Author: Amobi Ndidi Emeka
Department: Religion and Human Relations
Affiliation: Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka
The research examines the socio-religious challenges of modernity to the traditional family institution in Igboland. The study analyzed the content of modernity and undermining of the pristine Igbo. Before its incursion, the features of the traditional Igbo had always being communal in the sense that all felt secured, accepted and loved. It is based on this philosophy of community interest and relationship that individuals fulfill this duty within the interest of the community and relating cordially with members of the community. The systematic method of the
traditional Igbo community life style was found within the ambience of I am because I belong. With this, self dependent was stressful and exerting in the chronicle of traditional Igbo lives. This means that joint effort had been an ideal in the traditional times. Perhaps it is not to convince that there had not being individual exploit in the yore days; there are, but conglomerative measures was conceived in other to achieve ones aim, that is why Igbo adage always say that concerted effort brings strength in unity ‘Igwe bu Ike”. Again in the traditional Igbo, the community was bounded by the dictates of customs and values which made the traditional Igbo corrupt free society where scandals of such like injustice and economic insecurity was never absorb. Prior to that, the traditional Igbo institution was grounded by law of which any violation would be either ostracized or punished according to the customs and values of the traditional Igboland. Thus, this customs revolves in what Igbo people calls Omenala
(custom); thus it is the hub upon which the entire Igbo lives rotates. However, modernity which reasoned to be a change in human application took place on 19th century abducted and dislogged almost the customs and values of the traditional Igbo institution. The abduction of the traditional Igbo institution by modernity encroached dark side of transformation, imitation of lifestyle and norms in Igboland. Challenges such like abortion, commoditization of women sexuality, extra marital affairs, illicit activities in ICT and so forth. However despite theses challenges, there are some enduring social values which persisted in this contemporary Igbo times such like reverence to deities, practice of polygamy, woman to woman marriage and some of the traditional Igbo values to mention but a few. The study was discussed to reawaken the Igbo ideal of community consciousness which was based on selfless services, prior to that, it was done in relation to curb the western thought in the lives of the contemporary Igbo. The research adopted primary and secondary sources of data collection and analyze descriptively with area culture method of interpretation. The literature review was done under conceptual framework, theoretical framework, empirical studies and summary of the review. The research addresses the concept of modernity generally as it affects Igbo family institution. The theoretical framework such as functionalism and conflict theories were adopted. Further, observation was applied because the researcher was an insider to the modern disruptive machinery. The study is relevance to families as they would learn that there can be no I if there is no we”, thus this gives stability and by
extension offers stability to the larger society. It is also significant to academia’s, for reference and guide as regards Igbo customs. However, the study is limited to five Igbo states in East of the Niger such as Anambra, Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi. Igbo are implored to imbibe on the multicultural approach which indicates taken the positive side of modernity letting go the obnoxious ones. Further, familyhood should be encouraged in the contemporary Igbo.
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