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And that culture certainly impresses me as - uh - primative. I don't see any curiosity. No desire to improve or progress as a culture. There is no technology, no written language, no appeal to science or reason other than an awareness of the seasonal weather changes
Actually, having read the book and done some research for the essay I had to write (The Effect of Christianity on Igbo Culture, in case you are wondering) the Igbo culture is extremely intricate, and may not be technologically advanced, they were not "backwards" or "primitive" either. Many of the "advances" the Colonizers introduced effectively destroyed them--and not in a good way. Just because they didn't have the same priorities the West had does not mean they were primitive--not by any stretch. You list science and curiosity as high, but these were not a stupid people. A written language is not any better than their oral tradition. To them, knowing why a yam grows was not nearly as important as the fact that they did grow. Just because survival was the number one concern does not mean that the West was any better for bringing things like a new religion, capitalism, and science.
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Little more than tradition which I personally view as somewhat ignorant, based on male perogative, force, the acumulation of wealth, and appeals to magic.
Their religion, animism, ancestor worship, polytheism and magic is no more ridiculous than Western Religion--indeed, the similiarities are quite remarkable.