2. The village life for the Ibo people is similar to many other
villages in Africa:
• The Ibos live in villages that range from a few hundred
to a few thousand people.
• There is no dominant or single ruler that controls the
population. Decisions are made by including everyone
in the village.
• There are established institutions such as a council of
elders, a council of chiefs, women's associations, and
secret societies. The Ibos emphasize individual actions
and community living.
3.
4. Traditional Ibo houses used to have mud walls
and thatched roofs. The discovery of oil in
Nigeria has changed that. They are now made of
cement blocks with folded iron roofs. Electricity
has been introduced so television sets and
radios are very common. Villages also contain
running water, but not every house is connected
to it.
5.
6. Each market has its own layout with different areas dedicated to
certain goods, such as
groceries, clothes, electronics, books, vegetables and grains, etc.
• Ogbete (main market) is the largest and cheapest selling place
where people can buy almost anything.
• The opening times for most of the markets are from 08:30 to
17:30, six days a week. The markets in the village only open on one
of the four market days (Eke, Orie, Afo and Nkwo) in the week.
• There are also night markets as well. The night markets are
lightened by kerosene lights and wax candles.
• These night markets are said to be associated with spiritual
elements. There is a belief that people can go to this market to get
in contact with relatives who passed away in unexplained incidents.
Here, through an intermediate oracle priest, the deceased may
reveal the identities involved in their unexpected departure.
7.
8. • "African Tribes - Ibo - Igbo Culture." African Tribes -
Ibo - Igbo Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2013.
<http://www.africaguide.com/culture/tribes/ibo.htm>.
• "Countries and Their Cultures." Igbo. N.p., n.d. Web.
06 Feb. 2013.
<http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Mauritania-to-
Nigeria/Igbo.html>.
• "Market." Igbo and Enugu. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb.
2013. <http://www.igboguide.org/HT-
chapter4.htm>.
