A Critical Analysis of Gender Roles in Marriage in Igbo African Ontology
A Critical Analysis of Gender Roles in Marriage in Igbo African Ontology

Summary/Abstract: Marriage is one of the fundamental institutions that shape and regulate social life in the Igbo society. The Igbo concept of marriage is unique in Igbo ontology. Among Ndigbo, mar- riage is not just a conjugal union but an essential social requirement to be fulfilled before admis- sion into the society’s rank of respectable adulthood. It is a cross gender ritual. The Igbo marriage is basically between a man and a woman or many women, although there are interesting but rare exceptions. The respective genders have their culturally designated roles in Igbo ontology. There is a complementarity of roles with the male gender clearly dominating. But the female gender can- not really be said to be oppressed in traditional Igbo marriage as it also provides them with many privileges and stronger safeguards. Among Ndigbo, marriage is more of a social responsibility than an individual’s conjugal fancy. This work x-rays the traditional Igbo marriage, analyzing and portraying it in philosophical perspectives as it relates to the genders.

• Details
• Contents