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| Gerontology in Igbo Religion
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Rev Fr Dr Christian O. Ele, Ph.D
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Abstract:
In traditional African society, there are no old people's homes where the elderly are isolated with the view to caring for them. Both the aged and aging people are cherished members and respected elders of the family who are cared for within the frameworks of African gerontology. Gerontology in Igbo Religion is a specimen of gerontology in African Traditional Religion. This paper discusses Igbo gerontology with interest on the care for the aged and the aging as found in the contents of doctrine and practical contexts of Igbo Religion. This underscores the facts that the care for the elderly in Igbo society has not only some secular characteristic but has, in addition, some religious meaning. Understanding the porous demarcation between the secular and the sacred in Igbo cosmology makes its gerontology acquire a force and significance that are critical to the folk religion. The findings of this paper reveal, inter alia, that in Igbo traditional society, the aged and the aging are highly esteemed part of the population and to grow old is the honest wish of every Igbo person. Igbo people are the indigenes of Southeast and parts of South-South Nigeria; they are found as well in North-central parts of the country as indigenes. A great number are in Diaspora across the globe. Their language is Igbo taken from the tribe's name. However, it was discovered that this age-long practice has some setbacks in the contemporary times due to influences that are strange to its original forms and have distorted its perceptions. Based on the findings of this study, therefore, the study recommends, among others, the need to care for the aged and the elderly. The methodology employed in this work is Culture Area Approach which means that the study focused largely on the theory and practice of gerontology as a value in Igbo religious metaphysics.
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