ABSTRACT
PARENTAGE MEANS much to a man or woman in the Ibo country. Society is democratic, and the poor man has equal rights with the rich although, as in other countries,
Environment also plays its part. Different towns favour different professions with correspondingly different standards of living. The great majority of men are engaged in agriculture (so called) : a lesser number are traders, while those dwelling near the large rivers are fishermen, as well as agriculturists. Craftsmen are comparatively few and those chiefly blacksmiths. Hence, birthplace is associated with birthright. This may be illustrated by the following: The men of Nkwerre are practically all traders and, incidentally, money-lenders. Awka men are blacksmiths almost to a man. Those of Nri exercise priestly functions, especially in connection with the initiation of chiefs and those taking up titles; also they officiate in the purification sacrifices for the removal of pollution from persons, houses and land. Other men are famed for their skill as cicatrisers, and some travel considerable distances in order to fulfil commissions. They cut the" ichi" or tribal marks on the faces of boys in towns where this is customary, and scarify the
Before the introduction of foreign ideas and practices, it was the custom for a lad to follow in the footsteps of his father. Under the old conditions, apprenticeship began at an early age. As a child, he accompanied his father to the farm, or on trading expeditions, and rendered such assistance as his strength and knowledge permitted. On attaining to young manhood, it was instilled into him, not so much by word as by force of circumstances, that he must earn money if he had any aspiration towards a worthy position in life; without money for fees he could make no advance. In certain areas, a man was not allowed to wear as much as a loincloth until he had been initiated into the first degree of titular rank and, in some places, title-taking is a costly business. The son of a wealthy father had better prospects. For his own dignity's sake, as much as for the benefit of his son, such a father might subscribe the money wherewith to pay the expenses connected with the initiation into one or more of the lower orders. In the majority of cases, the young man has no alternative other than to depend upon his own ability and exertions.
