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The Value of Human Dignity: a Socio-Cultural Approach to Analyzing the Crisis of Values Among Igbo People of Nigeria

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The Value of Human Dignity: a Socio-Cultural Approach to Analyzing the Crisis of Values Among Igbo People of Nigeria Julius Maximillians- Universität Würzburg Katholische-Theologie Fakultät The Value of Human Dignity: A Socio-Cultural Approach to Analyzing the Crisis of Values among Igbo People of Nigeria Paul Chinedu Ezenwa Table of Contents Acknowledgement ………………………………………………………………………….1 Forward …………………………………………………………………………………… 2 General Introduction: ……………………………………………………………………….4 0.1 Research Objective ………………………………………………………………………7 0.2 The Challenges to be resolved ………...……………………………………………….. 8 0.3 Scope and Methodology ……………………………………………………………….. 9 Chapter One Definition of Terms Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………..11 1.0The Term Igbo ……………………………………………………………………………11 1,1Crisis of Values its Meaning in the Work ………………………………………………...11 1.2 Notion “Value” …………………………………………………………………………..12 1.3 The Notion Dignity …………………………………………………………………........14 1.4 Culture and Human Dignity ……………………………………………………………...16 1.5 The Concept Human Person ……………………………………………………………..19 1.6 The Igbo Ontology of the Human Person ………………………………………………..21 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………...23 Chapter Two Igbo Sources of Human Dignity and Socio-Cultural Values Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………24 2.1The Igbo Ethical World Views …………………………………………………………...26 2.2 Sense of the Sacred ………………………………………………………………………27 2.2.1 The Human Life ………………………………………………………………………..29 2.3 Sense of Communalism ………………………………………………………………….32 2.3.1 Importance of Being Communal Oriented ……………………………………………35 2.3.2 Sense of Hospitality ………………………………………………………………….37 2.3.2.1 The Host ……………………………………………………………………………39 2.3.2.2 The Guest …………………………………………………………………………..39 2.4 Respect for Elders ……………………………………………………………………...40 2.4.1 Truth and Justice ……………………………………………………………………..42 2.5 Emulation and Adaptability ……………………………………………………………43 2.6 Autonomy of the Human Person ………………………………………………………44 2.6.1 Ownership as Right and Value ………………………………………………………48 2.6.2 Character (Agwa) and Social Competence …………………………………………..50 2.6.3 Work as Value in Igbo Cultural Setting ……………………………………………...51 2.7 Igbo Personal Names as a Proof of the Value and Dignity of Human Person ………...52 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………..54 Chapter Three: The Human Person in the Igbo Socio-political Society Introduction ………………………………………………………………………….........55 3.1The Igbo Socio-Political Structure …………………………………………………….56 3.1.1 The Role of Gender ………………………………………………………………....58 3.1.2 The Role of Citizenship ……………………………………………………………..60 3.1.3 The Role of Lineage …………………………………………………………………60 3.2 The Family ……………………………………………………………………………..60 3.2.1 The Kindred (Umunna) …………………………………………………………….. 63 3.2.2 The Village (Ebo or Ebe) .……………………………………………………….…. 66 3.2.3 The Town (Obodo or Mba) ………………………………………………………….67 3.3 The Title Holders ………………………………………………………………………69 3.3.1 The Ozo ………………………………………………………………………………70 3.3.2 The Secret Societies (Masquerade) …………………………………………………..71 3.3.3 The Patrilineage Daughters (Umuada ) ………………………………………………72 3.3.4 Age Grade (Ogbo)……………………………………………………………………73 3.4 The Laws of the Land (Iwu Obodo) ……………………………………………….......75 3.4.1 The Ofo ………………………………………………………………………………78 3.4.2 The Deities (Alusi) …………………………………………………………………...79 3.4.3 The Priest ……………………………………………………………………………..82 3.5 The King (Eze) ………………………………………………………………………….83 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………….....84 Chapter Four Generational Decline of the Value of Human Dignity: Dilemma of the Contemporary Igbo Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………87 4.1The Pre-colonial Igbo and Culture Contact ………………………………………………88 4.1.1 The Osu Caste System …………………………………………………………………89 4.1.2 Ohu (Domestic Slave) ………………………………………………………………….92 4.2 The Question of Value and Dignity of Women in Igbo Traditional Society …………….93 4.2.1 Gender Inequality …………………………………………………………………........95 4.3 The Trans-Atlantic slave Trade and the Inhuman Effect on the Igbo ……………………97 4.4 The So Called Era of Civilization and its Effects ..…………....…………………….......99 4.4.1 Effect of Christianity on Igboland ……………………………………………………100 4.5 Nigeria Pluralism and the Effect on the Igbo …………………………………………..103 4.5.1 The Nigeria-Biafran War and the After Effects on the Igbo …………..…….……….105 4.5.1.1Consequences of the War ……………………………………………….………….106 4.5.2 Tribalism ……………………………………………………………………………..108 4.5.2.1 Effect of Tribalism on Nigeria as a Nation …………………………………………109 4.5.3 The Igbo Marginalization ……………………………………………………………..111 4.5.4 Corruption …………………………………………………………………………….113 4.5.5 Non-Creativity and Lack of Working Culture …………………………………..........116 4.5.6 Lack of Discipline / Indiscipline …………………………………………………….118 4.5.7 Child Labour a Threat to Human Esteem ……………………………………………120 4.5.7.1 Causes and Effects of Child Labour ……………………………………………….122 4.5.8 Human Trafficking …………………………………………………………………..123 4.5.8.1 Kidnapping: A Threat to the Value of Human Dignity ……………………………125 4.6 Urbanization, Modernization and Globalization ……………………………………….127 4.6.1 Urbanization and Urban Migration ……………………………………………...........127 4.6.1.1 Secularization ………………………………………………………………………129 4.6. 2 Science and Technology ……………………………………………………………..130 4.6.3 Globalization …………………………………………………………………………136 4.6.3.1Globalization the Question of National Identity ……………………………………138 4.6.4 Communication ………………………………………………………………………140 4.6.4.1 Mass Media …………………………………………………………………...........141 Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………………….143 Chapter Five Some Efforts and Suggestions in Resolving the Devaluation of Human Dignity Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………147 5.1 United Nations Declaration on Human Dignity …………………………………...........147 5.2 African Charter on Human Dignity …………………………………………………….149 5.3 Nigerian efforts on the Value of Human Dignity ………………………………………143 5.4 Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Contribution towards Human Dignity in Nigeria ……………………………………………………………………………………..152 5.5 Igbo Efforts towards Human Dignity ………………………………………………….153 5.6 Human Duty a Prerequisite for Human Dignity ………………………………….........154 5.7 The Church and Right to Life …………………………………………………….........156 5.8 The Role of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria ………………………...........157 5.8.1 Justice …………………………………………………………………………………159 5.8.2 Human Welfare ………………………………………………………………………160 5.8.3 Religio-politico Violence ……………………………………………………….........161 5.8.4 Public Affairs of Families ……………………………………………………………163 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………163 Chapter Six A Critical and Ethical Solution to the Devaluation of Human Dignity Introduction …………………………………………………………………………...........165 6.1 Observation and Findings ………………………………………………………………165 6.1.1 Decline of Parental Authority and Domestic Values …………………………………166 6.1.2 Materialism …………………………………………………………………………...167 6.1.3 Poverty ………………………………………………………………………………..167 6.1.4 Hardening Social Strata ………………………………………………………………169 Recommendations …………………………………………………………………………170 6.2 A Re-awakening of some Igbo Socio-cultural Values …………………………...........170 6.2.1 Rekindling the Sense of Humanity ……………………………………………...........172 6.2.2 Education ……………………………………………………………………………..173 6.2.3 Health Sector ………………………………………………………………………….176 6.2.4 Agricultural Sector ……………………………………………………………………177 6.2.5 Reducing the Unemployment Rate ……………………………………………...........178 6.2.6 Political Stability ………………………………………………………………...........179 6.2.7 Observance of the Rule of Law ……………………………………………………….179 6.2.8 A Balanced Judiciary System ………………………………………………………...181 6.2.9 Commitment of the Church through Justice, Development and Peace Commission 181 6.3 General Evaluation and Conclusion ……………………………………..…….......... 183 Acknowledgement: Gratitude we know is a virtue and in the words of St. Paul, my Patron Saint, to the Colossians to always be thankful (Col. 3: 15), I deem it fit to express my unalloyed and indebted gratitude to all those who have made it possible for me to go through the crucible of producing this work. It will appear reasonable to avoid listing names in order to avert the omission of important contributors to this work, but it cannot be avoided entirely. My utmost gratitude goes to God almighty that actually facilitated and actualized this doctoral work. The intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary is very vital as well.I remain grateful to my Bishop A.T. Ukwuoma of Orlu for his permission to have my studies in Germany. I will not forget the Bishop Emeritus G. O. Ochiagha of Orlu for his support and encouragement. I remain grateful to the Diocese of Würzburg, Germany for the immense financial support. I pray God to bless you immensely for the sustenance. In a very special way I remain grateful to my moderator Professor.. Gerhard Droesser, whose fatherly and scholarly guidance, critical remarks, corrections and suggestions, contributed immensely to the actualization of this work. My unalloyed gratitude goes also to my second moderator Professor Chibueze Udeani, whose contributions, criticisms and insights empowered me and the work to get to this point. I sincerely acknowledge with thankfulness the wonderful help from Frs. Fidelis Kwazu and Emmanuel Umeh for their time, help and meaningful contributions in making the work a reality. To Dr.. Inno. Ezeani for being the friend that you are, I remain ever grateful. I am also full thanks to Frs. Aloy. Chikezie, Nwandu Hyginus, Jude Okeke, Bon Ogbonna, Tony Obadina, Ifeanyi Nwanekezi, Drs. Titus Offor, Augustus Izekwe, Mathew Anyanwu, Chris Okwuru, Rowland Onyenali, Hyginus Chigere and my comrades in Würzburg for your immense contributions and giving me the listening
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