Ibo Culture Digital Scaffold
Assignment:
In groups of four or five, you will research various aspects of Ibo (a Nigerian tribe) Culture.
Each group member will become an expert on one of those aspects, individually writing a
summary of the information you learned. Then, in groups, you will teach each other the
information by working together to write a short test on the material.
Objective:
 To increase familiarity with various ideas and practices of the Ibo people, increasing
comprehension of the text Things Fall Apart.
Process:
Part One (Thursday)
1. In groups of four or five, choose one role: Spiritual Advisor, Event Planner, Historian,
Cultural Expert or Biographer. If you only have 4 in your group, there will be no
biographer.
2. Use the links listed below to research and take notes on the ‘Must Haves’ for your role.
Use your time wisely.
3. You must take notes by hand, on a separate piece of paper.
Role Descriptions, ‘Must Haves’ and Sources (Control-Click on each of the links to
find the website):
Role
Spiritual
Advisor
Subject:
Religion &
spiritual
beliefs of
Ibo tribe
Role
Must Haves
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Must Haves
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Event
Planner
Subject:
Festivals &
Foods of
the Ibo tribe
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Role
Sources
Role of ancestors http://www.gateway-africa.com/tribe/igbo_tribe.html
Role of spirits
http://www.qub.ac.uk/en/imperial/nigeria/religion.htm
Concept of chi
Things considered
shameful
Beliefs regarding
death
What/when is the
yam festival?
What does it
symbolize?
Why is yam
important?
What is the kola
nut?
How is it used?
Must Haves
Sources
Remember, in your research, focus on how they celebrate the yam
festival in NIGERIA.
http://r4dreview.org/2010/04/yam-festival/
http://www.viviennemackie.com/articles/holidays/family/yam.html
http://www.igboguide.org/index.php?l=chapter8
Sources
Biographer
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Subject:
Chinua
Achebe
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Role
Historian
Subject:
Origins &
History of
Ibo tribe
Must Haves
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Role
Cultural
Expert
Subject: Ibo
People &
Culture
Full name
Background: birth
date, location,
parents, family
life
Significance
Literary language
Goals
Achievements
Location of tribe
Approximate date
of origin
First contact with
Europeans. Why?
Effect of
imperialism on
tribe
Goods traded
Relationship with
Europeans
Must Haves
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Dress
Language
Village
life/leadership
Role of women
Political system
http://www.notablebiographies.com/A-An/Achebe-Chinua.html
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/achebe.htm
TFA novel (end of novel)
Sources
http://www.qub.ac.uk/en/imperial/nigeria/origins.htm
http://www.gateway-africa.com/tribe/igbo_tribe.html
Sources
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/oldworld/africa/igbo.html
http://www.africaguide.com/culture/tribes/ibo.htm
Part Two (Friday)
1. Create a class Ibo Belief and Culture Chart. (I’ll explain how this will happen on
Monday.)
Part Three (Monday)
1. Get back in your original groups, write ONE short quiz (10-15 points) covering the
material you have learned. The test should be a mix of Multiple Choice, Fill in the
Blanks, and Short Answer questions. The best quiz will be used as an assessment for
the entire class. Each group must provide an answer key for their quiz.
2. Quizzes must be turned in to the Drop Box in Ms. Null’s folder on the student
server at the end of class.