LITERATURE AS A PORTRAYER OF THE BELIEFS AND TRADITIONS OF THE IGBO PEOPLE

Abstract

Every literary work has something to portray. In most cases, they showcase the beliefs and traditions of the community or society in which the writer lives. Literature is the creative work done which exposes the experience and conception of the person about the life in a society where he or she lives. Literature represents the culture, tradition and belief of a people. Belief is the set of principles or doctrines seen or accepted by an individual or a group, as true. Tradition is the transmission or handing down customs or beliefs from generation to generation. This work reviews some of the Igbo beliefs and traditions. It attempts to showcase some of the Igbo beliefs and traditions as depicted in Ọ Chụpụrụ onwe ya n’ụgbo and Ụlụmma. The work seeks to project some of the beliefs and traditions of the Igbo people to the outside world. Though not every tradition and belief were revealed, because the text Ụlụmma, exposed little of the Igbo beliefs and traditions. It is therefore hoped that this work will help in no small measure, exhibit literature as a portrayer of the beliefs and traditions of the Igbo people.