I know a thread like this was created some years ago, but I'd like to revive this topic.

Please post any audio/video recordings of Igbo dialects (not Central Igbo) that you guys may have come across. Also feel free to post recordings of dialects that you're unsure of, in order to recieve clarification.

Be sure to clearly identify the dialect and the state. Thanks in advance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iykmd_Kr92Q

Asaba, Delta.
Supposedly this dialect is Asaba, but I'm not sure. If it is, then the intonation and nasalization are remarkably different from that of Onicha, which sits just across the Niger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJf44Zhx5a8

Ohafia, Abia.
This is pure Ohafia. Uri umu nwoko.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9SoFfJC61w

Awka, Anambra.
Va kpolu iv'a okwu Oka.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dfdk7z7HcQ

Ngwa, Abia.
Egwu ke hnia l'imime ala Ngwa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEqOzWAodAA

Owerri, Imo.
Owerri ma kp'eshi ańurima.

odumchi:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iykmd_Kr92Q

Asaba, Delta.
Supposedly this dialect is Asaba, but I'm not sure. If it is, then the intonation and nasalization are remarkably different from that of Onicha, which sits just across the Niger.

Asaba dialect is just like your typical Onitsha dialect. It's the same with the likes of Ibusa and co. But i don't think this particular video is that of Asaba. It sounds like something in those parts of Delta state that deny being Igbo eg Agbor, Ukwuani. Not sure though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPSUODu-3zc

Ohuhu, Abia.
Unu ahula la Ohuhu kara aka?

Afam4eva:
Asaba dialect is just like your typical Onitsha dialect. It's the same with the likes of Ibusa and co. But i don't think this particular video is that of Asaba. It sounds like something in those parts of Delta state that deny being Igbo eg Agbor, Ukwuani. Not sure though.

No wonder. I don't think it's Ika: it sounds to intelligible to be Ika. But then again, I'm not an expert on Deltan dialects.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NH2OwIGKxc

Ikwerre, Rivers.
Hw'a bu hwe ovu wene.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3Oagvi_UHQ

Ukwuani, Delta.
Ani Ndokwa ba nmaa nma.

I wasn't hearing much of what those guys were saying. This Ikwerre video seems more intelligible than that one


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkQ9LJeej80

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z28LhH0_-Qo

Could anyone tell me the name of this wonderful piece of Deltan music? Bikolegwo o. Chai, obi adajuolani m woo.

odumchi:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iykmd_Kr92Q

Asaba, Delta.
Supposedly this dialect is Asaba, but I'm not sure. If it is, then the intonation and nasalization are remarkably different from that of Onicha, which sits just across the Niger.

The music was by late Uche Nwalama from Igbuzo or Ibusa .This is in Enuani dialect of the Igbo language that is spoken in 4 local govt areas of Delta state as well as in Onitsha and Ogbaru in Anambra state. This area includes Asaba, Ibuzo, Isseles, Igbodo, ogwashi, Illah, The Ubulus etc. it is not much different from Onitsha. The singer here tried to hybridize with some Ukwuani which is a sister dialect in delta. This Enuani dialect is the same dialect Osita Osadebe sang in to the delight of other Igbo. Osadebe's Atani people are also considered Anioma people though they are geographically in Anambra state.

This musician showcased the traditional Enuani music that actually created rap music before it was commercialized by Black Americans. It was called Igo mpkupko in the traditional Enuani musical. This can be heard when a soloist talks over the beat. Yep, Anioma people created rap music, Jamaicans modernized it and Americans Commercialized it.

odumchi:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z28LhH0_-Qo

Could anyone tell me the name of this wonderful piece of Deltan music? Bikolegwo o. Chai, obi adajuolani m woo.

That music was by Charles Iwegbue and his Hinos band. The title of the song is "ejelunor." Iwegbue was an Ukwuani musician but revered by all Anioma people until his untimely death at the hands of some of his band members in the late 70s.

omonuan:

That music was by Charles Iwegbue and his Hinos band. The title of the song is "ejelunor." Iwegbue was an Ukwuani musician but revered by all Anioma people until his untimely death at the hands of some of his band members in the late 70s.

Nwanne m, Ndeewo. You don't know how much I appreciate this.

omonuan:

The imusic was by late Uche Nwalama from Igbuzo or Ibusa .This is in Enuani dialect of the Igbo language that is spoken in 4 local govt areas of Delta state as well as in Onitsha and Ogbaru in Anambra state. This area includes Asaba, Ibuzo, Isseles, Igbodo, ogwashi, Illah, The Ubulus etc. it is not much different from Onitsha. The singer here tried to hybridize with some Ukwuani which is a sister dialect in delta. This Enuani dialect is the same dialect Osita Osadebe sang in to the delight of other Igbo. Osadebe's Atani people are also considered Anioma people though they are geographically in Anambra state.

This musician showcased the traditional Enuani music that actually created rap music before it was commercialized by Black Americans. It was called Igo mpkupko in the traditional Enuani musical. This can be heard when a soloist talks over the beat. Yep, Anioma people created rap music, Jamaicans modernized it and Americans Commercialized it.

That's very interesting. I understood most of what this man was singing, however I couldn't get over the fact that the nasalization and the strange intonation made it sound more like Ukwuani. Does Enuani have this nasalization, or is it due to the fact that, like you said, he is trying to liken it to Ukwuani?

Anioma created rap? That's very, very interesting.

[quote author=odumchi]

Nwanne m, Ndeewo. You don't know how much I appreciate this.



That's very interesting. I understood most of what this man was singing, however I couldn't get over the fact that the nasalization and the strange intonation made it sound more like Ukwuani. Does Enuani have this nasalization, or is it due to the fact that, like you said, he is trying to liken it to Ukwuani?

Anioma created rap? That's very, very interesting.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRRmh2k4oaA


While Enuani is probably the closest to Igbo of the Anioma dialects, it however has a deep rooted nuance that can give a head fake to non Anioma Igbo. Uche Nwalama was speaking unadulterated Enuani dialect here. Listen to to the above link for part two and you'll hear him sing uwa zulonye which might be intelligible. The Anioma dialects are not much different from each other. Forget what agbontaen says in his rantings. Anioma people speak Igbo with slight tonal differences. Uche Nwaalama was an up and coming Anioma musical superstar who suddenly collapsed on stage and died. The musicians from Anioma are mostly Ukwuani and thus many others try to emulate them.

As an Enuani man, I can clearly understand Uche who spoke deep Enuani but I also recognize the Ukwuani influence in the music. However, the dialect is pure Enuani. Moreover, there is a fine line between Ukwuani and Enuani. The three Anioma dialects are just same Igbo rooted. If you listen to Charles Iwegbue posted on this thread an Ukwuani, you'll understand what I am saying. Ali Chukwuma was also Ukwuani.

Eddy Okwedy-happy Survival:http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=UKVl5GVfuUY&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DUKVl5GVfuUY


If you remember after the civil war, the Igbo consolation song "Happy survival" it was by Eddy Okwedy another Anioma from Abor. Ali Chukwuma was also from Abor. Abor is Ukwuani but speak a hybrid of Ukwuani and Enuani. Enuani is the bridge to the other Anioma dialects of Ukwuani and Ika and the most dominant of the triad.

As part of Enuani traditional music, there are usually interludes with beat where a "rapper" raps mostly in idioms and words of wisdom. Sometimes, it could be praise singing, And it was an ancient art form. Uche utilized that very well in his music

Nwanne m, thank you for the detailed response. I understood the second song a bit more than the first. As for Eddy Okwedy's "Happy Survival", I understood everything he said quite clearly, since it lacked the nasalization and tonal peculiarities of Ukwuani and Enuani.

I recently listened to Charles Iwegbue's "Zik Governor General", which was sung in general Igbo, and was amazed by his ability to alternate between dialects. It was even a bit hard to believe that the same man who had sung "Ejelunor" was also able to speak Igbo in such a clarity as that found in "Zik Governor General". Deltan musicians have really contributed much to the wealth of Igbo music we have today.

As for the "rapping", I've noticed that in the music of many Igbo musicians ok both sides of the Niger. In Osadebe is known for injecting proverbs in his music, as well. In one of Uche Nwalama's songs, just like you described, I caught him singing above the beat of the instruments: "Nwa jelu obodo Oyibo g'ebute ife di nma."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIJKJj0GoF4

Aro, Abia State.
Inyi avula guma ihe oma gbara kasaa n'ali Okigbo?

odumchi: Nwanne m, thank you for the detailed response. I understood the second song a bit more than the first. As for Eddy Okwedy's "Happy Survival", I understood everything he said quite clearly, since it lacked the nasalization and tonal peculiarities of Ukwuani and Enuani.

I recently listened to Charles Iwegbue's "Zik Governor General", which was sung in general Igbo, and was amazed by his ability to alternate between dialects. It was even a bit hard to believe that the same man who had sung "Ejelunor" was also able to speak Igbo in such a clarity as that found in "Zik Governor General". Deltan musicians have really contributed much to the wealth of Igbo music we have today.

As for the "rapping", I've noticed that in the music of many Igbo musicians ok both sides of the Niger. In Osadebe is known for injecting proverbs in his music, as well. In one of Uche Nwalama's songs, just like you described, I caught him singing above the beat of the instruments: "Nwa jelu obodo Oyibo g'ebute ife di nma."

This is the beauty of the Anioma dialects. To appeal to the wider Igbo music market, you must adapt as an Anioma musician. Now Eddy Okwedy wanted to console the entire Igbo after the civil war. Thus, he sang in central Igbo. Charles Iwegbue was from Onitsha Ukwuani. Yes, there is also Onitsha in Ukwuani. He was proud of his Igbo heritage and his records were classified as Igbo records at his behest I presume.

The rapping is an Anioma art form and you caught it exactly as Nwalama's rapper sang about obodo oyibo. I am one of the believers of the fact that Anioma is as Igbo as they come. I am proud to be an Igbo.

Here are the three Anioma Dialects in Music:

Ika as represented by Uche Eluehike from Igbanke


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4NXC_Ehr-4

Enuani as represented by Ogbogu Okonji of Igbuzo:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl0SO2QyDZs

Ukwuani as represented by Chuks Igba from Utagba Unor:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=relmfu&v=efjP8_PF4d8

The three Igbo dialects are very similar. Only accents separate them from each other. The words and nuances are the same!

Very interesting. Nwoke m, I meela.

Nice thread. Thank you very much,Omonuan, thank you.