Healing Insanity: a Study of Igbo Medicine in Contemporary Nigeria

Healing Insanity: a Study of Igbo Medicine in Contemporary Nigeria PDF Author: Patrick E. Iroegbu
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 1450096298
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 557

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Book Description
Healing Insanity: A Study of Igbo Medicine in Contemporary Nigeria is an original and in-depth study on endogenous medical system in an African society. It is craftily written and provides solid insight, through case studies and theory, into how insanity affects patients and the society. Particularly, it explores various collective representations and strategies regarding insanity and healing as it examines the healing institutions, healers, and ritual cults. The central question is, given the patterns of healing, how do the Igbo shape the incidence and symptoms of insanity, define its aetiology, and provide healers with culture-specific resources and skills to address this illness? The focus became increasingly centred on bodily semantics and endogenous knowledge systems and practices. Dr. Patrick Iroegbus work is a very valuable and rare study and has appeared at a desirable time. It is, for an African society, a comprehensive study of the many ways Igbo people, in their practical, routinelike attitudes and body-centred experiences, as well as in their more reflective aetiologic knowledge and healing institutions, relate to the phenomenon of insanity, or ara, in the cultural parlance. As the first of its kind, reminiscent of, and assured by, the various remarks of Igbo scholars and leaders at various meetings and discourses, the task this work has set out to accomplish is a very brave one. The authors account of his fieldwork experiences and adopted techniques illustrates his initiation, revealing him as a genuine ethnographer who is a friend of people and at ease with his field. With both the far-seeing and inspiring analysis of Igbo medicine, life, and culture accounted for in the work, the book stands out for ethnographers, teachers, students, leaders, policymakers, and the general public. This is a book that deserves to be read as it shapes the critical path toward understanding ways of healing insanity in a culture-specific context, crosscutting perspectives for a relationship between indigenous healing and the biomedical sphere. Prof. Ren Devisch (Africa Research Centre, University of Leuven) This book is written with a clear purpose for everyone to readto understand and heal insanityand indeed provides a thick piece of cultural philosophy and vernacular of Igbo medicine in hopes of putting cultural wisdom in pursuit of integral health care development. Prof. Pantaleon Iroegbu (Professor of Philosophy, Major-Seminary, Ekpoma, January 2006) To read this book, as I did, is to get the benefit of Dr. Patrick Iroegbus ethnographic insight for an archetypical African healing system in Igboland. It offers a fascinating theory of symbolic release that speaks of African symbolic action and knowledge system. Dr. Paul Komba, Esq. (University of Cambridge)

Healing Insanity: a Study of Igbo Medicine in Contemporary Nigeria

Healing Insanity: a Study of Igbo Medicine in Contemporary Nigeria PDF Author: Patrick E. Iroegbu
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 1450096298
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 557

Get Book Here

Book Description
Healing Insanity: A Study of Igbo Medicine in Contemporary Nigeria is an original and in-depth study on endogenous medical system in an African society. It is craftily written and provides solid insight, through case studies and theory, into how insanity affects patients and the society. Particularly, it explores various collective representations and strategies regarding insanity and healing as it examines the healing institutions, healers, and ritual cults. The central question is, given the patterns of healing, how do the Igbo shape the incidence and symptoms of insanity, define its aetiology, and provide healers with culture-specific resources and skills to address this illness? The focus became increasingly centred on bodily semantics and endogenous knowledge systems and practices. Dr. Patrick Iroegbus work is a very valuable and rare study and has appeared at a desirable time. It is, for an African society, a comprehensive study of the many ways Igbo people, in their practical, routinelike attitudes and body-centred experiences, as well as in their more reflective aetiologic knowledge and healing institutions, relate to the phenomenon of insanity, or ara, in the cultural parlance. As the first of its kind, reminiscent of, and assured by, the various remarks of Igbo scholars and leaders at various meetings and discourses, the task this work has set out to accomplish is a very brave one. The authors account of his fieldwork experiences and adopted techniques illustrates his initiation, revealing him as a genuine ethnographer who is a friend of people and at ease with his field. With both the far-seeing and inspiring analysis of Igbo medicine, life, and culture accounted for in the work, the book stands out for ethnographers, teachers, students, leaders, policymakers, and the general public. This is a book that deserves to be read as it shapes the critical path toward understanding ways of healing insanity in a culture-specific context, crosscutting perspectives for a relationship between indigenous healing and the biomedical sphere. Prof. Ren Devisch (Africa Research Centre, University of Leuven) This book is written with a clear purpose for everyone to readto understand and heal insanityand indeed provides a thick piece of cultural philosophy and vernacular of Igbo medicine in hopes of putting cultural wisdom in pursuit of integral health care development. Prof. Pantaleon Iroegbu (Professor of Philosophy, Major-Seminary, Ekpoma, January 2006) To read this book, as I did, is to get the benefit of Dr. Patrick Iroegbus ethnographic insight for an archetypical African healing system in Igboland. It offers a fascinating theory of symbolic release that speaks of African symbolic action and knowledge system. Dr. Paul Komba, Esq. (University of Cambridge)

The Kpim of Social Order

The Kpim of Social Order PDF Author: George Uzoma Ukagba
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 147977796X
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 680

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Book Description
Frequently overlooked in the search of knowing and acting wisely are some important philosophical and cultural ideas and questions. The kpim of Social Order boldly captures such ideas and questions for awareness through critical thinking. The current volume in the Kpim Book Series makes the point that for a systematic analysis and significance of Social Order to be attained, we need to ask, What is the kpim or central core of Social Order of things? Where does the deepest layer, notion, symbolism, reality and application of social order, programs, human rights, institutions, communities, diplomacy, uprising, social asset, social power, policy action, inter-culturalism, global forces and all else lie? How can we reach and understand the innermost part of Social Order in the modern world? By gathering articles from seasoned, experienced, and emerged scholars from various backgrounds, the book explores deep-rooted questions touching on African context and related societies. The refreshing perspectives, analyses, deep reflections, vigorous arguments, and representations shown by the essays are distinctive and have been referred to as a comprehensive reader in the season of inquiry, meaning and significance of social order in the contemporary time. This is a book no one should ignore. Students, scholars, researchers, universities, colleges, educationists, institutions, policy makers, governments, legislatures, agencies, labour unions, civil society organizations, occupy movements, religious groups, entrepreneurs and the general public will find this book as an asset and a must read. The kpim of Social Order is therefore written out of the critical need to fill the gap for a decisive knowledge society in the modern world.

Socio-Cultural and Religious Conflicts and the Future of Nigeria

Socio-Cultural and Religious Conflicts and the Future of Nigeria PDF Author: Lotanna Olisaemeka
Publisher: LIT Verlag Münster
ISBN: 3643907567
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 538

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Book Description
With the prevailing violent conflict situation of our world, perpetuated sometimes even in the name of religion, humanity today faces extinction. To reverse this ugly trend, humanity has no choice than to build a society where every tribe and tongue can coexist in peace. This work analyzed the violent conflicts from anthropological, behavioral, politico-philosophical, and theological perspectives, and makes a demand on humanity to save herself through proper education and dialogue with all men and religions.

Nigerian Film Culture and the Idea of the Nation

Nigerian Film Culture and the Idea of the Nation PDF Author: Tsaaior, James Tar
Publisher: Adonis and Abbey Publishers
ISBN: 1909112747
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 311

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Book Description
Collectively, the essays brought together in this book represent a discursive confluence on Nollywood as a local film culture with a global character, aspiration and reach. The governing concern of the book is that texts, including film texts, are animated by a particular sociology and anthropology which gives them concrete existence and meaning. The book argues that Nollywood, the Nigerian video film text, is deeply rooted in the sub-soil of its social and cultural milieux. Nollywood is therefore, engaged in the relentless negotiation and re-negotiation of the everyday lives of the people against the backdrop of their cultural traditions, social contradictions and the politics of their ethnic/national identity, longing and belonging. The essays weave an intricate and delicate argument about the critical role of Nollywood to the idea of nationhood and the logic of its narration with implications for language, politics and culture in Africa. The book is a valuable addition to the critical discourse on the important place of film and cinema studies in national engineering processes.

Harvesting & Sharing Indigenous Knowledge in Africa

Harvesting & Sharing Indigenous Knowledge in Africa PDF Author: Levi Nkwocha
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Ethnoscience
Languages : en
Pages : 400

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Book Description


A Philosophical Concept of Agwu in Igbo Land

A Philosophical Concept of Agwu in Igbo Land PDF Author: Agwu Christopher Agwu
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
ISBN: 1490706275
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 85

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Book Description
This book is written to create awareness and see if adequate interpretation would be given to certain phenomena and calamities created by the vagaries of nature and induced by spirits, Agwu inclusive, and suggest how they can be resolved. To do this, Agwu has examined the concept in all its tendencies and ramifications. It tries to explain the relationship between Agwu and other creatures from the sources of lifeSupreme Beingto the least inanimate object. The moral standard set by Agwu to its worshippers has been a masterpiece incentive and also a source of inspiration to ordinary mortals who watch with admiration the special Agwu elect.

Social Work, Social Welfare, and Social Development in Nigeria

Social Work, Social Welfare, and Social Development in Nigeria PDF Author: Mel Gray
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1000880710
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 147

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Book Description
This groundbreaking book provides a comprehensive account of social work, social welfare, and social development in Nigeria from a postcolonial perspective. It examines the historical development of social work and social welfare and the colonial legacies affecting contemporary social welfare provision, development planning, social work practice, and social work education. Against this historical backdrop, it seeks to understand the position of social work within Nigeria’s minimalist structure of welfare provision and the reasons why social work struggles for legitimacy and recognition today. It covers contexts of social work practice, including child welfare, juvenile justice, disabilities, mental health, and ageing, as well as areas of development-related problems and humanitarian assistance as new areas of practice for social workers, including internally displaced and trafficked people, and their impact on women and children. It seeks to understand Nigeria’s ethnoreligious diversity and indigenous cultural heritage to inform culturally appropriate social work practice. This book offers a global audience insight into Nigeria’s developmental issues and problems and a local audience – social science and human service researchers, educators, practitioners, students, and policymakers - a glimpse of what’s possible when people work together toward a common goal. It will be of interest to all scholars and students of social work, development studies and social policy.

Introduction to Igbo Medicine and Culture in Nigeria

Introduction to Igbo Medicine and Culture in Nigeria PDF Author: Patrick E. Iroegbu
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780557263110
Category : Ethnology
Languages : en
Pages : 395

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Book Description
This book is a collection of essays devoted to Igbo medicine issues in contemporary Nigeria. Over the years, the author has through teaching, research, and publications made useful contributions to the field of endogenous knowledge and healing system. It provides constructive introductory infomation, analysis and method to understand how the Igbo and by extension Africa explore, give and apply cosmological, philosophical, and anthropological sense and meaning to ecology, life, fortune, misfortune, illness and health in the struggles of everyday lives. Readers will find the book not only fascinating but also ground breaking. Certainly, this is a book for everyone who appreciates diverse ways of healing to read and deliver the high impact message healers and patients embody and tend to give out in their world of illness and recovery dynamics.

Ofo

Ofo PDF Author: Christopher I. Ejizu
Publisher: Fourth Dimension Publishing Company
ISBN:
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 222

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Book Description
A study of Igbo ritual symbolism is of primary significance to the systematic reconstruction of Igbo traditional religious experience and life. As the clearest visible expression of the corpus of Igbo beliefs, sacred symbols provide reliable information about indigenous religious thought and socio-cultural life. This is especially the case with the dominant symbol of Ofo, since it occupies a unique place in the Igbo ritual network. The book makes a systematic and detailed analysis of Ofo ritual symbol, including its provenance, structural variations and functional range in the different sub-cultural zones of Igboland, and its dense meaning- content. The study is presented from a historical perspective.

Omenuko

Omenuko PDF Author: Nwana, Pita
Publisher: African Heritage Press
ISBN: 1940729173
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 96

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Book Description
Omenụkọ (real name: Igwegbe Odum) whose home in Okigwe, Eastern Nigeria, was a popular spot for field trips by students in schools and colleges, as well as a favourite attraction for tourists in the decades before and after the Nigerian Independence in 1960. Generations of Igbo children began their reading in Igbo with Omenụkọ, and those who did not have the opportunity to go to school still read Omenụkọ in their homes or at adult education centers. Omenụkọ was a legendary figure and his 'sayings' became part of the Igbo speech repertoire that young adults were expected to acquire. Omenụkọ, a classic in Igbo Literature, written by Pita Nwana and published in 1933 by Longman, Green & Co, Ltd, London, is in this translation made accessible to a global audience. Emenyonu utilizes his mastery of both languages (Igbo and English) to faithfully present to his audience a complete rendition of Omenụkọ as originally written. The timeless significance of this novel as a progenitor of the Igbo language novel is again underscored.