social in tfa

7/31/2019 Social in Tfa

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FAMILY TREE

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FAMILY

AND SOCIAL HIERARCHIES

Siti Amira


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UNOKAUNNAMED

WOMAN

OKONKWO

Unnamed 1st wife(1ST WIFE)

EKWEFI(2ND WIFE)

OJIUGO

(3RD WIFE)

NWOYE

OBIAGELI

EZINMA NKECHI

IKEMEFUNA

(ADOPTED SON)

MARRIED


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IMPORTANCE OF THE FAMILY


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Igbo Family

Family is extremely

important

Married life is normalcondition

Polygamy is ideal for

men. It can be

considered a sign of

status in the tribe


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Polygamy

Someone who practices polygamy takes morethan ONE spouse

Polygamy was practiced in Igbo society

It had a big influence on the family ranking

e.g. Okonkwo has three wives


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The role of family

All family structures have designated roles for

the different members:

i) Husband

ii)wives

iii) children

iv) extended family

v) seniority in age in the village


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1.Role of Men (Husband)

The oldest man was the head of each household

Responsible for all the members in his household

Responsibilities include:

Settling family disputes

Controlling the communication with the

ancestors

Building his obi and huts for wives


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2.Wives

Ranked according to order in which they married thehusband

Were responsible for:

Giving birth to many sonsYounger wives were expected to help older wives

Caring for children and head of house

As wives aged, they spent more time outside the

household ( farming, craft making)


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3.Children

Required to be obedientto all adults

Never contradictparents

Children are not equal

Sons & daughters are

ranked with the wives(i.e.) first son of first wife

is highest


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4.Extended Family

Grandparents, uncles, aunts,nephews, and nieces, and in- laws

Always welcome to unannouncedvisits to the nuclear family

Extended family is created uponmarriage

Expected to gives a bride- price tobrides family upon Union

Lose importance after marriage


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5.Seniority in Age in the Village

In the Igbo village,seniority in ageregulates social

placement in thevillage.

In the family, being theoldest child brings greatresponsibility, as well asimportant socialpositions in the family.


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SOCIAL HIERARCHIES


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Igbo Family Structure

Compounds contained one

domestic group, or family.

The head of a compound in

a village is generally the

oldest male of the

compound.

The head of each

compound is responsible foreach of its members.


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Igbo Family Structure

Igbo families generally

live in compounds.

Compounds are tinyclusters of huts built in

the same area.

Groups of compounds

are what make up a

village.


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Marriage and Polygamy in the Village

In an Igbo village,married life is thenormal condition for

adults.

Polygamy is very idealfor the men in thevillage.

Polygamy is also animportant indication ofstatus.


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Marriage and Polygamy in the Village

The wives of thecommon husband wereranked in the order in

which they weremarried.

The children of thewives were also rankedaccording to theirmothers rank, as wellas their seniority in age.


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Elders are generally respected as leaders of the village.

A man with titles, such as the title of Ozo, are seen to be better respected

leaders who are more likely to be followed.

The basic unit of life for the Igbo was the village group

The head of the village would settle the disputes and also controlled all

communication with other villages

The government of the society was usually the oldest members of

particular families

Respect is given to elders and males

The value of a man is measured by the number of yams and wives he has

Children must greet their elders before anyone else in a social meeting of

any kind

The Igbo people value personal/individual achievements

This culture values their dead ancestors

Before Europeans influenced the Igbos, they practiced their normal

worship to ancestors in order to feel successful


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Family Structure people of the same lineage, and, accordingly, from the same village, are

forbidden to marry or to engage in sexual activity The entire family village raises the children.

If the child is orphaned, they are still taken care of by everyone else the

way they always were

Women are primarily responsible for raising the children.

Marriage is not a two-people commitment--it's the joining of twoextended families. (e.g. the daughters ofObiereka, Akueke get married

with Ibe, the son of Ukegbu )

Elders of both families negotiate the terms of the wedding.

The groom's family pays the bride's family.

Polygamy is traditionally acceptable. (e.g. Okonkwo, Ogbuefi Ezudu)

Often a man will have to consult with his first wife before get marry with

another woman.


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Children begin working at a young age.

Women care for the home: cooking, cleaning, education,children, etc.

Elders are a major priority.

The wives of the common husband were ranked in the

order in which they were married. The children of the wives were also ranked according to

their mothers rank, as well as their seniority in age

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