CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background of the Study

The Nigerian nation and the various tribal groups and communities that make her geographical entity are constantly facing the challenges of Westernization and other concomitant problems. From time immemorial and of course in the pre-colonial times in Nigeria, the traditional African had been living a life of moral sanctity and consciousness devoid of rancour and bitterness. In the social, political, economic and spiritual planes they were satisfied and exhibited evidences of good living and cordiality.

Specifically in the spiritual sphere, there were clearly divided lines of relationship between the sacred and the profane which apparently was covenantal (Suzerain). There were also defined rules between man and man in the society. The African people especially the Abor of Igbo extraction in Nigeria were rich in the cultural (religious) heritage. They were a deeply religious people whose religion was their life and there life was their religion. From the on set of the existence of

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Abor people they enacted religious laws deeply chereographed in their theology and cosmology which provided not only succour and solace to the citizenry but provided morally sanctimonious principles guiding human behaviour.

There were therefore taboos or prohibitions to control human excesses and prevent the possibility of straying away from the laid down norms. This was so because there were taboos against family image destruction, stealing, breaking of convenants and vows, adultery, fornication rape, armed robbery, burglary, and other social vices. Of course, it is an indubitable fact that man is a gregarious animal and wherever he finds himself in the company of others there are bound to be consternation and conflicts, In view of the possibility of frequent and regular conflicts. In this vein, the community Abor ear-marked some ethical guidelines to ensure mutual co-operation, understanding and peaceful co-existence. Given this backdrop, the society through folklores, proverbs, idioms, moonlight, plays, oath-taking measures and other multivariate means of controlling crime have made available strategies to

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make every member of the community live up to expectations by way of conformity.

In recent times however things have changed as the virtues we held in high esteem have been abused based on the influences of western lifestyle. There is no more respect for elders and there are different kinds of vices which have become the order of the day. This corroborates what Achebe said, thus, things fall apart, the centre cannot hold and the falcon cannot hear the falconer and mere anarchy is loosened upon the world, things fall apart. This is an anecdote referring to the harmonious existing order prior to the advent of the colonial masters and missionaries and also to the disruptive, destructive and divisive tendencies in vogue in our society today. From the foregoing, this topic becomes adreme in this 21stc century Africa, Nigeria and Abor, as the moral sanctity in the society is degenerating to an abysmally and dangerous level in the people’s history. The objective is to find out the solutions to this morally degenerating issues and make the society a more viable and peaceful place for us to live in when things are put in their proper perspectives. Through this

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study, no doubt the development of the people will not only be enhanced but assured.

1.2  Statement of the Problem

From time immemorial, the Igbo religious system was traditional, cultural and natural. Suffice it to say that it was God-given, original and unadulterated, but with the advent of Christian missionaries and their agents of westernization, who met a pattern of life that ran counter to Euro-Christian principles, the Igbo religious society and moral institutions experienced first attack by foreign culture, technology, education and Christianity, to the extent that things changed from its original form and shape to something else.

Morality deals with the question of what is right and good, and what is wrong and evil in human conduct. In the general sense, the word right implies conformity to custom, laws, conscience and some external authority (Titus, 1957:181). That is to say that an act is right if it conforms to norms of the society by which it is judged.

Apart from the racial pride, cultural arrogance shown in the use of obnoxious and derogatory terminologies by the

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Europeans in describing the traditional religion, the Igbo belief system and cultural practices suffered from indigenous indignation, indifference and total apathy. This unpatriotic attitude is not unconnected with ignorance, adoption of western culture and total subscription to alien practices.

1.3  Aim of the Study

The wholesale adoption of man have devastated and negated some cultural practices of the Igbo. To this end, the aims of this study include:

•                   To examine the degenerating level of morality in Abor community of Enugu State,

•                   To examine the persisting problem of dominant moral conscience. As such there will be an objective evaluation,

•                   To examine and appreciate core traditional moral values of the Igbo of South-Eastern Nigeria,

•                   To evaluate the Igbo world view, so that non-Igbo may know the social and moral norms of Igbo as well as the dominant role of religious leaders,

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•                   To also highlight salient elements and features of Igbo traditional religion especially as it concerns their moral values.

1.4  Significance of the Study

This study is necessary because from time immemorial, the practice of Igbo traditional religion had been of immense significance to the forebear. It highlights the fact that in Igbo religion, the Supreme Being is looked upon as the model of moral values whose dictates and principles should be followed to ensure peace and order in the community.

Finally, the study provides a more meaningful and deep-rooted knowledge of the people’s religious beliefs and practices. In tandem with the above Metuh observed (1992:15) that “to get an objective view of people’s religious beliefs, one would know whole life”.

This study will also fill the gap in literature on this subject matter. It provides the basis for further research on Igbo morality and other attendant moral issues among the people.

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1.5  Scope of the Study

Nigeria has six geo-political zones which include the south-east, south south, North Central, South West, North East and Northwest. The southeast comprises the five states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. Though the Igbo are disseminated in other neighbouring states, it is within these core five Igbo states that the study concentrates. The study focuses attention on the degenerating level of moral values among the Igbo but with special emphasis on the Abor of Enugu State. It is the position of this researcher that a lot of foreign influences were responsible for this degenerating level of morality among the people of Abor. To this end, the study is limited to Abor.