Ihuomadinihu: This thread is for people that are interested in the igbo/bantu linguistic connection...it is interesting to note that Igbo language share linguistic similarities with some Bantu and bantu related languages.
One forumite rather called for a cursive study of neighbouring ''Bantu related languages'',and here is my contribution.
An Igbo name for God is Obasi.
Yako(Bantu) - Ubasi.
Ekoi(Bantu like) - Nsi.
Duala(coastal bantu) - Ebasi.
Bamileke(Semi bantu) - Si and Owasi.
Bambuti(Bantu) -Baatsi.
Ibibio(Bantu like) -Abasi.
It seems like the operating rootword here is ''Si''

Ihuomadinihu:
I agree with you,Igbos are not fighting to associate themselves with any glorious empire,we just wanna know who we are and what we are made up of(ethnic composition). While we are proud igbos,we also acknowlegde cultural and ethnic plurality amongst us. This Bantu stuff is not even a relevant topic amongst Igbos, it is even offensive to call igbos a bantu tribe. Bantu reeks of uncivilization amongst most blacks. That we wanna find about the possibility of igbo/bantu relationship does not mean we wanna claim bantu. Smh.

Abagworo: Igbos are semi-bantu. The term "Bantu" is widespread as word for "mankind" or "people" which in Igbo is "madu". At least the similarity is clear and becomes even clearer when applied with Akpo dialect of Ikwerre which is "Bandu" for "mankind". Some other variations are "Manu", "Vadu" and "Nmadu".

Ihuomadinihu:
I know am not the only one that is tired of this thread,but we wanna have a decent discussion or even smart argument. Why can't Igbos be bantus? Uptill now,you have no solid evidence. I find it downright insultive that you consider my inputs 'trolling'. If you feel distrubed you can just walk out of here without snide remarks. I believe we are here to learn,that i quote you does not mean it should swell your head.

CAMNEWTON4PRES: repeat after me, Bantu reeks of uncivilization among my folks and kins because we are uneducated. i challenge to show or prove me what makes Bantu uncivilized? sometimes it is better to keep quiet when you have nothing to say..
furthermore Igbo have every right to claim Bantu as they are part of the Bantu race, just that the relations with their aliens neighbors made them create a new identity a kind of mixture with Bantu and alins, whatever the case may be, Igbo are def Bantu
however the influence was exaggerated by the Op

macof:

No reasonable person would conclude that Igbo are Bantu Because there's no proof

Ihuomadinihu:
You can't ask me to shut up when i have solid evidence to back up by claims.
Now shut up and listen/read this.
During the Apartheid stuff in South Africa,racist used the word bantu to refer to victims of Apartheid. During/shortly after this period ,blacks/Africans disassociated themselves from the word. It almost became an offensive word just like the word 'Negro' .Linguistics has snice enlightened us on the meaning of Bantu. It is a linguistic group not necessarily an ethnicity.
What is alien neighbour?

Ihuomadinihu:
You can't ask me to shut up when i have solid evidence to back up by claims.
Now shut up and listen/read this.
During the Apartheid stuff in South Africa,racist used the word bantu to refer to victims of Apartheid. During/shortly after this period ,blacks/Africans disassociated themselves from the word. It almost became an offensive word just like the word 'Negro' .Linguistics has snice enlightened us on the meaning of Bantu. It is a linguistic group not necessarily an ethnicity.
What is alien neighbour?

CAMNEWTON4PRES:

my friend shut up, you said i quote, among black people bantu reeks of uncivilization, now you quote the way white used the word Bantu during the apartheid regime in SA? are u mad? Bantu has never been an offensive word in Cameroon, kenya, uganda, congo(both) etcso what are you talking about? furthermore that some racist folks use it as an insult or whatever does not mean it is, now show methe so called bantu uncivilization while the same white cll the Bantu civilization one of the greatest of Africa? from kongo Kingdom, to zimbabwe, zulu monotapa rtc.if anything Bantu actually civilized 3/5 of the whole continent (central east and southern)

Bantu is a race
i really need to make a thread abou Bantu this has to stop calling the biggest African grop i=uncivilized? nigga what do you smoke?

CAMNEWTON4PRES:
Bantu is a race

TonySpike: As a digression, could there be link to Bini too. Bini say "Mina" to mean "Me" and the Zulu use the same word also.

Ihuomadinihu:
That was a rhetoric question subject to further examination.
Maybe we are waiting for some Western Linguist to prove it,lol.
We are only look for similarities bwt igbo and bantu,cos we believe bantu slightly influenced igbo.

igbodefender:
Your statement is correct. The Proto/Original/Aboriginal Bantus that started Bantu civilization by exporting aspects of their culture, knowledge and language to other Central/Southern African groups and largely assimilating with them is a race/ethnic group (The Igbos). Today what people call Bantu are the remnants/results of that cultural exchange all over Central and Southern Africa, numbering in the millions and covering entire countries. The present day Bantus are a language group that remains from that exchange, while the Igbos are the Proto Bantus. The Igbos are great!

igbodefender:
Your statement is correct. The Proto/Original/Aboriginal Bantus that started Bantu civilization by exporting aspects of their culture, knowledge and language to other Central/Southern African groups and largely assimilating with them is a race/ethnic group (The Igbos). Today what people call Bantu are the remnants/results of that cultural exchange all over Central and Southern Africa, numbering in the millions and covering entire countries. The present day Bantus are a language group that remains from that exchange, while the Igbos are the Proto Bantus. The Igbos are great!

TonySpike:

Dude, you are getting it all wrong. From the previous contributions, it is obvious that Igbos aren't proto-Bantu. Let me tell you about the real proto-Bantus and their ancestors. They once occupied a large swathe of areas around Upper Egypt/Sudan (sometimes called Misri) in ancient times. Sometime between 1000 BC and 500 BC, they started moving away in large numbers from their ancestral lands. At this point, it is believed that they split into two major clusters. Some Westerly towards the modern Nigerian/Cameroun border and others easterly towards Central Africa proper. The group that split Westwards are suspected to have used Lake Chad to navigate. Lake Chad was at least 15 times its current area back then! The group that moved towards Nigeria and Cameroun are believed to have sojourned a little while till they later decided to continue their journey Southwards.

It might interest you to know that the original Pro-Bantus mainly left their lands because of security, need for more space, impending war and need for greener pastures. Finally, it is also worth mentioning that most, if not all, Bantu groups used cows as a means of monetary exchange in the ancient times. Hence, a number of Bantu groups are traditional owners of cattle herds. Cow herding Isn't Common among Igbos, hence, this leaves a big gap in your theory. Like i said earlier, a very tiny Bantu group might have veered into Igboland, hence the, similarities we are seeing today.

macof:

I read once that Oba Ewuare went to Congo could be a connection if there's any truth in that

Ihuomadinihu:
Lol,pls be civil!

TonySpike:
Dude, you are getting it all wrong. From the previous contributions, it is obvious that Igbos aren't proto-Bantu. Let me tell you about the real proto-Bantus and their ancestors. They once occupied a large swathe of areas around Upper Egypt/Sudan (sometimes called Misri) in ancient times. Sometime between 1000 BC and 500 BC, they started moving away in large numbers from their ancestral lands. At this point, it is believed that they split into two major clusters. Some Westerly towards the modern Nigerian/Cameroun border and others easterly towards Central Africa proper. The group that split Westwards are suspected to have used Lake Chad to navigate. Lake Chad was at least 15 times its current area back then! The group that moved towards Nigeria and Cameroun are believed to have sojourned a little while till they later decided to continue their journey Southwards.
It might interest you to know that the original Pro-Bantus mainly left their lands because of security, need for more space, impending war and need for greener pastures. Finally, it is also worth mentioning that most, if not all, Bantu groups used cows as a means of monetary exchange in the ancient times. Hence, a number of Bantu groups are traditional owners of cattle herds. Cow herding Isn't Common among Igbos, hence, this leaves a big gap in your theory. Like i said earlier, a very tiny Bantu group might have veered into Igboland, hence the, similarities we are seeing today.

igbodefender:
Your statement is correct. The Proto/Original/Aboriginal Bantus that started Bantu civilization by exporting aspects of their culture, knowledge and language to other Central/Southern African groups and largely assimilating with them is a race/ethnic group (The Igbos). Today what people call Bantu are the remnants/results of that cultural exchange all over Central and Southern Africa, numbering in the millions and covering entire countries. The present day Bantus are a language group that remains from that exchange, while the Igbos are the Proto Bantus. The Igbos are great!

TonySpike:

Dude, you are getting it all wrong. From the previous contributions, it is obvious that Igbos aren't proto-Bantu. Let me tell you about the real proto-Bantus and their ancestors. They once occupied a large swathe of areas around Upper Egypt/Sudan (sometimes called Misri) in ancient times. Sometime between 1000 BC and 500 BC, they started moving away in large numbers from their ancestral lands. At this point, it is believed that they split into two major clusters. Some Westerly towards the modern Nigerian/Cameroun border and others easterly towards Central Africa proper. The group that split Westwards are suspected to have used Lake Chad to navigate. Lake Chad was at least 15 times its current area back then! The group that moved towards Nigeria and Cameroun are believed to have sojourned a little while till they later decided to continue their journey Southwards.

It might interest you to know that the original Pro-Bantus mainly left their lands because of security, need for more space, impending war and need for greener pastures. Finally, it is also worth mentioning that most, if not all, Bantu groups used cows as a means of monetary exchange in the ancient times. Hence, a number of Bantu groups are traditional owners of cattle herds. Cow herding Isn't Common among Igbos, hence, this leaves a big gap in your theory. Like i said earlier, a very tiny Bantu group might have veered into Igboland, hence the, similarities we are seeing today.

iwonbaoko:
Those are ALL misspellings. The correct spelling is "Omo" as any Edo or Yoruba child knows
The theory of Language evolution is false

e.g

This is a sample of English as spoken in the middle ages

Forrþrihht anan se time comm
þatt ure Drihhtin wollde
ben borenn i þiss middellærd
forr all mannkinne nede
he chæs himm sone kinnessmenn
all swillke summ he wollde
and whær he wollde borenn ben
he chæs all att hiss wille.


This is an even earlier sample

1.
Cnut cyning gret his arcebiscopas and his leod-biscopas and Þurcyl eorl and ealle his eorlas and ealne his þeodscype, twelfhynde and twyhynde, gehadode and læwede, on Englalande freondlice.

TRANSLATION
Cnut, king, greets his archbishops and his lede'(people's)'-bishops and Thorkell, earl, and all his earls and all his peopleship, greater (having a 1200 shilling weregild) and lesser (200 shilling weregild), hooded(ordained to priesthood) and lewd(lay), in England friendly.`

2

.Ic nam me to gemynde þa gewritu and þa word, þe se arcebiscop Lyfing me fram þam papan brohte of Rome, þæt ic scolde æghwær godes lof upp aræran and unriht alecgan and full frið wyrcean be ðære mihte, þe me god syllan wolde.

Translation

I nam(took) me to mind the writs and the word that the Archbishop Lyfing me from the Pope brought of Rome, that I should ayewhere(everywhere) God's love(praise) uprear(promote), and unright(outlaw) lies, and full frith(peace) work(bring about) by the might that me God would(wished) [to] sell'(give).


Here is an oral performance of old english

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29v_adW9dn0
Cædmon's Hymn
nu scylun hergan hefaenricaes uard
metudæs maecti end his modgidanc
uerc uuldurfadur swe he uundra gihwaes
eci dryctin or astelidæ
he aerist scop aelda barnum
heben til hrofe haleg scepen.
tha middungeard moncynnæs uard
eci dryctin æfter tiadæ
firum foldu frea allmectig

This illustrates that we cannot make any assumptions about origin from the present appearance of language which merely reflect the most recent influences;
In English this is very strongly Latin as seen in words like ;library,lavatory,extend, etc. Few will suggest from a cursory study that English is a Germanic language

The idea that languages have a single ancestor is simplistic especially in such an ethnically crowded space as Eastern Nigeria. More likely is that all kinds of cross fertilizations took place and it would be naive to assume that all who now speak the same language are kinsmen or the converse. Language is more a reflection of cultural diet than cultural ancestry. e.g after less than 100 years many Nigerian children cannot speak their mother tongues preferring a NEW variant of English that is not readily intelligible to English folk

igbodefender:
Can those skeptical about Igbos being the aboriginal Bantus who contributed so much to Bantu civilization here explain why Bantu countries like Zimbabwe and Malawi have several names that share the 'Chi' prefix common in Igbo language? For instance Chinamasa (sounds like the Igbo name Chinasa) is a popular Zimbabwean name. Other Southern African names that share the 'Chi' prefix include' Chibundu' (sounds like the Igbo name Chinwendu) and Chikwemba.

PS: I'm sure if I didn't tell you these were Southern African names, you would think they were Igbo names. Don lie.

Source: [url]http://www.igbodefender.com/the-prevalence-of-chi-prefix-in-malawian-names-proves-igbos-were-earliest-bantus/
[/url]
Source: http://www.igbodefender.com/presence-of-chi-in-zimbabwean-names-prooves-igbos-were-earliest-bantus/

somegirl1:

This similar sounding names issue has been over-flogged.
Unless they mean the same or similar things in Igbo and Bantu languages, that argument holds no water. Chi isn't even God or guardian spirit in Bantoid languages.

Sochi is a Russian City and could actually mean different things in Igbo language depending on how it's pronounced. "Ch" is a Russian phoneme. Does this make Igbo and Russian related languages?

Any two languages can be argued to be related by cleverly selecting few words thAt seem/ sound alike when used out of context.

somegirl1:

This similar sounding names issue has been over-flogged.
Unless they mean the same or similar things in Igbo and Bantu languages, that argument holds no water. Chi isn't even God or guardian spirit in Bantoid languages.

Sochi is a Russian City and could actually mean different things in Igbo language depending on how it's pronounced. "Ch" is a Russian phoneme. Does this make Igbo and Russian related languages?

Any two languages can be argued to be related by cleverly selecting few words thAt seem/ sound alike when used out of context.

Ihuomadinihu:
There is no specific name for God in Bantu languages,so your assumption is wrong.
Ubasi is God in Yako.
Erioba is God in Kisii(Uganda).
Chi/Chukwu/Obasi - Igbo.
Njoku - yam god in ancient Igbo.
Jok is God in Acholi(Sudan).
Chikwembu is God in a Southern African tribe.
Apart from Igbo,the rest are Bantu languages.
Ku is mostly a rootword for domestic fowls in Bantu languages,
Fowl is Kuku in Swahili.
Nkuku in Zambesi.
Nkogo/Nsusu in Congo.
Inkuku in Zulu.
Okuko in Igbo. Etc.
Apart from Igbo the rest are Bantu.
While Igbo is not classified as Bantu,it will interest you to know that the Bantu origin is still tagged a hypothesis. Another account of Bantu origin stems from the Nile-valley area esp Misiri(Egypt).

somegirl1:

As stated in an earlier post, Obasi isn't God across Igbo land. I thought it was Efik/ Ibibio the first time I heard it. It's not used in my part(s) of Igbo land.

The emboldened bits can be used to argue that Yoruba is also a bantoid language. Akuko is fowl in Yoruba, and has the "ku rootword". I could also play around with Erioba as you've done with some words and claim the Oba part establishes a relationship between the two languages. Give it a rest already. Why can't we just be Igbo, no far-fetched affinities.