Spot on. He has valid points and points that were far off. And as for African-Americans being the chosen ones, well that's still debatable. I think all blacks worldwide share the same struggle and none of us are above each other.
Yup I watched the video and it hasn't changed my first opinion of what he was saying. First of all I didn't agree with his opinion about gravity not existing and that African Americans are children of Israel but heah if he and a number of African Americans believe that it is their business. When he said that he believe evolution is a sham I do understand to a extent what he means, especially since I am Christian but a atheist black American would not agree with that. Before I get to the king and Queens topic, he mentioned extensively about interracial dating/marriage is being pushed on African americans by the American government which he says cause the African American marriage structure to not be stable, he also said Interracial dating/marriage is preached to African American men but not other men, while other non-black men are being told to not date African American women. He had some slight truths to what he was saying but I think his explanation is not the full story and is not entirely correct because right now in 2015(and the past decade), the biggest contributors and pushers of IR from what I have seen are African Americans themselves, if you look at the gender war nonsense between African American man and women in African American forums and YouTube it is pretty obvious. I don't think the American government cares at all about the marriage structure mess going on in the African American community and I feel they in directly did their part slightly since the beginning with African Americans all the way back to slavery to segregation, so this is nothing new but although that's the case African American marriages during and for awhile after segregation were intact, so as much as he may blame the media and the government, African Americans contributed to it as well(slightly understandable).
Now back to the King and Queens topic, I still don't agree with what he was saying because in the video he still says that African Americans were the rulers of Africa before they got to America(15:30) and his sources he used to back it up were based on two documentaries, and also his belief that African American are descendants of the MOORS(22:30) which I feel is fantasy. Then He also says that African Americans are the trend setters and most copied race in the planet, that is debatable because the question comes in what arena entertainment, sports, business, politics, medical world, and etc and he sort of answered the question by mentioning Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Deon Sanders, 2pac, Biggie, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X. Most of what he mentioned are in sports and entertainment except for Martin and Malcolm, now if it wasn't for Martin Luther King jr, the civil rights movement may have not been as successful. So Martin did a lot, he is respected and has inspired many Americans and people outside America till this day but Martin was also influenced by Ghandi who was Indian. To the actors mentioned, now don't get me wrong I respect both Sidney Poitier and Denzel Washington and I actually like them as actors they represent African American men well and both have won academy awards which is a high honor in arts and entertainment but to use them as a example for his explanation that African Americans ruled Africa as king and Queens is ridiculous. I could throw back the question to him and ask where are the African American Didier drogba or Pele since he used athletes as his example or I could ask where are the African American Aliko Dangote's or Why would Black Africans want to be 2pac or Biggie(some Africans may listen to their music but almost all are not striving to be like them, the same with other non-Africans worldwide). Like I said some things in his video were spot on and some were fantasy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCZZ2Dsnpwk. It's one of those black "conscious" type videos though and it mostly talks about interracial dating. The title looked interesting and I clicked on the video.
aim5: I recently watched a YouTube video with this African American lightskinned guy stating that African Americans are the chosen people on this planet. He said that African Americans are number one in the racial/ethnic hierarchy and that they ruled as kings and queens in Africa as overlords over Africans. To cut the long story short, I listened to his video in it's entirety and it got me thinking about the information this man spewed. And to be honest, he may have a point because African Americans have produced the best athletes, singers and entertainers in the world and also some of the world's most popular trends started in African American neighborhoods. I'd like to know what you guys think about this? Do you feel that the blacks in America are the chosen people?
I feel African Americans rule in American sports like basketball and in the entertainment industry, especially with the musicians, but besides that not so much in other areas. I don't know what he is talking about that african Americans ruled as king and queens in african kingdoms cause that is a lie and fantasy nonsense. Africans of royal status in those days were never sold to slavery lol. That part is fairy tales and I don't think africans should take it seriously as far as I am concerned.
This post is quite funny. I find the title quite hilarious. Chosen people in what sense? Imagine the trash written up there. When did African Americans come to Africa to rule? Which kingdom did they rule? When did they return to Africa to rule over Africans? When in the point in history was that? Between 1650 and 1850 when they were still bound in the shackles of slavery? When did their masters release them to go to Africa 'to rule'? Weren't their ancestors captives of wars and inter-tribal rivalry that were carted away from Africa as slaves? Never did Africans give away their royal blood or kings. So how come this so-called 'chosen people' nonsense? Please pick up a damn book or utilize the internet and educate yourself. Why do people concoct blatant lies to make themselves feel good?
Then I see another group of African Americans, in their quest for an identity, go about claiming to be the 'real jews' based on the bible paragraph that mentioned the Hebrews being sold off into slavery while totally forgetting (or is it a lack of critical thinking) that the passage referred to the actual people from whom some of them will be sold off into slavery and not those sold off into slavery as the 'chosen' people.
I see a lot of African Americans come up with several irrational theories and interpretations all in the search for an identity when their identity is not far to fetch - they simply come from Africa regardless of their current admixture. Many are blatant ignorant about their homeland and have bought into the false American media stereotype about Africans. Many AAs flatly reject having any connection to Africa because they think Africans still run around bu.tt naked with spears and bows, riding on horses back and drinking raw cow milk. Such absurdity. AAs need not look too far in search of their identity. Africa is your home. If you care so much about your identity, first embrace your African ancestry. Only then would you find peace with yourself.
AloyEmeka8: Should Nigeria create a thanksgiving holiday like Americans & Canadians?
Why?
There is a historical reason why Americans have that holiday. Nigerians have their own holidays to that have historical meaning as we'll, so I don't think it's necessary for Nigerians to have a thanksgiving holiday
sonofananimal: very very good analysis. IF you take a little step back in histroy. You will see that the fulanis colonise the Hausa and I this brought about the classifying of both of them as one
I didn't know about the Fulani colonization of the Hausas but it is making more sense why both tribes keep being merged together.
Lionhearted2015: Am surprised at the length he went trying to smear the image of Ghanaians. First he commits a fallacy of hasty generalization because some children dont have fathers all Ghanaians are bastards. Really ? Well I'd like you to check this forum first you can then decide to reply me later. i wonder if you really married a Ghanaian woman. http://www.nigerianadultforum.com/index.php?action=profile;u=13782;area=showposts
Why did you respond to a thread from 2011, are you serious? You just gave birth to a dead thread that now will turn into a Ghana vs. Nigeria thread. You could have complained to the moderators instead.
sonofananimal: you join the Hausa and Fulani together
Did you even think we speak thesame language
Why not join the igbos and yorubas together and we will know that your head is truly made up of cement
This is really not cool for you to join those three
To be honest most Nigerians join hausa/Fulani together when it comes to describing them culturally, which has been going on for decades and the fact that both tribes are muslims added to it however I do think if the hausa's and fulanis had made a strong effort after independance from the British to make a strong distinction from each other as tribes, nobody would have easily grouped them together when describing them. The yoruba tribe and igbo tribe were never grouped together cause both tribes from the beginning made conscious efforts to distinguish their tribe before the British came, during British rule and after the British left. grouping the Yoruba's and Igbo together is like grouping England and France together, that is impossible. The fulanis and Hausa's in Nigeria have been merged together when it comes to identifying or describing them so long that it will take awhile for people to get used to calling them separately even though most people know they are two different tribes.
fratermathy: Hello Nairalander! , Nigeria is a very rich cultural center. In fact, our diversity is one of our major strength as a nation. Although it has its own advantages and disadvantages, its advantages surpass the disadvantages. However, most Nigerians are content with just their own ethnic group and this is quite bad for true patriotism and good neighbourliness. Some Nigerians have never even seen people of other ethnic extractions! Others have little or no knowledge of other ethnic groups! Worse still, a few know nothing about their own culture and ethnic extraction. This has become a trend among the recent generation of Nigerians who embrace Western culture, religion and dressing. This thread shall explore an aspect of our culture: DRESSING! I wont be able to discuss all the ethnic nationalities in the country due to constraints but some major ethnic groups across the geographical spread of Nigeria and how they dress will be underscored in this list.
1. Edo Nation The Edo People occupy current Edo State. They are made up of the Binis, Afemais, Eshan, etc. They have a very rich cultural heritage. They are all headed by an Oba who delegates duties to various towns and villages through the Odionweres(Elders) and Enogies (Dukes). The Benin Kingdom is one of the oldest and culturally rich pre-colonial African Kingdom. Edo people are quite reclusive in nature. They are colorful and elegant. The use of beads is commonplace in Benin. It symbolises royalty and freedom. www.nairaland.com/attachments/1278044_625535_506034929455284_1552838402_n_jpg5860e03913cfc8761c1692c7b0d3a890
2. Urhobo/Isoko Nation The Urhobo/Isoko People are the major tribe in Delta State. They occupy Delta Central and Delta South. They are the 5th largest ethnic group in Nigeria, usually dragging position with the Ibibios. The Urhobo people have been grouped here with the Isoko people because of their cultural similarities. They dress traditionally in exactly the same way. The language is overtly similar and the people have same cultural traits. The Urhobo and Isoko people are migrants from Edo nation according to oral history. The people are ruled by an Ovie (King) with variations in appellations such as Orodje, Orosuen, Okobaro, Okpako, etc. The Ovie is seconded by an Otota (Spokesman) who is the traditional Prime Minister. The Otota is also called the "Unuevworo" in Uvwie-Urhobo Kingdom. Urhobo people love titles alot. In most ceremonies, people are announced as "Chief, Professor, Reverend Ovwigho Ogbejiriemu mni cna esq OFR". Urhobos do not have a penchant for hard work and they are known mainly for academic/mental feats. The Urhobo people usually dress by tying a Georgian Wrapper and wearing a Lace Shirt with a Cowboy Hat and a Walking Stick and beads are worn on the hands and neck.
3. Yoruba Nation The Yoruba People occupy South Western and North-Central Nigeria and in states such as Lagos, Oyo, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Ondo, Ogun and Osun. They are one of the three major tribes of Nigeria. They have a rich mythological history which dates back to Oduduwa as their earliest progenitor. The Yoruba people are extremely jovial and respectful. A typical Yoruba man can greet you 100 times in a day if needs be. They love partying and enjoyment generally. Their traditional system revolves around the Ooni of Ife and the Alaafin of Oyo which are seen as apex custodians of Yoruboid culture. Most Yoruba towns and villages are ruled by Obas also called Olus or Deji. They have a rich traditional religious system and a Pantheon of gods akin only to the Greek Pantheon. Yorubas are extremely glamorous in dressing! They look songs and food and are known for owning the Music industry in Nigeria. The Yorubas usually wear "Agbada", a oversized cloth which is worn like a jacket over lace or wrapper based clothes.
4. Igbo Nation The Igbo People occupy South Eastern and parts of South-Southern Nigeria which has states such as Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Delta North and Rivers. Igbo is one of the three major tribes of Nigeria. Igbo itself doesn't represent any particular group but it is an umbrella term for all Igboid groups such as Mbaise, Ika, Aniocha, Ikwerre(disputed), Orlu, etc. Igbos are highly creative and technocratic in Nature. They do well in business and technology. They have a strong family bond and every successful member of a family becomes the succour for others. Igbo traditional system is modelled after the Benin system. They usually have an Eze or Igwe who is either elected, is the oldest elder in the community or is inherited from father. The Igbos love class and elegance! They are self-preservative and fraternal in nature! They can be found in virtually every nook and cranny of the world. In fact, if you enter a place where there are no Igbos, please run away from there!!!. The Igbos usually dress with a trouser and a simple wool based shirt to go. The women dress like the Edo people with beads on the head. Some Igbo tribes tie a white wrapper across their shoulders. www.nairaland.com/attachments/2018926_mikechioma_jpeg6f9e476963df5f6447aec641b9917d3b
5. Hausa/Kanuri/Fulani Nation The Hausa/Kanuri/Fulani people occupy Northern Nigeria. These people have been grouped together because of the similarities in their culture, dressing and language. They are the most populated people in Nigeria and make up the major tribe. Apart from the Fulani people, most Nigerians won't be able to differentiate between these tribes. Religion has also helped to strengthen the bond shared by this triad as well as other minorities in their region. These people live a quiet, reclusive and pastoral life. They are not known for extravagance. Their traditional system is modelled after the Islamic method of a Caliphate, Sultanate and Emirate. Most towns are ruled by an Emir or his delegate. The Fulanis are remarkably nomadic in nature! These people are mainly farmers and cattle herders while there are also large pockets of politicians and civil servants. They dress with a "Kaftan" or "Jalabiya". The Fulanis in particular are unique in their dressing. The first picture below depicts Hausa/Kanuri while the second depict Fulani/Fulfulde.
6. Efik/Ibibio/Annang/Oron/Eket Nation The Efik/Ibibio people occupy Akwa-Ibom and Cross-River States in South-Southern Nigeria. They are one of the lesser known people of Nigeria. However these people have a rich culture and elegance. They are said to be migrants from Cameroon in pre-colonial times. They also have the privilege of being one of the first people to encounter Western education and culture. The cities of Uyo and Calabar today are one of the most neatest, beautiful and secured places in Nigeria. The people are welcoming and have an aversion to violence. Their traditional system revolves around an "Obong" who rules over an "Afaha" (clan). Efik-Ibibio people love food and are known to have a wide variety of delicacies in their menu. Their dress sense is in tandem with that of the Igbo people. However, there are a lot of differences. www.nairaland.com/attachments/474787_Ibibioarv_jpg72bd82044c247eb1f3efbd2129a44f93
7. Ijaw Nation The Ijaw people occupy Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Akwa-Ibom and Ondo States. They comprise the 4th largest ethnic group in Nigeria. The Ijaws live close to the river and thus, all their myths and legends are water based. Ijaw people are reclusive and quiet. They look drinking as well! Ijaw traditional system is headed by a "Pere" (King) who rules over a clan or village. The Ijaws are fearless and bold! They have cultural similarities with the neighbouring Itsekiri and Urhobo/Isoko people. www.nairaland.com/attachments/533881_ijaw_groom_n_igbo_lady_jpg0a3e9d9d1ec61847e7670a6a3fcd90ce
8. Itsekiri Nation The Itsekiris are a lesser known minority ethnic group whose people occupy Delta South. Itsekiris are aboriginals of Warri North, Warri South and Warri South West local government areas with a large pocket of people in Sapele local government area. The Itsekiris are originally Yoruba people who migrated to their current hold and have, over time, mixed their language with Edo, Urhobo, Ijaw and Portuguese. Itsekiris are jovial, colorful and elegant people. They are fearless and politically conscious. They have some of the richest and well educated people in Nigeria. They are ruled over by an Olu who is a direct descendent of Ginuwa, a Benin prince. Itsekiris dress like the Urhobos and Ijaws. Their royalty put on white with a coloured girdle depending on the occasion.
9. Nupe Nation The Nupes occupy Kwara and Niger State in North-Central Nigeria. They are reclusive and quiet in nature. The Nupes are headed over by the Etsu Nupe. Nupes are communal in nature and they enjoy pastoral and simple life. Most Nupe people are farmers. Nupes also has a strong and deeply woven system of traditional thought that guides their day-to-day life.
10. Tiv Nation The Tiv people occupy Benue State in North Central Nigeria. Like most tribes in Northern Nigeria, they are quite reclusive and quiet. The Tiv people were once part of the Wukari Federation of pre-colonial times and they are similar to the Jukun people of Taraba state. They have a rich and wholesome culture and belief system which is headed by the Tor Tiv. The Tiv People are colorful and elegant. They are unique and have some of the most beautiful ebony girls in the country.
If your ethnic group is not listed, feel free to contribute and add more facts or correct errors/misconceptions.
cool thread and interesting. to be honest I never knew too much about the smaller tribes in Nigeria, so these summaries are good
Rapmoney: You are very correct. Reminds me of the drama,'The Blinkards', where Africans were ridiculed by the playwright for copying the British culture and throwing away their original African culture and heritage!
I never seen blinkards but sounds interesting but the summary of the drama is spot on because it reminded Africans to appreciate their culture, so maybe we need dramas to show africans to appreciate themselves
fibial: According to a BBC article published today, Nigerians are one of the most unruly sets of human beings around. . As the article goes, here are the most common bad behaviour exhibited by Nigerians: The Nigerians who will never stand in any queue, who must make their way to the front as soon as they arrive
The drivers who will never stop at a traffic light, who consider it anathema to allow an empty space in front of their vehicles
The invisible individuals who excrete piles of solid waste on the pavements, night after night
The staff who take three weeks’ leave to attend their father’s burial, then another three weeks later in the year to attend their father’s burial, again. “That first one was my father who paid my school fees,” they say. “This one is my biological father”
Nigerians are notorious for illegal electricity connection. Can this happen in London? The mothers who threaten the head teacher with fire and brimstone because their children were punished for coming late to school
The bosses who, in the presence of their entire staff, praise you for your excellent work skills, then wink and ask if you also have excellent “bedroom skills”, while everyone present bursts out laughing
The top government officials who show off their importance by the number of people jam- packed into their waiting rooms. They give you an appointment for 7am, knowing full well that they do not intend to see you until 10pm
The air hostesses who frown throughout the flight, to avoid giving you the false impression that they are at your beck and call
The “big men” and “big women” who scream “Do you know who I am?” when you ask for some identity before they can be allowed through the gate
Those who ring the airline to request that the flight be delayed for their sakes, while their fellow passengers gaze out of the aeroplane windows for an hour, wondering why the flight is delayed, this time
please can you send the source lol. I have to admit this article is spot on and I have witnessed some of these behaviours with some Nigerians as well and its irritating, to me one reason this happens is because to be honest with some Nigerians these backward behaviours are the norm in nigeria and it is tolerated smh
I heard about this from Aljazerra and I think BBC a few years ago about bleaching in Nigeria, other African countries, countries in Asia(ex. India) and south america(ex. Brazil). I think the reality is that skin bleaching is the negative effects of colonialism in Africa sadly and it will take awhile before Africa comes to terms with it and address it then finally reject it. The funny part of all about this is that most of the famous Nigerians in the media and entertainment industry are dark skinned and dark brown black Nigerians who are good looking so it's funny at times that these women bleaching don't appreciate what they have but as I said before colonailism left a nasty affect in Africa and until that affect is wiped out skin bleaching will continue. I think those pictures of black african women who have skin damage as a result of bleaching is a good way to address it to black african women and some men that if they continue they will look a mess in the future. America did that with their anti-smoking agenda, they kept showing adds and commercials against smoking: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=anti+smoking+commercials and guess what the commercials worked cause smoking reduced in America over the decades, maybe Nigerian/Black Africans need to start doing that.
Angelou: are Somalis not among them... What about other kushites residing in Minnesota. Somali99 i think this assertions are in accurate.. Anyway i'm just being sarcastic, we all know that the only thing somalis and djibouti are good at doing is flaunting their swollen forehead and buck teeth
@bold...it is the same way Igbo parents prefer their kids marrying from within their region. I guess it all balances out at the end of the day. No tribe should be singled out as being 'tribal bigots'.
Yea basically Majority of yoruba's, majority of igbo's and majority of Hausa's prefer their children to marry within their own tribe and for the most part majority of Nigerians marry with in their Tribe any way and I see nothing wrong with that or see it as being a tribal bigot, to me it's more of cultural pride. All cultures and races are like that in the world today, the indians, arabs and etc are all like that. I have no problem with intertribal though. However the only time intertribal becomes a problem is when people within their respective culture, race, group and etc attack other groups or their own for justification for marrying out(not extreme with Nigerians though).
Thanks for your objective statements. Yea, Igbos do face religious attacks and crisis in the North but many are still willing enough to go to the North in search of business opportunities. Yorubas are almost absent in the east in almost all spheres of life - trade, education, NYSC etc.
In trade there are very few Yoruba traders trading in the east. The few ones willing to travel to the east have made the east their home, and are excelling in their trade. Competition is very stiff in the east and many Igbos find themselves migrating out to other zones where competition is much less than it is back home.
Asides trade, let us consider education. How many Yoruba would you find studying in the east? You can count the number of Yorubas who are studying in the east. It is not a matter of not enough schools in the east. There are tons of schools in the east - universities, colleges of education and polytechnics. A cursory look at the admission list of schools in the east reveals mostly easterners and Niger Deltans and very few Yorubas.
During my 3rd year in the University, there was this Yoruba guy who lived in the same hostel as me. That was his final year as he was graduating. One evening we met ourselves at a popular indomie eating joint close to the area called 'beach' in Nsukka. As we were eating we got talking. I asked him about his decision to come to the east and how it happened. He revealed to me that when he put UNN as first choice because he wanted to come to UNN to study, his parents yelled at him for deciding to go to the east because 'they eat human flesh there and they will kill you and eat you when you get there.' They warned him to change his option to a university in the SW. He refused and took his JAMB exam. Luckily for him, he got admission into UNN and moved to Nsukka to start his education. According to him, he had deep-seated beliefs too about the Igbos before he left the SW and that living in the east had taught him that the Igbos were human beings after all. He said lots of Yorubas, like his parents, carry a lot of false impressions about the Igbos and that he was grateful he came to the east which taught him a lot about the Igbos. He also mentioned that he loved the city of Enugu a lot for its serenity and beauty and wondered why it wasn't as populated as Lagos, which he described as rowdy and noisy.
When it comes to NYSC, lots of Yoruba corpers posted to the east redeploy back to the west after camping. I have met more Yoruba corpers who redeployed back to the west than those who remained in the east to complete their service. A Yoruba corper posted to Port-Harcourt revealed her own story when she received her posting letter that she had been posted to PH (which she considered as 'east' or Igboland anyway), her parents were very critical of her going to the east for service and planned for her that they would have her redeploy back to the west after camping because the east was too dangerous for her to live there. After 3 weeks in camp, this corper called her parents and insisted that she was going to complete her service in PH and that she liked the place. Her parents tried to discourage her but she insisted.
The only area you can find Yorubas in significant numbers in the east is in civil service, which was not out of their volition but because they were posted to the east.
The crux of the matter is Yorubas bear a lot of false deep-seated impressions about the Igbos or Igboland in general that they are hardly ever willing to consider living there. To think of the fact that there are other ethnic groups such as the Hausas, Ibibios, Binis/Esan etc. living in Igboland while there are hardly any Yorubas reveals the thought processes of the Yorubas regarding Igbos in general.
I never did corp or education in Nigeria, so I will answer based on what my relatives of have told me & my travels to Nigeria; When it comes to education & Corp, I Think the reason is because Yoruba parents are comfortable and prefer their children getting their education & corp in their region which is SW then traveling all the way to the East. However when it comes to corp, there are some points you mentioned that I would like to add as well, it is not only the east but other regions like far deep in the north that yoruba parents don't want their children going to but for the most part it is because of safety for example the religious fiasco of the north, so you will understand some Yoruba parents fear of letting their children go to some where far away that is not completely safe. However igbo parents have misconceptions of yoruba territory as well, so I don't think it is one sided.
I will add that tribes in Nigeria need to ease up on their misconceptions of one another in order for Nigeria to move forward smoothly
This poster often makes these types of inane comments. He is not alone in being incurably addicted to ethnic stereotyping so there's not much point in engaging with him (although I'm grateful to others like Radoillo and Scholes who do God's work by replying!) I do have to correct some simplistic comments that I often see repeated by ignorant posters on Nairaland. Anyone who feels offended because they fit the bill of 'ignorance' may wish to look up the meaning of the word.
Yoruba entrepreneurs have lived and continue to live all over Nigeria and West Africa, in numbers rivaling if not outnumbering any other migrant groups. I'm not interested in score-settling with shallow-minded tribal chestbeaters but the facts are the facts and we have both anecdotal and empirical evidence to support this view. You will find Yoruba traders in every rural corner of northern and central Nigeria, and in a chain of communities stretching throughout West Africa up to the Ivory Coast. Entrepreneurial travel is a foundational aspect of Yoruba culture, as I've written here before. It's enshrined in the traditional religion through "Aje shaluga" and Olokun, and is well-presented in hundreds of proverbs, and in ancient and contemporary patterns of commerce. The market is still the locus of society in most rural settings, and cities built along traditional plans like Ibadan still demonstrate the central role of the market in Yoruba life. A brilliant, under-appreciated book on this theme was published in the early 1980s and is called "The Entrepreneur As Culture-Hero"--the author is Professor Bernard Belasco, formerly of the City University of New York. More recent books by Toyin Falola and Jane Guyer go further into Yoruba economic history and anthropology from the 19th century to the present.
Even further back in time, the economic development of Ile-Ife was most likely due to its trade in the luxury goods of the day (9th-14th century West Africa), which included the beaded jewelry, ivory and bronze/brass/copper-alloy artwork produced there: http://www.icom-cc.org/54/document/wg-glass-and-ceramics-interim-meeting-corning-2010--preprint-ige/?action=Site_Downloads_Downloadfile&id=1278 The city was wealthy enough to attract the attention of Muslim scholars like Ibn-Battuta, who is believed to have written about 14th-century Ife under the name "Yufi"--similar to the indigenous Ife-Ijesa and Okun-Ondo dialect version of the town name, "Ufe". There is some controversy about this record but it appears to be correct in calling Ife "one of the largest towns of the negroes, whose ruler is one of the most considerable of the negro rulers." As suggested by this record, Yoruba cultures have long placed an importance on living in primarily urban arrangements; they are considered one (if not the most) urbanized societies in Africa prior to colonization. Urbanization requires societies open to immigration, entrepreneurship, religious, linguistic and cultural mixing. To my mind, this tradition is strongly upheld in Yoruba culture and partially explain both the size and economic vitality of many Yoruba cities like Lagos and Ibadan.
Coming back to the revolting bigotry that pushes someone to say a group of 35 million people aren't "independent-minded and enterprising enough to travel outside their region to survive". The mindset that generates this type of simple-minded comment can't be cured by posting on the Internet, unfortunately. Thankfully, it can be partially relieved through reading and travel, so more facts:
The Yoruba ethnonym "Anago" or "Nagot" is synonymous with "Nigerian" in both the Ivory Coast and Ghana, which suggests the significance of the Yoruba migrant population in both countries.
This is senseless, given the documented travel patterns above. If there were economic opportunities and societal openness rivaling Cote D'Ivoire and Ghana in the East, you would expect to see more migration there. Unlike some of the silly inferences I read on Nairaland, migrant labor does not move to new areas out of an altruistic need to "develop" a community. Migrant traders like the Yoruba in these countries, or in London, Dubai and so forth, go to these places because there are more economic opportunities than they would have at home. They are leaving to "strike it rich", not to perform philanthropy. It is a clear comment on the perceived inferior quality of Nigerian schools that students would rather attend university in Ghana and Malaysia (and of course the U.S. and U.K.) It may wound Nigerian pride to hear it, but that won't make it less true. Likewise, if Yoruba traders go to every other region and nation on Earth but avoid specific ones in large numbers, there is likely to be a straightforward explanation that doesn't require the tortured logic of the quoted statement.
Your claims are demonstrably false as shown above, since there are literally millions of Yoruba people living outside their region for three or more generations, at this point. They live in a wide variety of other communities inside and outside Nigeria. The more probable truth is that you and others who think and talk like you represent a strain of thought and lack of openness in your region that most Yoruba people would find unacceptable. Coming from cosmopolitan backgrounds where they are used to celebrating a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds, they are unlikely to be attracted to that rudimentary approach to life and a general lack of courtesy and decorum. If there were some overriding economic reasons to live in the East, there would undoubtedly be many hardy migrants who are indifferent to these issues. For instance, there are Yoruba traders established in Hong Kong and Dubai, which are certainly more economically competitive and less culturally-familiar to them than Eastern Nigeria. The appeal is the economic opportunity that the first two choices offer and that the last appears to lack. Whether or not this lack of opportunity is true has little to do with my point that BigFrancis typifies a lack of cultural courtesy and decorum that many (if not most) Yoruba would find repellant.
Bigotry comes easily to the shallow-minded and inexperienced and it's tempting (but difficult) to ignore it if you have a nuanced and open-minded view of the world. Nairaland taught me a log time ago that engaging with dyed-in-the-wool bigots is a waste of time--they either grow out of their ignorance through their own efforts or inevitably face shame and correction from a source they admire and trust more than an anonymous internet poster. It is important to correct nonsense like the first quoted statement because impressionable readers who don't have a wider appetite for information might buy it.
I have a witness in the person of a half-yoruba half-igbo nairalander on this forum who personally narrated her ordeal in the hands of a Yoruba man she was dating.
Me to as well, I forgot her name but I think she made a thread about it
The only tribe who will have issues with living in the east is the Yoruba because they are hardly independent minded and enterprising enough to travel outside their region to survive. Also, many are discouraged by the tough competition that must be going on in the east, given the tough competition the Igbos are giving in Lagos and other SW states already. Then also, some Yorubas also carry so many false impressions about the Igbos or Igboland in general and hardly ever travel out to visit other areas, especially Igboland. Igboland is some mysterious Island, some unthinkable place where aliens live and land is scarce. Many Yoruba corpers who are posted to the east redeploy back to the west after camping, even when nobody is pursuing them. They redeploy just because they want to go back to their zone, where they feel comfortable in. On the other hand, Hausas, Ibibios etc have no issue at all migrating to the east to live. In the East, you'll find thousands, if not millions, of Hausas living and doing their businesses peacefully. Many of them have been allocated lands which they established their own community and some of them speak fluent Igbo.
The crux of the matter is that the average yoruba man feels insecure when he is outside of his own region. He doesn't feel comfortable when he is not in the midst of his own people. The ones that travel to the north happen to be muslims and fitting in in the north is not an issue for them. It is not an issue of not feeling comfortable in the east. Lots of non-Igbos are residing peacefully in the east.
interesting there are some truths to what you said but not all is correct, First of all the biggest reason Many Yoruba's don't venture out as you mentioned is because most Yoruba's tend to just feel comfortable in their own territory and don't really care as much to venture out at times not because they have fear of other tribes. However some do venture out and are fine, plus they are not having stiff competition in record numbers in their territory as you are saying. Their are some igbos doing business in Lagos but not big enough that it is beating the yoruba majority to scare them, also most other parts of yoruba land which OGUN, ODUN, OYO, OSUN, EKETI and etc, I never heard of anything of igbo's having stiff compettition against yoruba's in their own territory. The story I have heard is yoruba's having competition amongst themselves in their own territory when it comes to business and not against igbo's.
Also I would like to mention, that yes there are Hausa doing business in the East but it is not easy for Igbo's to do business in the North because there are some bigotry against igbo's from Hausa cause of their religion. I heard of a story of a igbo man that had to leave the north with his family and take his business cause the muslim hausa's physically asaulted him and didn't want him there, and his story is not the only case there have been many stories similar to that mans story, so lets be real
Love knows no colour and boundary and, often times, cases of inter-tribal love like this pop up, however the majority of love cases of the Igbo people still fall within the same ethnic group. Igbo people are encouraged to find love within their own - there are over 35 million of them. Finding love amongst that number should be easy.
I did not intend to feel superior in my post but was only giving you an inside view as seen from the lens of Igbo men and people in general. I must also add that feeling superior is only a thing of the mind. If you feel you are superior, so be it. Just once you don't lord it over other people. If feeling superior drives you to succeed, that's good.
Also, Yoruba men and Hausa men marry mostly from within their kind. I don't see why that of the Igbo should be any different
If I may ask, were you recently in love with an Igbo? What happened?
Are you aware that Hausa men barely marry from outside the Hausa tribe? Does that make them bigots?
Are you aware that Yoruba men mostly marry Yorubas and even the few that have married Igbos, still went on to take on Yoruba spouses? Aren't they 'tribal bigots' by doing so?
Are you aware that white men marry mostly within their race? Does that make them racist?
Why should that of the Igbos be different? Why should Igbos be labelled 'tribal bigots' for choosing to marry their own? Why has happened to freedom to marry who one wants?
As a yoruba woman, you have one of the best statements on this thread
bigfrancis21: Many people who consider themselves “white” would be surprised to discover they have African ancestry — especially those in the South. In an ironic twist, a new study has found that some of the states with the most racial tension are also the ones where the most white people have black ancestors. The findings published this month in the American Journal of Human Genetics found that whites in the South were far more likely to have black ancestry than any other part of the country. Researchers examined 145,000 DNA samples provided to genetic testing company 23andme for ancestry analysis. They have now determined that at least six million Americans who called themselves white had at least 1 percent African ancestry. [img]http://thegrio.files./2014/12/study-1-e1419292272304.png?w=640&h=401[/img] South Carolina and Louisiana ranked highest on the list. Researchers found that one in 20 people who called themselves white in those states had at least 2 percent African ancestry. And in a lot of the South, about 10 percent of people who identified as white turned out to have African DNA as well. What’s also worth noting is the genders of the specific people responsible for some Americans’ mixed ancestry. A whopping 19 percent of the ancestors of self-identified black people — were European male, while only 5 percent were European females. This racial mixing generally occurred in the early 1800s, when slavery was legal, further validating what historians know about white slave owners raping enslaved women who descended from Africa. Just like white people in the South had the most African ancestry, so did black people living in the south; with those in Georgia and South Carolina topping the list. Conversely, black Americans with the lowest percentage of African ancestry were those in West Virginia and Oregon.
not surprised, heavy mixing happened in America history between whites and black and whites and native americans
icedbeatz: naija peeps just have to especially after seeing the craps that happens in naija, schooling and excelling in an environment that is not conducive and the unequipped schools in naija it automatically prepares a true naija citizen to do well in US where the are exposed to good professors, state of the art labs, dedicated teachers and conducive environment. Why won't you do well when you know where you are coming from and the fked up things that you have seen or experienced back in naija hmm? Hahahahahahahahaha anywhere you go for this world and no see naija person there bros begin run because we're everywhere hustling......if only the polithiefcians would just give the citizens 30 percent opportunity to shine eeeh hmm we go lead the pace #ILOVE9JA
NOBODYY: Something to consider. This is why we are in big trouble. Can Muslims be Good Americans? Can a devout Muslim be an American patriot and a loyal citizen? Consider this: Theologically, no. Because his allegiance is to Allah, the moon god of Arabia. Scripturally, no. Because his allegiance is to the five pillars of Islam and the Qur’an. Geographically, no. Because his allegiance is to Mecca, to which he turns in prayer 5 times a day. Socially, no. Because his allegiance to Islam forbids him to make friends with Christians or Jews. Politically, no. Because he must submit to the mullah (spiritual leaders), who teach annihilation of Israel and destruction of America, the great Satan. Domestically, no, because he is instructed to marry four women and beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him. (Qur’an 4:34). Can you see a court case brewing here? Religiously, no. Because no other religion is accepted by his Allah except Islam. (Qur’an, 2:256) Intellectually, no, because he cannot accept the American Constitution since it is based on Biblical principles and he believes the Bible to be corrupt. Philosophically, no, because Islam, Muhammad, and the Qur’an do not allow freedom of religion and expression. Spiritually, no, because when we declare “one nation under God,” the Christian’s God is loving and kind, while Allah is NEVER referred to as our heavenly father, nor is he ever called Love in the Qur’an’s 99 excellent names. Democracy and Islam cannot co-exist. Every Muslim government is either dictatorial or autocratic. Therefore after much study and deliberation perhaps we should be very suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS in this country. They obviously cannot be both good Muslims and good Americans. Call it what you wish…it’s still the truth. If you find yourself intellectually in agreement with the above, perhaps you will share this with your friends. The more who understand this, the better it will be for our country. Pass it on. The war is bigger than we know.
To be "All-American”… One must support the Constitution and the principles of our Founding Fathers. There is no room for Sharia Law or supporters of that backwards Islamic system of laws
In general America and most of the middle east doesn't get along and when you add muslim fanatics like ISIS and the Osama Bin Ladin of 2001 it won't happen
[b]America has long been scrutinized for its policies and legislation surrounding immigration, and it seems like African immigrants from sub-Saharan countries are carrying some of the heaviest burdens.
When making the journey across the Atlantic, many African immigrants have no idea that they are leaving behind more than just a familiar land.
Those who have reputations as successful doctors and engineers, those who have worked tirelessly to earn some of the highest accolades universities have to offer and those who have spent years climbing their respective career ladders are often leaving those accomplishments behind as well.
Once they cross the boarder into America, many are forced to navigate a disheartening transition from economic success to a financial downfall that leaves them in the unforgiving grasps of poverty.
Highly educated and successful immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa are generally underemployed in America, despite a few states initiating new practices and policies to help curve this troubling trend.
This is a story that Nasser Diallo, an immigrant from Guinea, West Africa, is all too familiar with.
Diallo fled his home after the military sprayed protesters with a wave of bullets. The former political journalist was covering the demonstration when the tragedy struck, according to The Root.
When word got out that the military government was looking for him, he knew he had to leave his home behind. With no transcripts or other documentation to serve as proof of his extensive professional background in journalism, his career failed to take off in America.
“I had to make a very, very tough choice to go back to school and restart from scratch,” Diallo, who also held a law degree back in Guinea, told The Root. “I didn’t have a choice. I was going nowhere. By the time I’m going to graduate, I’ll be maybe 50.”
Unfortunately, Diallo’s story is only becoming more and more common as a part of a system that some experts say has resulted in widespread “brain waste.”
“We’ve all heart about brain drain,” Jeanne Batalova, a senior policy analyst with the Migration Policy Institute, told The Root. “This is brain waste.”
MPI reports that 1 in every 5 college-educated immigrants from another country is actually unemployed or underemployed in America. This means doctors, lawyers, psychologists, journalists, educators, esteemed authors, nurses and other professionals who have a lot to offer their communities and the economy at large, are instead being forced into unemployment lines or being asked to fulfill duties that don’t even utilize their degrees or years of experience in a particular field.
In addition to the cultural barriers and obstacles of racial discrimination, experts also point to the varying federal and state requirements for different professions in the U.S. as a culprit behind the underemployment of these immigrants.
“If you’re a nurse or a doctor, there are so many federal and state requirements that you have to fill,” Jeff Gross, the director of the New Americans Integration Institute at the Massachusetts Immigration and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, told The Root. “It’s very, very complicated and time-consuming.”
In professions of all types, however, there has always been a greater value placed on American degrees when compared to other countries across the globe; thus presenting yet another major hurdle in the way of highly educated immigrants.
Despite the severity of such a problem, little has been done to address the issue on a federal level, although states like Michigan have been slightly more proactive by teaming up with Upwardly Global.
Upwardly Global is described by The Root as an “employment advocacy agency for immigrants, to craft clear-cut licensing guides for 20 professions, so immigrants know exactly how to proceed.”
The state has also passed a bill that helps experienced barbers from other countries launch their businesses in America sooner without having to fulfill the same amount of instruction hours as someone without professional experience under their belt.
Sunexy: We shud do better... Dats y we are THE BLACKS
understood but it starts from somewhere and the rise of Black African billionaires in Africa shows we are progressing. However it is sad that foreign black suffer double jeopardy being black and foreign
Culture / Re: Are African Americans The Chosen People? by anonymous6(f): 7:19pm On Oct 24, 2015 
When did their masters release them to go to Africa 'to rule'? Weren't their ancestors captives of wars and inter-tribal rivalry that were carted away from Africa as slaves? Never did Africans give away their royal blood or kings. So how come this so-called 'chosen people' nonsense? Please pick up a damn book or utilize the internet and educate yourself. Why do people concoct blatant lies to make themselves feel good?
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