imo river runs from abia to the atlantic, the river niger is being dregded and runs straight into the atlantic also portharcourt conects with opobo which runs into the atlantic and both towns have igbo indigens , if ikwere people are not igbo how come they are members of ohanaeze ndi igbo, peter odili former governor was to run for president last election with igbo quota, the current governor is aware of his igbo origin so dont mind people that are fueling division among igbo , the denial was used after the civil war to prevent futher seizing of property and money by the fedral govt.

people still dont understand the difference between

igbos --- (anambra,enugu,imo abia,ebonyi, part of crossrivers,half of rivers, 1/3or delta,minute part of bayelsa and minute part of benue and edo),

south east nigeria--imo,anambra(95% and 5%igala)enugu,abia(90%,ogoni 10% ),ebonyi

south south--rivers(45%), delta(30%), bayelsa(less than 5%) crossrivers(5%) akwaibom(5%)and edo(about 1%)

biafran (acording to old map)-- the 5 south east states ,igbo part of delta and the remaining south south except edo state.
niger delta republic--rivers and bayelsa and ijaw part of delta since

niger delta--it consists of present day Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers States. In 2000, however, Obansanjo's regime included Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River State, Edo, Imo and Ondo States in the region. more than 40 ethnic groups including the Efik, Ibibio, Annang, Oron, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Igbo, Urhobo, Yoruba, and Kalabari, are among the inhabitants in the Niger Delta, speaking about 250 different dialects.

when people go about talking about igbos landlocked ask them if its true of what disadvantage is dat? , a lot of european and south american countries are landlocked but they are still among developed countries and high exporting nations of the world and that is why you have trade unions. if for example only south east leaves nigeria without thier southern brothers the land and transportation among the countries is still the same , you will still trnasport your product from anambra to lagos or port harcourt to ship it ,the same way a factory in kano and kastina will. the same levy you will pay is the same your paying as part of the country.





Question: Is Southeast and Igboland the same thing?

Answer: Not at all. Southeast is only about 3/5th of Igboland. Igboland covers the whole of Southeast, parts of Rivers, Delta, Benue, and Akwa Ibom states.

Question: Why were we taught in school that Igbo people are easterners?

Answer: It is both an unfortunate parroting by teachers and careless adoption by Igbo educated class. Igbo people come from Southern Nigeria and not Eastern Nigeria. It may be correct to say that the Igbo are found predominantly in eastern Nigeria. However, by saying that the Igbo are easterners, the implication is that the Igbo in western Nigeria, numbering about 2.5 million (Agbor, Ogwashi Ukwu, Ibuzo, Okpanam, Asaba, Orimili, Ndokwa, Anioma, etc) are not Igbos. The best known Igbo anthropologist Professor Mike Onwuejeogwu is from the western part of Nigeria, Chukwuma Nzeogwu, Dennis Osadebe, Okonkwo Adibe (the famous musician), Sony Odogwu, etc. are all from the western part of Nigeria. They are no less Igbo than those who live in the eastern part of Nigeria. The correct answer to your question is "the Igbo come from Southern Nigeria."

Question: Why do some Igbo refer to themselves as "core Igbo?"

Answer: That is clearly arrant nonsense. Nobody is core and others peripheral. All Igbo are the same. It is both arrogant, thoughtless and insensitive for anybody to regard others as marginal.

Question: Is Igboland landlocked?

Answer: Not at all. Igboland stretches from Igwe Ocha (Port Harcourt) to Agbor. The Atlantic ocean washes the shores of Igboland. Africa's second largest river - River Niger, traverses Igboland with one part of Igboland in the east and another part in the west of Nigeria. Uguta Lake has the potential of accommodating large ships and could be made a navigable port. If Igboland is landlocked, then all Nigeria is landlocked.

Question: Is there oil in Igboland?

Answer: Yes, indeed. There is a lot of oil in Imo State, Abia, Ebonyi, Rivers State and Delta States Igbo areas, and now in Anambra, ENUGU. Besides, Igboland has many other natural resources, including coal, limestone, etc.

Question: Are the Igbo a nation or a tribe?

Answer: The Igbo are a nation, and a very large one. There are many tribes in Igbo nation, just like you have many tribes within Israel.

Question: Why do some Ikwerre people say they are not Igbo?

Answer: First, it is not up to them to say what they are and what they are not. When God created them, He did not ask them who they wanted to be. He just created them Igbo. The only way you'll know who belongs to what ethnic group in Nigeria is the name and what language the name comes from. Anybody whose name is Amadi or Onyeri, or Eke, or Odili, Wanodi (Nwanodi) does not need to tell you who he is. He is Igbo, his politics notwithstanding.

Question: But they claim that their language is Ikwerre, not Igbo.

Answer: That is politics. Ikwerre is a dialect of Igbo language. Just like an Ngwa man speaks Ngwa Igbo, Arochukwu speaks Arochukwu Igbo, etc.

Question: Some people say that Igbo language is not complete, is it true?

Answer: No language is complete. All languages borrow from each other. Igbo language is very rich. It has inexhaustible and rich linguistic features like idioms, proverbs, aphorisms, sayings, anecdotes, riddles, folklores, etc. Igbo language is one of the major languages of the world, being spoken by millions of people.

Question: How many are the Igbo?

Answer: The Igbo are very numerous. There is educated guess that if Nigeria's census is properly enumerated, the Igbo could easily be the largest ethnic group in the country. They may number up to 40 million. Everything right now, is speculation. Nobody knows the true stratification or ethnic populations in Nigeria. The Igbo are the only ethnic group found in large numbers everywhere in Nigeria, and foreign countries more than any other ethnic group in Africa.

Question: Do the Igbo have a culture of their own?

Answer: Yes, indeed. Igbo culture is perhaps, one of the richest and all-encompassing cultures in this world. Igbo culture always observes the temporal and the spiritual aspects of cosmology. The study of Igbo culture reveals that it is extremely deep and original.

Question: Why do the Igbo wear Yoruba Agbada and Hausa babban riga but the Yoruba and the Hausa do not ever wear Igbo national dress?

Answer: Unfortunately this is the case. The Igbo have very attractive and resplendent national dresses. And they come in assortments that are extremely dignifying. The Igbo take up foreign cultures more readily than other Nigerians, and they seem not to care that nobody reciprocates their carefree attitude to life.


Question: Were the Igbo also taken into slavery during the slave trade?

Answer: Yes. The Igbo slaves themselves gave account of their travails in slavery. Olauda Ekwuano an Igbo ex-slave who bought his freedom in Britain was the first slave to write about his experience in slavery. His book has become a classic. You ought to find it and read it. Also, other Igbos who were brought to America revolted and some walked back on water and were said to have returned to Africa. Several books have been written about them. One of such books is "Ibo Landing." It is available in bookstores like Barnes & Noble. In Haiti, the Igbo settled there and refused to be colonized by anybody. There are many places where the Igbo left their mark or their signature.

Question: How did the Igbo know days and years?

Answer: The Igbo invented an accurate, if not the most accurate calendar called "Iguafo Igbo (Igbo Calendar)." In Igbo calendar, there are four market days - Eke, Afor, Nkwo, Orie that make one week. Four days make one week, seven weeks make one month, and thirteen months make one year. There are 28 days for each month, with the last month having 29 days. Each month starts the same day as the previous. Igbo calendar forms the perfect astronomical alignment with the cosmos, and regulates the seasons, agriculture, navigation, astrology, geography, mathematics, travel, etc.

Question: Did the Igbo have their own alphabets?

Answer: Yes, indeed. It is called "Nsibidi."

Question: How about mathematics; did the Igbo know mathematics?

Answer: Yes, indeed. There are such inventions as "Okwe" and "Mkpisi" which the Igbo used to resolve figures.

Question: Did the Igbo know anything about banking?

Answer: Yes. Igbo banking was more in the nature of Savings and Loans. The authentic Igbo savings and loans invention called "Isusu' in which contributions are pooled each week and one person, who has the need, collects, is still in practice. Igbo slaves took this invention to the Caribbean Islands where they still practise it and call it "Sue Sue."

Question: Some people say that Igboland is too small for the Igbo, that they have no alternative than to live as Nigerians: is this true?

Answer: False. Igboland is a large country. Do every Igbo need to stay and work in Igboland? No. Everywhere in the world, some will stay home while others venture abroad in search of opportunities. Igboland is large enough for the Igbo. And it is a very rich and hospitable part of the world. It has rich soil for agriculture, abundant rainfall, good sunshine, and table land in many parts. Its land space and population are more than that of over half of the present countries in the world.

Question: Where did the Igbo come from?

Answer: That question is still being asked. There are very intriguing theories or histories now being studied. You may have heard of the Jewish angle, the Egypt angle, and the Origin of man angle.
okigwe stone civilization date as far back as 6,000BC
AFIKPO AND NSUKKA METAL CIVILIZATION 3,000BC BOTH FOR ABOUT A MILLENIUM BEFORE THE FORMATION OF THE HEBREW NATION
OWERRI ,ANAMBRA, NRI , NGWA 8-18 AD



Question: Why do people say that the Igbo are not united?

Answer: Those who say so, do so out of ignorance. The Igbo are famous for their unity. In the colonial period and the First Republic of Nigeria, the Igbo were always envied for their unity. Under Igbo Union, they accomplished many things. They were feared by others for this. Since after the war, the Igbo are gradually recovering and getting rid of the individualism they developed brought about by their war experience which enabled them to survive as a disinherited people. Now, there are vigorous efforts to reunite them and return them to their old glory which served them well in the past.

Question: Some people say that the Igbo are susceptible to being bought by some other Nigerians, and that they "sell" the Igbo in the bargain; is this true?

Answer: The same parroting and recycling of unfounded talk. When you hear such a talk, challenge the one who is mouthing it to give you evidence, or to cite an example of such an Igbo person. He is likely to say "what of Jim Nwobodo?" Tell him that the Igbo number about 40 million, if it would be fair for the action of one person to represent the integrity of the other 3.99.9 million. The truth is that an Igbo is like any other human being, when he sees where he can take advantage of a situation, he goes for it. It has nothing to do with "selling." Were we not told that fish clusters where the river was deepest or that the dog follows he who has crumbs? Not long ago in the history of Nigeria, other Nigerians were also running after the Igbo for crumbs because the Igbo were in position to call the shots. Things will not remain as they are today. In fact, things are changing fast.

Question: Why are other Nigerians always persecuting the Igbo?

Answer: I have always tried to know myself. I am one of those who believe that the Igbo are among the most peaceful people on earth. But, because of the fact that they are very hardworking, ambitious, and not afraid to live anywhere, or take up any task, they tend to be resented by their less ambitious and successful neighbors or hosts. When you confront a non-Igbo to say what specific offense the Igbo have committed against them, oftentimes they draw blank, or engage in fabrications, which they insist must stand for a fact. The Igbo believe in live-and-let-live. It is virtually impossible for any Igbo to rise against their guests or hosts. It has never happened in Nigeria, or elsewhere. It is an abomination in Igboland for a host to cause his guest harm. Instead, a guest is considered metaphysically and physically under the protection of the host. All Igbo deities forbid doing harm to a guest. The Igbo are accused of "loving money." I suppose the charge is based on the fact that they work hard and acquire money in the bargain. One would like to believe that the outcome of hardwork is good harvest and hopefully prosperity. If anybody takes offense at the prosperity of a hardworking person, then the Igbo or for that matter any other person or persons, have no apologies to render.

Ndigbo in the south east should realise that not all the Igbo speaking areas in Rivers state are Ikwerre. The rate some Ikwerres deny Igbo is not like that in other Igbo speaking areas of Rivers state.
So many Ndigbo from the south east believe that we outside the south east are not Igbos. Even with my name Onyinye, yet so many believe am not Igbo.

What about Lagos?

Isnt Lagos part of Iboland? 90% of inhabitants of Lagos is Ibo you know

What about ABuja? They own 95% of the proprty there. That should count as well IMHO.

Infact, and what about Ibadan and Borno? Those are Ibo states too? There are atleast 1 or 2 Ibos in those states.

Also, Peckam in the UK, and NJ and NY in the US? The last time I checked, Igbo is the lingua Franca is those places

And lets not forget Isreal, Igbos as we have been told countless times originated from Isreal, Why deny Isreal?

What about Mars; BRB

strangerf:

What about Lagos?

Isnt Lagos part of Iboland? 90% of inhabitants of Lagos is Ibo you know

What about ABuja? They own 95% of the proprty there. That should count as well IMHO.

Infact, and what about Ibadan and Borno? Those are Ibo states too? There are atleast 1 or 2 Ibos in those states.

Also, Peckam in the UK, and NJ and NY in the US? The last time I checked, Igbo is the lingua Franca is those places

And lets not forget Isreal, Igbos as we have been told countless times originated from Isreal, Why deny Isreal?

What about Mars; BRB

Yes to the rest of your questions but no to mars.

Bashr4, if not for you being relatively new to NL, I would have told you to give it a rest, because this topic has been flogged to death.
Those that want to be Igbo, cool, whatever. Those that don't, fine. So what? End of story.

ChinenyeN:

Bashr4, if not for you being relatively new to NL, I would have told you to give it a rest, because this topic has been flogged to death.
Those that want to be Igbo, cool, whatever. Those that don't, fine. So what? End of story.

God bless u

i am igbo, but my brothers insult me,,,,,why

but when abogtean said he is not igbo, they all wanted he to be igbo like do or die

abadaba:

Ndigbo in the south east should realise that not all the Igbo speaking areas in Rivers state are Ikwerre. The rate some Ikwerres deny Igbo is not like that in other Igbo speaking areas of Rivers state.
So many Ndigbo from the south east believe that we outside the south east are not Igbos. Even with my name Onyinye, yet so many believe am not Igbo.

Here's the deal bros abada, if someone walks up to you and asks your tribe, all you need tell him is that you are Igbo. Period. And then you speak your own dialect, if you can't speak central Igbo (the one they teach in schools). If he doesn't understand you, well, tough luck for him!
It is NOT YOUR FAULT.
My room mate at the University of Nigeria was from Afikpo in Abia state, but I couldn't understand him when he spoke with his Afipko folks. Does anyone ever question whether Afikpo is Igbo? NO!
Time is fast approaching when we will all speak mutually intelligible Igbo. We are fast reclaiming our common language and culture. It will be expedited this century. It is a natural process and will happen sooner than you think. Ohanaeze is working HARD at that!

abadaba:

Ndigbo in the south east should realise that not all the Igbo speaking areas in Rivers state are Ikwerre. The rate some Ikwerres deny Igbo is not like that in other Igbo speaking areas of Rivers state.
So many Ndigbo from the south east believe that we outside the south east are not Igbos. Even with my name Onyinye, yet so many believe am not Igbo.

abadaba pls what part of rivers state are yu from ?honest answers only.

Igbos and African americans are the only groups I know that seem to beg people to identify with them. imagine you only need to have a drop of AA blood to belong! other groups are much more exclusive.
to me, it's a result of either lack of cultural strength or a device for political aggrandizement (both go hand in hand i guess)


why cry in the corner just because a calabar or ijaw man refuses to be labeled igbo? 

@Oyinda: You really do not understand the topic. It is not about Ijaw people or Calabar people denying Igbo. They are not Igbo and the Igbos recognise they are not Igbo.
It is about groups or individuals who are originally Igbo but due to one thing or another decided to differ. Am from Rivers state where that happens but in those areas, we know in our hearts we are Igbo. My town in Rivers state is an example. Though we are Igbo, but most south easterners do not understand us fluently. Based on that some tend to differ.
But Igbo denial is going down in the Igbo speaking areas. Our leaders now attend Igbo days and we are an integral part of Ohanaeze. One day it will be our turn in Rivers state to produce the president of the highest Igbo body. I can't wait.

^^^
To add to your explanation. Most times it's hard for non-Igbos who are not familiar with Igboland and Igbo history to understand what's going on here. Igbos are not trying to claim anybody. The crux of this issue the is need to stop the blatant lie being spread by these people that they are not ethnic Igbos.

Igbos know who is Igbo and who is not. I dont think they(Igbos) are that ignorant not to know who is clearly a non-Igbo.

@ Oyinda

I dont know where you got that statement of yours. Is the same thing not happening in Yorubaland with the Yoruba denials in Kwara state who vehemently claim that they are not Yorubas, even when the whole world knows they are?

www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-564090.0.html

So I really dont get where you are coming from when you make the topic at hand look like 'Igbos and African americans are
the only groups I know that
seem to beg people to identify
with them' thing.

Oyinda, I believe you're way off the mark on this one. I don't think you really understand the topic, especially considering that last question of yours. No one is seriously begging anyone to be "Igbo", although some seem to be pushing harder than others for some people to come to terms with the modern classification, and to wear it like a badge, but that is much easier said than it is done for some people/groups (and understandably so).

Ok. I guess I didn't understand the topic then.

excanny:


@ Oyinda

I dont know where you got that statement of yours. Is the same thing not happening in Yorubaland with the Yoruba denials in Kwara state who vehemently claim that they are not Yorubas, even when the whole world knows they are?

I don't think there are "yoruba denials."
there are different kinds of yoruba people. The original yorubas are ones from the core states like  oyo,ogun,ondo, osun etc. the ones from Kwara, benin etc are not original yorubas. They are peripheral yorubas. That is generally acknowledged among us. In fact, I met a kwara yoruba a while ago and we were joking about it. she was making fun of me that she spoke better yoruba than me although she's from kwara and i'm from one of the core states.
I've met  people from togo and benin also who claim yoruba because they speak the language and bear the name but I consider them to be peripheral yoruba.

I guess it's the same with igbos but I might have confused things esp. since I don't know your history. srry about that.

oyinda.:

Ok. I guess I didn't understand the topic then.

I don't think there are "yoruba denials."
there are different kinds of yoruba people. The original yorubas are ones from the core states like  oyo,ogun,ondo, osun etc. the ones from Kwara, benin etc are not original yorubas. They are peripheral yorubas. That is generally acknowledged among us. In fact, I met a kwara yoruba a while ago and we were joking about it. she was making fun of me that she spoke better yoruba than me although she's from kwara and i'm from one of the core states.
I've met  people from togo and benin also who claim yoruba because they speak the language and bear the name but I consider them to be peripheral yoruba.

I guess it's the same with igbos but I might have confused things esp. since I don't know your history. srry about that.

It's okay. No worries. Regarding the bolded, that's where the difference is. Although the Igbo, like the Yoruba, recognize the different kinds of "Igbo" people, the recognition is not in terms of "original" and "peripheral"; just heterogeneity (i.e. seeing ourselves as different, although recognizing a similarity), and if I had to guess though, I'd say that it is at this point that all these identity arguments talks start surfacing. It's not that people are begging others to be "Igbo". Rather, it's that disagreements over being "Igbo" it still persist.

i think I understand what u mean now. Igbos were never united from the beginning. they just consisted of small independent tribes who maybe spoke the same language but there was no central govt or anything like that. to be honest, igbos probably are more united today than they were pre-nigeria. do u agree?

oyinda.:

i think I understand what u mean now. Igbos were never united from the beginning. they just consisted of small independent tribes who maybe spoke the same language but there was no central govt or anything like that. to be honest, igbos probably are more united today than they were pre-nigeria. do u agree?

Yes, that's it. You do understand. @ the bolded, I'd say yes, relatively speaking that is.

abadaba:

@Oyinda: You really do not understand the topic. It is not about Ijaw people or Calabar people denying Igbo. They are not Igbo and the Igbos recognise they are not Igbo.
It is about groups or individuals who are originally Igbo but due to one thing or another decided to differ. Am from Rivers state where that happens but in those areas, we know in our hearts we are Igbo. My town in Rivers state is an example. Though we are Igbo, but most south easterners do not understand us fluently. Based on that some tend to differ.
But Igbo denial is going down in the Igbo speaking areas. Our leaders now attend Igbo days and we are an integral part of Ohanaeze. One day it will be our turn in Rivers state to produce the president of the highest Igbo body. I can't wait.

please what part of rivers state are you from?

afrodiva:

please what part of rivers state are you from?

Ahoada. My real name is Oyinye. But Onyinye is not ready to go into a rumble with you on your beliefs. Remain what you are and I remain what Iam (Igbo).FINAL WORLD.

if you are from ahoada which village ?. is it west or east my mom is from ahoada so i be your sis no worry i no go rumble with you .  just tell me your villa make i hail you

I think it is high time we stopped discussing our family problem on internet.It is obvious that people living in the area between Agbor,Port Harcourt and Abakaliki are the same people but have always lived separately and independent of one another.The Europeans came and grouped them as one ethnic group and they initially accepted it but it is de-generating back towards its nature of independent tribes.The unification has only worked in Southeast but has failed in Rivers State.In Rivers State the Ogba,Ikwerre,Ndoki,Omuma,Etche,Egbema,Ndoni,Asa and Opobo/Bonny speak Igbo.

Even in Southeast a study of Abia will indicate a gradual re-awakening of ethnic independence in the Abia South where the Ngwa,Ndoki,Asa and Omuma inhabit.