1. The Igbo Family: The Center of Village Life
Nick Chappelle
Courtney Sampson
Chris Jordan
Gerald Munoz
Christopher Excellent

2. The Importance of Family in the Igbo tribe
As a western civilization, we are accustomed to families having significance in society
For example, in Britain there is a noble family
Is this present in Igbo society???
Let us take a look!

3. The place of family within the tribe
Unlike many other peoples, the Igbo people do not pay special recognition to families
No family possesses any special privileges or nobilit
No matter how many titles a father holds, his family never gains special importance
Elders rule not families

4. Polygamy Polygamy is a practice found in many different cultures
Someone who practices polygamy takes more than spouse
Polygamy was practiced in Igbo society
It had a big influence on the family ranking
Let us take a look!

5. Igbo Family Structure Igbo families generally live in compounds.
Compounds are tiny clusters of huts built in the same area.
Groups of compounds are what make up a village.

6. Igbo Family Structure
Compounds contained one domestic group, or family.
The head of a compound in a village is generally the oldest male of the compound.
The head of each compound is responsible for each of its members.

7. Marriage and Polygamy in the Village
In an Igbo village, married life is the normal condition for adults.
Polygamy is very ideal for the men in the village.
Polygamy is also an important indication of status.

8. Marriage and Polygamy in the Village
The wives of the common husband were ranked in the order in which they were married.
The children of the wives were also ranked according to their mother’s rank, as well as their seniority in age.

9. Seniority in Age in the Village
In the Igbo village, seniority in age regulates social placement in the village.
In the family, being the oldest child brings great responsibility, as well as important social positions in the family.

10. The role of family
Now that we have an idea of how the family is structured, let us look at the family and the roles of different members
All family structures have designated roles for the different members
Let us take a look!

11. Ibo Family Family is extremely important
Nuclear Family- man, women, and children
Extended family- not very important
Married life is normal condition
Polygamy is ideal for men. It can be considered a sign of status in the tribe

12. Role of Men The oldest man was the head of each household
Responsible for all the members in his household
Responsibilities include: Settling family disputes
Controlling the communication with the ancestors
Building his obi and huts for wives

13. Wives Ranked according to order in which they married the husband
Were responsible for:
Giving birth to many sons
Younger wives were expected to help older wives
Caring for children and head of house
As wives aged, they spent more time outside the household ( farming, craft making)

14. Children Required to be obedient to all adults
Never contradict parents
Children are not equal
Sons & daughters are ranked with the wives
(i.e.) first son of first wife is highest

15. Extended Family
Grandparents, uncles, aunts, nephews, and nieces, and in- laws
Always welcome to unannounced visits to the nuclear family
Extended family is created upon marriage
Expected to gives a bride- price to bride’s family upon Union
Lose importance after marriage

16. The rise from child to adult
Many societies, if not all, have a coming of age ceremony
What is a coming of age ceremony?
A coming of age ceremony is a celebration, often times involving the person celebrated to do something in specific, where the boy or girl rises to adult hood. This rise from childhood to adulthood is very important in Igbo society
Let us take a look!

17. Rite of passage
Before you are considered even a part of the Igbo people you must go through a rite of passage
In Igbo society you are incorporated once you are circumcised
Female circumcision: cutting of clitoral hood (only type of “mutilation” considered to be circumcision)
Male circumcision: the foreskin is removed
Welcome to Igbo society!

18. Coming of Age I
Before colonialism destroyed this aspect of culture, it was a huge celebration
The initiates, typically young girls, would be primped up (washed with red cam wood, adorned with jewelry, and their hair would be plaited)
The mothers would teach them the facts of life and tell them what it meant to be beautiful (unfortunately, what it did mean has been lost to history)
The young girls would then go into the Village Square and would partake in the following: wrestling, preparing meals, trading tips, sharing meals, and having a good time
Bachelors would watch the festivities and soon after marriage would be in order
The actual coming of age ceremony for young males has been forgotten thanks to colonialism

19. Coming of Age II Today, there is still a ceremony for the Igbo people
Young male initiates spend a night with the Oto Umunne fathers
Young female initiates spend a night with Oto Umunne mothers
They are taught what the Igbo community expects of them and to understand how to make sound moral decisions

20. An Igbo Coming of Age Prayer
“We now send them into the world of freedom with the light of God. As we light the candles, we ask the Almighty Chukwu to guide and protect our young ones as they venture into the world. The only gifts we can offer them are our love and support. Their response is their pledge to conduct themselves in such a manner that will command respect for them, their families abroad in Igbo land, Nigeria, and to the American community in which they are a part. Most importantly, they pledge to conduct themselves in such a manner that gives glory to God.”

21. Ceremonies for other parts of life
As we know, the Igbo people choose a role in their society and the roles are celebrated
Iru-mgbede (fattening of a girl before marriage): the woman is seperated from household (symbolizing change in marital status), the women is fed under the belief that you must be healthy to bear healthy children, and they are seperated for a month from their spouse so that they may refresh themselves emotionally, physically, and intellectually
Itu Anya (the initiation of a Diviner): the initiation lasts eight days and introduces adolescents to the world of men and gives them the power to communicate with spirits (typically for adolescent males)
Igba Mgba (wrestling): wrestling is a special priviledge which allows a person to engage in a fight with an opponent. One becomes a warrior by winning a wrestling match. “The Igbo believe a man should fight with aggressors, human or spiritual, to the best of his ability. In igbo land, a man is said to be a man when he efficiently and effectively handles trying situations.”

22. The Igbo culture withing the novel, Things Fall Apart
The novel was written in order to teach readers about the Igbo people
It is obvious that something as important as family to the Igbo people must be addressed in the novel
Let us take a look!

23. Family Structure and its relevance
It is clear in the novel that the family is organized
Okonkwo is the head of the household
His wives are ranked in importance and this impacts how he treats his children
Nwoye, being the first son, must inherit many responsibilities and the family name
Tabboo to custom: Ezinma is the daughter of Ekweki, Okonkwo’s second wife, and is given special attention

24. The roles of family members and its relevance
Family members live up to their expectations in the novel
Okonkwo is the head of the household
Okonkwo’s wives raised the children and fufilled role as house wife
Nwoye is expected by Okonkwo to be the greatest of his sons and to truly inherit his name and live it out
Ezinma is expected to be a young woman and act as so, so that she can be married

25. Polygamy and its relevance
Polygamy is practiced in the novel
Okonkwo has three wives
Recall that the amount of wives you have says something about your status
With the above point in mind, Nwakibie, the man who lent Okonkwo yams, had many wives
Unoka, Okonkwo’s father, had one wife

26. Coming of age and its relevance
Coming of age celebrations are not mentioned in the novel
Some rites of passage are mentioned though, such as marriage (Obireika’s daughter was married) and wrestling (Obireika’s son won the match and received much praise)

27. The place of family in the tribe and its relevance
As we can see in the novel, no family is given higher recognition than others
There is no sign of any family having more say or power than others
The council rules society
No matter how powerful the father may be, his family is not given special recognition within the tribe

28. Bibliography
Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Evanston: McDougall. 2002
Robinson, B.A. “Religious Tolerance” Tolerance.” June 06, 2004.