Intricate Web Of African Culture, Myths And Rituals In Buchi Emecheta’s The Bride Price

Abstract

Rituals and Myths primarily contribute to the progress of the story or plot. They are the dynamic forces of the human being. Myths deal with historical events, supernatural elements, and heroic deeds and deeply embodies teaching moral lessons and values, belief about god and the creation of human beings, and the existing form of culture. Myths predominantly focus on the unexplainable part of the world, the view of the people and the customs of an ideal society. Myths constitute cultural heritage. They have become a foundation for a lot of religious practices. Myths include rituals focused on respecting ancestors. Rituals are the upholders and preservers of our culture and tradition. Buchi Emecheta uses myths and rituals to focus on Africa’s traditional world and show us a glance at the metaphysical truth that holds onto them. She depicts myths and rituals focusing on a feministic point of view by portraying how the cultural practices subordinated women in traditional Igbo societies and the Post Colonial Nigeria. Myths and Rituals are like an art. Both are reparations for the deficiency of life and are the archives of African culture and tradition.