Illustration as catalyst for cultural heutagogy: Totemism and axioms among the Igbo people of Nigeria in perspective

This study expatiates on the roles of hand-made illustrations in self-determined Igbo cultural education. In simplistic terms, to illustrate means to draw or craft images for information passage. Totemism is the practice of harmless co-habitation between humans, animals, plants and lifeless objects. The Igbo culture is multifarious in existential mythologies that seem as doubtful as they are credible. Igbo mythology consolidates totemism and axiomatic expressions, thereby forming strong philosophical hedges around the people over the centuries. This study adopted the desktop qualitative research design. The specific objectives of the study were to: ascertain the cultural chattels of Igbo totemism and numerology, relive some Igbo axioms and mythology through illustrations, and buttress on illustration as catalyst for Igbo cultural heutagogy. The instruments for data collection and review were: journal articles, books and 53 researcher-made illustrations exemplified for advancing Igbo cultural heutagogy. Histrionic interpretations of axioms were also made.