Postproverbials

Abstract

The wave of globalization and the attendant acculturation has uttered the contextual and conceptual rendition and meaning of traditional Igbo proverbs. In view of the fact that proverbs are wisdom from the elderly that reveals the peoples’ values, ethics, morals and worldviews. Therefore, the modernized versions of Proverbs attest to the fact of lack/loss of the ancient fervour. This paper attributes the loss of ancient morale to youth incursion and the consequent travesty of the proverbial space. It therefore, contends that Igbo postproverbial is a reaction to acculturation engendered by human interaction. Twenty-one pairs of Igbo proverbs made up of, the traditional proverb and its postproverbial version were subjected to critical analysis focusing on the culture dynamics in the construction of the postproverbials. The analysis of data is anchored on Herbert Blumer’s theory of symbolic interactionism. The paper establishes that Igbo postproverbial is a reaction to culture diffusion occasioned by human interaction and the accompanying changes in values, morals and worldviews.