11/11/2023
God please help me to have my own house
In Igbo culture, what stands after your death apart from your family is your ishi Obi which passes on to your first son!
It is left for you to know what legacy to leave..
A house in your village is not just a house, it is SYMBOLIC(For core Igbo)
It is usually a thing of great shame that a man is not able to build a house in his village irrespective of many outside or his wealth..
A man is expected to do the following to really be recognized as successful man:
1. Marry
2. Have children(not necessarily as it comes from Chi)
3. Build a house
When you have done these 3 things you would have been deemed to have arrived. You can speak confidently in your village meeting
Not meeting up with these especially marriage and building your own house may earn you the condescending appellation of ‘Agavu, Agafu, Agamefu, efuluefu, good for nothing etc(in my culture)
Why should people be discouraged from building houses in their villages?
It helps develop the village,and it is a source of joy to the owner and also a legacy to bequeath.
Unless you are extremely poor that you can’t afford to mould a block that you don’t build a house in your ishi obi.
Those discouraging people should build hundred in Lagos and non in his village..
what for?
Money?
When you die, no one remembers you with those investments..
Often, you lose the money at death or those alive will fight over it and could even kill or dispossess your family..
But a house in your ishi obi remains valuable until…
The rule is do according to your financial muscle and your need. If you can’t afford a house in your village, build a hut but do not discourage others..
That one is akuko ndi mgbu!
For us Igbo Tradition and culture, our house in the village is worth more than 10 in the city.. e jim ha eme nu?