Ch.+3+Igbo+Social+Structure+-+Matt

Igbo Social Structure background information

· They are the second largest group of people living in South Nigeria · Socially and culturally diverse with many subgroups · They live in scatter groups of villages and they all speak one language · Many Igbo men have more than one wife. To be successful they have to marry as many women as they can support · Currently the Igbo family is moving toward the nuclear family idea

[|http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Mauritania-to-Nigeria/Igbo.html]

Family life and social classes

The basic unit of life was the Village Group and the oldest male in the family was in charge. Highest class:Village Group, then Village, then Ward, then at the bottom is Compound Compund is Nuclear family Ward is a district Village is many groups of families or a community Village group is more than one Village The oldest man in the family had power. People had titles and titles were important because they gave a different scale of payment and made social security. Intense rituals were taken before receiving titles and it was a symbol of success and as well as character. Each age grade was responsible for a part of some community service and rivalry happened which created social class. One of the most important distinctions the Igbo made in their status was whether or not they are Diala or Non- Diala. Diala meant that people could become citizens and earn titles. Non- Diala beliefs were that you had very few rights and you were a slave. They determine if you are Diala or not by at birth if the umbilical cord was buried preferably at the foot of an oil palm tree.

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