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what does "Igbo kwenu" mean? Why do none Igbo culturally oriented and speaking peoples identify the Igbo themselves with that phrasing “Igbo kwenu”? When the Igbo say in a gathering “Igbo kwenu,” what exactly are they referring to or echoing out? Whose voice or voices are embodied in the philosophy and culture of “Igbo kwenu[/size]”? Of what origin has the concept of “Igbo kwenu”? Are there other societies known to the Igbo that share the same collective wish to agree or disagree in a political or communal discourse of that nature? Why are the Igbo people of Southeastern Nigeria sensitized with such an unshared cultural identity and representation?



To explain the cultural logic and symbolism of “Igbo kwenu” may not be as simple as it may look. I will therefore attempt and situate the concept of “Igbo kwenu” in the context of cultural identity, belongingness, solidarity and contribution to one’s society.



The Phrase “Igbo Kwenu”

A common linguistic analysis may help us to understand the phrase “Igbo kwenu.” Here we have two words: ‘Igbo’ and ‘kwenu.’ The term “Igbo” refers to Igbo people – men and women of all ages of tradition and modernism. On its own, “kwenu” as a word refers to agreement, endorsement, solidarity, unity, bondedness, strength, collective will.


The conception of the idea to stay together as a community and act as one is very important for the Igbo. The Igbo see the fact that to stay united in a direction or course of action will bring a shared honour to them. Therefore, they value strongly to come together. Coming together is deterministic and central to all else. In gathering of all sorts, namely marriage, rituals, celebrations, age grade meetings, war, wrestling, hunting, and village political affairs, the Igbo assert their emotions and psychology together through calls to order of solidarity such as invoking the “Igbo kwenu.” Today, the Nigerian political class come up with all sorts of slogans not far from the culturally enhanced idiom of “Igbo kwenu.” When someone is to speak to an issue, he will call to order the gathered Igbo to listen to him through the application or summon of “Igbo kwenu.”



Traditionally, when a person among the gathered group intends to speak and has masterly and skilfully summoned attention with “Igbo kwenu,” he is automatically granted audience. "Igbo kwenu" is a supreme call to attention and order to speak in a culturally appropriate way. Once the “igbo kwenu” is announced and responded to, all ears will listen, at least momentarily to the person who surely will stand out and speak to them. His idea, point of information and facts, contribution and oratory skill will determine how much attention he will command. The Igbo can be noisy in public meeting sessions. Being noisy while discussing public affairs is not easily understood by the non-Igbo. Speaking out loud and clear is a well cherished Igbo cultural feature. It is not merely seen or viewed as shouting or yelling, rather as a form of strength of communication and emphasis.



Cultural Origin of Igbo Kwenu

To trace the cultural origin of “Igbo kwenu” is a search for meaning and point of departure. It can be clearly said it is history of a culture in an unwritten form whose parts make up the whole. Like the history of the origin of the Igbo people of Nigeria, Igbo culture is attached to the shared meaning of Igbo life historically. There is no beginning and there is also no end in the dynamic relationship between ideology and realism. An inquiry into knowing and connecting the dots of the origin of the idiomatic notion of[b] “Igbo kwenu” is hard to excavate and pin point to a specific historic and linguistic moment[/b]. Legends and creation myths told nothing to our common sense understanding about the first application of the phrase “Igbo kwenu.” Yet important information gathered suggest that Igbo language, philosophy and manner of communication evolved as a collective praxis in charting their ways and transmission of life curiosities.



Some related stories asserted that the Igbo as a whole like to think and speak to and of things in a dynamic sense. There is an indication also of the fact that the Igbo reinvent any of their agreed upon matter of importance. As such, the “Igbo kwenu” concept captures their before, now and ahead of their time and events. Put practically, “Igbo kwenu” cuts short the form of saying - Igbo kwere na ihe ha kwuru (The Igbo believe in what they have agreed upon to think, say, and do). Classically, there is no record of history exclusive to the origin of the idiomatic connotation of “Igbo kwenu” this writer came across in the search for knowing. Made to believe is that the phrase “Igbo kwenu” is aligned to Igbo language process on solidarity register and shared meaning of holding to what is agreed upon. We can deduce that “Igbo kwenu” is a psychic of a collective voice, the oratory skill and community action. Its origin and continuity have endured so much so that the significance of “Igbo kwenu” has become a norm in gathering of the Igbo for Igbo affairs.


Igbo kwenu and Symbolism

A central way to explain the symbolism of “Igbo kwenu” is to refer to a local proverb which says: Ukwu diri otu, a kuo ulo gbam-gbam, ma ukwu adighi otu, a kuo ulo akirika (if we are united, we roof the house with a corrugated iron zinc; but, if we are not united, the house will be roofed with raffia palm). The proverb simplifies the obvious fact that unity is critical to any form of collective discourse, agreement, development action, connection and result. As when there is unity of purpose, the result of any action is comparable to roofing a house in a solid iron sheet. On the contrary, discourses that lack unity of minds and actions will result in disorder and of achieving less such that roofing a house is comparable to using vulnerable materials of less durability. The powerful proverb unveils the notion of ikwere or ekweghi (agree or disagree; come out and belong versus stay out and do not come out to be part of the community).http://www.kwenu.com/publications/iroegbu/2007/concept_kwenu.htm


https://www.nairaland.com/244823/showcasing-igbo-culture

Augustinaz: Greedy Igbo pigs.

phreakabit:

Thats what I am trying to stress. Judaism is not Christianity. It is actually old testament "Christianity" for lack of a better description. But can't be referred to as Christianity because Christ wasn't born then. So most of its "practitioner" were Godly men not Christians.

phreakabit:

Wouldn't it benefit you more to bother about your tribe and leave the Igbo race alone?

Abagworo:

I beg of you, I've never heard nor seen any Ehugbo deny being Igbo. Maybe Abakaliki and Nsukka do. The truth is that 90% of Igbos never accepted that name but we know who we mean when talking about Igbos. Everyone has a name for others and were very independent in belief and dialect until the Europeans used that nomenclature and we accepted it.

coolzeal:

Well am just telling you that we are not Igbo and i have never heard any of my relatives that call themselves Igbo either, we're Nsukka and our culture, language and belief system is totally different from Igbos. Anyway when i come back to Naija, i will ask my kinsmen the origin of Nsukka people.

PAGAN 9JA:



You are blind. I said Judaism is independent in origin. not christianity. christianity is plagarized version of Judaism.
I said plagarized version. I didnt say they are exactly the same. the only difference being, christianity propagates man version and is the more terrorist/evil form due to its proselytizing aims.

phreakabit:

You are so demented to the point you hardly understand what you type, and base facts on your own ideologies and concepts. You really need to stay off whatever substance you are on. A Point you should note is : You and your fellow atheists aren't making any progress on this forum.

Abagworo:

Nobody knows who is Osu or not until marriage. So everything you wrote are all fabricated. Tell me where this happens. For example at my age I don't know any Osu. The only time I've heard of it was when a friend of mine wanted to get married and her father did thorough investigation and discovered her fiance was Osu and refused to give out his daughter even when the Church and his wife were pleading with him. I also had a friend from Oraukwu in Anambra State whose Dad said she must marry a Catholic from Oraukwu because he's a Knight. She dated an Anglican from Awka for years and even abscounded with him only for her Dad to arrest him and take back the daughter. So stop trying to paint a false picture of Osu.

babestell: How old are you? I think we are saying the same thing. The father was wrong in refusing to let the daughter marry just because the guy was Osu (big hypocrisy). In my place we have an Osu village so we always hear this gist of wedding plans getting foiled, and that's probably why though I am far younger than you I have experienced it more. Not everyone thinks like that sha, I agree that the mentality is changing big thanks to the efforts of the churches but fragments of it still remains in some communities.

PAGAN 9JA:


we have gained many converts to our beliefs. the christians have gained 0 atheist or Pagan converts so far.

and btw Im Pagan.

Ishsoph: . Phreakabit was right when he said that ur harldly understand what u wrote. U earlier termed christainity dangerous cos of it proselytising aim. And here u are bragging over ur number of converts to ur paganism. Now can u state the diff. btwn the two religion?

PAGAN 9JA:


I have every right to gain converts. Its my birthright as a Pagan. so many of my fellow Pagan brothers and sisters and ancestors have been converted to christainity at swordpoint/gunpoint or faced being ra.ped, tortured and murdered or simply burnt at the stake. we never did anything to them other than worship the Gods of our ancestors. 80 % of christians ancestors have been converted by unfair means. its payback time.

Ishsoph: . I find this hillarious. I have no qualms though wit ur choice of worship as our constitution handed the liberty to us. I only pointed out a percieved discrepancy in ur post whch to me undermines the logic of ur claims. On the part of forceful conversion by the christaindom against our brothers, I only say that true christains had had it all. Just google christain martyres and get back to me.

PAGAN 9JA:


then there is no true christians. what martyrs? those bunch of thieving liars. they tried to stir revolts and colonize countries. they were preaching and trying to undermine and insult the Gods of the land. Imagine Pagans going and preaching in christian countries 50 yrs ago. (we dont do that but just saying) We would be killed. Just because our country didnt make martyrs of those christian missionaries, see how much we suffered and got looted.

They spread discord in our country. look at Japan. the first missionaries that came to Japan to convert the Japanese were trying to stir rebellion among the Samurai and Shogunate. In the end what happened? Tokugawa Leyasu martyred and crucified all the missionaries and kicked them out. Because of that Japan was never colonized and retained its culture and was able to progress. It was the only non-european ethnic Nation to fight on fully equal terms in the WWII and not as slaves or pushovers.

They have progressed and advanced so much today and they have mantained their standard,religions , Pagan culture and heritage and are one of the richest if not the best nation in the world. The Gods Bless the good thinking of Japans Rulers and its people.

Ishsoph: . U only cast aspersions on the martyres and their aims. It was what christains xperienced in the hands of pagans that made them to ally wit them and adopt so many doctrins today that has no root in the bible such as xmas, easter, new year celebrations, trinity etc. If u doubt the above then europe should weep no more over this marriage of convinient! I can only say that u beat d highest and equally cry d highest.

salt 1: Good discovery. I never thought of it. I've never heard a name with the other tribes in it.

nwando: An Igbotic wedding
I love it!
Igbo men adiro bad cha cha

igbo boy: Omenani ndigbo maranma.

But why is it half of igbos bear non igbo first names?..Their default names are non-igbos
Look at Psquare (even see the names they chose to give their kids)
Alex Ekwueme
Ralph Uwazurike
Ralph uwechue
Kingsley CHinweike (kcee the singer)


It is only Ojukwu, Azikiwe and Achebe amongst a few that never propagated their non-igbo names...

This tradition of naming your children stooooopid non-igbo names has to stop
what is bonaventure? what is kingsley, what is Monday, what is Hycinth....

ngozievergreen:
these are their christian names. They all got igbo names names nah

nwando:


Exactly
The same way you hear people from other areas with names like sikiratu,bilkisu,ramota,lateef ,Ibrahim and Mohammed
Are they Nigerian language names or names from their religion?