bigfrancis21:


I find it funny how you carry this whole Ibani thing on your head and one would thing you are an expert in it yet you barely know a thing or two about the language. I'm pretty sure you do not understand all that was said in this same video you flaunt around all over Nairaland. Your obsession is sickening. If you want to know Ibani, please sit down and dedicate time and resources into it. Quit passing around this same very video on nairaland giving off the sad impression that you are an expert in Ibani (you wish) yet your level of fluency in it is very poor. Sickening.

Ibani egere or Egere Igbani? In most Nigerian languages we know that the possessive comes before the noun - asusu igbo, ede yoruba, nke m, nke gi etc., then why should you say Ibani Egere instead of Egere Igbani? And to think that you would notice these yourself to correct them as you flaunt yourself around on this forum like an Igbani expert which, sorry, you are not.

What does his expertise in ibani have to do with the discussion at hand? He has shown ibani and has even written a sentence in ibani for you.

If you depend on the information you read online from anonymus people, you'll remain ignorant.

I visited Port-hacourt and at the Hotel presidential i met two beautiful damsels while i was swimming and they were siblings from Bonny and i asked them if they spoke Ijaw and not only did they deny it, they kinda forbade it. But when i asked them if Igbo is spoken in Bonny, they happily accented in the affirmative.

Afam4eva:
If you depend on the information you read online from anonymus people, you'll remain ignorant.

I visited Port-hacourt and at the Hotel presidential i met two beautiful damsels while i was swimming and they were siblings from Bonny and i asked them if they spoke Ijaw and not only did they deny it, they kinda forbade it. But when i asked them if Igbo is spoken in Bonny, they happily accented in the affirmative.

Funny guy. Of course they dont speak ijaw. Why didnt you ask them if they speak ibani? That is the name of the language of bonny. Even if you ask a kalabari man whether or not he speaks ijaw, he'd deny it. And maybe you can guess why from here, maybe not. Stop trying to act smart 'cause you are not.

HarryDuce:
Funny guy. Of course they dont speak ijaw. Why didnt you ask them if they speak ibani? That is the name of the language of bonny. Even if you ask a kalabari man whether or not he speaks ijaw, he'd deny it. And maybe you can guess why from here, maybe not. Stop trying to act smart 'cause you obviously are not.

Actually, what i asked them is if they spoke Ibani and if it's similar or a dialect of Ijaw which they retorted an emphatic NO.

Actually, i asked someone from Kalabari (i think) if he speaks Ijaw and he said yes. I have had divergent views particularly from the Ijoid people in Rivers state, specifically, the places within and outside port-hacourt.

About being smart, i never claimed to be. I'm just sharing my personal experiences.

Afam4eva:

Actually, what i asked them is if they spoke Ibani and if it's similar or a dialect of Ijaw which they retorted an emphatic NO.

Actually, i asked someone from Kalabari (i think) if he speaks Ijaw and he said yes. I have had divergent views particularly from the Ijoid people in Rivers state, specifically, the places within and outside port-hacourt.

About being smart, i never claimed to be. I'm just sharing my personal experiences.

Really . Personal experiences indeed. Why is it, that most of your experiences with any Ijaw related issue, tend to gear towards proving some Igbo link? Your story sounds fabricated anyway. So would you say Ibani is nonexistent? Imaginary? Who then speaks Ibani?

Afam4eva:

Actually, what i asked them is if they spoke Ibani and if it's similar or a dialect of Ijaw which they retorted an emphatic NO.

Actually, i asked someone from Kalabari (i think) if he speaks Ijaw and he said yes. I have had divergent views particularly from the Ijoid people in Rivers state, specifically, the places within and outside port-hacourt.

About being smart, i never claimed to be. I'm just sharing my personal experiences.

it is very common for young people in Port Harcourt not to speak their native language. u asked if they can speak ibani and they said no they might be telling the truth there. but if they said ibani is not an ijaw dialect then they're just ignorant or this story never happened

HarryDuce:
Really . Personal experiences indeed. Why is it, that most of your experiences with any Ijaw related issue, tend to gear towards proving some Igbo link? Your story sounds fabricated anyway. So would you say Ibani is nonexistent? Imaginary? Who then speaks Ibani?

It is entirely nonexistent in Opobo. It is spoken by some interior villages in Bonny Island, hardly in Bonny main town proper.

HarryDuce:
Really . Personal experiences indeed. Why is it, that most of your experiences with any Ijaw related issue, tend to gear towards proving some Igbo link? Your story sounds fabricated anyway. So would you say Ibani is nonexistent? Imaginary? Who then speaks Ibani?

They never denied speaking Ibani which they pronounced as Igbani. But they did not agree that it was some form of Ijaw language.

1shortblackboy:
it is very common for young people in Port Harcourt not to speak their native language. u asked if they can speak ibani and they said no they might be telling the truth there. but if they said ibani is not an ijaw dialect then they're just ignorant or this story never happened

The way they rejected the Ijaw link is exactly the same way an Ikwerre person will reject an Igbo link. I don't know why it's surprising to some of you.

Afam4eva:

They never denied speaking Ibani which they pronounced as Igbani. But they did not agree that it was some form of Ijaw language.


The way they rejected the Ijaw link is exactly the same way an Ikwerre person will reject an Igbo link. I don't know why it's surprising to some of you.

its surprising cause i never heard of it before. its just unheard of for a bonny person to say he's not ijaw

1shortblackboy:
its surprising cause i never heard of it before. its just unheard of for a bonny person to say he's not ijaw

Wow

bigfrancis21:


It is entirely nonexistent in Opobo. It is spoken by some interior villages in Bonny Island, hardly in Bonny main town proper.

It is not 'nonexistent' in Opobo. there are other villages besides Opobo main town. You should do a little more research.

1shortblackboy:
its surprising cause i never heard of it before. its just unheard of for a bonny person to say he's not ijaw

That's it. It is very common in rivers state especially.

HarryDuce:
It is not 'nonexistent' in Opobo. there are other villages besides Opobo main town. You should do a little more research.

You just indicated that you didn't understand my post. Notice how you did not counter my statement that Ibani is not spoken in Opobo but instead you corroborated my statement by adding that it may be spoken in villages around it, so who is the one that lacks basic reading comprehension now?

Afam4eva:

Wow

Nairaland is really where people come on to to live a different life from reality. Sometimes, the amount of wrong information one reads on this forum is disheartening.

1shortblackboy:
its surprising cause i never heard of it before. its just unheard of for a bonny person to say he's not ijaw

Hmm. I don't know, man. I keep seeing statements like this online, but it seems the reality on ground in Rivers State is quite different. I don't get the impression from the three major Ijoid groups in Rivers State (Kalabari, Okrika and Ibani) that they are very keen on the Ijaw identity, to be honest. The antics of the Kalabari Ijaw nationalist, Asari-Dokubo and others like him, doesn't seem to resonate much with the ordinary people there.

RedboneSmith:


Hmm. I don't know, man. I keep seeing statements like this online, but it seems the reality on ground in Rivers State is quite different. I don't get the impression from the three major Ijoid groups in Rivers State (Kalabari, Okrika and Ibani) that they are very keen on the Ijaw identity, to be honest. The antics of the Kalabari Ijaw nationalist, Asari-Dokubo and others like him, doesn't seem to resonate much with the ordinary people there.

like i said i personally have not seen a kalabari okrika bonny or opobo person who disputes that he is ijaw

bigfrancis21:


You just indicated that you didn't understand my post. Notice how you did not counter my statement that Ibani is not spoken in Opobo but instead you corroborated my statement by adding that it may be spoken in villages around it, so who is the one that lacks basic reading comprehension now?

what is this one saying? Listen, Ibani is spoken all over Opobo whether or not you agree changes nothing. It is not commonly used does not mean it isnt spoken.

HarryDuce:
what is this one saying? Listen, Ibani is spoken all over Opobo whether or not you agree changes nothing. It is not commonly used does not mean it isnt spoken.

Lol. I hear you sir.

bigfrancis21:


Lol. I hear you sir.

Loud and clear. Anything to put Igbo in prominence, huh.

Probz:


Loud and clear. Anything to put Igbo in prominence, huh.

Nna ehh

It seems Ibani is used ceremonially and in songs in Opobo, while their main language is Igbo. This would reflect the Ijaw origins of their statehood and their peopling by hinterland Igbo people and their position as traders.

ezeagu:
It seems Ibani is used ceremonially and in songs in Opobo, while their main language is Igbo. This would reflect the Ijaw origins of their statehood and their peopling by hinterland Igbo people and their position as traders.

My brother it's still a mystery to many of us bystanders. The main language is Igbo as well as festival language like the Nwaottam which is surprisingly sang in Igbo. They exist some lesser traditional festival or women dance group where songs in Ibani Egere is spoken. This I noticed in videos posted on YouTube. But even the woman who is championing the Ibani Egere songs also has many songs she sang in Igbo. Which makes one come to the conclusion that Igbo is the generally accepted language spoken by the majority, why Ibani is only understood by a few minority of a dying generation. And I also came to understand that the Opobo-Bonny dialect of the Igbo language is unique to the Ibani people. Of which they've overtime refined and truly made their own and that any idea of dropping the language for an near extinct Ibani is fiercely rejected for a language that has become uniquely theirs. Some Ibani words have also unconsciously found its way into Igbo lexicon spoken by this people. Even when clearly speaking Igbo, you ask an Bonny-Opobo man what language he speaks, he calls your bluff and say Ibani, while on the contrary the language is Igbo. This is what I understand.

Chiwude:
My brother it's still a mystery to many of us bystanders. The main language is Igbo as well as festival language like the Nwaottam which is surprisingly sang in Igbo. They exist some lesser traditional festival or women dance group where songs in Ibani Egere is spoken. This I noticed in videos posted on YouTube. But even the woman who is championing the Ibani Egere songs also has many songs she sang in Igbo. Which makes one come to the conclusion that Igbo is the generally accepted language spoken by the majority, why Ibani is only understood by a few minority of a dying generation. And I also came to understand that the Opobo-Bonny dialect of the Igbo language is unique to the Ibani people. Of which they've overtime refined and truly made their own and that any idea of dropping the language for an near extinct Ibani is fiercely rejected for a language that has become uniquely theirs. Some Ibani words have also unconsciously found its way into Igbo lexicon spoken by this people. Even when clearly speaking Igbo, you ask an Bonny-Opobo man what language he speaks, he calls your bluff and say Ibani, while on the contrary the language is Igbo. This is what I understand.

This means that what they're speaking is a mixture of Igbo and Ibani but how much percentage of the language is Igbo and how much is Ibani, I think it's more of Igbo.

Chiwude:
My brother it's still a mystery to many of us bystanders. The main language is Igbo as well as festival language like the Nwaottam which is surprisingly sang in Igbo. They exist some lesser traditional festival or women dance group where songs in Ibani Egere is spoken. This I noticed in videos posted on YouTube. But even the woman who is championing the Ibani Egere songs also has many songs she sang in Igbo. Which makes one come to the conclusion that Igbo is the generally accepted language spoken by the majority, why Ibani is only understood by a few minority of a dying generation. And I also came to understand that the Opobo-Bonny dialect of the Igbo language is unique to the Ibani people. Of which they've overtime refined and truly made their own and that any idea of dropping the language for an near extinct Ibani is fiercely rejected for a language that has become uniquely theirs. Some Ibani words have also unconsciously found its way into Igbo lexicon spoken by this people. Even when clearly speaking Igbo, you ask an Bonny-Opobo man what language he speaks, he calls your bluff and say Ibani, while on the contrary the language is Igbo. This is what I understand.

What is the Ibani language situation now in Finima, Kalabiama etc. (formerly 'core' Ibani locales)?

letu:
This means that what they're speaking is a mixture of Igbo and Ibani but how much percentage of the language is Igbo and how much is Ibani, I think it's more of Igbo.

I wouldn't call it a mixture because languages often borrow words from another and still remains known as that language once the borrowed words do not exceed 2 to 5% of that language's vocabulary. For example, Igbo has borrowed many words from English and we still call it Igbo and not an Igbo-English mix.

letu:
This means that what they're speaking is a mixture of Igbo and Ibani but how much percentage of the language is Igbo and how much is Ibani, I think it's more of Igbo.

Ibani Egere still exist. But the Igbo language is so strong amongst these people. I may not know the percentage of Ibani that has found it's way into Bonny-Opobo Igbo, but I think it's just a fraction. All my life, from my teenage age till now and from my close interactions with people of Bonny-Opobo, the language that I have heard them speak from Father, Grandfather, Mother and Son has always been clear Igbo. I have tried to understand the rational behind their attitude towards speaking Igbo, but each time I try, each time I come to understand that the language has become a part and parcel of their culture and identity as a people. That is why some Igbo inteligencia are of the view that both Igbo and Ibani were the two languages that ancient Bonny was built upon. None superior to the other and non inferior to the other. But, it may be that the Igbo language became more dominant because of the high population of Igbo speakers in the Island which suddenly pushed Ibani out of the equation and became generally acceptable among the people.
You know this thread was aimed at understanding some of the hidden truths about the Bonny-Opobo language, but it's obvious so far that we've not really gotten to that point yet. Sons and daughters of these areas and who form part of nairaland hardly come here to tell us facts about their communities. All we get are Ijaw nationalist on one hand writing the stories of these people and Igbo nationalist on the other hand countering them.

Chiwude:
Ibani Egere still exist. But the Igbo language is so strong amongst these people. I may not know the percentage of Ibani that has found it's way into Bonny-Opobo Igbo, but I think it's just a fraction. All my life, from my teenage age till now and from my close interactions with people of Bonny-Opobo, the language that I have heard them speak from Father, Grandfather, Mother and Son has always been clear Igbo. I have tried to understand the rational behind their attitude towards speaking Igbo, but each time I try, each time I come to understand that the language has become a part and parcel of their culture and identity as a people. That is why some Igbo inteligencia are of the view that both Igbo and Ibani were the two languages that ancient Bonny was built upon. None superior to the other and non inferior to the other. But, it may be that the Igbo language became more dominant because of the high population of Igbo speakers in the Island which suddenly pushed Ibani out of the equation and became generally acceptable among the people.
You know this thread was aimed at understanding some of the hidden truths about the Bonny-Opobo language, but it's obvious so far that we've not really gotten to that point yet. Sons and daughters of these areas and who form part of nairaland hardly come here to tell us facts about their communities. All we get are Ijaw nationalist on one hand writing the stories of these people and Igbo nationalist on the other hand countering them.

As for Ibani names which many of them answer, are they usually aware of the meaning?

In terms of strength, I think you're right. I've watched a couple of videos on youtube about Bonny and Opobo to better understand their use of language on a daily basis. On the outside, I mean from the title of the video to the language of the background song being sung, seems pretty much Ibani Egere. However at several points where the music is paused, the daily language of interaction and everyday life one could hear is Igbo. Opobo, being a non-traditional village unlike the rest of villages in Nigeria, as I've obtained from research, was founded on Igbo language (Azumini dialect precisely) from the get-go with certain Ibani customs retained.

The situation in Bonny is more of language displacement due to an overwhelmingly larger number of Igbos as slaves, traders etc compared to the native population, combined with the reluctance of the Ibanis to teach their language to the new arrivals, instead choosing to learn the Igbo language to communicate with the 'foreigners', while keeping theirs 'sacred'. This unfortunately didn't spell well for the sustenance of the language.

It's worth noting that during this period, our ancestors were barely aware of a common relation such as 'tribe' or 'ethnic group', but rather all that existed to them were languages.

bigfrancis21:


As for Ibani names which many of them answer, are they usually aware of the meaning?

Absolutely yes. They know the meaning of their names. Children are told the meaning of their names by their parents and it continues in that cycle.

ezeagu:
It seems Ibani is used ceremonially and in songs in Opobo, while their main language is Igbo. This would reflect the Ijaw origins of their statehood and their peopling by hinterland Igbo people and their position as traders.

I agree with you bro.

To add my bit. I've never been opportune to meet an Opobo person or go to the area. However,I saw a video shared on Facebook some time last year. From the video,the dressing of the Amayanabo's is Igbo as well as the chiefs around him. The chiefs wear the traditional long red Okpú. Interestingly,when the Amayanabo speaks as in to declare something,while some of the people around affirm "Amayanaboooo!" some others affirm "Igweeeee!". It was an interesting sight.