POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS IN IKWERRE THE NYE-NEW-ELI AND COUNCIL OF ELDERS

Abstract

The basic socio-political unit of the Ikwerre is the village group made up of people who claim common descent from a given ancestry through the male line, the village is divided to have been founded by the various sons of extended families which also lie within a definite compound. It may involve the man, his wife or wives, grown up sons and their wives and children. The political framework of Ikwerre at the pre-colonial times reflect the structure of the village while the smallest unit of political organization is the compound. At this level, the father was the disciplinarian and ensured the welfare of the family. This is closely followed by the lineage group whose welfare was left in the hand of the compound heads. This study examines the political institutions in Ikwerre with reference to Nye-Eli and council of elders