CHIMDI-OLUOHA, UCHENNA FRANCES (2025) TITLE-TAKING IN IGBOLAND: THE LITERARY SIGNIFICANCE OF THE AGBALANZE ONITSHA CULTURAL ASSOCIATION. Other thesis, GODFREY OKOYE UNIVERSITY, ENUGU.
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Abstract
This thesis explores the literary richness of the Agbalanze Onitsha Cultural Association, a distinguished group of men in Onitsha. It examines how their title-taking traditions shape Igbo literature. The study traces the history of title-taking from its pre-colonial roots to modern practices. Using symbolic and interpretive anthropology, the analysis reveals how the Agbalanze’s rituals and ceremonies embody oral literature, such as proverbs, incantations, and praise poetry, which convey deep historical and cultural meaning. This theoretical lens shows how these spoken forms, through communal participation, are transformed into lasting literary works—poems, stories, and dramatic performances. The research captures members’ experiences and interpretations of these rituals through interviews and oral histories. The findings demonstrate that Agbalanze’s title-taking ceremonies create a vibrant body of oral literature that influences Igbo literary traditions, including modern fiction. By examining the rituals’ symbolic language and cultural interpretations, this study highlights the Agbalanze’s essential role in Igbo literary heritage.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Other) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | P Language and Literature > PI Oriental languages and literatures |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Arts > Faculty of Law > Faculty of Management and Social Sciences > Faculty of Education |
| Depositing User: | Uchenna Eneogwe |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Jun 2026 08:31 |
| Last Modified: | 04 Jun 2026 08:08 |
| URI: | http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/5726 |
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