giftq:

Dont mind these yoloba people. They are terrible.

If equiano had not written a book about himself and his culture, we would be in trouble today arguing with shameless yolibats.

rufychuks:

"...our subjection to the king of Benin was little more than nominal; for every transaction of the government, as far as my slender observation extended, was conducted by chiefs or elders of the place. The manners and government of a people who have little commerce with other countries are generally very simple; and the history of what passes in one family or village, may serve as a specimen of the whole nation."
This should clarify things. He wrote that although the King was known and respected, his influence over them was almost nonexistent.

Good.

First question.

1. Was that part you quoted not in the Wikipedia article you said is not reliable?
2. The oba of Benin also appointed Chiefs and elders to run things in the empire. The Chiefs come back to give him feedback.
3. He mentioned the Benin Kingdom which was a magnificent empire then and likened to be more developed than some European cities then. So why will an Igbo man give so much praise to the Benin Kingdom since he doesn't have any correlation with it?

rufychuks:

I downloaded the book a few months ago. I got it by searching for it on Google. Try that too.

I have searched and nothing came up.

Help us search and provide it for all to see as evidence.

Leez:

lalasticlala
mynd44
mukina
cao
move ds ministry to fp na

I really don't know why folks think I'm a supermod...

cao:

I really don't know why folks think I'm a supermod...

We are praying for you to be one. Oya say amen.

TheKingIsHere:


Good.

First question.

1. Was that part you quoted not in the Wikipedia article you said is not reliable?
2. The oba of Benin also appointed Chiefs and elders to run things in the empire. The Chiefs come back to give him feedback.
3. He mentioned the Benin Kingdom which was a magnificent empire then and likened to be more developed than some European cities then. So why will an Igbo man give so much praise to the Benin Kingdom since he doesn't have any correlation with it?

Equiano mentioned in his book that "they were under the 'influence of the benin kingdom' which is true" because the ancient benin empire had extended powers up to the banks of river niger.

This however does NOT mean that he is from etsako. He was clear about his identity and culture. Go and read his own book and other research works about him and cure your ignorance

Fineman87:


Equiano mentioned in his book that "they were under the 'influence of the benin kingdom' which is true" because the ancient benin empire had extended powers up to the banks of river niger.

This however does NOT mean that he is from etsako. He was clear about his identity and culture. Go and read his own book and other research works about him and cure your ignorance

I agree I am ignorant that's why I want to learn from you the ever wise and knowing one.

Please post a reliable link to the book you are referring to (not summary) so I can download.

Also tell me where essako is located in Igboland since you claim that he isn't from estako/essako?

comos:
Oladuah Equiano was never an Igbo man.

Early life and enslavement[edit]
Equiano recounted an incident when an attempted kidnapping of children was foiled by adults in his villages in Benin, Nigeria. When he was around the age of eleven, he and his sister were left alone to look after their family's premises, as was common when adults went out of the house to work. They were both kidnapped and taken far away from their hometown of Etsako, separated, and sold to slave traders.

source: Wikipedia

First thing you are told in school is that Wikipedia is not a reliable source. It's a reference not a source. Any idiot can edit Wikipedia.

TheKingIsHere:


I posted an objective view but as usual, you guys are quick to judge those who have contrary views as anti-igbo...I am glad you know me very well and know how i even supported kanu and still support him but that doesnt mean i wont call a spade a spade.

Now, a lot of tribes were under the rule of the Benin kingdom like Isokos, uhrobo, Itsekiris and even the igbos ( many igbos will disagree)

I have gone through the narratives of Olaudah which shows that he was born in Etsako which was one of the provinces of the Benin kingdom...Etsako is not an igbo town then neither is it today. So how can someone who claims to be from estako village be igbo? Thats my point.

I am totally against people coming online to claim something that is not verified just like one claiming igbos are jews despite the jews have come out with a DNA result saying otherwise.

Seriously all these claims are so uncalled for.

Here is a narrative by Olaudah..Happy reading;

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Interesting_Narrative_of_the_Life_of_Olaudah_Equiano,_or_Gustavus_Vassa,_the_African/Chapter_1

In his autobiography, he actually said he was from Esseke and not Etsako. Esseke when adapted correctly reads Isieke in present day Ihiala (Anambra State) which was partly under the influence of old Bini Empire at the time.

At the height of the Bini Empire, it spread its influence far into the then Nri Kingdom terminating at present day Onitsha. You need to study the history and influence of both kingdoms to properly appreciate Olaudahs narrative.

TheKingIsHere:


oK, lets wait for ngozi123 own reliable source that gave a full detailed narration in chapters about olaudah life.

I hope the wait wont be forever.

I already mentioned you in my post showing evidence from Equiano’s own book that proves he was an Igbo man.

TheKingIsHere:


Good.

First question.

1. Was that part you quoted not in the Wikipedia article you said is not reliable?
2. The oba of Benin also appointed Chiefs and elders to run things in the empire. The Chiefs come back to give him feedback.
3. He mentioned the Benin Kingdom which was a magnificent empire then and likened to be more developed than some European cities then. So why will an Igbo man give so much praise to the Benin Kingdom since he doesn't have any correlation with it?

Since you haven't read the book, I will calmly reply you.
1. You used the Wikipedia article to conclude that Olaudah was Edo and I disagreed because he didn't state that he was Edo but Eboe.
2. In the book, he mentioned that his father was also a chief and he would have also become one if had grown up in the village. The Chiefs you say the Oba appointed, did they go to live amongst other people as indigenes and were almost all the elders chiefs appointed by the Oba? Also, from my last post, he said that the influence of the Oba was not felt by them there. If the Oba had sent his Royal Chiefs to govern them, would such chiefs not have been held in high esteem and the Oba's influence palpable?
3. The Benin Kingdom was a great kingdom no doubt. It would have been impossible for most southern tropical rain forest dwellers not to have heard of the greatness of such a kingdom. That he mentioned it at all still highlights how far reaching the popularity of the kingdom was. Again, he never mentioned he was Bini but Eboe. I am sure a citizen of such a wonderful kingdom would have been proud to declare anywhere that he is Bini.

rufychuks:
This is the second part

The marking conferred on the chiefs he was describing was scarification called Igbu Ichi.
There's more description of it on Wikipedia and other sources and was an Igbo cultural thing. It's no longer practiced sadly.

TheKingIsHere:


I agree I am ignorant that's why I want to learn from you the ever wise and knowing one.

Please post a reliable link to the book you are referring to (not summary) so I can download.

Also tell me where essako is located in Igboland since you claim that he isn't from estako/essako?

No you did not want to learn. You wanted to win. Thats why you wanted this thread on front page.

As for a link, you aint getting it cos i dont have it. Go and get the book. I researched his life myself because of FFK's anti-igbo lies 3yrs ago.

Now it is clear that the Igbo man is the First black creature to "Buy his freedom and attain literacy". Thus, igbos are the first educated, enlightened and literate black people. Not yolibats.

Equiano himself said he is 'eboe from essaka'. This means he is 'igbo from Isseke". Isseke is in Anambra state. And the ancient bini kingdom had influence well into anambra state. This is well known and agrees with his writings.

The spelling differences arose because in the 1700s, he was not english educated and even the white men could not spell/pronounce african names well.

Good bye.

Fineman87:


No you did not want to learn. You wanted to win. Thats why you wanted this thread on front page.

As for a link, you aint getting it cos i dont have it. Go and get the book. I researched his life myself because of FFK's anti-igbo lies 3yrs ago.

Now it is clear that the Igbo man is the First black creature to "Buy his freedom and attain literacy". Thus, igbos are the first educated, enlightened and literate black people. Not yolibats.

Equiano himself said he is 'eboe from essaka'. This means he is 'igbo from Isseke". Isseke is in Anambra state. And the ancient bini kingdom had influence well into anambra state. This is well known and agrees with his writings.

The spelling differences arose because in the 1700s, he was not english educated and even the white men could not spell/pronounce african names well.

Good bye.

Where on earth have I said that the thread be moved to front page?

This is the silly assertions and assumptions am talking about. If I wasn't around to defend myself, you would have spread a false information to another whom will also spread the false information.

Na wa o.

Go and read the this article written by an Igbo man on olaudah.

http://chatafrik.com/articles/american-affairs/was-olaudah-equiano-igbo#.WeTnXaK3NzQ

Everyone loves to take glory for things that is good.

If to say the same Olaudah was a dangerous criminal, you will see how all of you will deny him

bibe:


The marking conferred on the chiefs he was describing was scarification called Igbu Ichi.
There's more description of it on Wikipedia and other sources and was an Igbo cultural thing. It's no longer practiced sadly.

Examples

rufychuks:

Since you haven't read the book, I will calmly reply you.
1. You used the Wikipedia article to conclude that Olaudah was Edo and I disagreed because he didn't state that he was Edo but Eboe.
2. In the book, he mentioned that his father was also a chief and he would have also become one if had grown up in the village. The Chiefs you say the Oba appointed, did they go to live amongst other people as indigenes and were almost all the elders chiefs appointed by the Oba? Also, from my last post, he said that the influence of the Oba was not felt by them there. If the Oba had sent his Royal Chiefs to govern them, would such chiefs not have been held in high esteem and the Oba's influence palpable?
3. The Benin Kingdom was a great kingdom no doubt. It would have been impossible for most southern tropical rain forest dwellers not to have heard of the greatness of such a kingdom. That he mentioned it at all still highlights how far reaching the popularity of the kingdom was. Again, he never mentioned he was Bini but Eboe. I am sure a citizen of such a wonderful kingdom would have been proud to declare anywhere that he is Bini.

Good. Thanks for your input.

Now, from what you wrote, you agree that the Wikipedia article is similar to what was written on the picture you posted?

Also, he might be igbo, but why mentioning the Benin Kingdom when he claimed to have said that the same oba of Benin kingdom doesn't have influence on them? It's like someone who claims to be from bayelsa and was asked to give account of his town and he goes ahead to mention how beautiful Ikoyi and Victoria island is. It doesn't add up.

There was no need for him to mention another man's greatness when he is giving account of his own people.

Finally, I never said he is bini rather I said he is from Edo state which was under the Benin Empire as at then.

The Benin Empire housed different tribes (including igbos.. Funny thing is that the same igbos disagreed with me on another thread) . He might be igbo, he might not be
There is no total account to conclude.

Let me point something out. There are several pointers in the man's book to indicate his Igbo heritage - he talked about Igbo calendar, interpreted his name to Igbo, elaborated on Igbo burial ceremony, etc. You can't overlook all these points except you're mischievous. The only statement he made that have people thinking he is Edo is because he said 'I come from Eseke' -and even with that, Eseke could be an Anglicanized version of either eseke in Anambra or estako in Benin. So apart from the controversial Eseke statement, what other statement in his books indicate Benin heritage. That Benin statement is not substantial enough

bibe:


The marking conferred on the chiefs he was describing was scarification called Igbu Ichi.
There's more description of it on Wikipedia and other sources and was an Igbo cultural thing. It's no longer practiced sadly.

Thanks for this. Maybe you should have been the one to have replied all along than some who cant say anything apart from accusations and insults.

But is Wikipedia a credible source? Am surprised because others have said it is not credible.

TheKingIsHere:



Where on earth have I said that the thread be moved to front page?

This is the silly assertions and assumptions am talking about. If I wasn't around to defend myself, you would have spread a false information to another whom will also spread the false information.

Na wa o.

Go and read the this article written by an Igbo man on olaudah.

http://chatafrik.com/articles/american-affairs/was-olaudah-equiano-igbo#.WeTnXaK3NzQ

Everyone loves to take glory for things that is good.

If to say the same Olaudah was a dangerous criminal, you will see how all of you will deny him

It's obvious you just want to argue. If you could search for all these links you've been posting since and couldn't find a link to Olaudah's book, then you purposely do not want to find it. Keep arguing even when irrefutable proof have been placed before you.

TheKingIsHere:


I agree I am ignorant that's why I want to learn from you the ever wise and knowing one.

Please post a reliable link to the book you are referring to (not summary) so I can download.

Also tell me where essako is located in Igboland since you claim that he isn't from estako/essako?

I have particularly noticed a disturbing trend in Nigeria which is the ignorant and myopic attempts at demeaning any sort of progress attained by the Igbo ethnic group. I do not know if it is out of jealousy, prejudice or sheer hatred but what i know is that Nigerians continiously struggle to berate the success story of the Igbo man.
I was absolutely shocked when i opened this thread and saw people mischieviously putting Igala, benin and Etsako identity on Olaudah.
What exactly in Olaudah's narrative give you the impression that Olaudah came from the Essako tribe?
Can you lift Linguistic, Cultural, Religious evidence from his narrative?
Why are you blindly struggling to attach yourself to a historical achievement that doesn't belong to you while trying to deny Igbos the honour of celebrating their own?

TheKingIsHere:


Thanks for this. Maybe you should have been the one to have replied all along than some who cant say anything apart from accusations and insults.

But is Wikipedia a credible source? Am surprised because others have said it is not credible.

you sir are very exasperating and infuriating. what else do you want to be told.

rufychuks:

It's obvious you just want to argue. If you could search for all these links you've been posting since and couldn't find a link to Olaudah's book, then you purposely do not want to find it. Keep arguing even when irrefutable proof have been placed before you.

What proof have you provided?

You claim to have downloaded a book about olaudah biography, I asked you to post it here, till now you are yet to do so.

You just expect me to swallow your words just like that?

Anyways I thank you for your input

cao:
I really don't know why folks think I'm a supermod...

lol u ain't kinda surprised tbh

TheKingIsHere:


What proof have you provided?

You claim to have downloaded a book about olaudah biography, I asked you to post it here, till now you are yet to do so.

You just expect me to swallow your words just like that?

Anyways I thank you for your input

Oga, stop quoting me. Since you can't do a simple Google search on a fairly popular book.

TheKingIsHere:


What proof have you provided?

You claim to have downloaded a book about olaudah biography, I asked you to post it here, till now you are yet to do so.

You just expect me to swallow your words just like that?

Anyways I thank you for your input

Stop beating about the bush and accept that Igbo amaka

KemjikaEme:


I have particularly noticed a disturbing trend in Nigeria which is the ignorant and myopic attempts at demeaning any sort of progress attained by the Igbo ethnic group. I do not know if it is out of jealousy, prejudice or sheer hatred but what i know is that Nigerians continiously struggle to berate the success story of the Igbo man.
I was absolutely shocked when i opened this thread and saw people mischieviously putting Igala, benin and Etsako identity on Olaudah.
What exactly in Olaudah's narrative give you the impression that Olaudah came from the Essako tribe?
Can you lift Linguistic, Cultural, Religious evidence from his narrative?
Why are you blindly struggling to attach yourself to a historical achievement that doesn't belong to you while trying to deny Igbos the honour of celebrating their own?

Typical.. .As usual you tag it to hatred for igbos.. Anyone that has a different view hates igbos right?

If olaudah was a criminal, am sure all of you will say he is from Edo state since he mentioned Benin kingdom? You like to twist things to suit yourself.

Someone argued that he had the account of olaudah, I requested for it so I can read and accept, till now he hasn't provided it but I should just accept whatever he says?

giftq:

Stop beating about the bush and accept that Igbo amaka

Igbo amaka. Are you happy now?

rufychuks:

Oga, stop quoting me. Since you can't do a simple Google search on a fairly popular book.

What's stops you from posting it? You claimed to have downloaded it months ago right. Provide the links as I can't be moved by cheap lies.

TheKingIsHere:


Igbo amaka. Are you happy now?

Gbam

TheKingIsHere:


Typical.. .As usual you tag it to hatred for igbos.. Anyone that has a different view hates igbos right?

If olaudah was a criminal, am sure all of you will say he is from Edo state since he mentioned Benin kingdom? You like to twist things to suit yourself.

Someone argued that he had the account of olaudah, I requested for it so I can read and accept, till now he hasn't provided it but I should just accept whatever he says?

if you have contrary opinion why dont you post your evidence too. As a Benin man i want to know why you are hellbent on making him a benin man.

TheKingIsHere:


Thanks for this. Maybe you should have been the one to have replied all along than some who cant say anything apart from accusations and insults.

But is Wikipedia a credible source? Am surprised because others have said it is not credible.

First of all, Eboe is an Anglicalized version of Igbo. Prior the creation of a standard Igbo ortography, the Europeans called them Heebbos, Eboes and Ibo, Ibo being the last spelling before the most widely accepted Igbo spelling came into prominence.
Olaudah never wrote Etsako in his narrative, he wrote Essaka.
If he was from Etsako, the spelling should have been Essako.
The Esako infusion is a modern revisionist attempt at erasing his Igbo identity.
Secondly, the Benin kingdom was one of Southern Nigeria's most powerful and popular kingdom that penetrated some parts of Igboland in close proximity to it.
Olaudah's village was apparently a vassal town, so it is only fair that he references the popular kingdom close to his hometown.
We all do this in everyday life,when people ask for a popular location or landmark close to their intended location.

Thirdly, Olaudah as he explained in his book means Fortune or Loud voice/Sound in Igbolanguage.
What does Olaudah mean in Etsako?

KemjikaEme:


I have particularly noticed a disturbing trend in Nigeria which is the ignorant and myopic attempts at demeaning any sort of progress attained by the Igbo ethnic group. I do not know if it is out of jealousy, prejudice or sheer hatred but what i know is that Nigerians continiously struggle to berate the success story of the Igbo man.
I was absolutely shocked when i opened this thread and saw people mischieviously putting Igala, benin and Etsako identity on Olaudah.
What exactly in Olaudah's narrative give you the impression that Olaudah came from the Essako tribe?
Can you lift Linguistic, Cultural, Religious evidence from his narrative?
Why are you blindly struggling to attach yourself to a historical achievement that doesn't belong to you while trying to deny Igbos the honour of celebrating their own?

Sadly, this is been prevalent for a long time here. They never want to see us succeed . Oh well...