Igbo Cultural Heritage; A vanishing identity. The book portrays the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo people of South-eastern Nigeria, which the owners of the culture are allowing to die. The Igbo cultural heritage is as diverse as the Igbo dialects but that diversity does not in any way diminish its beauty, elegance and cultural values rather it enhances them. The Igbo artworks are exquisite and elegant and are much sought after all over the world. The Igbo-Ukwu artworks that have such exceptional quality, intricacy and elegance dates back to 9th Century, long before the contact with the Europeans. That discovery fascinated as well as puzzled the early Europeans that first made contact with the Igbo people. The Igbo cultural dances and the instruments, the masquerades dances, the festivals, the palm wine, the cuisine, the attire etc. are unique to the people and need to be preserved, protected and propagated for the world to see and enjoy.

“A true classic of world literature . . . A masterpiece that has inspired generations of writers in Nigeria, across Africa, and around the world.” —Barack Obama “African literature is incomplete and unthinkable without the works of Chinua Achebe.” —Toni Morrison Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read Things Fall Apart is the first of three novels in Chinua Achebe's critically acclaimed African Trilogy. It is a classic narrative about Africa's cataclysmic encounter with Europe as it establishes a colonial presence on the continent. Told through the fictional experiences of Okonkwo, a wealthy and fearless Igbo warrior of Umuofia in the late 1800s, Things Fall Apart explores one man's futile resistance to the devaluing of his Igbo traditions by British political andreligious forces and his despair as his community capitulates to the powerful new order. With more than 20 million copies sold and translated into fifty-seven languages, Things Fall Apart provides one of the most illuminating and permanent monuments to African experience. Achebe does not only capture life in a pre-colonial African village, he conveys the tragedy of the loss of that world while broadening our understanding of our contemporary realities.

This fascinating work is a testament to the combination of personal insight and academic detachment which the author brought to her study of Igbo women before her death in 1998.

Ohadike (Cornell U.) examines the organization and strength of African resistance movements against European colonialism with particular reference to the small-scale communities. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

This book examines an indigenous Africa-centric business model practised by the Igbos of south-eastern Nigeria for decades. The unique framework and rules of operation, collectively referred to as the Igbo-Traditional Business School (I-TBS) in this book, is underpinned by the ‘Igba-boi’ apprenticeship.

The author presented his book Igbo Culture in a most convincing way by quoting expert opinions on most of the issues he discussed in the book. Through his carefully researched work and detailed analysis of facts, he showed in the book that Igbo youths working hard like their ancestors can reform Igboland into a new and better civilization by sifting the good aspects of Igbo culture into today's way of life. He started his book by making a brief reference to the possible migration route of Igbo ancestors from their earliest settlements in the forest region of Central Africa to their present-day settlement in Southeastern Nigeria of West Africa. He also made a brief reference to the development of the Igbo civilization through the period covering the Stone Age and Iron Age civilizations (pages 114). He painted a clear picture of the cultural background of the community where he was born and brought up and lived in for more than sixty years before he traveled to the United States of America. He traced the more than twenty-six generations-deep lineages, beliefs, concepts, customs, and history of Ihe Shikeaguma in Ntuegbe clan of Enugu State in Southeastern Nigeria as a sample core Igbo culture community. He also delved into the historical links and social formation of this community, with emphasis on genealogy, religion, settlement, language, government, law enforcement, defense, seasons, festivals, and residential structures (pages 1583). He took his readers to Igbo thought on God, self, family, human life, birth, death, spirit, human mind, and reincarnation (pages 85113). He clearly documented the cultural products of Igbo thought, which can be seen in the formulation of Igbo institutions with special reference to marriage, the extended family system, the social status structure and title system, festivals, informal education, traditional law, community service, religion, divination, and health-care services (pages 114202). He explained that the symbolism of various articles and some spoken words in Igbo culture are products of Igbo thought. He referred to ofo stick, kola nut, alligator pepper, spears, tribal face marks, body paint, white chalk, and the young palm frond as symbols or instruments of Igbo philosophical expressions and concepts (pages 203214). He showed how Igbo culture and philosophy have been affected by the cultures of Igbo neighbors in Nigeria and by other foreign cultures with special references to the following: (a) Ugwuele civilization (a Stone Age culture)1,000,000 BC500,000 BC (b) Nri civilization (a ritualized kingship system)AD 800AD 1700 (c) Aro civilization (slave trade and colonial era)AD 1700AD 1850 (d) Border civilization (slave trade and colonial era)AD 800AD1900 (e) External civilization (slave trade and colonial era)AD 1700AD 2000 (pages 215238) The author concluded his work by making an evaluation of Igbo culture. He carefully examined the oriented values of the Igbo and highlighted those areas of Igbo culture that should be refurbished and reinfused into Igbo life by the Igbo themselves in order to transform Igboland into a big theater of modern civilization (pages 239246).