Socio-Cultural Significance of Bonwire Kente and Daboya Benchibi (Published)
Benchibi and Kente are traditional woven fabrics ingeniously crafted with two different design concepts. Benchibi is produced by the people of Daboya in the Northern part of Ghana whilst Kente is a product mainly of the middle and southern part of Ghana with Bonwire as its traditional centre in the middle part of the country. The study aimed at analysing the socio-cultural significance of the two traditions. The study fulcrums on the qualitative research and employed observation and interview. The study analysed the socio-cultural characteristics of the two fabrics traditions, using descriptive method of analysing data. The purposive sampling technique was employed to select eight people, two (2) weavers and two (2) opinion leaders from each of the study area. The research revealed that both woven traditions are embedded with socio-cultural significance that embodies various characteristics such as values, morals, history and philosophies of the areas noted for the production and use of the fabrics. The study revealed that Benchibi and Kente have different beautiful crafted style in terms of weave, designs and materials used, which play very significant roles in the socio-cultural behaviour of the two traditions. The study concluded that both weaving cultures play very distinguished social and cultural roles in the lives of the people of the respective areas. It is therefore recommended that the physical features, aesthetic and artistic components of these weaving traditions need rigorous documentation to help in recording the social and cultural life of the people through fabric weaving.
Keywords: Aesthetics, Benchibi, Kente, Socio-cultural, Traditions
The Traditional Mbaise Society: Perspectives on Igbo Scio-Cultural History, 1500-1900 (Published)
This article examines aspects of the socio-cultural institutions and practices in the context of traditional Mbaise society and culture. The process of evolution and growth of Mbaise society was predicated on a number of institutions and practices which had socio-cultural, political, economic and religious implications. Appreciating the fact that social development is a vast area in socio-cultural history, the paper concentrated on the family structure, marriage institutions, religious beliefs and practices. Traditional Mbaise society was endowed with these great institutions and others which Christianity sought to wipe out, though without success. The impact of Christianity and other western influences notwithstanding, the paper argues that these institutions generated ideas, values, and norms which crystallized into the Mbaise identity and cosmology. Against the backdrop of the popular opinion held by the western writers to the effect that pre-colonial African societies were not part of world history and civilization (and hence incapable of initiating change), we argue further that this negative and bias narrative about pre-colonial African societies is now very anachronistic and no longer worthy of intellectual attention by scholars of both African and European persuasions
Keywords: Africa, Christianity, Mbaise, Religion., Socio-cultural, Tradition, history
Socio-cultural Attitudes of Igbomina Tribe toward Marriage and Abortion in Osun and Kwara States of Nigeria (Published)
Abortion has been a social menace and its assessment depended on one’s socio-legal views. Past scholars had concluded that abortion is either a felony or homicide; there is no known empirical study on socio-cultural implications of abortion to marriage in Igbomina tribe in Nigeria. Questionnaire was administered to 1036 respondents, 108 in-depth interviews were conducted and 156 Focus Group Discussions were held. Most (99.8%) respondents were not involved in abortion because 81.2% described induced abortion as a taboo. Majority (78.3%) respondents have seen more than forty women who died from miscarriage in traditional shrines and 59.7% passed through one-miscarriage or pregnancy complications but denied access to abortion. Any form of abortion resulted in marriage divorce, banned from eating natural foods, married outside the clan or total debarred from entry the land. The study found that only positive counseling, informational and educative services could bring about attitudinal change.
Keywords: Abortion, Igbomina tribe, Marriage, Socio-cultural, attitude
The Socio-Cultural Import of Igala Names (Published)
This piece on the Socio-cultural Import of Igala Names is an effort at investigating into the traditional appellations by which members of the major ethnic group of Kogi state, the Igala of central Nigeria are known. While employing the sociological and historical methods of research, our findings show that there is more to their names than mere identifying marks, labels or tags. Igala names are given basically in accordance with spiritual and historico-social circumstances of birth, emotions of parents, etc. Besides, the names are often seen as particularly embodying the destiny of the individual. It is also submitted here that naming ceremonies form an integral part of formal means of initiating a child into the membership of a community. This invariably spells the personhood of such a child. As such, the use of Igala, nay African names are showcased here as inalienable aspect of the culture of the people that could be promoted, owing to its significance.
Keywords: Igala, Names, Socio-cultural, import