OSTRACISM IN AGULU: A GUIDE TO CODE OF CONDUCT

Abstract

Every society has some cultural values and ways of achieving sustenance of these values. To achieve the maintenance of these values which serve as a guide to people’s behaviour, society uses various kinds of sanctions to serve as a deterrent measure to potential offenders. Ostracism is one the the sanctions used, though it is presently almost extinct. This academic exercise is poised to expose how Agulu people used to achieve social orderliness through ostracism. It is also to call for the revival of the practice as it helped to check-mate excesses in people’s daily conduct. Scholarly works were reviewed to ascertain what other writers say about ostracism. The study used survey method to gather opinion of some elders in Agulu, to examine, among other things, the changes and the causes of the changes in the practice of ostracism. Also, the study adopts functionalist theory for analysis. After the analysis it was revealed that there are many challenges that brought about decline in the enforcement of ostracism in Agulu which include: the advent of Christianity, dishonest elders and leaders, urbanization, among others. It is believed that this research would benefit every member of the society as it would serve as a reminder to readers of this work to guard their social and moral principles as contradictions would attract sanctions. This study finds out that the practice of ostracism is no longer prevalent in our contemporary society. However, the research recommends revitalization of this value system as Igbo people both old and young are reminded that the community still has some degree of control over all.