The paper examines the role of women in Igbo
religious culture as portrayed by Chinua Achebe in his classic novel, Things Fall Apart. It explores
the position of women in Igbo cultural practice by highlighting the valuable
and indispensable role of Igbo women as derived from the novel. Achebe’s
portraiture of the feminine gender has continued to draw a lot of attention as
a result of their largely perceived degrading roles. This was done by a
critical analysis ofthe novel, Things Fall Apart, which ultimately formed the fulcrum of the study, as well as other relevant
documents. Based on the key religious, educational, socio-cultural and other
roles of women as derived from the novel, the paper finds out that contrary to
the general notion that women are to be seen and not to be heard, women are
actually seen and heard especially, as a result of their indispensable roles in
the traditional Igbo society. The place of women in Igbo cultural society is
pivotal and very critical in the sustenance and continuance of human society.
References
[1]
Achebe, C. (1959) Things Fall Apart. Heinemann, London, England.
[2]
Nnadi, I. (2013) Son Preference—A Violation of Women’s Human Rights: A Case Study of Igbo Custom in Nigeria. Journal of Politics and Law, 6, 134-141. https://doi.org/10.5539/jpl.v6n1p134 http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jpl/article
[3]
Ugwu, C.O.T. (2014) The Demise of the African Gods: Fallacy or Reality. An Inaugural Lecture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. http://www.unn.edu.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/84th-Inaugural-Lecture-Prof.pdf
[4]
Asadu, O. (2016) Amarachi Attamah: It Hasn’t Been Easy, But We Have Succeeded. https://sheleadsafrica.org/amarachi-attamah
[5]
Nwosu, H.N. (2002) Politics and Administration in the Igbo Traditional Society. In: Ofomata, G.E.K., Ed., A Survey of the Igbo Nation, Africana First Publishers Limited, Lagos, Nigeria, 413-424.
[6]
Udeagha, N. (2014) Social and Moral Implications of Baby Factory in Abia State. Ph.D. Seminar Paper, Department of Religion and Cultural Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
[7]
Oraegbunam, I.K.E. (2010) Crime and Punishment in Igbo Customary Law: The Challenge of Nigerian Criminal Jurisprudence. OGIRISI: A New Journal of African Studies, 7, 1-31. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/og/article/viewFile/57917/46285 https://doi.org/10.4314/og.v7i1.57917
[8]
Nwoga, C.T.N. (2013) Socio-Religious Implications of Child Adoption in Igboland South Eastern Nigeria. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 4, 705-710. http://www.mcser.org/journal/index.php/mjss/article/view/1564 https://doi.org/10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n11p168
[9]
Ackley, D.G. (1962) The Male-Female Motif in Things Fall Apart. Studies in Black Literature, 5, 10-16.
[10]
Udeagha, N. (2017) Changing Patterns of Indigenous Religious and Cultural Practices in Bende Local Government Area, Abia State. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nsukka, Nigeria.
[11]
Agha, A.U. (2003) Religious Ethics in a Permissive Society. SAPS, Enugu, Nigeria
[12]
Corrales, J. (2013) Folktales in Igbo Culture. https://prezi.com/cgttvyhzjnsy/folk-tales-in-igbo-culture/
[13]
Parrinder, E.G. (1976) African Traditional Religion. Sheldin Press, London, England.
[14]
Ifesieh, E.I. (1989) Religion at the Grassroots; Studies in Igbo Religion. Fourth Dimension Publishers, Enugu, Nigeria.
[15]
Anyacho, E.O. (2005) Essential Themes in the Study of Religion. Niger Link Printing and Publishing, Obudu, Nigeria.
[16]
Nwala, T.U. (1986) Igbo Philosophy. Litramed Publications (Nig) Limited, Logos.
[17]
Samuel, E. and Chimeziem G. (2010) The Status and Role of Woman in Traditional Igbo Society as Presented by Two Nigerian Novelists. In: Ukagba, G.U., Obioma, D.O. and Nwankwor, I.J., Eds., The Kpim of Feminism; Issues and Women in a Changing World, Trafford Publishing, Victoria, Canada, 349-355.
