ABSTRACT
Relying on Igbo (African) scholarship, this chapter explores the idea of interconnectedness as an Igbo epistemic resource, showing how it expresses itself as solidarity on the social sphere. It is argued, based on relevant Igbo scholarship, that an analysis of the various dimensions of Igbo life – social, political, economic, religious, moral, etc. – would disclose the sense of interconnectedness as an animating epistemic resource. Indeed, it has a social-ordering effect, as it impacts politics, religion, morality, and diverse aspects of Igbo society. This chapter analyzes the Igbo sense of solidarity, pointing out how it informs various socio-cultural practices. Taking a close look at “indigenous” Igbo political structure, this chapter further uncovers the philosophy of power at play or, if you like, “political epistemology” – all rooted in the sense of interconnectedness and solidaristic thinking. Finally, this chapter maps the religious and moral world of the Igbo, showing how their notions of the sacred and the good, as expressed in religious practices and cultural norms, are likewise defined by the sense of interconnectedness and solidarity.
