This blog is for students of Civilizations of Africa at American University in Washington, DC and the ABTI-American University of Nigeria in Yola. You can use the blog for class assignments, to comment on things we've discussed in class and interact with other students.
While a very short myth I think that it was very well written. The Story of Ale as the mother of earth plays a great role in Igbo society. It plays a large role because the Igbo were a people of many different beliefs. There were many tribes of Igbo who did not share many common beliefs at all. This story brings the Igbo together in one belief that everything comes from Ale, the mother of earth. This story dates back to the beginning of time in a place unknown but I would think it would be Nigeria because that is where the Igbo are located. I do not think our modern society lacks such myths. This is a creation myth and appears in many different forms across many different religions. In my religion of Judaism, we too have our own creation story. This myth also helps to explain the position of women in Igbo society. In the article on status placement among Igbo, women are often allowed to gain high status instead of always being overshadowed by men. This is interesting because in many cultures this would never happen. I think this is a stretch but I do believe it is intended to teach people a value. This value is that even though there may be many Igbo tribes, you all come from the same decedents. While many beliefs may push you in different directions in the end you all believe in the same deity. The last line of this myth also helps to confirm this statement in that this is why humans return to earth when they die. The story of Eri and the City of Nri is also somewhat of a creation story for the Igbo. While in the first myth just the land is created, the people, food, and the kingdoms are created. I found this myth quite hard to interpret but it lends itself to some interesting concepts. First it has the moral that you should not deceive the creator because he will do something bad upon you. This can be seen with the ichi scar marking the identity of the children of Eri. In Judaism a similar sacrifice can be seen with Abraham. Even though he did not end up actually sacrificing his son he did contemplate tricking G-d which a different sacrifice. Another similar situation would be the story of Cain and Able. The brotherhood trickery leads to the banishment of Cain. This myth also helps me to understand why the Igbo are very religious. The scar given to Eri is a sign that you should always follow religion, and that was something to remember that by.
The Igbo: Comments about the Myth. A myth can simply be defined as a traditional story accepted as history and serves to explain the world view of a people. Myths also are meant to enlighten people on a view of their traditional background. The myth about the Igbo people is very clear and self explanatory to an extent. It is of great significance in our society as well as in our lives today. In our society today, food production is very essential to sustain human’s day to day activities. In the first part of the myth, Ale who is the mother of the earth gave herself up and became one with the earth. The growth of crops started from here. Also we can see also bring up the issue about why humans are buried in the earth when they die. The second part of the myth also brings up a situation whereby when the son and daughter of Eri were buried; yams and coco yams grew on their graves. From this, we can say that without them being buried in the earth, growth of crops would not have been possible. This is a major role this myth is playing in our society today; One of which why man is buried in the earth today and the other, why growth of crops occurs from such burials. Speaking about the time, place and geography surrounding this myth, there is not much to talk about but it is evident that they started living in areas from the foothills of the mountains of Cameroun to the delta of the Niger. We can also say that this myth is a pure reflection of a pre-modern society where religious beliefs are very strong. The existence of sacrifices is a good example of such beliefs. There is also the fact that this myth was long after the death of Jesus because during his time, there was nothing like the Igbo society. As we all know, myths are supposed to explain things of which sounds abstract in form of story. There is a clear difference between pre-modern society and modern society. So also is the myth. Myths from the pre-modern society talk about how certain things came to being and there about but speaking about our modern myths, they are based on facts of which should be scientifically and historically accurate. The myth about the Igbo people has nothing to do with science. Also it is not proven historically accurate so we cannot say that it is similar to myths of today. Therefore, we are lacking such myths. We cannot be exact about whether our myths of today exist in other forms similar to those of the olden days but we know that the old myths are based on origin while myths in our modern societies are geared towards what actually is going on around us. Furthermore, the myths which we have today always want to make us look back into the past and draw a close evaluation between them. Also, there are also very old myths of which cannot be compared with other myths between such periods. This myth about the Igbo is talking about how Ale became one with the earth and also how Eri buried his family also in the earth and from there the growth of crops started. There are various myths about creation. According to Christians, God created the world and everything in it; everything including crops. So how therefore did growth of crops start growing from spots where dead people were buried? I don’t think there are similarities between these two myths I am talking about here. The modern society in which we inhabit now is based on hierarchy. The structure, of which the society is setup, is an organized one. To better explain the role of this myth in the society, I will narrow it down to the Igbo society. In the Igbo society for instance, there are kings, chiefs, local government area leaders and many more. The Igbo myth explains to us how Eri was subject to a master that is Chukwu. Also, the myth explains to us how the Eze title was formed. The Eze in an Igbo village hierarchy oversees everybody in that society. In the Igbo society today, the Eze title is still in existence. Therefore, we can say that this myth plays a very important role in the structure of the society today. Finally, apart from the fact that myths are meant to impact knowledge about the history of certain things in our various traditions, they also have sense of values of which can have influence on different people. The myth about the Igbo is one in which draws great attention to many. People begin to ponder on the question; why would crops grow from where humans were buried. It is important to note that this myth also makes us understand disobedience comes with a consequence. When Eri tried to deceive Chukwu, the ichi scar-marking was introduced to differentiate the children of Eri from the slaves. Also, we should not forget that the myth also brings to our understanding the reason why humans are buried in the earth. Ale who is the mother of the earth mixed and became one with it. The myth says “this is why crops come from the land and why humans return to earth when they die”.
Africa in distinction from a few other major areas of the world has carried into the modern day extremely complex tribal and ethnic distinctions. From the long process of tribes splitting and creating new groups a wide variety of creation myths emerge. As a common element and situated among great diversity in myths a groups particular story defines their place in the world. The creation myth of the Onojo Oboni is a concrete human narrative of their tribes origins. This story puts their founding member as marginalized tribe member: "in his childhood peple mocked him because he had no father." (288) This story isn't ultimate origins so much as it points to these peoples more recent earthly heritage. A fatherless tribe who's belonging and space is based upon conquering might be reminding itself that they do not have a preordained success. This creation myth is both a micro examination of one lineage and a macro myth of the whole people's history. The story of a mocked tribe member becoming strong/important mirrors a small tribe that grew large and powerful. A wandering father points toward future migration but the fact that Onoji grows up without his father present means that he doesn't have a birthright legacy to anything. He makes himself powerful through his own efforts at raiding: "He peopled the area of Ogurugu with his captives." (289). Onojo Oboni owes nothing to his father as demonstrated by the fathers prompt deference upon meeting. While both Onojo and Sundiata grow from being mocked to physical and leading power Sundiata had a kingly predecessor and a destiny of even greater laid out before his birth. In another point of difference from Sundiata this tale doesn't end as a pure story of victory before leaving a warning. Onoji is unmatched in his successes but while he never ceases striving there is no victor against the sky or earth denizens: "But the tower collapsed and many people died." (289) The story ends eith the army avoiding further war and death by burying Onoji in the tunnel he ordered dug into the earth. Onoji is buried not in compliance but still striving. The rest of society though is preserved by the cessation of endless war. This final cap separates the founding era from a more current era. The Igbo's were made through raiding but they are not casting themselves as an eternally warrior tribe. This story in the form of a mythologized history. People today still romanticize their own family and ethnic group's history. Joseph Campbell claimed that modern society had outrun myth but in a multiplicity of smaller mythic forms and more individualistic tailoring we have contemporaneous narratives for our lives.
3 comments:
While a very short myth I think that it was very well written. The Story of Ale as the mother of earth plays a great role in Igbo society. It plays a large role because the Igbo were a people of many different beliefs. There were many tribes of Igbo who did not share many common beliefs at all. This story brings the Igbo together in one belief that everything comes from Ale, the mother of earth. This story dates back to the beginning of time in a place unknown but I would think it would be Nigeria because that is where the Igbo are located.
I do not think our modern society lacks such myths. This is a creation myth and appears in many different forms across many different religions. In my religion of Judaism, we too have our own creation story.
This myth also helps to explain the position of women in Igbo society. In the article on status placement among Igbo, women are often allowed to gain high status instead of always being overshadowed by men. This is interesting because in many cultures this would never happen.
I think this is a stretch but I do believe it is intended to teach people a value. This value is that even though there may be many Igbo tribes, you all come from the same decedents. While many beliefs may push you in different directions in the end you all believe in the same deity. The last line of this myth also helps to confirm this statement in that this is why humans return to earth when they die.
The story of Eri and the City of Nri is also somewhat of a creation story for the Igbo. While in the first myth just the land is created, the people, food, and the kingdoms are created. I found this myth quite hard to interpret but it lends itself to some interesting concepts. First it has the moral that you should not deceive the creator because he will do something bad upon you. This can be seen with the ichi scar marking the identity of the children of Eri. In Judaism a similar sacrifice can be seen with Abraham. Even though he did not end up actually sacrificing his son he did contemplate tricking G-d which a different sacrifice. Another similar situation would be the story of Cain and Able. The brotherhood trickery leads to the banishment of Cain. This myth also helps me to understand why the Igbo are very religious. The scar given to Eri is a sign that you should always follow religion, and that was something to remember that by.
The Igbo: Comments about the Myth.
A myth can simply be defined as a traditional story accepted as history and serves to explain the world view of a people. Myths also are meant to enlighten people on a view of their traditional background. The myth about the Igbo people is very clear and self explanatory to an extent. It is of great significance in our society as well as in our lives today. In our society today, food production is very essential to sustain human’s day to day activities. In the first part of the myth, Ale who is the mother of the earth gave herself up and became one with the earth. The growth of crops started from here. Also we can see also bring up the issue about why humans are buried in the earth when they die. The second part of the myth also brings up a situation whereby when the son and daughter of Eri were buried; yams and coco yams grew on their graves. From this, we can say that without them being buried in the earth, growth of crops would not have been possible. This is a major role this myth is playing in our society today; One of which why man is buried in the earth today and the other, why growth of crops occurs from such burials.
Speaking about the time, place and geography surrounding this myth, there is not much to talk about but it is evident that they started living in areas from the foothills of the mountains of Cameroun to the delta of the Niger. We can also say that this myth is a pure reflection of a pre-modern society where religious beliefs are very strong. The existence of sacrifices is a good example of such beliefs. There is also the fact that this myth was long after the death of Jesus because during his time, there was nothing like the Igbo society.
As we all know, myths are supposed to explain things of which sounds abstract in form of story. There is a clear difference between pre-modern society and modern society. So also is the myth. Myths from the pre-modern society talk about how certain things came to being and there about but speaking about our modern myths, they are based on facts of which should be scientifically and historically accurate. The myth about the Igbo people has nothing to do with science. Also it is not proven historically accurate so we cannot say that it is similar to myths of today. Therefore, we are lacking such myths. We cannot be exact about whether our myths of today exist in other forms similar to those of the olden days but we know that the old myths are based on origin while myths in our modern societies are geared towards what actually is going on around us.
Furthermore, the myths which we have today always want to make us look back into the past and draw a close evaluation between them. Also, there are also very old myths of which cannot be compared with other myths between such periods. This myth about the Igbo is talking about how Ale became one with the earth and also how Eri buried his family also in the earth and from there the growth of crops started. There are various myths about creation. According to Christians, God created the world and everything in it; everything including crops. So how therefore did growth of crops start growing from spots where dead people were buried? I don’t think there are similarities between these two myths I am talking about here.
The modern society in which we inhabit now is based on hierarchy. The structure, of which the society is setup, is an organized one. To better explain the role of this myth in the society, I will narrow it down to the Igbo society. In the Igbo society for instance, there are kings, chiefs, local government area leaders and many more. The Igbo myth explains to us how Eri was subject to a master that is Chukwu. Also, the myth explains to us how the Eze title was formed. The Eze in an Igbo village hierarchy oversees everybody in that society. In the Igbo society today, the Eze title is still in existence. Therefore, we can say that this myth plays a very important role in the structure of the society today.
Finally, apart from the fact that myths are meant to impact knowledge about the history of certain things in our various traditions, they also have sense of values of which can have influence on different people. The myth about the Igbo is one in which draws great attention to many. People begin to ponder on the question; why would crops grow from where humans were buried. It is important to note that this myth also makes us understand disobedience comes with a consequence. When Eri tried to deceive Chukwu, the ichi scar-marking was introduced to differentiate the children of Eri from the slaves. Also, we should not forget that the myth also brings to our understanding the reason why humans are buried in the earth. Ale who is the mother of the earth mixed and became one with it. The myth says “this is why crops come from the land and why humans return to earth when they die”.
Igbo
Onojo Oboni of Iddah
Africa in distinction from a few other major areas of the world has carried into the modern day extremely complex tribal and ethnic distinctions. From the long process of tribes splitting and creating new groups a wide variety of creation myths emerge. As a common element and situated among great diversity in myths a groups particular story defines their place in the world.
The creation myth of the Onojo Oboni is a concrete human narrative of their tribes origins. This story puts their founding member as marginalized tribe member: "in his childhood peple mocked him because he had no father." (288) This story isn't ultimate origins so much as it points to these peoples more recent earthly heritage. A fatherless tribe who's belonging and space is based upon conquering might be reminding itself that they do not have a preordained success.
This creation myth is both a micro examination of one lineage and a macro myth of the whole people's history. The story of a mocked tribe member becoming strong/important mirrors a small tribe that grew large and powerful. A wandering father points toward future migration but the fact that Onoji grows up without his father present means that he doesn't have a birthright legacy to anything. He makes himself powerful through his own efforts at raiding: "He peopled the area of Ogurugu with his captives." (289). Onojo Oboni owes nothing to his father as demonstrated by the fathers prompt deference upon meeting. While both Onojo and Sundiata grow from being mocked to physical and leading power Sundiata had a kingly predecessor and a destiny of even greater laid out before his birth.
In another point of difference from Sundiata this tale doesn't end as a pure story of victory before leaving a warning. Onoji is unmatched in his successes but while he never ceases striving there is no victor against the sky or earth denizens: "But the tower collapsed and many people died." (289) The story ends eith the army avoiding further war and death by burying Onoji in the tunnel he ordered dug into the earth. Onoji is buried not in compliance but still striving. The rest of society though is preserved by the cessation of endless war. This final cap separates the founding era from a more current era. The Igbo's were made through raiding but they are not casting themselves as an eternally warrior tribe.
This story in the form of a mythologized history. People today still romanticize their own family and ethnic group's history. Joseph Campbell claimed that modern society had outrun myth but in a multiplicity of smaller mythic forms and more individualistic tailoring we have contemporaneous narratives for our lives.
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