IGBO-AFRICAN MARKET DAYS AND THE CONSERVATION OF THE ECO-SYSTEM

Among the most powerful religious and social elements in Igbo religion, history and culture are the Igbo market days. These market days include- Eke, Orie, Afo and Nkwo. Thus, the English calendar which has 7 days in a week, 30 days in a month, 4 weeks in a month, 52 weeks in a year, 12 months in a year and 365 days in a year differs from the Igbo calendar which has 4 days in a week, 7 weeks in a month, 28 days in a month, 13 months in a year, 91 weeks in a year, and 364 days in a year. Also observable is that the four-day market days are not only observed in Igboland but in other parts of Southern and Northern Nigeria like Edo, Calabar, Igala, Ogoni (Gokana), Ahoada, Emuoha, Ikwerre, Etche, Ogba/Ndoni, Abua/Odual, Ogoja, which border the Igboland, however, these market days come under different names to suit the local dialects of the people concerned. While there are a few papers written on Igbo sacred days, there is hardly literature that discusses its relationship with the eco-system or its ecological relevance. This research, therefore, focused on how Igbo traditional societies through these days worked towards the preservation of the environment through the promulgation of taboos. The taboos for each of the days had a way of preventing particular activities that had exploitative consequences on the eco-system. The scope of this study is the Igbo of Eastern Nigeria and Western Africa, who as far back as the beginning of their history knew the consequences of environmental degradation and the need to preserve it. The phenomenological approach was employed for the collection of data, while the hermeneutical and analytical methods of investigation were used for the evaluation of data. This paper shows that the Igbo-African indigenous beliefs, taboos, sanctions and knowledge have contributed hugely to the checking of the abuse of the environment.

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