Nineteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

Rural community cultural practices have become a source of concern given the level of material and financial resources extravagantly expended in observing these events when compared with their poor socio-economic life of the people themselves. In this study, these cultural practices are investigated to ascertain the extent to which they affect the standard of living of rural dwellers. The study specifically examines the relationship between burial cultural practices, traditional marriage practices and new yam festival cultural practices. These were tested as hypotheses in the study. The multi stage sampling techniques were adopted to select the representative sample of 675 respondents. These respondents were selected from three (3) out of six (6) Local Government Areas. A well-structured 30 items collection and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) guide constituted the instruments of the study. Data analysis was carried out using Pearson Product Moment Correlation as statistical tool. Findings were that rural community rites of passages have a significant negative impact on socio-economic life of rural dwellers. The exorbitant spending on cultural practices have significantly impoverished rural life rather than improved the socio economic life. Thus, this study contributes to existing literature by proposing that community cultural practices be modified through enlightenment to foster significant socio economic wellbeing among rural dwellers. There is need for enlightenment of the people through proper cultural orientation by Indigenous Based Organisations on the retrogressive impacts of community cultural practices.