Quotembari houses of the owerri igbo, which are large openedsided square planned shelters, are examples of igbo architecture. If the previous factors were related solely to considerations of practicality, the following reasons are connected with spiritual realm. Features of nigerian architecture traditional architecture of major and minor ethnic groups in nigeria hausafulani, igbo, yoruba, bini etc. Nok art one of the major features of the nok art is the invention of terracotta figurines and statues and the abundant use of iron in these sculptures. Igbo architecture described in the novel is close to the present period, because at the time of okonkwo th e nearby bush provided ample space for such natural bodily functions.
Most recent buildings designs across hausa regions in nigeria. Hausa traditional architecture therefore can simply be defined as the art of shaping the environment to serve the requirements of hausa traditions comfortably and efficiently. If you are looking for a meal to prepare for an igbo man or woman, scroll down and choose. Pdf the traditional architecture of the igbo of nigeria semantic. The first, igbo isaiah, was uncovered in 1938 by isaiah anozie a local villager who stumbled upon the bronze works while digging beside his home. Vernacular architecture in northern nigeria vann has suffered a great deal, be it from human negligence, socioeconomic conditions, weather and climatic factors or modernization. Art and architecture of the igbo people culture 3 nigeria. Traditional igbo building architecture an historical. In the area of design and construction there is a need to modernise urban the urban fabric of lgbo architecture in southeastern nigeria in the 1990s 201 housing design whilst taking into account the more useful aspects of traditional architecture. Odinani has monotheistic and panentheistic attributes, having a single god as the source of all things. Igbo architecture in a traditional environment in the olden days is emerging. Mar 11, 2020 there are changes in igbo society and traditional practices now more than ever, we need to study the igbo traditional society and the institution and also belief that held the society to get the best of new society in this society to get the best of the two world without completely losing our identity. There are, however, a few key features which are common to most structures. Therefore, they build round houses and live in large groups.
Introduction justice is a cardinal pillar of igbo judicial and legal systems. Conflicts between african traditional religion and. Religion in igbo traditional society partakes fully of all the features of world traditional religion, including its beliefs, sacred myths, oral qualities, strong appeal to the hearts of adherents, high degree of ritualization, and possession of numerous participatory personages such as officiating elders, kings, priests, and diviners. Paper open access related content vernacular architecture of. The architecture of the igbo people is almost as diverse as other parts of their culture. As we turn to that landmark novel, things fall apart, the distinguished writer chinua achebe presents a description that brings the reade r close t o igb traditional architecture. However, other aspects of social system are also expressed in the domestic organization and lead to a more complex structure and dynamic than those in a simple patrilocal system.
The igbo have a very strong sense of justice which is littered in many an igbo cultural ethos and pathos. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The traditional igbo building architecture was practically an offshoot of the cave environment. The thesis is confined to igboland, and traditional igbo architecture is studied in the context of the physical and cultural environments under which it evolved and developed. Introduction the three studies of traditional and contemporary domestic units samples presented here are from benin city. Academics in the igbo traditional architecture academia. The traditional architecture of the igbo of nigeria gala university. Sep 27, 2016 but in nigerian traditional architecture nta it is the residential domestic architecture that is highly pronounced and well developed. Space use patterns and building morphology in yoruba and benin 023.
The approaches to architecture by these two groups, i. They house many lifesized, painted figures sculpted in mud to appease the alusi deity and ala, the earth goddess, with other deities of thunder and water. Progress will be made when these traditional materials can be modernized and used to build more comfortable homes in igbo land. There is a very weak link between the historical style. Interface between igbo theology and christianity provides evidence of.
The concept of igbo spirituality and environment okafor. Igbo introduction, location, language, folklore, religion. The modern homes, with brick walls and corrugated iron sheets for roof, remain major mistakes in architecture for the igbo environment. Similarly, in traditional african society like igboland where polygamy was the practice, a man built multiple houses to take care of himself, his wives, children, and. Although a pantheon of spirits exists, these are lesser spirits prevalent in odinani expressly serving as elements of chineke or chukwu, the. It does not exist in a vacuum or up there in the blues but among humans. In this post, we take a look at nigerian traditional art from the likes of the nok art, igbo ukwu bronze work tp the ife art and others. This paper seeks to explore the extent to which local building traditions have been retained within modern urban housing development in primarily igbo speaking areas of southeastern nigeria in the 1990s. Trends in igbo traditional architecture from pre colonial to post colonial era bertokonkwor, c.
However, in terms of spatial configuration, there are marked differences. The urban fabric of igbo architecture in southeastern. Formerly igbo women added pieces of cloth to show their marital status and number of children. Igbo traditional architecture takes on various regional forms. On this page, you will find a list of nigerian recipes that are specifically traditional igbo recipes. Igbo proverbs are an integral element of the igbo african culture and undoubtedly a strong base in igbo african traditional system. Again, this provides a theoretical principle by which the igbo order architectural elements in the physical setting. Overall the book works as a good introduction to the traditional house building of various igbo groups, these including building styles that are long gone or are fading fast. The traditional igbo building architecture was practically an offshoot of the cave environment inhabited by the igbo ancestors prior to the development of house building culture. Before european colonisation, the igbo speaking people were not united as single people, but lived in smalldispersed compounds in the rainforest, built up of clusters of huts belonging to the same patrilineage. Posted in education, technology tagged architecture, eastern, igbo, language, nigeria, traditional by dotmanka 2 comments 2 thoughts on how theyre made. Traditional nubian archway on the blue nile in sudan. It portrays the historical style represented by the european, brazilian and north african trends through traditional architecture and the modern style with the international style, the new west african style and the postmodern trend.
However, in the era of globalization and modernization, traditional architecture is fast disappearing in most part of africa due to neglect and lack of understanding of its importance. C1 1 2 department of building, nnamdi azikiwe university, awka. Igbo was an oral culture for generations, so much of literature was communicated in songs, poems, chants, and dirges. Modern architecture in nigeria presents a bizarre picture of indiscriminate transplantation of foreign buildings, and a complete abandonment of traditional. Nowadays, each community consisting of a number of villages, wards andor clans, can nominate their traditional. Could be a good exterior inspiration for a public building clubhouse in complex. A lesson from vernacular architecture in nigeria neliti. After the independence, the role of these district officers was quickly transformed and adapted to the igbo s traditional title society which was based on traditional worship titles.
View academics in the igbo traditional architecture on academia. The traditional igbo building architecture was practically an offshoot of the cave environment inhabited by the igbo ancestors prior to the development of house building culture afigbo, 1981. The concept of traditional vernacular architecture the nigerian architecture. This paper seeks to explore the extent to which local building traditions have been retained within modern urban housing development in primarily igbospeaking areas of southeastern nigeria in the 1990s.
Central to the main theme is the argument for a reordering of architectural design and urban planning in southern nigeria to better accommodate the more traditional or cultural features of life as the illustrations shown will highlight. Abstract the decline in the respect for culture due to the blind embrace of westernism and the ghost of intellectual dependency has continued to haunt the whole gamut of african academia, living little or no space for the preservance of our culture. The thesis is confined to igboland, and traditional igbo architecture is studied in the. A focus on traditional igbo architecture slavery museum liverpool museum nigerian culture art and architecture picture show art museum paper shopping bag table lamp war when people were abducted and trafficked to the united states from west africa in the late 1600searly 1700s, they were forced to build their own houses. Most households own radios, and there are several television sets in each village.
There are changes in igbo society and traditional practices now more than ever, we need to study the igbo traditional society and the institution and also belief that held the society to get the best of new society in this society to get the best of the two world without completely losing our identity. Tradition is opinion, belief, practice, customs etc. Within this sphere of national architecture, there exists architecture of specific functions. Igbo, also called ibo, people living chiefly in southeastern nigeria who speak igbo, a language of the benuecongo branch of the nigercongo language family. The igbo homeland straddles the lower niger river, east and south of the edoid and idomoid groups, and west of the ibibioid cross river cluster. Introduction to traditional nigerian architecture v. Communication in the traditional igbo societies was by the means. A 1department of architecture, school of environmental studies, moshood abiola polytechnic, abeokuta 2department of art and industrial design, school of environmental studies. The igbo residential system follows a patrilocal pattern. Igbo slaves may have not been victims of slaveraiding wars or expeditions, but perhaps debtors or igbo people who committed within their communities alleged crimes. According to oneh and ati 2010,the present day traditional architecture of a place usually results from solutions.
The essence of such writings appeared intended only to present the igbo as traditional community people. The concept of igbo traditional architecture in this essay predates the colonial period although it still flourished within that period. This is just one of the solutions for you to be successful. It consists of a compound in which there are several houses for specific purposes. The traditional architecture of the igbo of nigeria. Chinese architecture, the american, the early egyptian, the greek, the roman and so on. Pdf the urban fabric of igbo architecture in southeastern nigeria.
Posted by jonathanadewumi on september 27, 2016 in contemporary architecture, we can talk of different types of buildings or say that a particular building belongs to a certain group or architectural styles or types. Southeastern nigeria, the igbo speaking areas volume 3 of an introduction to nigerian traditional architecture, an introduction to nigerian traditional architecture. The traditional architecture, therefore, directly relates to their environment and longestablished customs and way of life. Religion in history of hausa traditional architecture.
The book contains an edited version of the papers presented at that international conference. For a country that is ridden with woes and troubles, it is very easy to forget how beautiful sudan can be. Colonization and the ensuing transplantation of foreign architecture. It is considered in this report that traditional architecture must adjust to changing needs and conditions in.
Chieftaincy and the state in southeastern nigeria afrika spectrum 33 1998 1. The family head, the elders, the age grade, secret societies etc play a key role in this sociopolitical structure. The following chapters will attempt to explain the traditional architectural elements, entitlement of architectural elements thopthang and guidelines on compromised thopthang for contemporary architecture. The principles and practice of justice in traditional igbo jurisprudence ikenga k. They include traditional proverbs, talesdance by moon lights known as akukoifoegwuonwa among the igbo of eastern nigeria, adages, lullabies, poems, riddles, incantations, praise songs such as oriki, recitals of traditional religions like the ifa verses among the. Colonization and the ensuing transplantation of foreign architecture have, however.
The centrality of proverbs in igbo african oral tradition is manifested in the frequency of its use by the igbos in their conversations, speech, instructions, judgment, drama, arguments, storytelling, in fun. It is and will be a helpful reference to future generations who unfortunately may never get to see traditional igbo architecture physically. Pdf the urban fabric of igbo architecture in south. Stanford libraries official online search tool for books, media, journals, databases, government documents and more. Art and architecture of the igbo people culture 4 nigeria. An introduction to nigerian traditional architecture. Igbo traditional architecture makes use of local building materials, construction methods and takes advantage of the local climate. Factors influencing the defects and performance of. A sense of community plays an extremely important role for hausa people. Where the yoruba traditional compound favors massing, a typical igbo homestead is composed of discrete units, ranked in importance based on their relative. Hence the essential requirements at the cave habitat were provided in the house environment.
The african ejournals project has digitized full text of. Igbos in the southeastern nigeria having igbo vernacular. The study reveals that traditional igbo architecture is a product of physical and cultural factors, some of which are peculiar to igboland and society. The concept of igbo spirituality and environment in a technoscientific age where conflicting views on the reality of environmental ethics as well as ethical, environmental and ideological concerns emerge continuously, there is the need to constantly reinstate the verticalhorizontal dimensions of mans peaceful coexistence with living and. Justice is a cardinal pillar of igbo judicial and legal systems. The igbo traditional dress is a danshiki, a long, loosefitting top. Igbo people are among the richest cultures in africa with all forms of art and literature that competes healthily with the best that europe can produce. An overview of facades of residential buildings in southwestern, nigeria 1jolaoso, b. Pdf the urban fabric of igbo architecture in southeastern. Igbo, people living chiefly in southeastern nigeria who speak igbo, a language of the benuecongo branch of the nigercongo language family. An introduction to nigerian traditional architecture book. The paper focuses specifically on the igbo speaking area of southeastern nigeria. These homes are usually selfcontained and fenced around to ensure privacy. Modern forms of entertainment include watching television and going to movies and discos.
The advent of colonialism in nigeria changed the traditional life and culture of nigerian which creates a weak connection between traditional architecture and contemporary architecture in nigeria. They include traditional proverbs, talesdance by moon lights known as akukoifoegwuonwa among the igbo of eastern nigeria, adages, lullabies, poems, riddles, incantations, praise songs such as oriki, recitals of traditional religions like the ifa verses among the yoruba of western nigeria and other facets of their. If you are going to contribute please include the origin of the building. This paper seeks to explore the extent to which local building traditions have been retained within modern urban housing development in primarily igbospeaking areas of. Igbo, particularly those of them emerging from christian missionaries and british colonial ethnographers had mainly been targeted at painting a general picture of the unchanging customs and traditions of the igbo people of nigeria. An introduction to nigerian traditional architecture in. A reconsideration becomes necessary as traditional architecture can be a source of inspiration even in contemporary times. Igbo proverbs as embodiments of igboafrican philosophy. Consequently, the chinese pyramidal cake form is a depiction of temples whereas the ordinary linear design is reserved for housing, while in america, the. In rural nigeria, igbo people work mostly as craftsmen, farmers and traders. Traditional entertainment includes storytelling, rituals, dancing, and music making. It is necessary to have the perception of the basic concept of the word conflict before exploring the extensive area of conflicts between african traditional religion and christianity. This thread will showcase different types of traditional buildings built mainly before colonisation and will include their origin and history if available. The igbo may be grouped into the following main cultural divisions.
A visit to igboland today reveals an expansive spread of western mansions and cottages that have replaced the old mud walls and thatched roofs that characterised igbo architecture. Phd thesis school of architecture and landscape, thames polytechnic, united kingdom. Ewemade department of architecture, obafemi awolowo university, ileife, nigeria abstract ileife is worldfamous for its sculptures, and for the pivotal role it plays in defining black culture. With the goal for freedom, enslaved igbo people were known to the british colonists as being rebellious and having a high rate of suicide to escape slavery. Traditionally, the yam was the food of choice for ceremonial occasions. Nowadays, each community consisting of a number of villages, wards andor clans, can nominate their traditional ruler, also called igwe or eze. Igbo architecture is very similar to that of the yoruba, in terms of material options and construction techniques. The following video shows the meals prepared in the igbo tribe of nigeria.
Sanitation is a big deal in traditional igbo society. This could be done by the reinterpretation of conventional modern domestic space. That difference noted indicates that igbo traditional architecture has been evolving and that the evolution is still influenced by utilitarian objectives. The igbo enjoy games, including card games and checkers.