothers use all sorts of methods such as pleading, threats and petting to establish acceptance to the relationship.
This is especially the case where such mothers are widows who turned business women. The patronage they receive from such intended in-laws is not easily forgotten, further, it is made a reference point and with a promise of receiving more if marriage is established. This is observed that when such marriage takes place in the family, the in-laws go to bed with their mother in-laws.
The Igbo family in modern time has witnessed conflict of cultures. The acid of modernity does not only pollute Igbo system, but appears to bring about negligence and disregard on the Igbo value system. A look at what constitutes the statement of the problem will shade more light on the effects of modernity on the socio-religious activities of the Igbo as experienced in the family.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The above background to the study reveals that there is a culture contact between Igbo culture and western culture leading to a serious conflict of cultures. The western culture has diffused in Igbo family and has eroded the core socio-religious values of the Igbo family system.
The preference for and gluing to western culture has some benefits but its effects on Igbo family leaves much to be desired. Is modernity a curse or a blessing in Igboland. This has not been addressed by sociologists of religion, but has received comments by such literary and historical gurus like Achebe and Afigbo.
Culture is dynamic in transforming people, institutions and relationships. The substance in this statement has not been investigated in recent time. Consequently, the weight of modernity on Igbo family in the age of internet, globalization, computer and other civilizing agents have challenged this thesis to raise the following research questions on the socio-religious analyses of effects of modernity on Igbo family:
(a) How can the traditional value system of the Igbo people be revived?
(b) How can the Igbo morality, good sanctions and taboos be restored?
(c) How did modernity come to be and persists?
(d) How has modernity affected the pre-colonial Igbo family and modern Igbo family?
(e) What are the socio-religious effects, challenges and difficulties posed by modernity on Igbo family?
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The objective of this study is to investigate, analyze and find functional answers to the above research questions. A balanced view of the meaning, origins and the western cultural encounter with Igbo culture will also make our purpose. There is need therefore to examine how these indices of modernity have affected the life styles and the attitudinal orientation of the Igbo.
An analysis of the traditional Igbo family and modern Igbo family will help to see how changes have taken place in Igbo family system. It is our purpose to proffer solutions to the research work so as to impact more values on Igbo family system in particular and Nigerian family system in general.
1.4 Significance of the Study
The thesis is significant as the most recent research on socio-religious analysis of effects of modernity on Igbo family. This research would help draw a policy guideline on the effects of modernity on Igbo family. As a reference point to the individuals, institutions on Igbo family system, the study is significant in promoting balanced understanding, social cohesion and harmony in the whole society.
The society is placed in a better position to mirror the image of the family. The study would make our future generation have an improved conception of their fore-bears’ world-view. This will promote their value system.
The study challenges the church and the family in Igboland to dialogue so that peace, security and unity would reign in Igboland through mutual tolerance, accommodation and respect for human dignity.
1.5 Scope of the Study
The scope of the study refers to the area covered by the research. The research topic:
Socio-Religious Analysis of effects of modernity on Igbo family explains the focus of this work. The conflict of cultures between traditional Igbo family and modernity in Igbo family system are examined in Igbo states as Anambra, Abia, Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi states.
1.6. Methodology
This research employed primary and secondary sources of data collection. The primary sources include interview, historical and observation methods. The secondary sources include literary and documentary sources such as journals, books, magazines, dictionaries and encyclopedia.
Others include discussion, chart and logical reasoning.
No single method is for a valid and reliable data, a combination of primary and secondary data from resource persons and key informants ensured a reliable working data on the research question.
This research employed sources which are interview, historical method, observation method, journals, books, magazines, dictionaries and logical reasoning.
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1.7 Definition of Terms
There are relevant key words like society, religion, modernity and family will be explained/defined for the purpose of objective clarity and understanding. To these the research turns;
Society
Society comprises a group of persons living together, sharing the same world-view for the common good of its members. The Igbo society in the pre-colonial time was characterized by the bound of mutual reciprocity and collective effort of each member, and this was derived from the world view which have its basis on religion.
Whenever there is conformity of order in any given society, there would be sure stability and harmony in that society. That was the reason why the Igbo society was bound together in all their activities and there existed brotherly love and morality in the Igbo society.
Religion
Religion in this research refers to an affixed relationship between man and God and between man and his neighbor. In other words, religion refers to a set of beliefs, practices, norms and values linking man to God and to his neighbor.
Modernity
Modernity is an evolution of change in the human life. It brought about change in human application. Modernity brought change in the way and pattern of Igbo life style, however, it is not only on progressive aspects but also in the retrogressions dimension in people’s lives. In other words it is a mixed blessing to humanity.
It induces on Igbo family almost wither the cultural norms and traditions of the Igbo taboos and sanctions are no longer employed in their daily activities except in some local villages of the Igbo where the vestiges of taboos and sanctions are.
Because no sanctions are employed, does appear that the height of immorality is high. Every one does as pleases, respect for elders are seen as nothing again, a child can beat up his elderly parents and so on.
In fact all sorts of vices are seen in these modern times, kidnapping is now the routine culture of the people, it is now the quickest way of money making. To some, today, it is civilization. For the researcher, it is the height of incivility and the heralds of people who have devalued their traditional norms, customs and culture.
In essence modernity helps to abolish the harmful cultural practices of the Igbo people which are against humanity and these includes killing of twins, humans sacrifice, slave trade and “slavery” and so on.
Family
The family is understood in this research as referring to the primary, social, religious, economic, political and moral unit of Igbo society. It is hierarchization made up of the father, mother and children or wards.
The Igbo family is more of extended type which involves husband, wife/wives, children, aunties, uncles both from maternal and paternal lineage or blood related family. This type of family creates conditions for mutual affection amongst its members. And for this reasons, every member is fixed together, carry out each members need for the sustenance and progress of the family.
The induced modernity made it that the extended family type practiced by the Igbo family is no longer strong as it was in the pre-colonial times. The modern Igbo adopted the nuclear form of family, where almost everyone is concerned after his own family which involves the man, wife and children. Perhaps this type of incivility often warrants killings, kidnapping and all sorts of nefarious acts in the family.
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