Traditional customs of the Ibo tribe greatly influenced the ways and practices of its kinsmen. Some of the traditions were carried out within a family’s private world. Other traditions were recognized throughout the whole village. The customs were made in celebration of the unique culture of Umuofian people.
Many of the traditions of the Ibo tribe took place with in the home. It was a tradtion for the man of the house to sleep in his own hut, or obi. The man’s obi was seen as almost a sacared place, were the children or wives were rarely allowed. When any man had a visitor they would meet in the obi. Most of the time visits were care free and fun, and food and drink were exchanged. The practical exchange of food and good times further highlighted the fact that these people were not barbaric creatures, just people. Besides traditions of good manners, there were also customs that pertained to certain religious practices. Many kinsmen sacrificed animals to the gods of the l
The way the Umuofian people handled their dead was also bursting with customs and traditions. The death of a very regarded kinsmen or warrior resulted in a big, gleeful funeral to celebrate the life. If a man died of unnatural causes, or if he was believed to be possessed by evil spirits at the time of his death, he was sent away to parish in the Evil Forest. The clan also shunned suicide; they believed it was a sin against nature. If a man killed himself, his body could not be touched by anyone in the village. Instead his body had to be handled by complete strangers. The clansmen believed that by keeping anyone from touching the dead body, they could stop the evil that the body harbored from spreading.
and, as well as to their personal god, chi.
The traditions and customs seemed to impact the clan. They lived in a fear of angering the spirits, in a fear of change. Engaging in so many customs kept them believing in what they were taught their whole lives. The traditions kept t
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