The Igbo PeopleThe Igbo PeopleJames Allen Chris ClarkJames Allen Chris Clark

Jose Gutierrez Jose LopezJose Gutierrez Jose Lopez

Victor Ramirez Brendan WalshVictor Ramirez Brendan Walsh

PopulationPopulation

Thirty million Igbo Thirty million Igbo PeoplePeople

They are They are surrounded by the surrounded by the Ibibio, Ijo, Ekoi, Ibibio, Ijo, Ekoi, Igala, Idoma, and Igala, Idoma, and Nupe TribesNupe Tribes

The Igbo people The Igbo people are primarily are primarily farmingfarming

GovernmentGovernment

Governed by village councilsGoverned by village councils The councils are made up of the The councils are made up of the

Elders of the tribesElders of the tribes The Elders’ power is held in balance The Elders’ power is held in balance

by secret societiesby secret societies There are title holders but they do There are title holders but they do

not really have any extra powernot really have any extra power

MasksMasks

The Igbo are well The Igbo are well known throughout known throughout history for their history for their masksmasks

Used for initiation Used for initiation ceremonies and ceremonies and entertainmententertainment

Most masks have a Most masks have a central crest and central crest and elongated faceselongated faces

WorkWork

Most people within the Igbo territory Most people within the Igbo territory are farmersare farmers

The swampy areas help to grow The swampy areas help to grow many thingsmany things

They are also given credit for the They are also given credit for the beginning of the Iron Agebeginning of the Iron Age

groundnuts, palm oil, cocoa, coconut, groundnuts, palm oil, cocoa, coconut, citrus fruits, maize, millet, cassava, citrus fruits, maize, millet, cassava, yams and sugar cane yams and sugar cane

LocationLocation

The Igbo People The Igbo People live in live in southeastern southeastern NigeriaNigeria

Located near the Located near the Niger River DeltaNiger River Delta

Forested and Forested and swampy areaswampy area

They also live near They also live near the river which is the river which is good for fishinggood for fishing

OriginOrigin

The Supreme DeityThe Supreme Deity

Chukwu is the supreme deity of the Igbo Chukwu is the supreme deity of the Igbo people.people.

He is also referred to as the “great spirit”.He is also referred to as the “great spirit”. His symbol is the sun.His symbol is the sun. He is associated with nature and all its He is associated with nature and all its

parts, like rain and plants.parts, like rain and plants. Chukwu created the whole world and other Chukwu created the whole world and other

gods, or deities.gods, or deities. Many people name their children after this Many people name their children after this

Overlord.Overlord.

Supreme DeitySupreme Deity

The rains he brings upon the world are The rains he brings upon the world are used to help the Igbo people be used to help the Igbo people be prosperous when planting.prosperous when planting.

All good that happens in the lives of the All good that happens in the lives of the Igbo is directly related to Chukwu.Igbo is directly related to Chukwu.

Ala is the daughter/wife of Chukwu that Ala is the daughter/wife of Chukwu that is responsible for fertility as well as is responsible for fertility as well as death.death.

She is the god that rules both at the She is the god that rules both at the beginning and at the end of life.beginning and at the end of life.

DeitiesDeities

Chukwu created all Chukwu created all earth, so in turn, all earth, so in turn, all the deities of the the deities of the Igbo originate from Igbo originate from earth.earth.

Deities can be Deities can be made of wood and made of wood and worshiped as gods.worshiped as gods.

There are many There are many deities in the Igbo deities in the Igbo religion.religion.

DeitiesDeities

Deities are said to be messengers of Deities are said to be messengers of god to the people.god to the people.

The Igbo people know and The Igbo people know and immediately fear the deities.immediately fear the deities.

Although Chukwu is supreme, deities Although Chukwu is supreme, deities are feared because they can are feared because they can immediately affect the lives of the immediately affect the lives of the Igbo people.Igbo people.

DeitiesDeities

Chukwu appoints these messengers Chukwu appoints these messengers because His work is too much for him because His work is too much for him alone.alone.

The gods, Ofo and Ogu, are The gods, Ofo and Ogu, are responsible for compensating responsible for compensating innocent people accused of crimes.innocent people accused of crimes.

If not prayed to, people will be If not prayed to, people will be subject to punishment by Amadioha.subject to punishment by Amadioha.

The Personal GodThe Personal God

All Igbo people believe they have an All Igbo people believe they have an inner god within them called Chi.inner god within them called Chi.

Their Chi is the person’s fate.Their Chi is the person’s fate. A person’s luck and misfortune come A person’s luck and misfortune come

from their Chi.from their Chi. The name of a person can affect their The name of a person can affect their

Chi, this is why Igbo males are Chi, this is why Igbo males are usually given the names of deities.usually given the names of deities.

Establishment of DeathEstablishment of Death

It is said that Chukwu sent a dog to lay It is said that Chukwu sent a dog to lay the dead bodies of people on the earth the dead bodies of people on the earth and cover them with ashes so that they and cover them with ashes so that they can be revived. The dog was tired can be revived. The dog was tired behind in his work, so Chukwu sent a behind in his work, so Chukwu sent a sheep to do the job. The sheep forgot sheep to do the job. The sheep forgot what he was supposed to do, so he told what he was supposed to do, so he told the people to bury their dead. When the the people to bury their dead. When the dog returned, he was not believed and dog returned, he was not believed and so death became permanent.so death became permanent.

Economy, Tribal Economy, Tribal System, and FamilySystem, and Family

EconomyEconomy

The majority of the Igbo people are The majority of the Igbo people are farmers.farmers.

Yam is their staple crop and the Yam is their staple crop and the harvesting season is a time for great harvesting season is a time for great celebration.celebration.

With the surplus amount of yam, they are With the surplus amount of yam, they are able to export some to their neighbors.able to export some to their neighbors.

They also produce palm-oil which is They also produce palm-oil which is exported to Europe in large quantities.exported to Europe in large quantities.

Tribal SystemTribal System

There are various subgroups according There are various subgroups according to clan, lineage, and village affiliations.to clan, lineage, and village affiliations.

Neither the Igbo nor any of their Neither the Igbo nor any of their neighbors have a centralized neighbors have a centralized chieftaincy, hereditary aristocracy, or chieftaincy, hereditary aristocracy, or kingship customs.kingship customs.

They usually have the village council They usually have the village council take the responsibility of leading the take the responsibility of leading the tribe. tribe.

Tribal System Cont.Tribal System Cont.

The village council The village council consists of the consists of the heads of lineages, heads of lineages, elders, titled men, elders, titled men, and men who have and men who have established established themselves themselves economically economically within the within the community community

Family LifeFamily Life

In the Igbo tribe it is In the Igbo tribe it is normal to have more normal to have more than one wife. than one wife.

Depending on the Depending on the wealth a man has, he wealth a man has, he can have more wives can have more wives if he is richer.if he is richer.

A rich, successful A rich, successful man can have as man can have as many wives as he many wives as he can support.can support.

Family Life Cont.Family Life Cont. The polygynous The polygynous

family is made up of family is made up of a man and his wives a man and his wives and all their children.and all their children.

Aside from that, Aside from that, there are other there are other family members family members which eventually add which eventually add up to and anywhere up to and anywhere from five to thirty from five to thirty people in a family. people in a family.

ColonialismColonialism

ColonialismColonialism

Mid-fifteenth Mid-fifteenth centurycentury

Portuguese (1434-Portuguese (1434-1807)1807)

DutchDutch England England

PeoplePeople

FearFear ““But I am greatly afraid. We had But I am greatly afraid. We had

heard stories about white men who heard stories about white men who made the powerful guns and the made the powerful guns and the strong drinks and took slaves away strong drinks and took slaves away across the seas, but no one thought across the seas, but no one thought the stories were true” (Achebe,117.)the stories were true” (Achebe,117.)

DifferencesDifferences

Culture Culture ReligionReligion Life styleLife style Authority Authority ““They had built a They had built a

court where the court where the District Commissioner District Commissioner judged cases in judged cases in ignorance” ignorance” (Achebe,142)(Achebe,142)

ConversionsConversions

Preach in the iloPreach in the ilo ChristianityChristianity One GodOne God Reading Reading Writing Writing Churches Churches SchoolsSchools

Conversions/ConflictConversions/Conflict

“… “… he decided to he decided to go to Umuofia go to Umuofia where the white where the white missionary had set missionary had set up a school to up a school to teach young teach young Christians to read Christians to read and write” and write” (Achebe, 127.) (Achebe, 127.)

Religion conflictReligion conflict Spread of religionSpread of religion Take over of landTake over of land Killings Killings WarWar The destruction of The destruction of

villages. villages.

Ja Ja of OpoboJa Ja of Opobo

Past LeaderPast Leader

Ja Ja of OpoboJa Ja of Opobo

Born 1820Born 1820 Political and military Political and military

strategiststrategist Led revolution against Led revolution against

British influence in British influence in Southern NigeriaSouthern Nigeria

Original name: Original name: Mbanaso Mbanaso

Named Jubo Juboghaa Named Jubo Juboghaa after becoming a slave after becoming a slave

Ja Ja of OpoboJa Ja of Opobo

Exact information about his parents or Exact information about his parents or childhood is unknown, widely available in childhood is unknown, widely available in oral tradition thoughoral tradition though

Most common claim is he was born in the Most common claim is he was born in the lineage of Umuduruoha of Amaigbo village lineage of Umuduruoha of Amaigbo village group in the center of, as it was called, group in the center of, as it was called, IgobolandIgoboland

Sold into slavery in the Niger DeltaSold into slavery in the Niger Delta Bought by Chief Iganipughuma Allison of Bought by Chief Iganipughuma Allison of

Bonny Bonny

Ja Ja of OpoboJa Ja of Opobo Chief Allison gave Ja Ja to Chief Madu of the Chief Allison gave Ja Ja to Chief Madu of the

Anna Pepple House as a giftAnna Pepple House as a gift Anna Pepple House was one of the royal Anna Pepple House was one of the royal

family housesfamily houses Madu’s son, Alali, died in 1863, leaving Madu’s son, Alali, died in 1863, leaving

behind a huge debt to European behind a huge debt to European supercargoes. supercargoes.

None of the eligible chiefs offered to head None of the eligible chiefs offered to head the Anna Pepple House the Anna Pepple House

Ja Ja took over the empty position and within Ja Ja took over the empty position and within two years had paid off the debt completelytwo years had paid off the debt completely

Ja Ja of OpoboJa Ja of Opobo

Christianity was introduced in 1864Christianity was introduced in 1864 Ja Ja’s house was against it, whereas Ja Ja’s house was against it, whereas

the other royal family house was for the other royal family house was for itit

In 1865, King Pepple died, meaning In 1865, King Pepple died, meaning an heir was needed from either the an heir was needed from either the Anna Pepple House or the Manila Anna Pepple House or the Manila Pepple HousePepple House

Ja Ja of OpoboJa Ja of Opobo

September 13, 1869 fighting September 13, 1869 fighting commenced between the housescommenced between the houses

Ja Ja was outnumbered and decided Ja Ja was outnumbered and decided to retreat, accept his defeat, and sue to retreat, accept his defeat, and sue for peacefor peace

Peace carried on for weeks, giving Ja Peace carried on for weeks, giving Ja Ja much needed timeJa much needed time

Ja Ja moved to the Andoni country at Ja Ja moved to the Andoni country at the head of the Imo river the head of the Imo river

Ja Ja of OpoboJa Ja of Opobo

Named his new settlement OpoboNamed his new settlement Opobo In 1873, was recognized as the king In 1873, was recognized as the king

of the independent nation Opobo by of the independent nation Opobo by Britain Britain

Ja Ja actually helped Britain in their Ja Ja actually helped Britain in their war against the Ashanti kingdom in war against the Ashanti kingdom in the Gold Coastthe Gold Coast

Ruled over his kingdom for 18 years Ruled over his kingdom for 18 years

Ja Ja of OpoboJa Ja of Opobo

Died 1891Died 1891 Died at Teneriffe IslandDied at Teneriffe Island Died returning to his country after Died returning to his country after

being allowed to return from exilebeing allowed to return from exile A statue of Ja Ja stands in the center A statue of Ja Ja stands in the center

of Opobo and reads “A king in title of Opobo and reads “A king in title and in deed. Always just and and in deed. Always just and generous.”generous.”

ConclusionConclusion This presentation helps us better understand the This presentation helps us better understand the

Igbo culture and traditions, such as: Obierika’s Igbo culture and traditions, such as: Obierika’s marriage arrangement, the significance of marriage arrangement, the significance of Akueke’s waist beads and the importance of the Akueke’s waist beads and the importance of the titles given to the people of the village. titles given to the people of the village.

This can also help you understand the lack of This can also help you understand the lack of cultural understanding between the whites and cultural understanding between the whites and Nigerians; this is demonstrated when Okonkwo is Nigerians; this is demonstrated when Okonkwo is discussing the dispute over Aneto’s land when he discussing the dispute over Aneto’s land when he says: ““Does the white man understand our says: ““Does the white man understand our customs about land?” “How can he when he does customs about land?” “How can he when he does not even speak our tongue?”” (Achebe, 144)not even speak our tongue?”” (Achebe, 144)

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