What was the structure of the Igbo precolonial system?

The structural organization of Igbo political system includes, the family group, the kindred, council of elders, ozo title holders, age grade and the Ala. The family group: this was one of the most recognized institutions in the pre-colonial Igbo society, as the basic unit of every political institution.

What do you know about Igbo precolonial system of administration?

The Igbo Precolonial Government These groups that shared political authority included the village elders, the age grades, the Ozo title holders, Ofo title holders, diviners etc. This is the main reason why the Igbo political organization in the pre-colonial era was described as acephalous.

What are the Igbo traditional political system?

Traditional Igbo political organization was based on a quasi-democratic republican system of government. In tight knit communities, this system guaranteed its citizens equality, as opposed to a feudalist system with a king ruling over subjects.

Why is the Igbo political system described as fragmented?

The Igbo political system may be seen as a fragmented political system. Many constitutions were in place and political authority was shared among them. For example, the Ofo title holders (council of elders), Ozor title holders, age grades, etc. were all involved in the power sharing exercise.

What are the features of Igbo traditional society?

Traditional Igbo religion includes belief in a creator god (Chukwu or Chineke), an earth goddess (Ala), and numerous other deities and spirits as well as a belief in ancestors who protect their living descendants. Revelation of the will of the deities is sought by divination and oracles.

What is pre colonial system in Nigeria?

Two major forms of political organization existed in the pre-colonial period: the monarchical system and gerontocracy. The monarchial system, operated among the Yoruba, Hausa, and Benin, was a centralized form of government.

How decentralized was the Igbo political system?

The Igbo occupied the Eastern part of Nigeria. The administrative system is decentralized and characterized by the principle of acephalous (absence of a centralized government). It is therefore a chiefless society which was segmentary and egalitarian in nature. There was no supreme king like Oba and Emirs in the North.

What is Igbo society?

Igbo Culture (Igbo: Ọmenala ndị Igbo) are the customs, practices and traditions of the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. It consists of ancient practices as well as new concepts added into the Igbo culture either by cultural evolution or by outside influence.

What was the religion of the Igbo culture before colonization?

In some cases Igbo traditional religion was syncretised with Christianity, but in many cases indigenous rites were demonised by Christian missionaries who pointed out the practice of human sacrifice and some other cultural practices that were illegal under the colonial government.

Is Igbo centralized or decentralized?

The Igbo are neighbors of the highly politically centralized Yoruba, but their political system is much different. Instead of centralized kingdoms headed by powerful kings, chiefs, and their advisors, the Igbo had no centralized system of governance. Rather they lived in politically autonomous villages.

What is the Igbo tribe well known for?

Igbos are well known for their variety of soups, made from locally grown vegetables, fruits and seeds. The most popular Igbo soups are oha, nsala, akwu, okazi and ofe owerri. The Igbo people have a traditional religious belief that there is one creator, called ‘Chineke’ or ‘Chukwu’.

What are the characteristics of Igbo culture?

What is pre-colonial society in Nigeria?

1900 have been known under the name of Nigeria during the pre-colonial period (16th to 18th centuries) was dominated by a number of powerful West African kingdoms or empires, such as the Oyo Empire and the Islamic Kanem-Bornu Empire in the northeast, and the Igbo kingdom of Onitsha in the southeast and various Hausa- …

What happens during pre-colonial period?

The islands’ precolonial period, during which indigenous peoples engaged in healthy trade with various cultures and economies in the region, gave way to a long colonial period, first under Spain for over 300 years, and then under the United States, during which it came briefly under Japanese occupation in World War II.

What is the pre colonial system in Nigeria?

What are some features of Igbo culture?

Many different aspects of Igbo culture, which is an ancient African culture that encompasses polytheistic religion, father-son inheritance, farming traditions, and belief in evil spirits, are described in Things Fall Apart.

What are the values of the Igbo culture?

Traditional Igbo culture emphasizes values such as community, family and respect for elders, life, and hospitality. But these cultural values come into strong confrontation with the western influence through globalization.