TABLE OF CONTENTS
Content: Pages:
Title Page … … … … i
Certification … … … … ii
Dedication … … … …
ii
Acknowledgement … … … iv
Table of Content … … …
v
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of the Study … … …3
1.2
Statement of Problem … … …4
1.3
Objective of the Study … … …5
1.4
Significance of Study … … …5
1.5
Research Methodology … …
…. 7
1.6
Scope of Study … … … …7
1.7
Limitation of Study … …
… 7
1.8
Conception Definition of Terms … … … 8
CHAPTER TWO:
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0
Introduction … … … 9
2.1
Scholar Overview… … …. …. …. …. …. …. …
… 10
2.2 Colonial Rule and the Igbo Society …. 12
2.3 Gap in Literature ….
….. …. …. … … 24
CHAPTER THREE: HISTORICAL ANALYSIS
3.1 The Power of the Past on the Future: the
Effect on Igbo
History … …. ….
….. …. 25
3.2 The Contradictory Religion and Belief
System … 28
3.3 Cultural Annihilation: A By – Product of
Colonialism …30
3.4 Culture and Development … … … 34
3.5 Colonialism as an Agent of Development or
Underdevelopment ….
….. …. ….
… 35
CHAPTER FOUR: GENERAL ANALYSIS
4.1
Consideration of Factors for
Analysis… 41
4.2
The Context of Igbo and the Relationship
with
Colonial Masters
48
CHAPTER FIVE:
Conclusion and Recommendation
5.1
Discussion of Findings …
…. … …
…52
5.2 Summary … … … …54
5.2
Conclusion … … … …56
5.3
Recommendation … … …57
BIBLIOGRAPHY … … …61
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION:
This
work focuses on the impact of colonialism on Igbo society from 1900 to
date. With a brief history of Igbo
society, it explains the various aspects in which this impact is felt most,
given the deplorable state of the Igbo society viewed from political, economic,
social, cultural and moral perspectives, in light of our key research question
which is: To what extent has colonialism affected the Igbo people?
With
the above in mind, this work explores in depth the concept of colonialism, its
merits and demerits and examinee an alternative approach to development which
is bereft of control of one over another, which the work affirms to be a better
model of development.
This
work seeks to see if there can be any form of justification for colonialism,
for some regard it as another form of slavery that takes place right in the
people’s home. That is, enslaving one in his family. This research work is
divided into five chapters; chapter one introduces us to the problem and
motivation for the study, brief summary of works on the topic, purpose and
specific objective of the project as well as the definition of terms. Chapter
two reviewed works done on this concept of colonialism, democracy, development,
cultural annihilation, underdevelopment and its impact and provided the missing
link in the literature. Chapter three explained in detail, the methodology used
for the work, Analysis as well as the discussion of the research findings was
taken care of in chapter four, while chapter five exhaustively discussed the recommendations
which formed the crux of this research work.
1.1 Background of study
Colonial
enterprise was a pervasive and meditated invasion of Africa of which Igbo
society and other societies in the derailed
world countries are part of. The primary intention of the colonizer was to
create new markets, territories and outposts for European colonial powers to
meet their economic needs in their home countries. Colonialism became an
enterprise embarked upon by the Western countries such that by 1921, 84% of the
surface of the earth had been colonized. There were as many as 168 colonies
(Dirks N. 2004). Even though by the mid-60s most colonies were, at least
formally independent, the experience of subsequent decades showed how much the
ghost of colonization still loomed over the post-colonial world. Mary Kingsley
(in Nicolson 1969) stated thus: what we
are doing today in Africa, thousand years to come, the children of Africa will
suffer from its effect. This prophecy by Mary Kingsley is therefore, the
justification for this work. The savagery done under the guise of European
colonization and civilization mission in Africa cannot be over-emphasized. Ita
Ira (1988), tracing the history of Igbo society, made some relevant
observations. He noted that, many trade relations and powerful Igbo societies
existed in pre-colonial Igbo society for example, kingdoms of Nri and
Arochukwu. Some writings showed that Africa and Igbo society were en route
developing their unique cultural, political and economic structures before the
interruption created by the colonial episode. Concerned about the ugly
situation the Igbo people find themselves in, The writer condemns the motive of
the Christian religion as well as other cultures passed down to the Igbo people
by the whites. There exists a substantial evidence to back up this bias in the
statement made by Europeans in history which read thus:
The
Igbo people are an inferior race, a race made to serve... with the use of
Christianity the people will be easily subjected to servants satisfied with
their lot because Christianity being a religion of peace is the only instrument
that can bring them to a free and voluntary submission to the plans of divine
providence.
A
point to note is that the developmental strides of Igbo society were derailed
as a result of the advent of colonialism. Even at the dawn of independence,
Igbo people were still under the shackles of post- colonial bondage; this is
the motivating force for this study.
1.2 Statement of Problems
Given
the level of backwardness and maladies present in Igbo society today, it
becomes obvious that colonialism is nothing but an instrument of European
slavery on the Igbo people. The declining and decaying nature of Igbo society
politically, economically, intellectually, culturally is a pure attestation to
this fact. Worst of all was the contamination of the nucleus of a people’s life
(culture) through their contact with the European world. This work therefore
seeks to proffer solution on how the people would be liberated from intellectual
slavery and their cognitive freedom restored.
Research Questions
Aware
of the enormous negative impact of colonialism on post-colonial Igbo people,
the main question that lurks in our individual mind is: To what extent has
colonialism damaged the people’s lives?
Other
questions could also be:
·
Is cultural domination a pre-cursor to the
under-development of the Igbo society?
·
Which is better: the pre-colonial Igbo or
post-colonial Igbo?
·
What is the way forward in liberating and
restoring the Igbo people from mental slavery?
1.3 Objectives of study
The
deplorable state of the Igbo society continues to grow in geometric progression
due to the mindset developed overtime, by the subjugated majority of the Igbo
populace; which has given rise to a kind of mental illness which Ezeani, E
(2014) calls Colonialisis. He
explains colonialysis to mean a
mental disease which makes a colonized people see as sacrosanct, any idea or
thing bequeathed to them by their colonizers. To that effect, the objective of
this study includes
·
To determine the relationship (if any)
between colonialism, and the development or under-development of the Igbo
society
·
To debunk the idea that Igbo society would
not have been developed if not for the intervention of colonial powers in the
form of colonization
·
To discuss as well the different
manifestations of the impact of colonialism on the culture, religion, politics
as well as economy of the Igbo society.
·
To investigate the above mentioned
problems thoroughly and proffer solutions that could deliver Igbo society from
the shackles of under-development resulting from colonialism.
1.4 Significance of the study
Due to the long years of colonial rule and the
preceding period of economic domination and slavery, the mentality of the Igbo
people has been patterned to think that colonialism is a means of economic
emancipation and a means through which development would spread across the
world. Giving no regard to Western justification of colonialism, this study
intends to see its peculiarity in the Igbo society setting, given that
colonialism has not been a failure in some other areas but Igbo society. This
work offers to elucidate and liberate the peoples mind from their patterned way
of thinking. By so doing, the people would be able to think home and
re-strategize towards obtaining real freedom and independence. The reason for
this is that, even though colonialism, which is a direct form of slavery, may
have been said to be no longer in practice in Igbo land today, its impact can
easily be seen or observed in the way of life and thinking of the Igbo people.
Their level of underdevelopment and dependency on external aid, which is alien
to the pre-colonial Igbo people, can be said to be clear evidence of this much
spoken Impact. However, the liberation of the Igbo people from his shackle
would only be made possible through application of Iquism and Context Relevant Education.
Apart from the suggestion made on the ways Igbo
society would ameliorate the devastating impacts of colonialism, this work, it
is hoped, will be able to accomplish the following :
·
Broaden people’s understanding of the concept of colonialism
·
Challenge the Western ideology that places
colonialism as agent of development
·
Provide a proper understanding of what
could be obtained in the face of freedom if left alone i.e. how far the Igbo
people would have gone in the process of development if they were allowed to
take their fate into their hands
·
Provide and exhaustively discuss the
proper route for the re-africanization of the Africans, especially Igbo people.
·
Provide a solution to the knowledge gap in
this context and also provide a guide for other students wishing to embark on
researches in this field.
1.5 Methodology
The work adopts both primary and secondary data. The
primary data relied on in-depth interview method of oral face to face
interview. A key information groups were members of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo,
Government officials from South East, Departments and Agencies in the South
East. Elderly Public Administrators and scholars from South East.
The instrument
employed was in-depth interview method.
In the
secondary data, a material adequate to give good value judgment of the work was
elicited from archival library, CD ROM, internet browsing and documentary news.
The work in its analysis utilized descriptive and analytical approach.
1.6 Scope of the study
This
study is on colonialism and its impact on Igbo society. Its main focus or point
of emphasis is on the impact of colonialism on the cultural values of the Igbo
people. A brief history of the Igbo prior to colonization is made and an
elaborate examination is made here of Igbo society before and after
colonialism.
Among
other things, this study also discusses the merits and demerits of colonialism
as it relates to the Igbo people. The work is not only theoretical in approach,
it is also prescriptive; it propounds an inclusive and feasible route to the Re-Igbonization of the Igbo people
through processes which are underscored by the principle of hard work,
collectivism and also communitarianism; a political and economic situation that
best reflects the psychology and yearnings of the Igbo people.
1.7 Limitations to the
study
In
carrying out this research, many factors posed as constraints, among them are:
1. Time
factor: this constituted the major limitation to this research, because it was
combined with lectures, studies and examinations.
2. Negative
attitude of respondents: most of the respondents were at first, unwilling to
sacrifice their time for interviews and filling of the questionnaires, also
some displayed indifference because perhaps, they felt they had nothing to gain
from the research.
3. Financial
limitation: finance was needed both for sourcing secondary data as well as for
travelling to places to obtain relevant information.
1.8 Conceptual
Definitions
There
are few words which need to be clarified as they will be reoccurring in the
course of this work and they are as follows:
Impact:
originating from the Latin word impingere;
it means to have effect or influence on something or someone. It is
sometimes seen as a negative word, meaning forceful contact.
Colonialism:
policy and practice of a strong power extending its political, economic and
social control territorially over a weaker nation or people. It could also be
seen as an unwarranted sense of racial superiority and set of attitudes
energized by this idea.
Development:
a multidimensional process (political, economic, social, moral etc.) that
involves the movement from an undesirable state to a more desirable state.
Development cannot be said to have occurred without the evidence of its
positive impact on the people.
Culture: this
is the totality of the people’s way of life. (Ejiri mara ndi). (Ranging from their dress code, language, to even
the kind of food they eat). It goes a long way in defining the character
disposition of a person.
Value: they
are sets of norms, codes, or principles which people hold at high esteem. It
could also mean the quality of worth one allots to something.
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