The Igbo-Igala borderland: religion & social control in indigenous African colonialism

504 Pages·1971·6.23 MB·English

by  Austin J. Shelton

The Igbo-Igala Borderland; : Religion &
title: Social Control in Indigenous African
Colonialism
author: Shelton, Austin J.
publisher: State University of New York Press
isbn10 | asin: 0873950828
print isbn13: 9780873950824
ebook isbn13: 9780585167909
language: English
Igbo (African people)--Religion, Igala
subject
(African people)--Religion, Social control.
publication date: 1971
lcc: GN470.S52eb
ddc: 301.15/4
Igbo (African people)--Religion, Igala
subject:
(African people)--Religion, Social control.
Page i
The Igbo-Igala Borderland
Page ii
.
MAP I
Igala and Nsukka Districts
Page iii
The Igbo-Igala
Borderland
Religion & Social Control in
Indigenous African Colonialism
AUSTIN J. SHELTON
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS
ALBANY · 1971
Page iv
Published by State University of New York Press
Thurlow Terrace, Albany, New York 12201
© 1971 by State University of New York
All rights reserved
ISBN 0873950828 (clothbound)
ISBN 0873951824 (microfiche)
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 70141493
Designer: Richard Hendel
Printed in the United States of America
Page v
This book is dedicated to my friends and teachers,
Ugwuja Attama and Ugwu Nnadi Eze,
and to all my borderland friends alive and dead
Page vii
CONTENTS
Introduction xi
One: Background: History & Social Structures
1. The Nsukka-Igala Borderland 3
The Igbo 4
The Umunri 11
The Igala 17
2. Onojo Ogboni, the Conquest of Nsukka, and Later 19
Borderland History
3. Nsukka Igbo Temporal, Familial, and Spatial 28
Organization
Time 30
The Family 32
The Household and Affinity 39
The Village and Village-Group 43
Two: Nsukka Religion
4. Sacred Precincts 57
5. Nsukka Family and Household Religion: Gods and 82
Ancestors
Chi and the High God 83
Man and the Ancestors 91
Arua and Ancestral Force 99
6. Nsukka Village Religion: Alusi 123
Special Alusi in the Nsukka Borderland 128
Alusi Powers and Activities 133
Continuing Positive Functions of Alusi 139
Worship of Alusi 150
Page viii
Three: Control and Adaptation
7. Forces of Social Control 183
Lineage Control Agents 183
Titled Persons 188
The Omabe Association 194
Attama and Diviner 200
8. Accommodation and Adaptation in the Nsukka 217
Borderland
Changed Emphases in Igbo Religion 218
Problems and Adjustments in Family and Household 230
Igbonization 237
Conclusion 240
Appendix Supplementary Legendary Material 244
Bibliography 250
Glossary of Terms and Names Pronunciation Guide and 257
Diacritical Marks
Index 271
Page ix
ILLUSTRATIONS
Maps
I. Igala and Nsukka Districts
Frontispiece
II. Alien Influences on Nsukka
10
III. Spatial Relationships: Umu Inyere Village,
46
Imilikenu
IV. Spatial Relationships: Umune Ngwa Village,
47
Nsukka
V. Spatial Relationships: Ameegwu Village,
48
Owele-Ezeoba
Charts
I. The Household Compound: Lineage Head
42
II. Village Organization: Umu Mkpume
44
III. Vertical and Horizontal Allegiances
50
IV. Typical Shrine Compound: Iyi Akpala of Umu
70
Mkpume
V. Typical Shrine Compound: Okpo of Imilikane
71
VI. Relationships Between Man and Creators
84
VII. Inside Ulo Ntiye
168
VIII. Procession and Recession of Onumuno
174
IX. Ancestral Lines of Umu Attama
221
X. Varying Relationships in Igala-Igbo Descent
232
(Simplified)
Figures