FACTD BASED ON IGBO TRADITIONS BEFORE THE MISSIONARIES CAME TO AFRICA (With scriptural reference attached to it)

*1. NSO NWANYI

In Igboland women live apart from their husbands and neither cook for them or enter their husband's quarters when they are in their period. They are seen as unclean. Even up till today such practice is still applicable in some parts of Igboland especially by the traditionalists. Before a woman can enter the palace of Obi of Onicha, she will be asked if she is in her period, if yes, she will be asked to stay out.

*Leviticus 15: 19-20*

When a woman has her monthly period, she remains unclean, anyone who touches her or anything she has sat on becomes unclean.

*2. ALA OBI

An Igbo man's ancestral heritage, called “Ana Obi” is not sellable, elders will not permit this. If this is somehow done due to the influence of the West the person is considered a fool and is ostracized by the community.

*1 king 21:3*

I inherited this vineyard from my ancestors, and the Lord forbid that I should sell it, said Naboth.

*3. IKUCHI NWANYI

Igbos have practiced the taking of a late brother's wife into marriage after she had been widowed until the white men came. Now it is rarely done but except in very rural villages.

*Deuteronomy 25:5*

A widow of a dead man is not to be married outside the family; it is the duty of the dead man's brother to marry her.

*4. IGBA ODIBO

In Igboland, there is a unique form of apprenticeship in which either a male family member or a community member will spend six(6) years (usually in their teens to their adulthood) working for another family. And on the seventh year, the head of the host household, who is usually the older man who brought the apprentice into his household, will establish (Igbo: idu) the apprentice

by either setting up a business for him or giving money or tools by which to make a ligving.

*Exodus 21:2*

If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve you for six years. In the seventh year he is to be set free without having to pay you anything..