ỌRỤ NKA DỊ ICHE ICHE E NWERE N’ALA IGBO: MMEPỤTA NA NCHEKWA

Ifeyinwa Cordelia Isidienu

Department of Igbo, African and Communication Studies, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka

Email: ic.isidienu@unizik.edu.ng

DIFFERENT KINDS OF CRAFTS IN IGBO LAND: PRODUCTION AND PRESERVATION

Abstract

Anyone who is healthy should acquire a useful craft with which to earn a livelihood.  Through crafts people can help themselves, support their families and contribute to the welfare of their communities. There is no society that promotes laziness. Farming, processing of food for preservation, animal husbandry, fishing, hunting, trading, and other crafts are what indigenous Igbo people do for livelihood. Before the coming of the Europeans, Igbo people had been using these crafts to sustain themselves and meet their daily needs.  Recently, interests in the crafts are dwindling due to neglect. This study is aimed to revive the methods of producing and preserving some of these crafts and to also draw people’s attention to them. Data were collected through oral interview and observations. The study will help in promoting Igbo heritage which is rooted in Igbo crafts. Preservation of Igbo crafts is a good opportunity that will benefit Igbo communities and the world at large.

Ụmi Edemede

Onye ọbụla ahụ siri ike na-enwerịrị ọrụ nka bara uru o ji akpata ihe o ji ebi ndụ. Site n’ọrụ nka ka mmadụ ji enyere onwe ya aka, na-azụ ezinaụlọ ya, ma jiri ya na-ahụ maka ọdịmma obodo ya. O nweghị agbụrụ na-akwado umengwụ. Ọrụ ugbo, ịhazi nri maka nchekwa, ịkpa ụmụ anụmanụ, ịkụ azụ, ịchụ nta, ịzụ ahịa, na ọrụ nka ndị ọzọ bụcha ihe ndị Igbo na-eme iji kpata ihe ha ji ebi ndụ n’oge gboo. Ọrụ nka ndị a nwere ụzọ dị iche iche e si emepụta ha, ma bụrụ ezi ohere e si enweta akaọrụ. Tupu ndị ọcha abata ala Igbo, ndị Igbo ji ọrụ nka ndị a akwado onwe ha ma na-egbokwa mkpa dịịrị ha.  Ugbu a inwe mmasị n’ọrụ nka na-adaghachi azụ n’ihi nleghara. Nchọcha a bụ iji kpọlitekwa mmepụta ọrụ nka ndị a, kpọghachite uche ndị mmadụ azụ n’ebe ha dị. E ji ajụjụ ọnụ na nleruanya wee chịkọta ihe e ji mee nchọcha a. Nchọcha a ga-eme ka ewulite ihe nketa ndị Igbo, nke hibereisi n’ọrụ nka ha. Ichekwa ọrụ nka ndị Igbo bụ ezigbo ohere nke ga-abara  obodo niile dị n’ala Igbo na ụwa dum uru.