This article explores the people’s cultural practices, indigenous institutions, religions and worldview; and implication of culture mutation by the influence of westernization and modernism resulting in alien practices and lifestyles, which gradually results in paradox of modern identity. Globalisation and modernism are thus treated as sources of culture disarticulation using both primary and secondary data sources. The primary sources of these series of articles are interviews drawn from each of the 14 clans in Igede nation, namely:
Ada (Ada), Anchim (Ọchẹchẹ), Oye (Ugbodu), Ụkpa (Amọnọ), Ọbọrụ (Ọgbagba), Owo (Ochim-Aadu), Ibilla (Ugbeyikum), Ainu (Ada-Ainu), Ito (Ada-Oto), Uwokwu (Ololẹga), Idelle (Anyị-Odum), Ịgabwụ (Okpalotu), Itakpa (Ada Otakpa) and Oju (Ọnyị-Okpogo)
respectively while the secondary source is the existing literature and reports.
The research proves that colonialism with its attendant evil of neo-colonialism result in globalisation, dislodgement and decimation of primal Igede culture and the natural economy through co-option, force and imposition of alien ways of life. The missionaries equally furthered the incipient destruction of Igede cultural values (Agocha, 1989). There was a decimation of Igede gods and deities at the advent of Christianity.
Oral tradition on Igede culture reveals rich cultural heritage. Cultural norms such as Igede gerontocracy, oath taking, and punishment for breaking of bonds of competent relationship were practiced with absolute sense of faith and devotion. In addition, they have pristine culture of regarding kinship, social organization, religions and worldview, land tenure system, marriage, child naming, circumcision, divorce, widowhood and levirate marriage, crafts, traditional herbal practices, taboos, totems, rites of passage among others.
The advent of Christianity coupled with globalisation marked the beginning of dramatic changes in the people’ identities and the symbols of those identities with resultant alien practices and lifestyles. Egbodo (2015) examined Igede personality in relation to Igede cultural symbols and posited that Igede is an ethnic group with admirable identity. The researcher added that modernism is advancing the culture of stronger nations at the expense of weaker ones. One of the major effects of this in recent times is culture mutation.
Source:
Benson Akpegi Egbodo
M. Ed., B.Ed., NCE
08134273189
egbodobenson@gmail.com
Cloud Cyberia, Ogengeng Primary School Junction,
Along College of Education (COE) Road
Oju LGA, Benue State, Nigeria
November 2020.
Igede Traditional Custom and Paradox of Modernism by Egbodo Benson
Good to know. More please.