An Epistemic Survey of African (Igbo) Notions of Knowledge in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart
Keywords:
Change, Colonialism, Epistemic, Igbo, Indigenous and Inter-culturalism
Abstract
This study undertakes an epistemic survey of the notions of knowledge among Igbos of Nigeria as couched in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. In this work, Achebe relives the vibrant world of Igbo people before the advent of colonialists in Nigeria. The study therefore unveils the roles and significances of knowledge among the Igbos, the beauty and depth of the people’s values system as enshrined in their culture and traditions. It also exposes the place of elders and oral tradition as both purveyors and repository of knowledge hence, their relevance in Igbo knowledge acquisition process. The work showcases that life among the Igbos was chiefly communal. Knowledge in this society, was acquired through collective experience and wisdom by individual persons’ participation in the community’s rituals, myths and folklores. However, the researcher adopted the hermeneutical and textual analysis methods of inquiry which enabled us to interpret and analyse the Novel, Things Fall Apart. In line with our hermeneutical method, we clarified the meaning of Omenani (traditions) of the people and its’ influence on the epistemology of the people. Our study found that any strongly held beliefs or cultural values which bring only crises when people of different cultures interact necessitates the need for the cultivation of proper epistemological modesty instead of a tenacious attachment to customs and traditions. Lastly, our study recommends a relevant epistemic change as panacea to cultural and social rifts. This more balanced knowledge system being recommended has the capacity of engendering inter-cultural interactions and ensuring social harmony even in the face of the challenges of cultural globalization. This novel problem-solving system is located in our idea of epistemic inter-culturalism.References
1. Achebe, C. (1958). Things Fall Apart. London: Heinemann Educational Books.
2. Betrand, R. (1974). The Problem of Philosophy. Oxford: University Press.
3. Chieka, I. (2002). Traditional Humane Living Among The Igbos: An Historical Perspective. Enugu: Fourth Dimension.
4. Chilala, C. (2018). Dorika’s Metamorphosis: The allusive potency of a comic character. In: I. Chukwumah, ed., Joke-Performance in Africa: Mode, Media and Meaning. London and New York: Routledge
5. Chilala, C. (2003). Marriage, Gender and Freedom in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House: A Zambian Perspective: Proceedings of the International Ibsen Conference, The Relevance of A Doll’s House – Translation and Adaptation, 8-14 November 2002, Dhaka: Centre for Asian Theatre (CAT).
6. Ezuma, I. O., (1989). Guide To Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Onitsha: Tabansi Publishers.
7. Hebding, E. & Gluck, (1992). Introduction To Sociology. New York: MacGraw Hill Books.
8. Iwe, N.S.S., (1991). Social Ethical Issues in Nigeria. London: Peter Lang Publishers.
9. Killam, G. D., (1977). The Writings of Chinua Achebe. London: Heinemann.
10. Killam, G. D., (1978). African Writers on African Writing. London and Ibadan: Heinemann.
11. Miller, J., (1981). The Novelist as Teacher:Chinua Achebe’s Literature for Children, Vol. 9.Baltimore: John Hopkins Press.
12. Nwala, U.T., (1985). Igbo Philosophy, Lagos: Litramed Publication.
13. Nwodo, C. (2004). Philosophical Perspectives on Achebe. Portharcourt: University of Portharcourt Press.
14. Omoregbe, J. (1994). Philosophy of Law. Lagos: Joja Educational Research and Publishing Limited.
15. Onwubiko, O. A. (1988). Wisdom Lectures on African Thought and Culture. Owerri: Totan Publishers.
16. Ojike, M. (1955). My Africa. London: Blandford.
17. Taiwo, O. (1976). Culture and The Nigerian Novel. London: Macmillan.
18. The New International Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary of English Language(2004). Florida: Trident Press International.
19. Udoidem, S.I. (2014). Engineering Culture for Peaceful Co-existence and Sustainable Development in Nigeria. A Keynote Address at the centre for Cultural Studies Conference on Culture and Sustainable Development. Uyo: University of Uyo.
20. Wren, R.M. (1981). Achebe’s World: The Historical and Cultural Context of the Novels of Chinua Achebe. Essex: Longman.
2. Betrand, R. (1974). The Problem of Philosophy. Oxford: University Press.
3. Chieka, I. (2002). Traditional Humane Living Among The Igbos: An Historical Perspective. Enugu: Fourth Dimension.
4. Chilala, C. (2018). Dorika’s Metamorphosis: The allusive potency of a comic character. In: I. Chukwumah, ed., Joke-Performance in Africa: Mode, Media and Meaning. London and New York: Routledge
5. Chilala, C. (2003). Marriage, Gender and Freedom in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House: A Zambian Perspective: Proceedings of the International Ibsen Conference, The Relevance of A Doll’s House – Translation and Adaptation, 8-14 November 2002, Dhaka: Centre for Asian Theatre (CAT).
6. Ezuma, I. O., (1989). Guide To Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Onitsha: Tabansi Publishers.
7. Hebding, E. & Gluck, (1992). Introduction To Sociology. New York: MacGraw Hill Books.
8. Iwe, N.S.S., (1991). Social Ethical Issues in Nigeria. London: Peter Lang Publishers.
9. Killam, G. D., (1977). The Writings of Chinua Achebe. London: Heinemann.
10. Killam, G. D., (1978). African Writers on African Writing. London and Ibadan: Heinemann.
11. Miller, J., (1981). The Novelist as Teacher:Chinua Achebe’s Literature for Children, Vol. 9.Baltimore: John Hopkins Press.
12. Nwala, U.T., (1985). Igbo Philosophy, Lagos: Litramed Publication.
13. Nwodo, C. (2004). Philosophical Perspectives on Achebe. Portharcourt: University of Portharcourt Press.
14. Omoregbe, J. (1994). Philosophy of Law. Lagos: Joja Educational Research and Publishing Limited.
15. Onwubiko, O. A. (1988). Wisdom Lectures on African Thought and Culture. Owerri: Totan Publishers.
16. Ojike, M. (1955). My Africa. London: Blandford.
17. Taiwo, O. (1976). Culture and The Nigerian Novel. London: Macmillan.
18. The New International Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary of English Language(2004). Florida: Trident Press International.
19. Udoidem, S.I. (2014). Engineering Culture for Peaceful Co-existence and Sustainable Development in Nigeria. A Keynote Address at the centre for Cultural Studies Conference on Culture and Sustainable Development. Uyo: University of Uyo.
20. Wren, R.M. (1981). Achebe’s World: The Historical and Cultural Context of the Novels of Chinua Achebe. Essex: Longman.
Published
2023-11-27
How to Cite
Ihejirika, C. (2023) “An Epistemic Survey of African (Igbo) Notions of Knowledge in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart”, Journal of Law and Social Sciences, 5(3), pp. 37-49. doi: https://doi.org/10.53974/unza.jlss.5.3.1086.
Section
Articles