i ONYENUCHEYA OZIOMA FAITH PG/MA/09/51171 THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH TOWARDS AMELIORATION OF PG/M. Sc/09/51723 SOCIO-CULTURAL PRACTICES INIMICAL TO WOMEN LIBERATION IN IGBOLAND A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF RELIGION AND CULTURAL STUDIESFACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION JANUARY, 2012 Digitally Signed by Webmaster’s Name Webmaster DN : CN = Webmaster’s name O= University of Nigeria, Nsukka OU = Innovation Centre ii THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH TOWARDS AMELIORATION OF SOCIO-CULTURAL PRACTICES INIMICAL TO WOMEN LIBERATION IN IGBOLAND BY ONYENUCHEYA OZIOMA FAITH PG/MA/09/51171 DEPARTMENT OF RELIGION AND CULTURAL STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA JANUARY 2012 iii TITLE PAGE THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH TOWARDS AMELIORATION OF SOCIO-CULTURAL PRACTICES INIMICAL TO WOMEN LIBERATION IN IGBOLAND BY ONYENUCHEYA OZIOMA FAITH REG NO: PG/MA/09/51171 DEPARTMENT OF RELIGION AND CULTURAL STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA JANUARY 2012 iv REQUIREMENT PAGE THE ROLE THE CHURCH TOWARDS THE AMELIORATION OF SOCIO- CULTURAL PRACTICE INIMICAL TO WOMEN LIBERATION IN IGBOLAND. BY ONYENUCHEYA OZIOMA FAITH REG NO: PG/MA/09/51171 A PROJECT REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF RELIGION AND CULTURAL STUDIES, FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF ARTS (M.A) DEGREE IN RELIGION AND CULTURAL STUDIES. SUPERVISOR: REV.PROF AGHA. U. AGHA JANUARY 2012. v APPROVAL PAGE This project has been approved as meeting the requirement for the award for Master of Arts (M.A) in Religion and Cultural studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka BY ………………………………. …………………………….. REV. PROF. AGHA A .U DATE SUPERVISOR ………………………………. ………………………………. REV. DR E. A ITUMA DATE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT EXTERNAL EXAMINER DATE ………………………………. ……………………………. DEAN FACULTY OF SOCIAL DATE SCIENCES vi CERTIFICATION We hereby certify that the candidate ONYENUCHEYA OZIOMA.F with Registration Number PG/09/MA/51171 has duly effected the corrections suggested by the external Examiner. ……………………… ……………………………. Rev.Prof.Agha. U. Agha Rev.Dr .E Ituma (Supervisor) (Head of Dept). vii DECLARATION ONYENUCHEYA OZIOMA. F, A Postgraduate student of Department of Religion and Cultural Studies University of Nigeria Nsukka with Registration Number PG/MA/09/51171 has satisfactorily completed all the requirements for the course and research works for the award of Masters of Arts (M.A) Degree in Religion and Cultural Studies. The work embodied in this project report is original and has not been submitted in part or full for any other diploma or degree of this or any other University. …………………… ……………………….. Rev.Prof.Agha U. Agha. Rev.Dr E.Ituma (Supervisor) (Head of Dept) viii DEDICATION This project work is dedicated to my parents, Mr. and Mrs. .R.C Onyenucheya ix ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research work will not be complete without appreciating some people who contributed immensely to its completion. They contributed through advice, prayers moral, financial support or provision of one item or the other. My greatest gratitude goes to almighty God, my father through His son Jesus Christ, my saviour, for His special grace, favour, goodness and mercy throughout my stay in this great citadel of learning .Above all, I thank Him, for his hands upon my life. He is mighty in battle. My profound gratitude goes to my supervisor, Rev.Prof.Agha .U Agha, without whose perseverance and tireless effort at reading every word of this research work and putting across his nice ideas, corrections and suggestions, the completion of this work would have been difficult. Also ,I will not fail to appreciate other lecturers in my department ,among whom are:Prof Ugwu C.O.T , Rev Dr Ononugbu and Dr Onyeidu they have contributed immensely to my future . x This thesis is materials that were found in other articles or books. The researcher makes no claim to be comprehensive. A special thanks to the authors mentioned in the references page. Without them, this work would have taken many years before its completion. I will not forget the immeasurable help and assistance given to me by Ukandu.I. Maxwell my only classmate in the whole of Odili Hall. Words are not enough to express my gratitude to my classmates: Dick Chinedu, Edeh victor,Udagha Nduka, Agbasianya Nneka,Ogiri Happiness,Bro Rex Ufomadu, my brothers and sisters: Nkemdilim, Obinna ,Eloka and Nonye. They did not allow me to shed tears for one-day .In fact; they are my source of happiness, companions when I am alone and my shelter in bad weather. Finally, I express my thanks to the computer analyst who typeset this work. ONYENUCHEYA OZIOMA FAITH DEPT OF REL&CULTURAL STUDIES FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA. xi ABSTRACTS The study is focused on the role of the Church in the amelioration of socio- cultural practices inimical to women liberation in Igboland. The study focused on some of the evil practices against the freedom of women that have continued to persist in Igboland. The method adopted is historical research methodology and utilized both primary and secondary sources of data collection. The primary sources of data collection were gotten through oral interview from knowledgeable individuals from around the state, on the research subject. The secondary sources of data were derived from existing textbooks on the topic of research found in the library and archives. The researcher found out that Christianity has done much in emancipation of women from some of the evil practices in Igboland. It was discovered that some parts of Igboland still subject widows to evil practices. It was discovered during the investigation that female circumcision is still being carried on in some part of Igboland. Women are still denied property ownership in some parts of Igboland. The church played a vital role in amelioration of these cultural practices that are inimical to women. The church is still looked upon to continue to play their roles to help eliminate the persisting evil practices in the contemporary Igbo communities in different states throughout Igboland. The researcher attempts to use this means to call on the church and the public to address the persisting inimical practices against women in the contemporary society. TABLE OF CONTENTS xii Title page i Approval page ii Certification page iii Declaration iv Dedication v Acknowledgment vi Abstracts viii Table of contents ix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background to the study 1 1.2 Statement of the problem 4 1.3 Research Methodology 4 1.4 Purpose of the study 5 1.5 Significance of the study 5 1.6 Scope of the study 5 1.7 Definition of terms 6 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 10 2.1 Social Status of women in Traditional society. 10 2.2 Economic Roles of Women 14 2.3 Political Roles of Women 16 2.4 Factors at work in development of women‟s status 18 2.5 Summary 21 xiii CHAPTER THREE: SOCIO-CULTURAL PRACTICES INIMICAL TO WOMEN LIBERATION IN IGBOLAND 23 3.1 WIDOWHOOD PRACTICE 23 3.1.1Causes of Widowhood practice 25 3.1.2 Widowhood Rituals- Igba-Mkpe 27 3.1.3 Effects of Widowhood on Women 34 3.2 FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION 37 3.2.1 Classifications of female genital mutilation 39 3.2.2 The range of procedure involved in female genital mutilation 41 3.2.3 Reasons for performing female genital mutilation 43 3.2.4 The effect of female genital mutilation on the health of women 47 3.3 POLYGAMY 50 3.3.1 Reasons for polygamy 52 3.3.2 Effect of polygamy on women 56 3.4 MASQUERADE SOCIETY 58 3.4.1 Nature/origin of masquerade 59 3.4.2 Types of masquerade 60 3.4.3 Functions of Masquerade 65 CHAPTER FOUR: CHRISTIANITY AS A CATALYST OF WOMEN’S LIBERATION FROM SOCIO-CULTURAL PRACTICES INIMICAL TO THEIR DEVELOPMENT 72 xiv 4.1 The impact of Christianity on Igbo Culture 72 4.4.1 Western education 74 4.4.2 Religious and social freedom 76 4.4.3 Marriage System 78 4.4.4 Widowhood practice 80 CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 83 5.1 Summary of the findings 83 5.2 Contributions to knowledge 84 5.3 Recommendations 84 5.4 Suggestions for further Research 86 Conclusion 86 References 88 xv MAP OF IGBOLAND xvi xvii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study: Igbo people are an ethnic group living chiefly in South –Eastern Nigeria. The area is located in the tropical rain forest environment of West Africa. Igbo land lies between Longitudes 5o and 7˚ north of the equator. Tribes with varying dialects surround them. On the North, the Igbo share a common boundary with Igala, the Idoma and the Tiv, on the South the Ijaw and Ogoni, East by the Ibibio, Anang, Yako, Umon and finally on the West, by Edo, Urhobo an Isoko people (Onwuejeogu, 1981) surround them. The origin of Igbo people cannot be easily traced because of lack of records, which will help to explain the period, place of settlement and origin. According to Ilogu (1974:11), “where the Igbo came from and when, will remain for a long time a matter of conjecture because of the absence of helpful records of archeological records by which to determine the date of settlement and place of origin”. Shaw (1977:18) maintained, “Through oral traditions recorded by ethnologists, historians and some available archeological records, little has been known about the origin of Igbo people. Through these sources, it was found that Igbo-Ukwu area had been a center of Igbo civilization, which dates as far as ninth century B.C. or even more. Onwuejeogu (1981:8) noted on the Igbo that, “a study of their way of life reveals that they were able to adapt effectively to the dense rain forest in Nigeria”.