WEEK 4
CULTURE AND CUSTOMS
CULTURE AND CUSTOMS IN THE NORTH (HAUSA / FULANI).
In the areas of culture, tradition and customs, the societies of the North, West and
East have some differences which marked them out as heterogeneous ethnic groups (different kinds of people). There are the differences in language, farming system, farm produce, technology, social practices, religious beliefs, political practices, dress code, arts and crafts technology. The Hausas and other Northern states enjoyed their organized structure of authority, where power or authority flowed from the top to the bottom and fellowship take for granted. They has religious harmony. Before the invasion of Islam from Kanem – Borno empire and from the Jihad of Usman Danfodio, the Hausa people practiced a common brand of African traditional religion (ATR) which united them in faith.
- CULTURE AND CUSTOMS IN THE WEST (YORUBA LAND)
In the western part of Nigeria where Oyo, lle-ife, Ijebu-ode, Lagos, Ibadan and others became very prominent, there appears to be a different culture and tradition. The Yoruba attire is quite different from that of an Hausa / Fulani person. Their social life is quite interesting. They paid attention to ritual ceremonies such as ‘Igue’ and Eyo festivals. Festivals were made up of many rituals guided with do’s and don’ts which could not be breached without serious consequences. Marriages and child bearing were extensively celebrated because they were regarded as the means to perpetuate the society and produce those who would sustain the worship of the gods. The western societies have a culture of skilled art works in bronze, brass and terracotta. The art works of lle-ife are outstanding in the Nigerian history and arts technology.
iii. CULTURE AND CUSTOMS IN THE EAST (IGBOS AND NIGER DELTA STATES)
Igbos and Niger Delta states have similar customs and traditions. The Igbo-ukwu culture and arts showed the ingenuity of the Igbos in arts works. The Niger Delta states were good in boat making technology and fishing skills. The industrious nature of the people extended into crop farming, particularly in palm products which at the abolition of slave trade became the major trading commodity of the legitimate trade. Palm products brought the Europeans into the Igbo hinterland. The Igbos and the Niger Delta people inter-married had economic and commercial exchanges. The Igbos and Niger Delta city states were major suppliers of slaves and of palm products in the West African region. They practiced the African traditional religion in different forms. The socially stratified (organized) not between the rich and the poor because they practiced the communal land system, but between the titled and untitled, men and women including children, free-born and the out casts (the osu cast system); land owners and strangers; married and unmarried. By nature and tradition, the Igbo man dislikes autocracy and leadership by imposition. This was the reason behind the 1929 Aba women riot.
ASSIGNMENT
Explain the differences between the Hausa / Fulani culture and customs with that of the Yorubas.
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