'Leisure' in a Traditional West Africa Society

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Periodical article

Title:	'Leisure' in a Traditional West Africa Society
Author:	Sharma, Veena
Year:	1989
Periodical:	Ind-Africana: Collected Research Papers on Africa
Volume:	2
Issue:	2
Period:	October
Pages:	7-12
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Nigeria
Subjects:	Igbo leisure Literature, Mass Media and the Press Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
Abstract:	The concept of leisure is used by the author to get an insight into the world view of a society, in this case that of the Ibo of Nigeria, and to learn something about its social ethics and aspirations and expectations from life. The author explores the concept of leisure as it is expressed in Chinua Achebe's novel 'Things fall apart' (1978). Through this novel, leisure can be perceived at two levels - the communal and the individual. At the communal level, on the occasion of feasting and celebrations, wrestling matches and public ceremonies, leisure coincides with the fulfilling of the ritual of public sacrifice. At the individual level, it is seen as a state of mind and is reflected in the attitude to the environment and to interpersonal relationships. It can also be seen as a changing concept, one that evolves with the evolution in social consciousness or when the need arises to transcend stultified custom.