NORMS AND TABOOS AMONG THE IDOMA OF NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA 1800-1980: A REGULATING MECHANISM FOR UPHOLDING MORALITY

Publication Details

Publication Date

10/08/2026

Volume / Issue

Vol 1, Issue 3 (2026)

Article No.

030

Journal

British Journal of Contemporary Research

DOI

https://doi.org/10.67693/BJCR-KB9PT9SM

Received

18 Jul 2026

Views

26

Downloads

15

Abstract

Most Nigerian typical settings were unique and guided which is applicable to the Idoma group in the pre-colonial times and after Europeans invasion and pollution of her culture and traditions things started falling apart. During the colonial regime a lot of damage and havoc were done but against these odds some fundamental traces still survived as African heritage. This paper is concern with a historical revivalism into the Idoma past with a focus to x-ray some of the taboos (ebitaa) and bad omens in the society that their forebears instituted as regulating mechanism which helped and upheld high standard of morality in the Idoma society in their post-Apa abodes. From findings, some of these taboos included: Adultery and fornication of all kinds (Ajaa), theft of all kinds (Uwii), innocent killing of human beings (OocheOmno). Omens (Ebi) considered as taboos like: A giant rat is seen on broad day light by a person, when a Chameleon (Ayinya) is seen crossing the road by a road user, when a Dog (Ewoo) is crying in a compound and when a family that had pigeons (Oklebete) discovered all the pigeons have suddenly vacated their cage to mention but a few. The paper discourses their significance and the remedy if there happened. Methodologically, the paper is purely a reconstructive history and is largely dependent on oral and other primary sources of investigation. Conclusively, the paper affirms that to bring back the positive angles of Idoma culture and traditions which housed the taboos, then, the ideal of the two foreign dominant religions: Christianity and Islam as the new society mirror should be redefined. The paper is certainly a value addition to the ongoing Africans calls for African cultural rejuvenation across the continent.

License

This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License . Free to read, share, and adapt with attribution.