Mazi_Omenuko:

Actually, Nairaland is the first place I'm hearing the souther/northern igbo stuff. Is there any distinct boundary? Imo state is so big that the people from orlu/mgbidi are closer to the Anambrarians uli/ihiala; where's those from Okigwe and Obowo/ihitte-uboma are very close to Abians Umuahia.

I guess the North-South thing is more of a geographical thing.

ChinenyeN: Based off what I've been able to discern from questions and research, the expression "mazi" is in all respects an Aro title. Its origins are in Arochukwu, and from there it culturally diffused to other communities by way of Aro's oracular trade network. My knowledge of Arochukwu is limited, so Odumchi will have to correct me where I may be wrong. But from all indications, "mazi" is not a title in the same way that Nze and Ozo may be. I have yet to know of any instance in which a ceremony exists to institute someone as a "mazi". I also do not see a reason to associate Aro's "mazi" title synonymously with "elders", since it seems just as applicable to sons, daughters and wives as it does to men (Odumchi, correct me if I may be wrong).

Now, by its usage, I would say that Aro's "mazi" title (and its derivatives) serve a somewhat similar cultural purpose as "sir", "madame", "mister", "miss", "misses", etc. in Western culture. So far, the diffused "mazi" title seems to have remained relatively in tact, with the exception that the "mazi" derivatives (nwa mazi, etc.) don't seem to be present in the communities that the title diffused to.

The "mazi" title is mostly limited to northern Abia and a portion of Imo; not as prevalent in southern Abia. However, there exists an expression ["maazi"] that was traditionally used as a greeting by some communities in the former Obioma Ngwa LGA. It is only in the last 30 or 40 years that the greeting has diffused to other Ngwa communities. The diffusion of the "mazi" title into Ikwere likely resulted from Isiokpo and its Aro affiliation.

"Mazi" has since been adopted into the developing Izugbe/Standard Igbo. I read a document somewhere online where Uwandiigbo (the most active Igbo studies organization I've so far seen) moved to officially adopt "Mazi" into Izugbe as "Mr." In answering Odumchi's original question though, "mazi" seems to occur mainly among eastern Igbo and [to some degree] southern Igbo culture groups.

Mazi_Omenuko:

Actually, Nairaland is the first place I'm hearing the souther/northern igbo stuff. Is there any distinct boundary? Imo state is so big that the people from orlu/mgbidi are closer to the Anambrarians uli/ihiala; where's those from Okigwe and Obowo/ihitte-uboma are very close to Abians Umuahia.

I guess the North-South thing is more of a geographical thing.

some-girl:


"Ogbuefi" isn't exclusive to "northern" Igbo.
We use "Ogbuehi" in the south.

Mamacita007: ndi nsukka e wenro mazi its Eze

Mazi_Omenuko:

Nope, but I'm Abian, and I believe (I might be wrong) that the term mazi is predominant among the igbos of Abia/imo. It can be used as a synonym for 'elder'; just like the Anambra/Enugu uses Nze and ozor.

Like someone pointed out, the Ngwa people uses mazi as a form of greeting to an elderly person.

I don't know if there's an official title called 'mazi' but I know the term is used loosely to indicate 'elder'.

Odenigbo Aroli:

It is no longer exclusive to the northern Igbo[b] but the origin is indisputably northern Igbo[/b]. And let's not forget that there are southern Igbo groups who migrated from the north. Also,theere is what they call culture diffusion; Like today, the general Igbo has adopted the red hat as a symbol of Igbo attire but we know the origin.

Odenigbo Aroli:



Not all Igbo use mazi,except if you meant Igbo Izugbe,which is mostly based on southern Igbo. Anambra doesn't use mazi,at least not to my knowledge. If at all there is any Anambra group that use mazi it has to be a recent phenomenon. Again,mazi is a southern Igbo invention.

Afam4eva:
I also got to know about the North and South thingy on nairaland. It's more of geography but proximity also means that people in Southern Igbo will have more in common than when compared with those in Northern Igbo. Though the boundary is still debatable because i know people from Okigwe can be classified as Northern Igbo based on their dialect which is simlar to what is obtained in the Anambra axis.

some-girl:


Ogbuehi/ efi aren't titles like Mazi, Nze and Eze as far as I'm aware. They are more like names given to honoured men (Mazis, Nze n'ozor and chiefs), like "Omeudo", "Ezeugo", "Nwanne di na mba", "Ezeagu" etc...

biafranqueen: Yes it is used with Anambra people abroad frequently, especially in greetings.

ceejayluv:
An "Nze" is an "ozo" title holder...

Odenigbo Aroli:

Nze and mazi are two different thing; Nze is anybody who has taken the Ozo noble title and only then can you be addressed as "Onye Nze" or "Nze". Deme.

Odenigbo Aroli:

It is no longer exclusive to the northern Igbo but the origin is indisputably northern Igbo. And let's not forget that there are southern Igbo groups who migrated from the north. Also,theere is what they call culture diffusion; Like today, the general Igbo has adopted the red hat as a symbol of Igbo attire but we know the origin.

berem: Smh for you Abagworo! Is it Kedu ka idi or Kedu ka imere/ Kedu k'imere? Kedu ka idi is never an Igbo Izugbe greeting. odikwa egwu!

Btw, i have been meaning to ask you, what's the meaning of "ABAGWORO ". Ana m eche ma i bu onye Aba?

ceejayluv:
Any difference from what I posted? Or are you adding details to My earlier post?

Odenigbo Aroli:

Wrong; Say what you know. Ogbuefi is not a title name like the ones you mentioned. I hail from Anambra and in all my encounters with the Nze n' Ozo institution I have never came accross any person greeted with the name "Ogbuefi",rather,it was used as a prefix. Ogbuefi was even used in Things Fall Apart television series.

odumchi: I was told that 'Ada Mazi', 'Nwa Mazi' and 'Nnye Mazi' are exclusively Aro titles, and I have yet to have any reason to doubt since all the people that I have met with those titles are of Aro descent. I'm interested in knowing if there are any other people(s) that bear such titles, along with that of Mazi.

Abagworo:

It is an adopted name of likely Delta State origin. "Abagoro" or "Agbagoro" are variants.

Abagworo:

The reason why a lot of people are confused in this thing is because State creation disregarded the traditional boundaries. The people that occupy the Orlu area of Igboland seem to have almost every Igbo culture fused in theirs making it difficult to really ascertain their true culture zone. This area includes Ihiala/Orumba/South Nnewi in Anambra and Orlu/Ideato in Imo. Scholars had to label them "marginal Isu/Nri/Awka.

BTW what is the origin of the red hat?

T-Wallpapers:
The title Mazi Originated from Arochukwu as early as the sixteenth century. They were the foremost igbos to use the term Mazi as a way of referring to any male whose Father is no longer alive. Even if you're 70 years and your father is alive, you will never be called Mazi; that's the tradition.

Secondly I think any other community that uses the title Mazi may be Aro's in diaspora. As widely knowm, there are over 100 aro in diaspora communities scattered all over Nigeria even in the north.

T-Wallpapers:
The title Mazi Originated from Arochukwu as early as the sixteenth century. They were the foremost igbos to use the term Mazi as a way of referring to any male whose Father is no longer alive. Even if you're 70 years and your father is alive, you will never be called Mazi; that's the tradition.

Secondly I think any other community that uses the title Mazi may be Aro's in diaspora. As widely knowm, there are over 100 aro in diaspora communities scattered all over Nigeria even in the north.

belovedaja: I am from ututu in abia state and the villagers call me 'nwa mazi'. I dont know the meaning yet. One thing that amaze me the name is exclusively used for me in the village.

Odenigbo Aroli:

I'm sure you meant Igbo "Izugbe",which was based on Imo/Abia Igbo. Mazi is foreign to Anambra,Enugu,Anioma and part of Imo and Ebonyi.

sol2galay:


I am from Ebonyi(ebonyi south precisely),we use Mazi simply as Minster to address an adult male or a colleague.My father do address me as Nwamazi meaning little minster.

Odenigbo Aroli:


I'm not surprised,at all because part of Ebonyi was carved out of Abia. I stand corrected.

kayci_d77:
Mazi is nothing close to dee or deede, Mazi means Mr and dee means an elder man. Mazi is a general Igbo language not particularly meant for some part of Igbo