The Concept Of Ezigbo Mmadu: Do We Still Have “Ezigbo Mmadu” Today?

PRINCE MACDONALD ENWERE

In Igbo precolonial era, the epithet “ezigbo mmadu” is a conception of a structural principle that defines the value, integrity, dignity and inner behavioral character pattern  of an individual. My in-laws, Ndi Mbaise call it “Ezigbo Madu” while Owerre people call it “Nnamara mmanu”.  It is a metaphorical expression  descriptive of good character or positive moral conduct in a person. 

In Igbo literature, a person is referred as EZIGBO MMADU, if such person possesses good conduct or moral fibre – human qualities that are highly emulatory.

Also, EZIGBO MMADU is not only descriptive of a person’s character or conduct, it is also expressive of a person who is equable, unflappable, decorous, levelheaded and  humble in spirit. 
In Igbo cosmology, an EZIGBO MMADU, apart from the possession of good moral conduct, such person must have a sense of respect to laws of the land and constituted authority and must be loyal to the preternatural forces that rule in the cosmic order.

The primordial Igbo personality is embodied on the individual’s disposition to societal peace, balance,  prosperity and moral transparency. There is a pre-existing metaphysical and social bond that inextricably links one to the other. 

The conception of “Ezigbo Mmadu” primordially speaking, is a conception in which the individual radiates some dignified character values that define the intripid social-moral personality  of such individual. These behavioral values are the structural principles and characters that define the identity, integrity and inner self of the Igbo person. Living according to these moral principles contributes to one’s having a sense of dignity. When an Igbo man reflects a personal behavior pattern filled with these action values, he is called Ezigbo Mmadu”. He is  seen to be on the path of a dignified existence. He becomes,  the embodiment of the universal merited dignity of humanity.
 An “Ezigbo Mmadu” is  endowed with and exhibits a proven character or transparency as well as their belief in the Igbo customary meaning that “Ezi aha ka ego”. This transparency still exists among few but has been badly battered by the present phenomenon of 419 (What is known as advance fee fraud under Nigerian criminal law).

Today, there is a moral degradation affecting the character conduct of an average Igboman. There is also a current and recurrent materialism, which has gripped and crippled the Igbo person, leading to the generation of a new set of vice and material values courted by both the old and the young.
We are indeed, beginning to witness the era of the “successful” Igbo man and woman without character and values. These new generations of Igbos have lost all sense of moral conduct and dignified character values.

There is, furthermore, an erosion of core Igbo moral values and dignity as a result of the negative impact of the Eurocentric concept of the human person which elevates the importance of the individual personality over and above the interest of character conduct and self respect.
In African Igbo tradition, a man who has lost his human dignity is no longer in touch with his  society. Such a morally derailed personality will continue to drift and dwell in a selfish world of only his dreams, interests and ambitions.

Even in leadership, effective and purposeful leadership can only be achieved and demonstrated when leaders who are grounded on moral rectitude and equipped with ethical values that define the import and essence of leadership Excellence are on the saddle. Leadership in Igbo land is going through a tough time as a result of lack of “Ezigbo Mmadu” on the leadership saddle.
As we can see presently, due to shortage of “Ezigbo Mmadu” the modern Igbo land is currently experiencing crisis in its  sociocultural, moral and political status.  
This results from the fact that a personality without the dynamic building blocks of moral dignity cannot make any meaningful impact in leadership.
His presence will become a development disaster because he will fail in the first test of leadership which is to mobilize and carry his society along in every policies and programmes implemented by him.

There is no doubt that, by single tragic act of abandoning Igbo core primordial values, the Igbo man of the 21st century has become a ghost of his former vibrant and dynamic self, who was capable of contributing selflessly to the creative and productive development of his society.

Today, our society is in dire need of “Ndi Ezigbo Mmadu”. Are you an Ezigbo Mmadu. Even in our state, do we still have Ezigbo Mmadu? In my next follow-up article, I shall do a clinical appraisal on this to find out if we still really have”Ezigbo Mmadu”.