The maintenance of peace, order and cleanliness in Igbo society was a function of

Analyze the question: It asks which institution in traditional Igbo society (a stateless, republican, decentralized society) was responsible for keeping peace, order and cleanliness.

Explain the concept: Traditional Igbo political organization had no centralized king. Authority was spread across several institutions:

• Title holders (Ozo, Nze): had high social status and gave moral leadership.
• Council of elders (Ndichie): made decisions, settled disputes, and interpreted customs.
• Village assembly: the general forum where all adult males discussed and decided major community matters.
• Age grades: groups of people born within the same period (for example, 3-year spans). They carried out the community's practical, executive duties.

Step-by-step solution:

1. "Peace and order" involved policing and enforcing community decisions, which the age grades did.
2. "Cleanliness" refers to public works, such as sweeping village paths, clearing the markets, cleaning streams and maintaining roads. This was the typical duty of the age grades.
3. Age grades also served as a defence force, built public facilities and enforced the laws made by the elders and the assembly.
4. The council of elders and the village assembly were mainly decision-making and judicial bodies, while title holders were mostly status-based leaders. None of them were the main body performing the daily upkeep tasks.

So the executive and community-service function points to age grades.

Answer: C. age grades.

Exam tip: Remember it this way: Elders decide, age grades do. If a question talks about carrying out tasks like cleaning, road-making, policing or defence in Igbo society, think age grades.