A STUDY OF PROHIBITED ANIMALS IN THE IGBO CULTURE
Authors: Chijioke Soroibe
Publication Details
Published: June 14, 2024
Reference: Volume 8, Issue 2
Abstract
In Igbo land, there are some animals which are not totems, but it is forbidden to eat, kill or harm them. Such animals are respected as other totem animals. The community, clan, family, town or groups of people prohibit the eating, killing or hurting for a period of time or as a perpetual cultural practice. These animals are the ones we described in this paper as tabooed or prohibitive animals (Anu a na-eze eze/Anu nso). The prohibition could be as a result of assistance the animal rendered or evil it did in the past or what someone who ate or killed the animal in the past suffered. The tabooed or prohibitive animal is avoided. It could turn to an age-long cultural practice which will be generally accepted by the people and it is transferred from generation to generation. In some Igbo communities, the present generation are ignorant of their tabooed animals and where they know the animals, they may not know the story or myth behind the prohibition on such animals. This paper would be a positive contribution towards a better and more detailed understanding of tabooed or prohibitive animals in Igbo culture. It would also broaden the frontiers of scholarship in Igbo culture.
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How to Cite
Chijioke Soroibe. (2024). A STUDY OF PROHIBITED ANIMALS IN THE IGBO CULTURE. ABIA JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES , Volume 8 (2) .