NWANKWO IFEOMA MARTHA

Igbo riddles form part of the Igbo Oral Tradition. In the traditional Igbo community, riddles are part of the moonlight games children gather to play after the day’s activities. Riddles are fun and interesting to take part in because of the puzzling form in whatcha they appear and the various personifications used to present the riddles. It is worthy of note that riddles are not just for fun alone, they possess and convey deep cultural elements in them in which the child comes to be aware of when he/she participate in the riddling and which are passed from generation to generation. The Igbo riddles are a powerful tool through which the Igbo culture, traditions and values are passed to younger generations. But now in our modern world and ‘modern Igbo towns’, the value for, interest in and usage of these riddles are slowly deteriorating due to the impact of formal education and technology and the cultural embodiments of these riddles are not exploited, appreciated or even passed down to generations. This study set to examine the Igbo riddles using an ethnographic approach. It presents the importance of Igbo riddles to the Igbo culture and determine how the riddles affect the culture of the Igbo people. It
discusses and stresses on how riddles also affect the child’s cultural and social cognition and thickly explains the Igbo riddle from a cultural perspective and context. Data for analysis will be attained through non-participants observation of a riddling event and oral/virtual interview and the bulk of data collected will be collated and written for proper analysis. This study essentially dwells on the ethnographic study of Igbo riddles and concludes with appropriate recommendations in sustaining and preserving these riddles and also encouraging their usage in the society.