"Giving honour to whom honour is due" is part of the desiderata in the modern Igbo Worldview. Without prejudice to the assertion of anthropologists like G.T. Basden( Among the Igbos of Southern Nigeria) that the Igbos are deeply religious and culturally rooted people who ardently revere their ancestors and respect their elders coupled with the well-researched views of historians like J.B.K.Onwubiko( The History of West Africa) that though the Igbos are politically nay ideologically speaking republican oriented, they allow themselves to be led and governed by elders and village heads, recent findings based chiefly on lived experiences of the modern Igbo mainstream Society tend to suggest that the Igbos are notorious for castigating, insulting, assaulting, disrespecting and dishonoring their elders, their opinion leaders, their religious leaders, their parents, their seniors, their teachers, their village heads, their titled men and women and their traditional leaders. The modern Igbo man prides himself as a know-it-all, I-too-know and imposing type of person. He tends to verbally, psychologically and physically bully others. [...]
Table of Contents
1. Introduction.
2. Statement of the Problem.
3. The Igbo University Scholars.
4. The Premier University of Nigeria in Igboland.
5. The Chinualumogu Achebe Factor.
6. Conclusion
7. Sources/Literature
Research Objectives and Themes
This work explores the leadership vacuum and the erosion of cultural values within the modern Igbo society in Nigeria. The central research question examines why the Igbo nationality, despite its historical industriousness, struggles with internal division, the degradation of its elites, and a penchant for abandoning indigenous identity in favor of foreign influence, using Chinua Achebe as a primary case study.
- Analysis of the leadership vacuum and the crisis of recognition within the Igbo nation.
- Critique of the "Nigerian factor" and its destructive impact on Igbo socio-cultural fabric.
- Examination of the "been-to" syndrome and the preference for foreign over indigenous culture.
- Evaluation of the role of academia and the Igbo intelligentsia in revitalizing the Igbo identity.
- Investigation into the Chinua Achebe factor as a model for reclaiming Igbo prestige.
Excerpt from the Book
2. Statement of the Problem.
Giving honor to whom honor is due is part of the lacunae in the modern Igbo scale of priorities. The Igbo man’s resilience and orientation towards individual and group autarky, autonomy and self confidence gets exaggerated when the Igbo man loses sight of according due recognition, motivation and upliftment to her sons and daughters who are pace-setters in the society. In comparism to other nationalities within and outside Nigeria, who virtually create, nurture even to the point of panel-beating, spraying and re-spraying their own sons and daughters, who hitherto were nonentities, with a view to fashioning them into their ambassadors, their eyes, legs, ears, mouths and hands in the national and international lobby pavilions, the Igbo person has unfortunately excelled in disregarding, insulting, assaulting, abusing, labeling, name-calling, blackmailing, running down and character assassinating his own sons and daughters who strive by dint of hard labor, heroism and extra-ordinary erudition and intelligence to stand up where others are sitting down, to sit up while others are sitting tight and to tower above others while others are satisfied with mediocrity, so as to engender personalities of gold, steel and iron who loom large within and outside Nigeria. Compared to other nationalities who rehabilitate their children and blow them to the heavens, even when those children of theirs are very weak like every other mortal, the Igbo are notorious for running down their authentic leaders and recognizing the fake ones who are money bags. This phenomenon exacerbates the already uncomfortable impression within Nigeria and abroad that the Igbo man can do anything sadistic just to make money. Are we facing the realization of the biblical prophecy that a prophet is never recognized in his own town and among his own people?
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction.: This chapter introduces the modern Igbo worldview, highlighting the shift from a culture that respected elders and leaders to one marked by disrespect, greed, and a lack of recognition for genuine achievement.
2. Statement of the Problem.: The chapter addresses the problematic trend of the Igbo people running down their own successful sons and daughters, contrasting this with other nationalities that nurture and elevate their own figures.
3. The Igbo University Scholars.: This section examines the responsibility of the Igbo intelligentsia and academia in addressing societal anomalies and the need for them to take an active role in cultural and intellectual renaissance.
4. The Premier University of Nigeria in Igboland.: The author reflects on the need for administrative and academic reform within the university system to ensure that students receive a solid foundation for their future growth.
5. The Chinualumogu Achebe Factor.: This chapter focuses on Chinua Achebe’s life and work, arguing that a lack of local investment in his legacy has hindered his global recognition and the upliftment of the Igbo nation.
6. Conclusion: The conclusion calls for an urgent awakening of the Igbo people to stop the cycle of neglect and to establish a center for the research and promotion of Igbo nationality.
7. Sources/Literature: This section provides a list of academic works and literature cited throughout the research.
Key Words
Igbo, Leadership, Chinua Achebe, Identity, Cultural Erosion, Nigerian Factor, Intelligentsia, Recognition, Socio-political, Ethnicity, Renaissance, Tradition, Migration, Meritocracy, Academia.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research focuses on the leadership vacuum and the systemic degradation of cultural and intellectual values within the Igbo nationality in Nigeria.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The work discusses the loss of respect for elders, the "been-to" syndrome, the obsession with wealth over integrity, and the failure to promote authentic leaders and intellectual giants.
What is the main objective of the author?
The primary objective is to awaken the Igbo people from their lethargy and to urge a cultural and intellectual rebirth by properly recognizing and honoring their eminent sons and daughters.
Which scientific methodology does the author employ?
The author utilizes an analytical, sociopolitical, and literary-critical approach, drawing on lived experiences, anthropological observations, and historical context.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body covers the sociological challenges facing the Igbo, the critique of the academic community, the need for university reform, and the case study of Chinua Achebe.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Igbo leadership, identity, Nigerian factor, cultural erosion, and intellectual renaissance.
How does the author characterize the "I-too-know" mentality?
The author describes it as an arrogant, know-it-all attitude that leads to the bullying of others and a refusal to be led or mentored, ultimately undermining community cohesion.
Why does the author use Chinua Achebe as a case study?
Achebe is used as a prime example of an Igbo giant who has been insufficiently supported by his own people, highlighting the broader failure to celebrate and leverage the achievements of genuine Igbo icons.
What does the author propose as a solution for the Igbo leadership crisis?
The author proposes the active identification, celebration, and mentoring of genuine leaders and the establishment of dedicated research centers for Igbo nationality to guide the younger generation.
- Citation du texte
- Dr. Dr. Ikechukwu Aloysius Orjinta (Auteur), 2011, Factors for the Igbo Leadership Vacuum and The Igbo Vandalization of her Elites using Chinualumogu Achebe’s Case As A Case Study, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/177360
