AFRICAN IDEOLOGY: IGBO PAREMIOLOGY IN PROMOTING MORALS, PEACE AND HUMAN SECURITY

Abstract

Every society has its own fundamental philosophy and ideology that can build good moral behaviours, peace and security in the society. Africa, a continent that is replete in tradition and culture, has many tribes and communities with distinct proverbs, norms and values that can transform an individual or the society. Igbo land is a one primary example of an African tribe that has deep belief in their proverbs. The central motive of the study is to assess the values therein in proverbs and other constructive idioms of the people capable of building moral, peace and human security. The study, therefore, examined African/Igbo ideologies, the proverbs and thoughts that can bring and sustain peace and security. The study also observed the various sayings of elders which are today, either due to modernization or civilization, are wearing off from the memories and words of the youth and middle aged people and found more on the lips of the elderly people basically. The paper noticed that many young Igbo people have little care and concentration of the meanings embedded in Igbo proverbs and idioms. The study highlighted the importance of knowing these basic African ideologies replete in the quantum Igbo proverbs and other words of knowledge. The paper concluded by emphasizing that both the adults and the younger ones should retrace their steps and make efforts to know the values in Igbo proverbs which have deep wisdom capable of building individual characters positively as well as bring peace and security to the society.