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.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Group 2 - politics
Using examples from the story, describe some of the elements of Igbo decision making and political life.How does Igbo governance portrayed in Things Fall Apart compare to Mande culture described in Sundiata?
Igbo culture definitely has some similar traits to the Mande culture, but, at the same time, it most certainly has its differences. It appears that in both stories the people of these cultures seem to know the laws and what the punishment is for breaking those laws. This, of course, does not mean that these rules are always followed, whether on accident or on purpose, they are broken. One characteristic that is quite similar between the two cultures, even though they may be different extents, is the respect for strength, military prowess, and accomplishment in general. Okonkwo may not have been born into a good family with a father who would leave him things to start his independent life off well, but through his wrestling accomplishments and the men he killed, he gained his own respect. Also, it could definitely be argued that Sundiata gained quite a bit of legitimacy through his military victories, especially with the other surrounding villages and kingdoms. However, he was seen, from the day he started walking and picked up a tree out of the ground and put it next to his mother’s hut, as something special. In both, age is honored, but it is not the only aspect that demands respect. Another major difference between the two cultures is that one, Sundiata’s, has kings; so one person controls the others. While Okonkwo’s people, on the other hand, consistently say, when asked by the white people, that they have no king. Other than their titles, they are basically all equal.
The Igbo political culture found in Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" illustrates a system in which many have a say. In Sundiata the political structure is one of levels of importance. The King rules over his subsidiaries an so on. In Nigeria with the Igbos the structure is one where nine men constitute the political hierarchy, and countless others participate. A historical perspective would best describe the Igbo political levels. When the English came to several Igbo villages they asked for to speak with the leader, they were quick to learn that finding a definitive leader in this society is easier said then done. If these same men were to go to Mande and ask to speak with the "man in charge" there would only be one person who they could see.
I agree with Douglas. Politically there are definitively more differences between Mande and Igbo societies. Mande culture was much more like a monarchy with one person that serves as the military and political leader of his people. His people consists of any groups that have either been conquered militarily or have agreed to his rule in exchange for protection. Another aspect of Mande culture that reinforces this idea of a monarchy are the taxes that Sundiata's people pay to him. These characteristics of Mande culture are what, so clearly distinguish it from Igbo.
I would classify the Igbo culture as much more of a confederacy of families held together by a common law and common religion. In Igbo society each man is responsible for building his own farm and raising a family independently of what other families might do. It is also the husband's job to make sure that he maintains peace within himself and withing his compound. If a rule is broken it is up to him to make amends with the gods and practice the appropriate penance. Only if for some reason the punishment is known then a human representative of the gods is called upon to decide an appropriate resolution. Even these people who make such decisions are not making the decisions as citizens but rather assume an independent persona in order to decide a just resolution. For these reasons I find Mande society to be much more central and Igbo society to be a much more confederate society.
After being introduced to the Igbo tribe in the novel, Things Fall Apart, the reader is first convinced that their political system is quite simple. It is a necessary function in their close-knit society. However, after examining the politics within the novel, one realizes that the Igbo political system is more complex than it first appears to be. Unlike other societies, it lacks a governing ruler. There is no particular chief or king that rules over the tribe. Instead, there are important clan leaders and elders. The titled men had a significant role in the Igbo society. In Things Fall Apart, the elders and the titled men served as the judges a trial. The titled men hosted a ceremony in order to regulate justice and settle disputes in the village. Some of the titled men wore ceremonial masks in order to resemble the egwugwu, who are the the clan's ancestral spirits. "Each of the egwugwu represented a village of the clan." They settled a dispute that is essentially an African tribal divorce case. They ruled in favor of the wife. In the Igbo tribe, there is no common written body of law, instead people take justice into their own hands. For example, Okonkwo had taken justice into his own hands by killing the missionary. Moreover, politics and decision making in the Igbo culture are closely tied to their cosmology. The political system is divinely inspired. During the Week of Peace, Okonkwo had beaten his wife. This had stirred controversy because violence was not allowed during that week. Ezeani, the priest of the earth goddess, scolded Okonkwo for his inappropriate behavior. "The evil you have done can ruin the whole clan. The earth goddess whom you have insulted may refuse to give us her increase, and we shall all perish." (30) Okonkwo was punished and had to make a sacrifice. He had to bring a she-goat, hen, cloth, and a hundred cowries to the shrine of Ani, Also, when he committed the crime of murder, he forced into exile and had to relocate to the land of his mother's kin.
The Igbo governance greatly differs from the Mande culture in Sundiata. Unlike the Igbo political system, the Mande government is more structured. Mande politics is heirarchal and elaborate. Warfare is used as a means to gain land and power. The kings have a divine mandate to rule. The prophesy foretold that Sundiata was going to unite the different kingdoms. Also, people needed to pay tribute to the king. Overall, there are apparent differences between the two political systems.
Like Therese, I assumed that the Igbo political system was pretty simple, at least compared to the hierarchical society of Sundiata and the Mande ethnic groups. Mande society was much more militarily focused, which made it necessary to have a commander in chief of the army. The importance of the commander of the army transmitted to great importance in the security of the society.
A little research the Igbo shows the difference between the title holders and kings were very different in the minds of the Igbo. Although the title holders of a community were given special responsibilities (such as serving as egwugwu) they were not revered as rulers of the tribes. The Igbo community seems to practice a type of republican assembly instead of a monarchy. This can be seen in the trial of the egwugwu of the man who beat his wife. Instead of the a monarch making a unilateral decision, the case is judged by the a group of peers (although they are really playing host to divine spirits).
In this way, it is easy to see that power is much more spread out in Igbo society than Mande society. In Mande society they are governed by a single kind, and all conquered states pay tribute to the king, this is much more centralized type of government. In Igbo society, the power is spread through the men of the group. Any one can have power and titles if they show they are worthy of them and work hard, as Okonkwo did.
The Igbo government is very unique it that it has rarely been encountered before. It is unlike a patriarchy because rulers are not only males, though predominantly, and succession is based on personal accomplishment not that of your father. In the novel Okonkwo holds high rank in the town even though his father had great debts and was not respected. The Igbo also did not have a sole ruler or leader as they did in the Mande in Sundiata. I think this lack of a signal ruler is not only what makes this tribe so unique but what is so interesting. I am most impressed by the respect and acknowledgment of individual greatness, the understanding that we cannot control anyone else's actions but if we strive for greatness, and reach it, that you will be rewarded.
6 comments:
Igbo culture definitely has some similar traits to the Mande culture, but, at the same time, it most certainly has its differences. It appears that in both stories the people of these cultures seem to know the laws and what the punishment is for breaking those laws. This, of course, does not mean that these rules are always followed, whether on accident or on purpose, they are broken. One characteristic that is quite similar between the two cultures, even though they may be different extents, is the respect for strength, military prowess, and accomplishment in general. Okonkwo may not have been born into a good family with a father who would leave him things to start his independent life off well, but through his wrestling accomplishments and the men he killed, he gained his own respect. Also, it could definitely be argued that Sundiata gained quite a bit of legitimacy through his military victories, especially with the other surrounding villages and kingdoms. However, he was seen, from the day he started walking and picked up a tree out of the ground and put it next to his mother’s hut, as something special. In both, age is honored, but it is not the only aspect that demands respect. Another major difference between the two cultures is that one, Sundiata’s, has kings; so one person controls the others. While Okonkwo’s people, on the other hand, consistently say, when asked by the white people, that they have no king. Other than their titles, they are basically all equal.
The Igbo political culture found in Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" illustrates a system in which many have a say. In Sundiata the political structure is one of levels of importance. The King rules over his subsidiaries an so on. In Nigeria with the Igbos the structure is one where nine men constitute the political hierarchy, and countless others participate. A historical perspective would best describe the Igbo political levels. When the English came to several Igbo villages they asked for to speak with the leader, they were quick to learn that finding a definitive leader in this society is easier said then done. If these same men were to go to Mande and ask to speak with the "man in charge" there would only be one person who they could see.
I agree with Douglas. Politically there are definitively more differences between Mande and Igbo societies. Mande culture was much more like a monarchy with one person that serves as the military and political leader of his people. His people consists of any groups that have either been conquered militarily or have agreed to his rule in exchange for protection. Another aspect of Mande culture that reinforces this idea of a monarchy are the taxes that Sundiata's people pay to him. These characteristics of Mande culture are what, so clearly distinguish it from Igbo.
I would classify the Igbo culture as much more of a confederacy of families held together by a common law and common religion. In Igbo society each man is responsible for building his own farm and raising a family independently of what other families might do. It is also the husband's job to make sure that he maintains peace within himself and withing his compound. If a rule is broken it is up to him to make amends with the gods and practice the appropriate penance. Only if for some reason the punishment is known then a human representative of the gods is called upon to decide an appropriate resolution. Even these people who make such decisions are not making the decisions as citizens but rather assume an independent persona in order to decide a just resolution. For these reasons I find Mande society to be much more central and Igbo society to be a much more confederate society.
After being introduced to the Igbo tribe in the novel, Things Fall Apart, the reader is first convinced that their political system is quite simple. It is a necessary function in their close-knit society. However, after examining the politics within the novel, one realizes that the Igbo political system is more complex than it first appears to be. Unlike other societies, it lacks a governing ruler. There is no particular chief or king that rules over the tribe. Instead, there are important clan leaders and elders. The titled men had a significant role in the Igbo society. In Things Fall Apart, the elders and the titled men served as the judges a trial. The titled men hosted a ceremony in order to regulate justice and settle disputes in the village. Some of the titled men wore ceremonial masks in order to resemble the egwugwu, who are the the clan's ancestral spirits. "Each of the egwugwu represented a village of the clan." They settled a dispute that is essentially an African tribal divorce case. They ruled in favor of the wife. In the Igbo tribe, there is no common written body of law, instead people take justice into their own hands. For example, Okonkwo had taken justice into his own hands by killing the missionary. Moreover, politics and decision making in the Igbo culture are closely tied to their cosmology. The political system is divinely inspired. During the Week of Peace, Okonkwo had beaten his wife. This had stirred controversy because violence was not allowed during that week. Ezeani, the priest of the earth goddess, scolded Okonkwo for his inappropriate behavior. "The evil you have done can ruin the whole clan. The earth goddess whom you have insulted may refuse to give us her increase, and we shall all perish." (30) Okonkwo was punished and had to make a sacrifice. He had to bring a she-goat, hen, cloth, and a hundred cowries to the shrine of Ani, Also, when he committed the crime of murder, he forced into exile and had to relocate to the land of his mother's kin.
The Igbo governance greatly differs from the Mande culture in Sundiata. Unlike the Igbo political system, the Mande government is more structured. Mande politics is heirarchal and elaborate. Warfare is used as a means to gain land and power. The kings have a divine mandate to rule. The prophesy foretold that Sundiata was going to unite the different kingdoms. Also, people needed to pay tribute to the king. Overall, there are apparent differences between the two political systems.
Like Therese, I assumed that the Igbo political system was pretty simple, at least compared to the hierarchical society of Sundiata and the Mande ethnic groups. Mande society was much more militarily focused, which made it necessary to have a commander in chief of the army. The importance of the commander of the army transmitted to great importance in the security of the society.
A little research the Igbo shows the difference between the title holders and kings were very different in the minds of the Igbo. Although the title holders of a community were given special responsibilities (such as serving as egwugwu) they were not revered as rulers of the tribes. The Igbo community seems to practice a type of republican assembly instead of a monarchy. This can be seen in the trial of the egwugwu of the man who beat his wife. Instead of the a monarch making a unilateral decision, the case is judged by the a group of peers (although they are really playing host to divine spirits).
In this way, it is easy to see that power is much more spread out in Igbo society than Mande society. In Mande society they are governed by a single kind, and all conquered states pay tribute to the king, this is much more centralized type of government. In Igbo society, the power is spread through the men of the group. Any one can have power and titles if they show they are worthy of them and work hard, as Okonkwo did.
The Igbo government is very unique it that it has rarely been encountered before. It is unlike a patriarchy because rulers are not only males, though predominantly, and succession is based on personal accomplishment not that of your father. In the novel Okonkwo holds high rank in the town even though his father had great debts and was not respected. The Igbo also did not have a sole ruler or leader as they did in the Mande in Sundiata. I think this lack of a signal ruler is not only what makes this tribe so unique but what is so interesting. I am most impressed by the respect and acknowledgment of individual greatness, the understanding that we cannot control anyone else's actions but if we strive for greatness, and reach it, that you will be rewarded.
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