Religion

What do you believe about life, death, and the way the universe works? Do you have any customs or rituals that go along with your belief?

www.uiowa.edu/%7Eafricart/toc/people/Igbo.html - scroll down to section on religion

www.kwenu.com/odinani/frame.htm -- Click on "Fundamentals" and read sections on Okike (and pay especial attention to the explanations of Chukwu and Chi), and the sections on Mmuo (which is related to the idea of Egwugwu which you'll meet in a later reading), the Golden Rule and Ani.

www.qub.ac.uk/en/imperial/nigeria/religion.htm -- another site that more concisely summarizes Igbo beliefs

www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/two_sculp/index.htm -- explains about ancestor worship– but be sure to click on the Igbo sculpture for the info, not the other one!

mccoy.lib.siu.edu/jmccall/jones/misc.html -- scroll down to pictures of shrines and Ikenga

mccoy.lib.siu.edu/jmccall/jones/awka.html -- scroll down under Nri-Awka Igbo to see pictures of Mmuo/Egwugwu at a masquerade (especiall traveler, merciless, long mouth, and grandmother)

Government or Structure of Society

Some countries are still monarchies or oligarchies (ruled by one person or small group who inherited rule from their parents), and some are republics (ruled by a small elected group – like in the USA ) Which type of government would you want to live in, and why?

www.uiowa.edu/%7Eafricart/toc/people/Igbo.html - scroll down to section on political systems

www.qub.ac.uk/en/imperial/nigeria/govt.htm

www.umunna.org/politicalsystems.htm - also addresses role of women and elders in government

www.nmafa.si.edu/pubaccess/pages/advanfrm.htm search for “Igbo” under ethnic group and then click on the link to the shrine figures

www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass/ -- type in "okega" to their search AND then do another search on "Wooden complex ozo"

mccoy.lib.siu.edu/jmccall/jones/ada/ovim2.JPG - picture of Igbo elder attending festival

Masks

(NOTE: this topic counts as 2 because it is so big)

Choose one:

•  How does your religion make use of pictures, sculptures, costumes, etc. to symbolize important ideas or to celebrate special events?

•  How do people today use costumes? Think about theatre, sports mascots, special occasions, etc. Why do they use them?

www.postcolonialweb.org/africa/art3.html -- why masks are out of place in museums

mccoy.lib.siu.edu/jmccall/jones/igbo/ika5.JPG -- picture of dancers with masks resting before dancing to a drum orchestra (note: if you play around on this site there must be around 100 photos of masked Igbos)

artsedge.kennedy-center.org/aoi/history/ao-guide.html -- skip to the section on Motif #3: Masquerade for Masks info (all paragraphs)

Pictures of Masks:

www.mama.org/masks/index.html -- sample masks and background on them, be sure to click on "Nigeria"

mccoy.lib.siu.edu/jmccall/jones/ekpe.html (especially the Ejukpe mask)

http://www.africanart.org/facingthemask/intro_kinds.html

http://www.thinker.org/fam/education/publications/guide-african/25.html

Music & Dance

What types of music do you like to listen to? Why? What makes that type of music different from other types? What instruments are used in the making of it?

artsedge.kennedy-center.org/aoi/history/ao-guide.html -- especially paragraphs 1, 5 & in Motif #4: The “Talking Drum” but can also skim over other Motifs.

www.hamillgallery.com/EXHIBITIONS/AfricanDrums.html - scroll down to the section on Igbo drums

mccoy.lib.siu.edu/jmccall/jones/misc.html -- pictures of band playing in Northern Igboland & musical instruments

members.tripod.com/ih8_tuxedos/index9.html -- igbo drums (alterate link)

mccoy.lib.siu.edu/jmccall/jones/igbo/ekpafia8.JPG - picture of a dancer at a festival (play around in this website to see other pictures of bands and dances)

Economics

How does your family earn its sustenance (food, shelter, etc.)? If you lived a hundred years ago, how do you think it might be different?

www.uiowa.edu/%7Eafricart/toc/people/Igbo.html - scroll down to economy section

www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/site/cowrie.htm -- explains cowrie shells

www.igbocsn.com/culture/culture_currency.html -- a bit more on cowrie shells

EC if you find MORE LINKS for this topic BUT
ONLY if you do it after all other work is done.

Marriage & Weddings

How are marriages arranged in your culture? What steps lead up to the wedding? What happens at the wedding? What roles do men and women take on during a marriage?

www.afrikaworld.net/afrel/igbo-marriage.htm or click on this (alternate link) or another link

www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/site/bride.htm -- explains bride price (calls it bridewealth)

EC if you find MORE LINKS for this topic BUT
ONLY if you do it after all other work is done.

Celebrations & Fun

What annual celebrations does your family or culture have every year? What parts or rituals do you look forward to?

www.igbocsn.com/culture/new_yam.html -- One of the most important celebrations is the New Yam Festival

www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass/ -- type in "Ceramic altar for the New Yam harvest" to their search

www.igbocsn.com/culture/wrestling.html -- Most popular sport? Wrestling!

www.igbocsn.com/culture/naming.html -- Naming ceremonies for babies

EC if you find MORE LINKS for this topic BUT
ONLY if you do it after all other work is done.

Hospitality

When you have a special guest visit your home, how do you welcome them? What special rituals or actions should you do to show politeness?

www.igbocsn.com/culture/oji.html -- how the kolanut ceremony works

www.kwenu.com/moesmemo/dimensions_kolanut.htm -- use of kolanut

kaleidoscope.igbonet.com/culture/kolanutseries/ezeugbala/ -- more on kolanuts

lib.lbcc.edu/chiamaka/igbo.htm -- pics of kolanuts

www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/perssevn.htm -- snuff bowl

mccoy.lib.siu.edu/jmccall/jones/misc.html -- scroll down to section on ceremonial bowls

Clothing & Appearance

There are many different ideas of what looks good – give examples of what you like and dislike about current styles (think about clothing, hair, tattoos, piercings, jewelry, etc.) How much attention do you think we should place on looks?

www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/two_sculp/index.htm -- explains about body decoration and ancestor worship– but be sure to click on the Igbo sculpture for the info, not the other one!

www.postcolonialweb.org/africa/health.html what is beauty in African women

www.nmafa.si.edu/pubaccess/pages/advanfrm.htm -- search for “Igbo” under ethnic group and then click on the link to the statue of a woman and child

www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/uli.htm -- explanation of Uli line-drawing on bodies/houses

Artwork & Architecture

What kinds of art do you like? Do you think art is just pictures in museums, or can it be more than that? Explain.

Igbo Art at the British Museum - type in "Igbo" to the search and you'll see several pieces of Igbo art.

www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/uli.htm -- explanation of Uli line-drawing on bodies/houses

mccoy.lib.siu.edu/jmccall/jones/igbo/misc5.JPG picture of Igbo house under construction

mccoy.lib.siu.edu/jmccall/jones/ada/ada10.JPG - picture of Igbo meeting house

Language & Oral customs

Where did your name come from? What does it mean? What cultures influence the way your family talks? What sayings does your family always repeat?

lib.lbcc.edu/chiamaka/igbonames.htm

www.motherlandnigeria.com/proverbs.html

www.motherlandnigeria.com/languages.html#Ibo – scroll down to section on Ibo