George Thomas Basden (1873–1944) arrived Onitsha, British Nigeria in 1900 with a goal “to convert pagans to Christianity†on behalf of the Church Missionary Society. In 1921 he published a book on his time in Nigeria--- "Among the Ibos of Nigeria."
In Basden's volume dealing with the Ibos of Southern Nigeria, the author has aimed at giving a fairly detailed, though popularly written, account of these interesting natives, and has succeeded in producing an instructive and attractive volume. He sounds a note of caution which may well be taken to heart by globe-trotters and stay-at-home amateurs who, with little or no experience, write books about native ideas and beliefs. He writes: "The longer one lives amongst West African natives, the more one is convinced that it is a practical impossibility for the European to comprehend fully the subtleties of the native character. Some white men claim to have done this, but my experience leads me to think that the claim can rarely, if ever, be substantiated with definite assurance."
This is an honest admission on the part of one who has lived long enough among the natives to realise the difficulties involved in the diagnosis of their mentality, and to recognise the fundamental difference between their "philosophy" and ours. The Ibo people, who form nearly onehalf the population of Southern Nigeria, occupy the country lying mainly between the Niger and Cross rivers, a huge tract extending from the coast to 70 N. lat. There is a westerly extension across the Niger. The Ibos are not homogeneous, important variations occurring in the extensive area occupied. The environment varies considerably, from the low-lying swamps of the Delta to the higher land around Onitsha.
The book is a timely one, since the indigenous customs are very rapidly undergoing changes, though in 1900, when Mr. Basden arrived there, primitive conditions still largely persisted. The general life of the Ibos is well presented. A man's greatest desire in life is to advance its social status, and many crimes are committed in order to promote this advancement. Theft (to obtain the necessary funds), murder, and head-taking (as a sign of prowess) are very usually the outcome of this craving for higher titles. Cannibalism has been rampant, human flesh being regarded as a valuable food product. Polygamy is favoured equally by both sexes, and will be suppressed only with great difficulty. The first wife takes precedence of all the others, and is regarded as the legal wife, anasi, who is priestess of the household gods.
