The Igbos are very traditional people, there is a strong pull towards preserving inherited ethos and values (also known as omenani or odinani). This manifests in the continued celebration and sustenance of cultural festivals and feasts such as Mmanwu or masquerade festivals. Ndigbo still observe traditional marriage rites such as Ime ego (bride price) and Igba nkwu. Ndigbo are known to be deeply religious, while majority may have converted to Christianity, others are still practising Igbo traditional religion. The kola nut still remains a significant aspect of Igbo culture; as Ndigbo would say, ‘He who brings kola brings life’. Titles and title taking are still propagated in Igbo communities. In Igbo land, people are known and greeted mainly by their titles rather than by their given names hence Ndigbo will say – Nke onye chiri, ya zaa (let each person answer and uphold his title). It is common for Ndigbo, particularly titled and elderly men to speak using proverbs. While some may argue that the culture of respect for elders is waning as a result of the swagger life style of nouveau rich Igbo men and women and including politicians, respect for elders is still very much observed by many in line with the admonition by one of Ndigbo’s most revered sons, the late Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Owelle of Onitsha and Nigeria’s first President who had cautioned that “those that do not respect greatness will never live to be great”. Amongst the Igbos are also to be observed strong bonds of kinship and brotherhood as evidenced in the maintenance of cultural groups, town unions and community development associations (CDAs) in distant lands where Ndigbo reside. Perhaps this may be a way of fostering the Umunna, Igwebuike and Nwanne di na mba philosophy (unity and strength in togetherness). Though Ndigbo may be widely travelled, they do have a strong home coming mentality. Some negative aspects have also been observed about Igbo culture, these have now been massively exploited by non-Igbos in Nigeria’s political terrain to create a divide and rule situation that has led to Ndigbo’s perennial search for credible leadership. Many argue that Ndigbo love money but I will argue rather that this is just a mis-interpretation of the highly ambitious and competitive spirit of the Igbo man which finds credence in the almost spiritual understanding that Onye ruo, ya rie. By their nature, Ndigbo are very hardworking and enterprising. Another is the saying, propagated by Ndigbo themselves that Igbo enwe Eze. This belief that Ndigbo have no central leader is far from the truth as it at the same time contradicts the Igbo belief that Onye fee eze, Eze eru ya (Give honour to the deserving and you shall also be honoured). These prejudices, real and imagined may have unwittingly made Ndigbo objects of envy and fear by their Nigerian brothers and sisters. Ndigbo have always relied on self-help and self-enterprise in their business endeavours. This perhaps may have been as a result of the victim mentality created by the losses they suffered during the Nigeria-Biafra civil war. Olanrewaju Akinpelu Olutayo in his paper, The Igbo Entrepreneur in the political economy of Nigeria (African Study Monographs, 20(3): 147-174, September 1999) writes that “One major and unique trait of the Igbo entrepreneur is the courage, perseverance, and determination with which they carry on in spite of the bad experiences and losses during the Nigerian civil war from 1967 to 1970”. This in-group survivalist thinking may have served Ndigbo right in post-civil war Nigeria when the exigencies of the time required that one only trusted people of his race. The post-war era witnessed many successes especially amongst Igbo business men who despite the trauma and losses still managed to build large enterprises relying on self-help. Augustine Ilodibe was easily Nigeria’s biggest transporter with his Ekene Dili Chukwu transport business. There were others that built large scale contracting and construction enterprises such as R.O. Nkwocha, D.O Nkwonta and F.G.N Okoye, all from Enugwu-Ukwu. Others thrived in industry and real estate such as John Anyaehie, Nnanna Kalu, Chief Ferdinand Anaghara, Louis Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Onwuka Kalu. Those that focused on commerce (import and export) thrived as well, such as G.E Chikeluba and his partners at the GMO Group. Unfortunately, most of these worthy pioneering Igbo sons have all passed on and the estates and business empires they left behind have also crumpled. Ndigbo should learn their lessons from some of these experiences. The world over, many businesses which began as family businesses such as Ford, Daimler Benz etc have since become publicly owned enterprises. When new shareholders and investors are allowed to come in, they bring in new ideas and capital thus enhancing further the chances of survival.
Posted on: Fri, 23 Aug 2013 09:34:00 +0000
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