Igbo GuideBook

If you are contemplating whether or not you would like to go to Igboland, you have to know that you will be a foreigner with a different culture and a different way of thinking. That is why this guide book has been created, so that you as the visitor would have now gained some knowledge of the Igbo people’s customs and way of life, which would help prevent misunderstandings and possible quarrels with the Igbo’s.  Included will be information on the different components of their culture, and how it is different.

1.       Social Status:  The men and women in the Igbo tribes all have to work hard in order to gain wealth and a higher social status within their villages. The men were taught as apprentices, and told that they needed three things to be successful, these were wealth, women and titles. Gaining a title is a little harder than you think, due to the fact that the men had to purchase these titles with great sums of money, often with the goal of reaching the highest title, “Ozo”. The “Ozo” were seen as gods, and gained immortality through a ritual of death and reincarnation.  You need to be careful, because depending on who you will associate with in the village will change how you are seen, due to how the different people are treated. The women were also raised as apprentices, and told that they had to do the house, and hard work, find and marry a decent husband. They would gain the social status of their husbands once they had married them.

2.       Family Life: Family is extremely important in one’s life, within the Igbo Culture. It is used as one of the many ways to improve the men’s social image, having a large family that worked hard, would definitely improve the way the village sees them. Something that is quite interesting about the Igbo culture is the fact that the men can have more than on wife, polygamy. The men work in order to increase the size of their households however if they struggle  the first wife can bring more wives in order to help, but the first wife will always be the only one who gains the titles of her husband, this being only one of the privileges for the wives.

3.       Religion: Religion has been important to Igbo people even from ancient times, which again brings some difference and similarities between our culture and theirs. The Igbo people believe in one Supreme Being who is called “Chukwu”, similar to how our lord God is the only high and might being. However, this is where it begins to differ. The Igbo people believe in spirits which are usually representatives of nature, things like rain, iron, the earth etc. Igbo people approach these so that they can ask for help in their lives, either for the future or they are having trouble at the time. Sometimes, sacrifices were needed for the request to be accepted by these spirits. Oracles play an important role in the relationship between the people and the spirits, as they are the ones who will inform the  Igbo if a sacrifice is needed, they also help them with communicating with the dead, their ancestors for advice.

4.       Customs: Customs are extremely important to the Igbo people since they are giving us this information about the guidelines for their way of life. Offending them or even breaking the rules will always lead to punishment, even if you are not of their people or village. One thing that is important is that Igbo people favour a balance with both the gods and the other members of their society. As a result, the people often make negotiations to make sure that the members of a trade are both on equal terms. Do not try and create an imbalance, or they will become quite upset with you. Another very important side is respect, especially for the elders and those with many and high titles. Do not try to convince them that their religion and their beliefs are false, or you will be outcast or even punished.

To conclude, make sure that you follow these points, and respect their culture. You are an outsider, who has been invited to learn about the Igbo people, so as long as you do not offend them and their way of life, you will be treated with care and hospitality.