![images.jpeg](https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmacSehHLzYW3Lw4kErpDwCAYTKXBKWxguD9khntfTuxCL)


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In the Igbo acephalous setting of South Eastern Nigeria, there are rigid cultural practices that seems to be astounding expecially to someone whose origin contradicts their exposure to Western Civilization. An acephalous setting exhibits responsibilities even to the smallest of units from the nuclear family, the extended and even the title holders or the decision makers and this system was the reason why the British indirect pre-colonial system of government/rule found it difficult to truncate the Igbo cultural setting. 

The igbos of the Eastern Nigeria Believe that placing responsibilities does not depend on how financially capable you are but based on placement. In a family setting for example the second born son of a nuclear family doesn't hold the Apex responsibilities even if it is clearly visible that he might be able to hold this responsibilities quite well *you must know that wealth is what brings status and affluence in the Igbo cultural setting including what you call purchasing or warranting the  chieftain (ozo title)* so if the first born son of a nuclear family cannot marry more wives, boast of many barns of yam or possess artifacts and a iron roof *(zinc roof)* then he isn't considered wealthy and can't hold the *ozo title* 


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>Holding the ozo title signifies respect and people who holds it can be anybody of any age provided they boast of wealth. Infact the ozo title holders are an organisation of oligarchs of influential people in the Igbo pre-colonial acephalous setting. My grandfather held this title being a wealthy man and not because he was the first born son of their then extended family. So the privileges that comes with holding this title include being the first citizens, they have selected share of meat and food in every marriage and ceremonies.


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However that doesn't exclude him From carrying out his primary responsibilities like being in the council of elders which automatically means that he's representing his nuclear family as the first born son in the council of elders *(which includes the first sons of each family in a Hamlet, a village or community)* The British couldn't totally replace this system because of the decentralized nature and how difficult it was for anybody to be held accountable instead they looked for warrant chiefs who performed the look alike duties of a modern day United States sheriff. 

It's a system that makes space for everyone no matter how irrelevant that person may seem and we have various units including the *council of youth* which comprises of the young men in the society in most case this council act as the judiciary, a part of the legislature as well as enacting or carrying out the decrees of the council of elders *(comprising of the youngest and eldest son of each nuclear and autonomous family)* the reality of this acephalousness is that some of the practices are still in Vogue in the modern day Igbo Society. We also have the *Umu Ada* that's the council of women which are comprising of young and active young women in the then Society. This council are often very active when it comes to demonstration and protests expecially an unfavourable situation and this was evident during the **Aba Women Riot in the early 1900s** in South Eastern Nigeria. 

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![images.png](https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmSVDN1Mk73K3BnSDAYLxy13NGFGk7EH56xcLUf5Ruynyo)


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The various age grades from the council of elders to the Umu Ada and the Young men, there is hardly any space in the system and the sort of power Sharing is quite different from the Yoruba Pre-colonial System of Western Nigeria and The Hausa/Fulani pre-colonial system that made use of autocratic and ceremonial rulers. In other words it was the earliest caricature of indirect brought to inception by the Greeks. Although over the years one can say that the system has slacked a bit because of the influx of civilization and the members of this Hamlet moving or migrating as a result of searching for greener pastures. 


Needless to say, sheltering responsibilities is somewhat of a compulsion rather than a necessity, else one risks being expelled or paying fine being decided by the council. like I mentioned earlier, civilization and the the newer generations are now blending the old system with civilization and some of this councils mentioned above are hardly existent or hold strength like they use to. But the basic purpose of this system is  the participation in passive politics and contribution to enhancing the society. 

Things like true love is being truncated by the reality of wealth and majorly you see families marrying their children off to elderly chieftains sometimes you often see betrothing at tenderly age and a rivalry over landed property. **Mind you the Igbos were geniuses and were poised towards actualising a society that fuctioned on interdependence** this made is very easy to have economic balance, a feudal system without the autocracy part. It was more of collectiveness rather than individuality and this made sharing of responsibilities very superfluous laying emphasis on first born sons of first born parents when it comes to extended families. The role of women are well respected but a woman individually  hardly often count when it comes to things like decision making, inheriting of property or holding stances in the council of men.