Thursday, May 27, 2021

What Igbo Culture in Africa Teaches Us about Capitalism

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"... are a meta-ethnicity native to present-day south-central and southeastern Nigeria. Large ethnic Igbo populations are found in Cameroon, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea, as well as outside Africa. ... The Igbo people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa. ..." (Wikipedia)

"The Igbos are one of many ethnic groups within Africa. They consist of about 43 million people, 40 million of whom live within Nigeria.  They are widely successful in Nigeria and are considered by many to be the "Jews of West Africa," partly because they tend to be more economically successful than their neighbors. ...
In Igbo culture, attaining wealth is perceived as a blessing to be cultivated and not an object of scorn. Unlike other cultures in Africa, the merchant occupies a sacred position among the Igbos. Commerce is central to understanding the world view of Igbos. ...
Like the Calvinists, who fashioned success as evidence of God’s favor, in traditional Igbo society financial success is inextricably linked to gaining favor from ancestral gods. According to Igbo philosophy, leading a worthwhile life should entail the accumulation of earthly riches. As such, no one who dies poor (i.e., enwe nta, enwe imo, the wretched poor) is entitled to a seat among the ancestors. ..."

What Igbo Culture Teaches Us about Capitalism | Mises Wire

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