Conversation:
In Igbo culture, conversation is very important. The people of the tribe need to converse before getting down to business, and being straightforward in requests is looked down upon. When beginning a meeting, the people must first have small talk, discussing daily activities and asking how each other are. This is hardly practiced anymore in our country, as people are much more likely to request something outright, than begin a conversation for no reason. Proverbs: Proverbs were used to explain things and to change certain attitudes in the tribe. People were often taught how to be respectful, and about the culture of the tribe. People were taught through proverbs that "If a child washed his hands, he could eat with kings", given that he did what he should, he would be rewarded. These are unwritten phrases that guide the Igbo people in their lives, passed down every generation through familial use. Other popular phrases include "Proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten", "A toad does not run in the daytime for nothing", and "Those whose palm-kernels were cracked for them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble.". All teach respect, perseverance, and ultimately, why the proverbs are used so often. Pages 5, 6, 7, 8,, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 30, 33, and 34 of "Things Fall Apart" |