SOCIO-POLITICAL ORGANISATION OF THE IGBO

The Igbo people of Eastern Nigeria are one of the most populous ethnic groups in Nigeria. The Igbo people are mainly found in the five eastern states of Nigeria: Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi and Abia states.

The Igbo society is often referred to as a “stateless society”. This is because the Igbo people did not practise a centralised or kingship system of government. Unlike other Nigerian ethnic groups, the Igbo people did not give their total power or authority to a single person to act as king. Rather, they developed a system of government that divided power among members of the entire village in such a way that everybody, right from the family level, is important. This was the major reason why the British colonial system of indirect rule failed completely and even led to revolts by the Igbo people.

The Obi, Okpala, Ofor and Ozo titles, council of elders and the age grades are some of the important traditional authorities amongst the Igbo people. The Igbo-Ukwu culture and arts, traditional dressing, marriage practices reflect the rich culture of the Igbo people.