Over the years there have been various permutations by some Igbo and Yoruba leaders that there are likely to be some cultural, linguistic, and sociological link between the two ethnic groups. Historians, sociologists, archeologists, anthropologists, linguists and some other scholars in the humanities have presented one reason or the other to show that the Igbos and the Yorubas have a common linguistic and historical ancestry.

This claim is no longer controvertible given the abundance of proofs and evidences available today to show that, in actual fact, these two groups of people are the same, with plenty of cultural and linguistic affiliation and similarities. Today, some of these proofs are no more far to seek.

In his latest book entitled, How Yoruba and Igbo Became Different Languages, Dr. Bolaji Aremo of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Osun State gives thousand and one examples that connect the two ethnic groups linguistically. The beauty of this experiment is that it relies tremendously on modern chronology and examples and other antiquities to prove his claim and truly set the record straight.

Over the years, some critics have found this claim somewhat inconsistent with the obvious yearning differences and gaps between these two set of people. That notwithstanding, historically evidences of affiliation and similarities can not be over emphasised or disputed. This is what motivates the author, himself a linguist to go into research for this work.

In the beginning he says: "I was first given the idea that Yoruba and Igbo must be genetically related when a childhood friend, Ogbonna told me that words for some well known body parts are virtually the same in both languages. For instance, Yoruba Imu/ Igbo, imi which means nose. There is also Yoruba eti/Igbo nti which means ear. Also Yoruba enu/Igbo onu which stands for mouth. Other examples abound like Yoruba orun/Igbo onu meaning neck. And so on and so forth. Much later in life, at the university, I was to learn in Language class that Igbo and Yoruba and many other African languages are members of the same language family. Those are members of group languages which all developed out of a common ancestor or a parent. And in the very distant past, these languages were no more than mere dialects of the original language", the author states.

And so in order to make these observations clearer and more believable to the people, the author takes his time to delve into many areas of similarities. He gives examples that do not only stand the test of time but too good to be wished away even by the most die hard citics. His resort to other work of history and linguistic that anchor on this area have helped to give not just credence but to also show that these facts are there for all to see. This is why examples are very many. "And there does not appear to be any other historical reasons why the two languages can contain such an abundance of basic vocabulary items that resemble each other in sound and meaning".

More examples can also subsist here. In Igbo, you have fuo oku which is fe ina in Yoruba. This stands for raise a fire by blowing at the burning wood. Also in Igbo, lua iwu, you have Yoruba lu ofin which means break the law. Still we have tuo ujo in Igbo which in Yoruba symbolizes se ojo that is be timid or be a local person.

In all these, it is noticed that both languages are tone languages where low or high level of tone application matter a lot. Yet in terms of meaning and spelling, very many words appear to have deep similarities either in meaning or in connotation. This indeed is the beauty of this exercise which if followed more comprehensively can equally lead to more discoveries that can help both ethnic groups to truly forge ahead as people of common descent.

Beyond what a linguist can do, historians can also find it imperative to do more to unearth more facts in this regard. It is in line with this presentation that the author equally challenges other academics in the Humanities to dig deeper thatn he has done in order to get more facts to make this historical and linguistic discovery more elaborate and more celebrated.

In chapter two, he makes references to body parts where these similaritie abound. In Yoruba and Igbo, the jaw and the cheek are found in the same category. Igbo has it as agba onu Yoruba egbe enu. Armpit in Yoruba is abiya, while in Igbo it is abu. Intestines, stomach, stand for ifun in Yoruba while in Igbo it is afo or avo. So also is aka which is hand in Igbo but apa in Yoruba. In some cases in Yoruba dialect however, aka also stands for arm or hand. The Igbo aka as in finger also signifies Yoruba ika which also stands for finger and toe.

Other examples abound in chapter two. They are very instructive examples which open many vistas into many areas of examples. But in chapter three, the book is a bit more profound and comprehensive. This is more in the areas of common actions, processes etc like weeping or tears which means akwa in Igbo and ekun in Yoruba. Akwa ariri in Igbo while ekun aro in Yoruba means cry of sorrow. Taken further ariri or alili shows extreme grief in Igbo as aro or eriri means the same in Yoruba. There is also aririo which is plea, prayer or request in Igbo but in Yoruba it is arowa and so on and so forth.

In other chapters the author takes proper care of other areas of communality in these two languages. But most interestingly he finds it easier to focus attention on the different areas of similarities. This indeed makes for easy comprehension and assimilation of some of the cognate areas mostly. And so in six chapters, there are enough examples in terms of variations, non basic vocabulary which also includes implements, religion/beliefs, foods/drinks, clothes/ornaments and so on, in which people will certainly see enough proofs to acknowledge the common ancestry of Igbo and Yoruba languages.

Apart from few errors and misrepresentations in the book, in some instances, this is purely an academic book. It is a basic prerequisite to understanding the language classification in kwa language group where both Yoruba and Igbo languages belong. As it is now, this book has succeeded in proving an age long historical facts that both Igbo and Yoruba have the same ancestral linguistic link. This is a fact of history as evidenced by Dr. Bolaji Aremo

http://thenationonlineng.net/web2/articles/16255/1/Fact-of-history-that-binds-Igbo-and-Yoruba/Page1.html

Nigeria: Yoruba And Igbo Must Remain Divided To Keep Nigeria One
Author: Farouk Martins | March 14, 2012

When Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was taken to task to explain why he passed on Awolowo’s offer to become the Prime Minister. He simply said it might have led to the breakup of Nigeria if the North was isolated. Either by design or omission, the logic still stands today but the reasoning and supporters of that logic may have changed. Actually Tafawa Balewa was unmoved by the so called Southern union, vowing to be Opposition Leader. There has to be some positive spin to the division in the South. There is also division in the North but it is not as pronounced.

No matter how you take it, no part of the Country can clearly delineate agreeable people within one region. Biafra has other ethnic groups that do not consider themselves part of the Nation. The same is true of the North Central. The Hausa that form the majority in the North are controlled by minority Fulani. Even the Yoruba, in spite of common lingua-franca, can only boast of Diaspora union.

Therefore, as long as the Country stands as Nigeria, Yoruba and Igbo will always fight for political dominance and the Hausa will always come to their rescue so that they do not destroy our Country. Whenever you hear intellectuals and theorists debate about separation as a mere geographical expression; amuse yourselves. Listen if you can with guguru and epa to grace your precious time. They cannot agree on their base, yet they want Nigeria to split. Split into what?

If you are one of the frequent visitors to internet sites, you get some of the point here. We have young men and women born after the war going mercilessly at one another as if they were there. Even more disturbing, some of these young people have never been on the Nigerian soil. Needless to say, you know who is feeding them with venom about the country on different version of their novel history.The Igbo are well known for their adventures within the country into various ethnic groups. You cannot but wonder why many call for separate nations more than others as if they would rather ask for visas into these separate nations in Nigeria. But we need to understand their frustration if at any little provocation in the North, they get the worst brunt of the mayhem. Indeed, they are safer in other parts of Nigeria.

Igbo in other parts of Nigeria have called on those in the North to come home or stop going back to the North after each clash. It is very difficult to heed such calls unless the foot is in the other shoe. No one wants to start all over after spending so much of their effort building a comfortable nest outside. The same is true of other ethnic group in the North as the Yoruba and others refused to come back home. Actually some of the ethnic groups within the North have no other home. So why call on Igbo? The Hausa recently told Boko Haram to go to blazes, they are not moving out of Lagos. Every ethnic group feels comfortable in Lagos, some as a second home and others as the only home they known. So why would anyone in his right mind leave Lagos where they make their money and live peacefully to go anywhere else in Nigeria they do not feel as safe beats anyone’s imagination.

It will be hypocrisy if the feelings of other ethnic groups regarding settling amongst the Igbo are not shared here. Some think they are not as tolerable as they demand from others outside their base. May be if the gesture of tolerance is reciprocated in Igbo land, we will see more accommodation in the Country as a whole. It may be wishful thinking. But it is better to separate than kill off one another living together. Except that we cannot. So after each crisis, Nigerians will always return to where they can make a living. Igbo also have their grievances against “Yoruba diplomacy”. They claim you cannot hold Yoruba to a deal without expecting them to betray you. So the suspicion is mutual on both sides. No matter how we view the suspicion, it has served Nigeria well and held the whole Country together. Imagine the Yoruba and the Igbo as political ally, they would oppress the rest of Nigerians; and where is the President going to come from?

Let us be fair, Yoruba and Igbo do not always go after one another’s chin. After all, they dine, play, work and sleep together. But when it comes to politics, it is a no-go area. Their most recent encounter was the leadership of the House. As usual, they contested for it until the North came to the rescue. Some level headed people from each ethnic group have wondered if the Yoruba would support the Igbo for presidency in 2015. Of course some Yoruba would support Igbo for presidency. Whether they are going to get majority of the Yoruba support is sheer speculation at this point. There is time to kiss and make up. Some Igbo have even said it publicly that they would cross that river when they get there and there is nothing to be worried about right now. Whatever each ethnic group can get right now is fair political game. After all, they always fight and make up.

However, some Nigerians are wondering if it makes any sense to be rotating presidency between North and South. They postulate that we should allow the most competent man rule, no matter where he comes from. By now, we have had every region in the Country rule by hook or crook, by coup or militia. So do not be surprised to see potential presidential candidates coming out from every party regardless of their regions vying to be the Vagabond In Power. They are not different once in office.

Don’t you forget, the incumbent have not made any concrete promise to any party, region or cabal that he was not going to seek a second term as a matter of right. Nigeria is not the same country as South Africa and what may hold in that country does not necessarily hold in Nigeria. Indeed, some members of MEND are already warning others to stay clear. What we cannot predict is if Ebele will get votes from every region as he did before.

http://www.ngex.com/news/public/article.php?ArticleID=2128

Borrowing II: Yoruba and Igbo

Recently, while
reading Odili Ujubuonu’s Treasure in the Winds, I came across the word
“iba” which means “fever.” Same spelling, same pronunciation, same
meaning with its Yoruba twin “iba.” That confirmed two things for me.
First, literature holds the keys to opening doors we didn’t know exist;
in this case, doors of lingual cohesion between two ethnic groups.
Ethnic groups or nations are better words to use than tribe, I learnt
recently. “Tribe” is barbaric. “Barbaric,” that’s another word.
Barbaric as in “The Nigerian tribes are at war” but European nations
drag at each other’s throats, they are nations, never tribes. They are
well organised, well behaved nations. “Tribes” carries along with it a
metal baggage. Hairy people with “native tails” fully disappeared, in
leaves around their waists drawing swords against in fight. Have you
heard of the Boko Haram? They use bombs, yet they despise Western
Education. Perfect example of a paradox; or is it oxymoron?

Back to my second
point. The discovery of the lingual similarity just confirmed something
that has always been lurking somewhere at the back of my head, maybe we
are more similar than different. You know, maybe we are more like blood
relatives than just neighbours? You are stuck with your blood
regardless but can change neighbours. You can disown them but it does
not change anything; you are still tied. I’ve had my nose buried in the
ground of some Nigerian languages, sniffing for similarities, between
Yoruba and Igbo. I have discovered some interesting facts. For me, it
is new so I am still very awed. If you know more, pray tell.

Generally speaking,
Igbo is Yoruba, in this paragraph. Mua is Emi (Me). Interestingly, it
sounds like the French version moi. Onu is Enu (Mouth). Aga is Agan
(Barrenness). Eti is Nti (Ear). Awi is Ewu (grey hair). Era is Ara.
(Citizen/people). Mgbala is Agbala (Backyard). Mpata is Itita (stool).
Agba is Igba (Calabash). They are both tonal languages. They both seem
to have similar sounding words with the similar meanings. Look at the
structure of the syllables too. They both belong to the Niger-Congo
lingual group. It is more interesting to know that Igbo for arm is aka.
That’s the Ijare word for arm. Mpata is Otita (Ijare for stool). I will
look closer at my Grandmother next time I visit, will ask more
questions. Perhaps there may be treasures to find. In the Isua part of
Akokoland, one of my sources says their dialect sounds like Igbo. Now
the complexity of the Akoko area is another one to consider. If there
was ever to be a physical site for Tower of Babel, it had to be there.
People say that was where God scattered languages.


Who has an
explanation for these similarities, possible years of trade? War or its
milder version, social interactions? Is there some myth that the
Yorubas and the Igbos originated from the same place? Does Oduduwa have
an Igbo father and Yoruba mother? Or perhaps, did he ever find

http://www.deltans.com/madame-pourquoi-borrowing-ii-yoruba-and-igbo/

naijaking1:

Sure that's him?

bittyend:

Yo, that's me bruv. I just had to think about the madness. My best friend is Igbo and I never grew up around segregating Nigerian tribes - I was raised as a Nigerian In London. I don't even know how I got caught up in this tribal madness - but I can't deny my Igbo friends - neither am I gonna deny Igbo food that I love so much.

I'm not Azikwe, Awolowo nor ojukwu - those men are DEAD and BURIED!! We need to let go, and move on. The Biafra war ended years ago - we need to move on and look for ways to make Nigeria better for the generations after us. We can't keep holding on to the past, and stay stuck in feeling sorry for ourselves. Our enemies are the ELITES from all tribes looting our commonwealth - whilst they keep us divided. We need to forge alliances and fight our real enemies - which are the elites.

[size=13pt]At the end of the day, an Igbo man has never done any harm to me - why should I hate him? No reason to![/size]

What do Yoruba and Igbo mean any ways? These are words that don't even exist in the two languages and we're fighting over these words. It just shows how stupid and ignorant we're.

Capt.Barbosa:
Thousands of such articles could be poured out on daily basis, for all I care. until you step into the midst of Ibos codedly to understand the brotherly "love" they harbour towards us. Personally, I don't have problem living with anyone. . .but neither do I need a thesis to tell me where to locate my foe or friends. The real world is out there to teach the foolish some sense.

bittyend:

I'm not put all your trust in Igbos - we all can always agree to disagree. You can maintain suspicions about them - but HATE is too strong. We just need to curb it, and fight our common enemies - who are plundering our commonwealth.

Capt.Barbosa:
How do you tend to "agree to disagree" with those that have been indoctrinated with soo much hate filled illusion about you, right from childhood? I don't wan't to turn this thread to a feast for the bunch of lurking bigots, waiting like vultures to feast on such. The wars should be in the past, but not when they are still nursing revange at all cost.

lagcity: come to think of it, this is true oo. If Yoruba and Igbo unite, they'll oppress the rest of Nigerians.

Callotti:

Hausa Fulani nor dey oppressible o! Not with Dangote dia to bank role a private army in the North.
Shegey!

Make dem juss carry on with their 'romance' je-je. . . nor just bring 'oppression' inside the equation.
Or Biafra will be X2!

Una nor try am with simple coup in the 60s. . . ?

Nor play abeg!

lagcity:
Hausa-Fulani not oppressible ke? Na only Dangote get money? If you think any group in Naija can stand against a united Yoruba/Igbo armed force for just 2 weeks, you are out of your damn mind. In fact, we'll take Benin, Cameroon, Niger and Chad within 6 months.

What you don't have is UNITY!
Yoruba and Igbo can NEVER unite1

Aburi can never ACCORD. Lai lai