From Oral Wisdom to Global Goals: Igbo Proverbs as Indigenous Frameworks for Sustainability and Resilience
Conference: The 23rd Annual International Conference of the Igbo Studies Association (ISA) (2026)
Presenter(s): Adaora Lois Anyachebelu
Presentation Date: May 14, 2026 @ 14:20 PM
Tags: Nigeria University of Lagos Lagos
Abstract
Indigenous African oral traditions have long articulated principles of sustainability, resilience, and ethical living through culturally embedded forms such as proverbs. Among the Igbo of southeastern Nigeria, proverbs function as condensed philosophical texts that transmit communal values, regulate social conduct, guide resource management, and equip communities with adaptive strategies for survival across generations. This paper examines Igbo proverbs as indigenous frameworks for sustainability and resilience, arguing that they offer culturally grounded ethical models that meaningfully align with contemporary global development agendas. Anchored in Resilience Theory, the study interprets Igbo proverbs as adaptive mechanisms through which societies anticipate risk, absorb shocks, reorganise social and economic practices, and sustain communal stability in the face of uncertainty. Using a qualitative, interpretive approach, the paper analyses selected Igbo proverbs such as Were ehihie chọba ewu ojii tupu chi e jie "use daylight to search for a dark goat before night falls," and Onye chọrọ ichi ọzọ, ya buru ụzọ gaa lee ọba ji ya anya "he who plans a feast must first inspect his yam barn," which emphasise preparedness, planning, and responsible resource assessment. At the same time, Otu osisi anaghị eme ọhịa "one tree does not make a forest" underscores communal interdependence as the foundation of resilience. The analysis demonstrates that these proverbs encode principles consistent with contemporary resilience thinking and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
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