In Igbo cosmology, wisdom is not viewed primarily as the possession of a single individual, but as a shared heritage of the community.
This is rooted in several cultural principles:
1. Ọgụgụ na ihe ọmụma bụ nke obodo: learning and knowledge belong to the community. An elder may speak with authority, but that authority comes from the accumulated experiences, proverbs, and lessons preserved in the collective memory of the people.
2. Proverbs as communal property: Igbo proverbs (ilu) are considered “the palm oil with which words are eaten.” These sayings do not have a single owner; they have been polished by generations, making them a living archive of communal wisdom.
3. Decision-making by consensus: traditional governance in Igbo society relies on the ama ala (village assembly) or council of elders, where issues are debated openly. No matter how intelligent one person is, decisions gain legitimacy only when anchored in collective deliberation.
4. The role of the elder as custodian: elders (ndi okenye) are not the creators of wisdom but its stewards, responsible for passing it down and ensuring it serves the whole community rather than individual gain.
5. The spiritual dimension – in Igbo cosmology, wisdom (amamihe) is a gift from Chukwu (the Creator) and the ancestors, meant to guide the people as a whole. Misusing it for selfish purposes is believed to bring imbalance and misfortune.
Amamihe bụ nke mmadụ niile: “Wisdom belongs to everyone.” – Igbo Proverb.
