Modernization has brought us roads, hospitals, education, and technology. For that, I give it credit.
But must we surrender our identity in the name of “progress”?
In the past, we knew the difference between a Chief and a Lolo. A Chief held the title. A Lolo was the wife of a Chief. That was our tradition.
Today, a man who is not a Chief can watch his wife receive a chieftaincy title. So what do we call the couple now—Mr. and Chief Mrs.? Doesn’t that turn our tradition upside down? It’s like leaving the head and breaking the neck. Or do we simply pretend nothing has changed?
This is how, in my opinion, our tradition has been turned upside down.
From my understanding of our customs, chieftaincy was a mark of honour. People were recognized for integrity, sacrifice, charity, and service. The community identified deserving individuals, and the custodians of tradition honoured them.
Today, it often appears that money, gifts, and influence can secure titles, and some recipients even choose the title they want. If so, we have reduced a sacred institution to something that can be bought.
I believe this is one of the things that desecrates the land and sets a community backward. Our ancestors taught that ignoring sacred customs brought consequences. Whether people believe it or not, negligence and ignorance come at a cost.
Who will speak up? Who will remind our people of the cost of abandoning our customs? Those who once defended them are now dismissed as “superstitious.” Who, then, will protect our heritage?
Our traditional rulers are custodians of our culture, not agents of its replacement.
What do you think—is this genuine progress, or are we slowly replacing our heritage?
#IgboCulture #AfricanTradition #CultureMatters #TraditionVsModernity #PreserveOurHeritage #Customs #Debate #Identity #jollyonyeka
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