Quite a number of Igbo people on this forum have alluded to a certain man named Eri or Nri as their predecessor. There have been debates which to me have been incomplete because of the dropping of names without any translation for better understanding.

My question:
What does Nri/Eri mean?

Eri allegedly means manifestor and Nri is supposed to mean manifestation.

Nri means food

What is the meaning of Oduduwa?

amor4ce:

Quite a number of Igbo people on this forum have alluded to a certain man named Eri or Nri as their predecessor. There have been debates which to me have been incomplete because of the dropping of names without any translation for better understanding.

My question:
What does Nri/Eri mean?

Just to set the records straight, Eri is not the progenitor of all Igbos.

Eri means 'The guardian' in Hebrew and 'prosperity' in Igbo.

Nri means 'food' in Igbo(possibly given to the bearer because of his love for food)

Nri is the son of Eri.

I'm grateful.

Can you help me with the meaning of Anochie?

^
Who is (s)he?

mbatuku2:

Just to set the records straight, Eri is not the progenitor of all Igbos.

Eri means 'The guardian' in Hebrew and 'prosperity' in Igbo.

Nri means 'food' in Igbo(possibly given to the bearer because of his love for food)

Nri is the son of Eri.

Nri (Town/Name) and nri (food) are not the same and are not pronounced alike.

mbatuku2:


What is the meaning of Oduduwa?

Ọdụdụ nwa, last son.

Obiagu1:

Nri (Town/Name) and nri (food) are not the same and are not pronounced alike.

So what's the meaning of Nri then?

That's the closest Igbo word available, considering the fact that language changes over time. The Igbo spoken in the 9th century C.E cannot be the same we speak today, though, the root structure will look similar if the corruption of the word is not extensive.

mbatuku2:

So what's the meaning of Nri then?

That's the closest Igbo word available, considering the fact that language changes over time. The Igbo spoken in the 9th century C.E cannot be the same we speak today, though, the root structure will look similar if the corruption of the word is not extensive.

I don't know what Nri means. It's hard to tell the meaning of so many archaic Igbo names today.

In some areas, Nri is referred to as Nshi.

What's the tone structure?

Ǹrì (also Ǹshì and Ǹhì). Best thing to do is to ask Nri people.

According to Chikodi Añunobi (from Nri):

Uyanna, now known as Nri, moved south and settled at an uninhabited lake. He called his community Nri, meaning the ideal (or at least the beginning of it).

http://books.google.com/books?id=WCE9VKm7qO4C&pg=PA6&dq=%22nri,+meaning%22

ezeagu:

Ǹrì (also Ǹshì and Ǹhì). Best thing to do is to ask Nri people.

Okay. Which people say "Nshi" and "Nhi"?

I don't know Nhi, but the West call it Nshi, like the Obi of Owa claimed and like Ogwashi is supposedly named after.

Alright.

mbatuku2:

Eri means 'The guardian' in Hebrew and 'prosperity' in Igbo.

Which people say "eri" for "prosperity"?

ChinenyeN:

Which people say "eri" for "prosperity"?

It's found in names like 'obiageri' which means 'one who has come in the time of prosperity'. The name is very common among ohuhus(umuahia, mbaise, owerr, orlu, etc) and enugu people. It's likely nri people also use it.

Oh. Alright.

@ mbatuku
obiageriaku (obiageri) or obianaujuaku (obianauju) are of the same meaning. aku means wealth or prosperity, while eri is a verb meaning 'to eat' .You're  right, Nri is the son of eri. both are ancient igbo word that have been so distorted. however eri is the father of agurueri, nteje, agukwunri, okuzu, enugukwu, and they are also found in some part of enugu state. agukwunri (nri people) are the levities in the igbo traditional religion. they are found all over igbo land. 'Nri' as food is pronounced and used differently.

^
Most likely 'eri' is a homograph (same spelling with 2 meanings), just like 'nri' is today. I do believe that the 'eri' name is of hebrew origin, which means 'the guardian'.

The meaning depends on tone, the Hebrew origin is a bit far fetched.

ezeagu:

The meaning depends on tone, the Hebrew origin is a bit far fetched.

Well, it doesn't change a thing, most people believe so and I do. It's not impossible.

What makes people believe so?

A lot of similarities between us. The Israelis came over to Igboland for over 3 years. That doesn't look like a joke.

Are some similarities enough to conclude that Eri is Hebrew?

ezeagu:

Are some similarities enough to conclude that Eri is Hebrew?

Yes. If it's not Igbo, it has to be something.

No big deal, really, ezeagu. If some people have no qualms that their progenitors come as far as Mecca, this is not far-fetched.

Aros also claim a jewish origin too.

its not far fetched. though there is no proof. alot of igbo idoms and proverbs, have the same meaning with Hebrew ones esp. when translated directly. you might be right after all.

Olaudah Equiano also made a reference to the Igbo-Israel connection in his autobiography.