Effectiveness of Incantations as a Mode of Communication in the Traditional Igbo Society | Chapter 2 | Recent Research Advances in Arts and Social Studies Vol. 8

The Igbos are an indigenous linguistic and cultural people of southern Nigeria. This paper examines the Effectiveness of Incantations as a Mode of Communication in the Traditional Igbo Society. Incantation or enchantment is a charm or spell created using words. Incantations are given force by oral tradition- a practice whereby the social, political, economic, and cultural heritage of the people is communicated by word of mouth from one generation to another. It was the most predominant part of communication in many parts of Africa. Prior to colonialism, the African society, including the Igbo, used oral tradition as a veritable tool in information gathering, sharing/dissemination and indeed worship. They lived normal and satisfactory lives, cultivated, built, ate, sang, danced, healed their sick, created and communicated. Incantation is one of the modes of communication in the traditional Igbo society. In an incantation, all words stand for something and are meaningful. Most of the cultural displays of the Igbo society employ incantations in communicating with spirits. While some aspects of the practice may appear fetish and obsolete, several others are purely traditional and, destroying it out-rightly amounts to throwing away a baby with the dirty water. This article traces the effectiveness of incantation as a mode of communication and examines its uses and purposes, while highlighting the implications of allowing it to go into extinction. The Igbo race is therefore endangered, and something must be done very urgently to save the situation. There is the need for a state of emergency to be declared by the political, traditional class and elites of Igbo extraction on the restoration of Igbo traditional practices. It also recommends that the people’s way of life should not be extinguished but preserved.

Author(s) Details:

Chike Walter Duru,
Department of Mass Communication, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Prime University, Abuja, Nigeria.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/RRAASS-V8/article/view/14195

A Challenge to African Christianity: Human Dignity Stance of Umunna Solidarity in Igbo Traditional Society | Chapter 13 | Current Approaches in Science and Technology Research Vol. 1

 Respect for human dignity is the pivot of social justice. The pre-colonial Igbo people of Eastern Nigeria had already established what comprises the foundation of a peaceful society before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was published in 1948. They imbued the umunna solidarity with human dignity norms. Umunna is a group of brothers who were born into an androgynous linage. Individuals are forgotten as individuals outside of the community in this social setup, resulting in the famous cliché, "umunna is power." This social arrangement safeguards the environment. prevents people from being dehumanized. The monarch and the subjects alike, everyone who belongs to the umunna receives the same treatment here. Human rights and dignity become collective property in this situation. The contact and engagement of Igbo people with Western Christianity, however, has resulted in the loss of this immaculate social order. Individualism has resulted in the vitiation of human rights and dignity of humans as a result of the overwhelming repercussions. As a result, following a comprehensive examination of the entire landscape, this article concludes that Christianity, Despite its historical association with the Igbo people, it has yet to establish a deep root and, as a result, should not be consulted on critical issues concerning Igbo life and existence. As a result, it proposes African Christianity as a primary method for Christianity to become relevant in Africa and among Africans, with other traditional ideals of human dignity, community living, and social solidarity of the Igbo umunna. African Christianity must meet the problem of maintaining a high level of objectivity in its members' religious practices.

Author (s) Details

Clement I. Osunwokeh
Department of Philosophy and Religion, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

View Book :- https://stm.bookpi.org/CASTR-V1/article/view/1345