<i>Onweonye</i>: Introducing the Concept of Self-Personhood in Igbo Ontology

Chika John Bosco Gabriel Okpalike

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijp.20200804.12

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Onweonye: Introducing the Concept of Self-Personhood in Igbo Ontology

Chika John Bosco Gabriel Okpalike

Published in International Journal of Philosophy (Volume 8, Issue 4)

Received: 27 October 2020 Accepted: 7 November 2020 Published: 24 November 2020

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Abstract

Faced with an unprecedented and challenging socio-political situation at home (Nigeria), the Igbo struggle for survival and relevance throughout the world has taken various forms in the last five decades. Industry, commerce, education, invention/innovation have been undertaken together with an unprecedented spate of emigration, which has seen the Igbo everywhere in the world. The Igbo, wherever they may be found, stop at nothing, unleashing their potentials in a virile, resilient and competitive spirit which they have come to be known for through time. Even in diaspora, the Igbo understand their Igbo fellows as the stiffest competitors and strive to outdo each other. As a result, the Igbo have been understood by others as selfish and even among the Igbo, there is the unfortunate misconstrue of such as hate, selfishness and individualism. Inversely, these socio-ethical images of the Igbo are antithetical to the content of traditional Igbo morality which is characterized by conviviality and community. This research builds on the nature, being, becoming and existence of the Igbo individual. Evidently, the individual among the Igbo is at the heart of Igbo existence; the attainment of which is a lifetime struggle. The Igbo individual like the Igbo universe is fluid; its reach and positive impact among the Igbo speak its quality and relevance. In its fluidity, it is becoming; in its reach, it spans beyond earthly existence; in its impact, it is community-oriented. This ontology will give insight into the Igbo socio-economic engagements wherever they may be found. The research employs the tools of Igbo cultural institutions, rites of passage and entelechy of human struggles to offer a robust perspective for understanding the selfless and altruistic nature of the Igbo individual which is the ultimate attainment of that individual, viewed in this work through the prism of Onweonye. The research employs the technique of documentary hermeneutics and analysis combined with in-depth library research method of inquiry into the complex composition of the individual in Igbo ethnography and ontology.

Published in	International Journal of Philosophy (Volume 8, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijp.20200804.12
Page(s)	88-97
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Onwe, Onye, Personhood, Selfhood, Igbo Ontology, Ontology, Igbo Cosmology, Onweonye

References

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[4]	Umeogu B. C.; Onebunne, J. I.; Ojiakor C. I.; Etodike C. E. (2020) “Kolanut and Symbolismic Universe: Towards the Creation and Constitution of Igbo Science and Arts,” Canadian Social Science, 15 (4), pp. 1-6 DOI: 10.3968/10983.
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[15]	Ezedike, E. U. (2019). “The Concept of Human Person in African Ontology: A Critical Reflection on the Igbo Notion of Man,” African Research Review, 13 (2), 54, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/afrrev.v13i2.11 P. 133
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[27]	Inwood, M. (Review) (2011). Robert B. Pippin, “Hegel on Self-Consciousness: Desire and Death in the Phenomenology of Spirit”, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews, retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://ndpr.nd.edu/news/hegel-on-self-consciousness-desire-and-death-in-the-phenomenology-of-spirit/
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[29]	Ikediugwu, O. A. (2015). “Ozo Title in Igboland as a Negation of Justice and History: an Analysis of Amechi Akwanya’s Orimili”, Unizik Journal of Arts and Humanities, 16 (1), https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ujah/issue/view/13038
[30]	Landy, T. M. (2020), “Initiation, title-taking, and the stages of life in Nigeria's Igboland” Catholics and Cultures, https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/initiation-title-taking-and-stages-life-nigerias-igboland.

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Chika John Bosco Gabriel Okpalike. (2020). Onweonye: Introducing the Concept of Self-Personhood in Igbo Ontology. International Journal of Philosophy, 8(4), 88-97. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20200804.12

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Chika John Bosco Gabriel Okpalike. Onweonye: Introducing the Concept of Self-Personhood in Igbo Ontology. Int. J. Philos. 2020, 8(4), 88-97. doi: 10.11648/j.ijp.20200804.12

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AMA Style

Chika John Bosco Gabriel Okpalike. Onweonye: Introducing the Concept of Self-Personhood in Igbo Ontology. Int J Philos. 2020;8(4):88-97. doi: 10.11648/j.ijp.20200804.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijp.20200804.12,
  author = {Chika John Bosco Gabriel Okpalike},
  title = {Onweonye: Introducing the Concept of Self-Personhood in Igbo Ontology},
  journal = {International Journal of Philosophy},
  volume = {8},
  number = {4},
  pages = {88-97},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijp.20200804.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20200804.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijp.20200804.12},
  abstract = {Faced with an unprecedented and challenging socio-political situation at home (Nigeria), the Igbo struggle for survival and relevance throughout the world has taken various forms in the last five decades. Industry, commerce, education, invention/innovation have been undertaken together with an unprecedented spate of emigration, which has seen the Igbo everywhere in the world. The Igbo, wherever they may be found, stop at nothing, unleashing their potentials in a virile, resilient and competitive spirit which they have come to be known for through time. Even in diaspora, the Igbo understand their Igbo fellows as the stiffest competitors and strive to outdo each other. As a result, the Igbo have been understood by others as selfish and even among the Igbo, there is the unfortunate misconstrue of such as hate, selfishness and individualism. Inversely, these socio-ethical images of the Igbo are antithetical to the content of traditional Igbo morality which is characterized by conviviality and community. This research builds on the nature, being, becoming and existence of the Igbo individual. Evidently, the individual among the Igbo is at the heart of Igbo existence; the attainment of which is a lifetime struggle. The Igbo individual like the Igbo universe is fluid; its reach and positive impact among the Igbo speak its quality and relevance. In its fluidity, it is becoming; in its reach, it spans beyond earthly existence; in its impact, it is community-oriented. This ontology will give insight into the Igbo socio-economic engagements wherever they may be found. The research employs the tools of Igbo cultural institutions, rites of passage and entelechy of human struggles to offer a robust perspective for understanding the selfless and altruistic nature of the Igbo individual which is the ultimate attainment of that individual, viewed in this work through the prism of Onweonye. The research employs the technique of documentary hermeneutics and analysis combined with in-depth library research method of inquiry into the complex composition of the individual in Igbo ethnography and ontology.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Onweonye: Introducing the Concept of Self-Personhood in Igbo Ontology
AU  - Chika John Bosco Gabriel Okpalike
Y1  - 2020/11/24
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20200804.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijp.20200804.12
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AB  - Faced with an unprecedented and challenging socio-political situation at home (Nigeria), the Igbo struggle for survival and relevance throughout the world has taken various forms in the last five decades. Industry, commerce, education, invention/innovation have been undertaken together with an unprecedented spate of emigration, which has seen the Igbo everywhere in the world. The Igbo, wherever they may be found, stop at nothing, unleashing their potentials in a virile, resilient and competitive spirit which they have come to be known for through time. Even in diaspora, the Igbo understand their Igbo fellows as the stiffest competitors and strive to outdo each other. As a result, the Igbo have been understood by others as selfish and even among the Igbo, there is the unfortunate misconstrue of such as hate, selfishness and individualism. Inversely, these socio-ethical images of the Igbo are antithetical to the content of traditional Igbo morality which is characterized by conviviality and community. This research builds on the nature, being, becoming and existence of the Igbo individual. Evidently, the individual among the Igbo is at the heart of Igbo existence; the attainment of which is a lifetime struggle. The Igbo individual like the Igbo universe is fluid; its reach and positive impact among the Igbo speak its quality and relevance. In its fluidity, it is becoming; in its reach, it spans beyond earthly existence; in its impact, it is community-oriented. This ontology will give insight into the Igbo socio-economic engagements wherever they may be found. The research employs the tools of Igbo cultural institutions, rites of passage and entelechy of human struggles to offer a robust perspective for understanding the selfless and altruistic nature of the Igbo individual which is the ultimate attainment of that individual, viewed in this work through the prism of Onweonye. The research employs the technique of documentary hermeneutics and analysis combined with in-depth library research method of inquiry into the complex composition of the individual in Igbo ethnography and ontology.
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Chika John Bosco Gabriel Okpalike

Department of Religion and Human Relations, Faculty of Arts, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

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Chika John Bosco Gabriel Okpalike. (2020). Onweonye: Introducing the Concept of Self-Personhood in Igbo Ontology. International Journal of Philosophy, 8(4), 88-97. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20200804.12

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ACS Style

Chika John Bosco Gabriel Okpalike. Onweonye: Introducing the Concept of Self-Personhood in Igbo Ontology. Int. J. Philos. 2020, 8(4), 88-97. doi: 10.11648/j.ijp.20200804.12

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AMA Style

Chika John Bosco Gabriel Okpalike. Onweonye: Introducing the Concept of Self-Personhood in Igbo Ontology. Int J Philos. 2020;8(4):88-97. doi: 10.11648/j.ijp.20200804.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijp.20200804.12,
  author = {Chika John Bosco Gabriel Okpalike},
  title = {Onweonye: Introducing the Concept of Self-Personhood in Igbo Ontology},
  journal = {International Journal of Philosophy},
  volume = {8},
  number = {4},
  pages = {88-97},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijp.20200804.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20200804.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijp.20200804.12},
  abstract = {Faced with an unprecedented and challenging socio-political situation at home (Nigeria), the Igbo struggle for survival and relevance throughout the world has taken various forms in the last five decades. Industry, commerce, education, invention/innovation have been undertaken together with an unprecedented spate of emigration, which has seen the Igbo everywhere in the world. The Igbo, wherever they may be found, stop at nothing, unleashing their potentials in a virile, resilient and competitive spirit which they have come to be known for through time. Even in diaspora, the Igbo understand their Igbo fellows as the stiffest competitors and strive to outdo each other. As a result, the Igbo have been understood by others as selfish and even among the Igbo, there is the unfortunate misconstrue of such as hate, selfishness and individualism. Inversely, these socio-ethical images of the Igbo are antithetical to the content of traditional Igbo morality which is characterized by conviviality and community. This research builds on the nature, being, becoming and existence of the Igbo individual. Evidently, the individual among the Igbo is at the heart of Igbo existence; the attainment of which is a lifetime struggle. The Igbo individual like the Igbo universe is fluid; its reach and positive impact among the Igbo speak its quality and relevance. In its fluidity, it is becoming; in its reach, it spans beyond earthly existence; in its impact, it is community-oriented. This ontology will give insight into the Igbo socio-economic engagements wherever they may be found. The research employs the tools of Igbo cultural institutions, rites of passage and entelechy of human struggles to offer a robust perspective for understanding the selfless and altruistic nature of the Igbo individual which is the ultimate attainment of that individual, viewed in this work through the prism of Onweonye. The research employs the technique of documentary hermeneutics and analysis combined with in-depth library research method of inquiry into the complex composition of the individual in Igbo ethnography and ontology.},
 year = {2020}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Onweonye: Introducing the Concept of Self-Personhood in Igbo Ontology
AU  - Chika John Bosco Gabriel Okpalike
Y1  - 2020/11/24
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20200804.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijp.20200804.12
T2  - International Journal of Philosophy
JF  - International Journal of Philosophy
JO  - International Journal of Philosophy
SP  - 88
EP  - 97
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7455
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20200804.12
AB  - Faced with an unprecedented and challenging socio-political situation at home (Nigeria), the Igbo struggle for survival and relevance throughout the world has taken various forms in the last five decades. Industry, commerce, education, invention/innovation have been undertaken together with an unprecedented spate of emigration, which has seen the Igbo everywhere in the world. The Igbo, wherever they may be found, stop at nothing, unleashing their potentials in a virile, resilient and competitive spirit which they have come to be known for through time. Even in diaspora, the Igbo understand their Igbo fellows as the stiffest competitors and strive to outdo each other. As a result, the Igbo have been understood by others as selfish and even among the Igbo, there is the unfortunate misconstrue of such as hate, selfishness and individualism. Inversely, these socio-ethical images of the Igbo are antithetical to the content of traditional Igbo morality which is characterized by conviviality and community. This research builds on the nature, being, becoming and existence of the Igbo individual. Evidently, the individual among the Igbo is at the heart of Igbo existence; the attainment of which is a lifetime struggle. The Igbo individual like the Igbo universe is fluid; its reach and positive impact among the Igbo speak its quality and relevance. In its fluidity, it is becoming; in its reach, it spans beyond earthly existence; in its impact, it is community-oriented. This ontology will give insight into the Igbo socio-economic engagements wherever they may be found. The research employs the tools of Igbo cultural institutions, rites of passage and entelechy of human struggles to offer a robust perspective for understanding the selfless and altruistic nature of the Igbo individual which is the ultimate attainment of that individual, viewed in this work through the prism of Onweonye. The research employs the technique of documentary hermeneutics and analysis combined with in-depth library research method of inquiry into the complex composition of the individual in Igbo ethnography and ontology.
VL  - 8
IS  - 4
ER  -

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