EKWE JONAL

Globalization has posed significant challenges to the preservation of cultural identities, particularly among the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. This article explores the nuanced intersections of gender, identity crises, and cultural reclamation as portrayed in Igbo literature, with a focus on the strategies for navigating cultural survival in a rapidly globalizing world. Drawing on selected literary texts, this study examines how male and female characters experience and respond to identity differently, shaped by societal expectations, historical influences, and the pressures of modernity. It highlights how Igbo authors use gendered narratives to critique cultural displacement, advocate for identity preservation, and propose pathways for reclaiming lost heritage. The analysis reveals that while men often grapple with challenges to traditional leadership and economic roles, women contend with dual burdens of cultural expectations and the demand for modern adaptability. Yet, both genders contribute uniquely to cultural survival and identity reclamation, offering complementary strategies that bridge the past and present. This study underscores the importance of literature as a vehicle for reflecting and shaping the Igbo people’s response to globalization. By addressing these themes, the article advances conversations on gender, identity, and cultural resilience in Igbo studies and contributes to broader discourses on the survival of marginalized cultures in a globalized era.

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