Food Taboos in Traditional African Societies A Study of Onicha Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State

ABSTRACT 

This research work is a product of the researcher’s desire to explore the various food taboos in traditional African societies with special focus on Onicha Ezinihitte, Mbaise Local Government area of Imo state. The study aims at finding out the food taboos in Onicha Ezinihittee and their essence in the traditional culture. The study also looked at the attitude of the Onicha Ezinihitte towards food taboos and the changes that have taken place over time. The research adopted the qualitative method of data collection and analysis. In order to have a full grasp of the trend of food taboo in Onicha Ezinihitte, the participant observation approach was utilized as the core strategy of the investigation. It was however supplemented with In-depth Interview and Focus Group Discussion. Relevant literatures on food taboos were also reviewed in the study and some explanations have been given as to why food taboos exist in some societies. The analysis shows that food taboos exist as either a religious phenomenon or adaptive response to the material conditions of the society that observes them.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page - - - - - - - - - i

Approval page - - - - - - - - ii

Dedication - - - - - - - - - iii

Acknowledgment - - - - - - - - iv

Table of Contents - - - - - - - - v

List of figures - - - - - - - - - viii

Abstract - - - - - - - - - ix

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study - - - - - - - 1

1.2 Statement of the problem - - - - - - - 5

1.3 Research questions- - - - - - - - 8

1.4 Objectives of the study- - - - - - - - 9

1.5 Significance of the study - - - - - - 9

1.6 Definition of key concept - - - - - - - 10

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Empirical literature - - - - - - - 12

2.1.1Taboo - - - - - - - - - 12

2.1.2 Perspectives on food taboo. - - - - - - 15

Materialistic perspective- - - - - - - - 15

Idealist/symbolic perspective - - - - - - - 18

Bio-cultural perspective- - - - - - - - 22

2.2 Review of theories- - - - - - - - 24

2.2.1Functionalism- - - - - - - - - 24

2.2.2 Structuralism- - - - - - - - - 26

2.2.3 Conflict Theory - - - - - - - - 27

2.3 Theoretical framework- - - - - - - - 29

2.4 Propositions- - - - - - - - - 30

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research design - - - - - - - - 31

3.2 Area of the study- - - - - - - - - 31

3.3 Population of the study - - - - - - - 33

3.4 Sample and sampling technique - - - - - - 34

3.5 Instrument for data collection- - - - - - - 34

3.6 Method of data collection- - - - - - - 34

3.7 Method of data analysis- - - - - - - - 36

3.8 Data gathering - - - - - - - 36

3.9 Residence - - - - - - - - 38

3.10 The Ahajioku experience - - - - - - 38

3.11 Challenges - - - - - - - - 40

CHAPTER FOUR: FINDINGS

4.1 Findings - - - - - - - - 41

4.1.1 Common food sources in Onicha Ezinihitte - - - - 41

4.1.2 Food Taboos in Onicha Ezinihitte - - - - - 43

CHAPTER FIVE:

5.1 Summary and Conclusion - - - - - - 58

5.2 Relevance to Theory - - - - - - - 59

5.3 Suggestions for further Research - - - - - 60

5.4 Recommendations - - - - - - - 60

References - - -- - - - - - - 62

Appendices