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NDI IGBO

Ezinaulo (Ezinụlọ)

The Igbo Family System.

In Igboland, family is a very important institution in the lives of the people. When a child is born, he begins to interact and learn values from the family. In Igboland, polygamy traditionally accepted though it has been causing problems in families in recent times.

All relationships according to Igbo culture comes from the family. A man can have as many wives as he can afford. This is one of the ways we differ from the Western culture but not so much from other African tribes. To the Westerners, family is made up of one man, his wife, and their biological or adopted child or children, while in Igboland family can be a group of people living together, related by blood or marriage. The immediate nuclear family is made up of the man, his wife or wives and their children. This is called the “obi” or “imeulo”.

The Extended Family:

The Extended family is made up of grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, nwunye dị, ụmụada, Nna ochie, nwadiana, etc.

Nwunye dị, meaning 'co wife', is a term used to refer to women who are married into the same family.

Umuada - A term derived from two Igbo words, 'umu' which in this context means people, and 'ada', which means first daughter. Umuada goes beyond first daughters, it refers to daughters whose ancestry are traced to the same village.

Nna ochie: men from your mum's family.

Nne ochie:  women from your mum's family.

Nwadiana: Means "the son of our daughter" referring to the children of a woman born to the family, village, or kindred. This term is used to refer to both male and female.

 

ROLES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY

FATHER: The responsibility of the father is to cultivate and grow he family's wealth and resources. He is the breadwinner, religious leader and teacher. He teaches the Igbo cultures and traditions to members of his household. He also represents the family in public gatherings and meetings.

MOTHER: It is the responsibility of the mother to support and inspire the father with ideas to move the household forward. It is also her responsibility to take of the members of the family, cook, and keep the house clean. It is also her duty to preserve the family's wealth and resources, make the house homely and comfortable to live in.

CHILDREN AND OTHER DEPENDANTS: They are expected to remain under the guidance of the father and mother, be obedient, do the house chores, work on the crops and tend to the animals. Male children inherit land from their father after they grew up. Children were not allowed to eat eggs because it was a sacred food that was left for older people.