This week we will read Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”. We are transported back in time to post-colonial Nigeria. This novel illustrates the hardships of being a member of the Igbo Tribe and tells a story of conflict based around a respected Nigerian tribesman, Okonkwo. Here, we will delve into the history of the Igbo Tribe and their culture of respect and traditions they carry on to this day.
The Igbo’s first introduction to a world outside of their own in Nigeria was through the transatlantic slave trade. Due to this, their people have spread world-wide, many ending up in the US, Jamaica, and Europe. Religion is extremely important to the Igbo, as it tells the story of how they came to be. The Igbo people refer to the divine figure Eri as their creator; they believe he was sent from heaven in order to begin civilization. Traditional Igbo have faith in a supreme god, referred to as Chukwu, who remains a higher power. They also have many minor gods, who are thought of as friends and foes who assist the tribespeople in their times of need. However, the majority of the Igbo have now converted to Christianity yet still tie their roots back to their tribe.
Igbo Cuisine – Bitterleaf Yam Porridge
Igbo culture tends to center around the creativity of the people with such traditions as: their own music and dance, instruments, clothing, and cuisine. One of the biggest celebrations is that of Iri Ji, or the New Yam Festival. This festival takes place in early August and celebrates the beginning of the yam harvest season. New, fresh yams are welcomed while ones from the previous harvest are eaten in full by the Igbo. The ceremony is kicked off by an initial sacrifice of the yam to their gods and any passed relatives. Then, the Igbo swarm to the buffet, where they are encouraged to stuff themselves full of yams and other traditional dishes. Afterward, lively music and drumming is started as the masqueraded spirits begin to dance.
Traditional Igbo Mmanwu – or Masquerade
This is just a taste of the rich history of the Igbo. They are a resilient people who continue to progress in society while staying connected to their traditions and culture.
I really apprieciate your visuals of the Igbo culture because as I was reading I was curious to learn what exactly their culture looked like. Reading this book, I could tell how enriching the culture of the Igbo people were, and this historical background only proves that point. They have a deep and rich history that was eventually stripped down by colonists.
Hi Kelly,
I think it is interesting how you used the reading to reflect on Igbo culture and religion. I appreciate how the Igbo have a way of maintaining their roots; like you mentioned, they practice Christianity, progress in society, and some live out of their country of origin, but their foundation still lies within the tribe itself. Igbo culture is certainly interesting to research as it is so diverse, but true to its core.
Hi Kelly, I thought your background knowledge on the Igbo was extremely interesting. While reading this book, their culture was a bit hard for me to grasp but this explanation allowed me to fully enrich into it.
Hi Kelly!
Your presentation was super informative, the images definitely helped me visualize the Igbo culture much better. The information about the traditional Igbo religion was also very helpful. My knowledge on Igbo was very minimal prior to reading the book, and your post definitely helped provide some background information!
Thank you for your presentation on the Igbo tribe. Before this I had never heard of the tribe, so it is nice to now be informed a bit on their culture and how it affects us. The presentation shows the rich diversity in culture among the tribe, which I think is very interesting.
I really liked your presentation, The tribe is really big on religion and due to slavery now they are spread world wide, mainly in the U.S and Europe.
This presentation is really informative about the Igbo Tribe. It really gives us an insight on their culture to reference as we read the book this week. This project you did really reflects the beauty in the Igbo Tribe and it showcases many things about them that we did not previously know. This was very interesting to read!
Your presentation was very helpful in understanding the general culture and religious beliefs of the Igbo tribe. Your presentation demonstrates the rich culture and traditions of the Igbo, moreover their resilient attitude toward their tradition.
Hey Kelly! I really appreciated your dive into the culture of the Igbo people. I struggled to visualize some of the things Achebe described, and being able to read and see more about some elements of the culture really added to my understanding of the reading.
Kelly,
Nice job on your presentation! I thought you did a really nice job going into detail about the Igbo tribe. I feel like I learned a lot reading your presentation, and I could tell you did your research. I also really like the pictures you included, you used them very effectively!
Hi Kelly,
Your post this week was very refreshing. I liked how your focus of this context presentation was more on the Igbo history and culture rather than the book itself. I was unaware of the Igbo’s traditions let alone the tribe itself until this week! Although this book was fictitious, I like learning the background of the tribe it is based off of.