Igbo Family Structure
Family structure is very important throughout the Igbo tribe. The structure includes nuclear and extended family settings, how the men of the tribe practiced polygamy, and the roles of the mother, father, and the children. In the story Things Fall Apart Okonkwo had a nuclear family structure this included himself, three wives, and their children.
The extended family structure includes a variety of family members such as grandparents, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, in-laws, and the immediate family. This family structure was common in the Igbo village, in this setting, all of the members live on one compound. There are some positive and negative things about this type of setting. Some of the positive are that every member of the house has some kind of support backing them up. It helps with the upbringing of children as their training is not as confined to the limits …show more content…
They ranked according to the order in which they were married. As wives, they were responsible for fueling and inspiring the father with ideas to move the household forward towards progress and development. It is expected of her to preserve the family wealth. The standards and morals of the children also rested upon her shoulders to make sure they do right. She has to make household homely and comfortable for every member of the family including visitors. It is also her duty to love the father of the house, cook his meals, and maintain the cleanliness of the home. The younger wives are expected to help older wives and caring for children and the head of the house “father”. As you read through the story you would not think that the women were a very important role in the Igbo culture, but in the book, it states that Agbala which means “old woman”, which was the Oracle, people came from near and far to consult it (Achebe 11). The women were allowed to participate in some events, they could plant their own crops, and go to the market when they
The extended family structure includes a variety of family members such as grandparents, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, in-laws, and the immediate family. This family structure was common in the Igbo village, in this setting, all of the members live on one compound. There are some positive and negative things about this type of setting. Some of the positive are that every member of the house has some kind of support backing them up. It helps with the upbringing of children as their training is not as confined to the limits …show more content…
They ranked according to the order in which they were married. As wives, they were responsible for fueling and inspiring the father with ideas to move the household forward towards progress and development. It is expected of her to preserve the family wealth. The standards and morals of the children also rested upon her shoulders to make sure they do right. She has to make household homely and comfortable for every member of the family including visitors. It is also her duty to love the father of the house, cook his meals, and maintain the cleanliness of the home. The younger wives are expected to help older wives and caring for children and the head of the house “father”. As you read through the story you would not think that the women were a very important role in the Igbo culture, but in the book, it states that Agbala which means “old woman”, which was the Oracle, people came from near and far to consult it (Achebe 11). The women were allowed to participate in some events, they could plant their own crops, and go to the market when they