CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background to the Study Igbo Family

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background to the Study Igbo family is dynamic. It principally revolves around a very strong web of extended family system. This dynamism stems from marria'ge link which may either be polygynous whereby a man marries more than one wife; or monogamous whereby a man marries one wife. Igbo social obligation induces marital responsibility upon the man with his in-laws. The family system demands that social cohesion, respect for constituted authority, fear of the supernatural, parental training of the children, proper political administration, care of the aged, religious observances, and so on, are to be maintained. These formed the basis for the uniqueness of the traditional Igbo family system. It is important to note that the Igbo family system does not function in isolation from the community; rather, both the family and community work together in promoting stability and unity of all. The Igbo traditional family thrived in the core values of traditional life such as respect for humanand care for human life. This is exemplified in the sence that life is of great benefit and has to be protected. No one planned to neither eliminate a kinsmans life when there was an emergency nor show a known enemy the gate of his enemy especially if that enemy was a foreigner. Despite the fact that there may be quarrels whithin the inner recesses of the family system, a kinsman preserved the life of another kinsman and shields him from imminent danger. If somebody had killed a kinsman by error, he was made to flee the village to the mothers land and stayed for a stipulated amount of years before coming back. If a family was facing an imminent danger of being wiped off because of lack of male issues whithin the marriage, the family mensfolk organized and married another wife for their brother if the wife had disagreed to polygamy. The absence of male issues in Igbo falilies was a source of worry not only to the immediate household but to the entire village. There was the value of traditional collegiality in the traditional Igbo family system. Different 1 families saw themselves as members of other families and shared in the joys and sorrows of their neighbours. If there was either marriage or bural occourences, members of different families gathered together to help out their kinsman from the burden of the celebrations. Different contributions of cash and materials helped to cement the line of kinship and provide strong support for the celebrating families after the whole incidences. If a kinsman was marrying, the age grade went and helped to erect mud houses for the young man who was about to marry before the suitor came in. it will be a shame for a new wife to be ushered into her new home still sharing the same mudbed with the mother- in – law. There was the value of the respect for the elders and parents. Disrespect for them means offending the ancestors and was met with stiff resistance. The elders were known as the custodians of the traditional Igbo family ethos and.they pass down the ways of life of the old to the generation ahead. The elders and the parents organize the families and showcased the traditions of the community. The elders held administrative powers over the family thereby ensuring proper behaviours amongst members of the family. The Igbo family was renowned for hard work. No one was found lazy because each member engaged in profit yielding projects such as farming, blacksmithing, cutting of palm heads, wine tapping, brick making, and other forms of business ventures. One aspect of business that had appealed to the Igbo family was clientage. This is the idea of a businessman or ba craftsman from the family training on agreement a member of the family and training him for a specific period of time and settling him after that period. It was like the Old Testament period of Jubilee. The young person started the business either supervised by the trainer or allowed to run on his own. Through clientage Igbo businessmen had advanced areas of different aspect of business life across the nation and had increased economic base and volume for different families across the Igbo world. 2 Notwithstanding the strong foundation on which Igbo family stood and which includes the extended family system was the influence of globalization. With globalization in place, the researcher observed that the key component parts which form the foundation of the Igbo family system are operating in abysimal lowest level. These component parts.include the extended family system, fear of the earth goddess, respect of the brotherhood, sanctity of blood relationship and unity of purpose. Globalization, seen as wind that daily imports diverse issues into the Igbo family system and bears with it transformations, has become the factor of socialization and de-socialization within the Igbo family system. The researcher has identified globalization as the bearer of distortion of socio-religious values in Igbo family system. Colonialism, Christianity and Americanization and so on are major agents of globalization. 1.2 Statement of the Problem The just concluded background revealed that the Igbo family system was known for positive and life transforming values. This include but are not limited to community consciousness, and the enhancement and preservation of human life, love of the brotherhood, respect for constituted authorities, fear of the earth deity ala, attending to family chores, strength of positive character, truthfulness in dealing with others, justice seeking in all things, brotherly love and strong moral formation. The extended family system played a strong role in ensuring a balanced family system where strong ones gave social and religious meaning to the weaker ones. The family system was indeed communitarian in nature. Every adult person played a satisfactory role in the life of another person within the family system. With the entrance of globalization, the Igbo family started noticing changes and challenges. Globalization does not go without its positive effects on the Igbo family system. Ritzer (2012) asserts that globalization which is the spread of worldwide practices, 3 relations,consciousness and organization of social life has transformed the lives of billions, brought a lot of people together throughout the world. Its adverse effects are numerous. Some of the changes it introduced into the Igbo family system are that the social and moral life found among Igbo family has drastically changed. These are evidenced in unbridled sexual practices especially amongst teenegers and even the children, high rate of divorces amongst couples, disrespect of the constituted avithorities, and high rate of abortion resulting from unwanted pregnancies amongst female teenagers, neglect of the extended family system and so on. Furthermore, city life has destroyed the bond of family life. Respect for the elders of the family, sanctity of life, family hospitality and so on which were the hallmarks of the Igbo family system have been eroded at the wake of globalization. The extent to which these practices affected the Igbo family system is what the reseatcher has set out to investigate. The questions which the work sets out to andwer are but not limited to these: what was the nature of the Igbo family system before the incursion of globalization? What are the extents at which globalization has affected the Igbo family system? Can the Igbo family system be able to withstand the aftermath of globalization on it? Are there positive values in globalization which can be of help to reposition the Igbo family system and give it a positive outlook? 1.3 Purpose of the Study The purpose of this study includes the following: To describe the nature of the Igbo family system in the primordial times and characteristics of the family for harmononious communal life. To critically evaluate the Igbo family system in the globalizing world. To explain that despite evil effects of globalization on the Igbo family system, that globalization still injects some positive values to the ancient practices formally found within 4 the Igbo family system. 1.4 Scope of the Study This study is centred on the evaluation of the socio-religious features of the Igbo family system. Careful tangential considerations are given to other issues like geographical location and major characteristics of the Igbo in addition to the revival of the Igbo socio-religious family values. Since these concepts are also usual and could be too broad to be studied bit by bit, the researcher decides to limit the scope to the evaluation of the socio-religious life of the Igbo family in a globalizing world. This is to enable him dig out data and arrive at valid and reliable conclusion. 1.5 Significance of the Study The importance of globalization in the field of academics, cultural and in the ethical setting cannot be over emphasized. Academically, the work will expose teachers and students of religion and other disciplines to ways which the Igbo family system operated before the incurssion of globalization. The understanding of the nature and operation of the primordial Igbo family system will help to analyze and evaluate its features. It will also help the teachers and students of religion not only to know the importance of these features but also how globalization has affected them. Culturally, the Igbo people through the study will be enlightened on the socio-religious life of the primordial Igbo family and values therein. This study will also discuss the usefulness of globalization to the Igbo family system and why the Igbo will accept the changes offered. The Igbo will see the reasons also why some useful primordial values in the Igbo family system should be continued and not be left to die.

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