₦airaland Forum

Can somebody tell me what the name 'Anakwenze' means, and where it comes from? Thanks!

Does it ever annoy you when people assume that since you are Nigerian, you are from one of the three predominantly known ethnic groups? This may be a dumb question, but I am curious.

ChinenyeN:
In that case, I've attached an audio recording of the three sentences in the order of urban, Owere and Aba la Ohazu. I hope it helps.

Thank you so much!

ChinenyeN:
There's nothing wrong in asking questions. Our people like to say that an inquiring individual does not get lost. So far you seem genuinely interested in the knowledge, so I have no problem attempting to provide some answers.

Regarding the pronunciations, are you familiar with tone and diacritics? The language is tonal through and through we use diacritics to distinguish those tonal aspects.

No, I'm not familiar whatsoever. But that's good to know.

Ihuomadinihu:
Owerri and Aba dialects may share the same structure but they are not similar.

Can you show me the differences?

ChinenyeN:
The dialects spoken by the indigenous Owere (Owerri) and Aba la Ohazu (Aba) are markedly different from the respective urban standards. I'll use your list of phrases to illustrate.

How are you? (English)
Elee ka i mere? (Igbo Urban)
I me kpa ole? (Owere)
I nu ññaa? (Aba la Ohazu)

The distinction simply grows from this point on. After which, it becomes easy to spot an indigenous-speaker from a non-indigenous, urban speaker.

Thank you! I'm sorry, but how would those be pronounced? Especially the last one. As I said, I'm sorry if I'm asking for too much.

bigfrancis21:
Yea, looking at it from the Nigerian angle - one's ancestry is determined differently from what is obtained in the US. In US, you are automatically from the place you were born at, irrespective of ancestral origins. For example, Cordozza born in Los Angeles is automatically conisdered as being from LA even though ancestrally he is hispanic from Costa Rica. However, this is different in Nigeria. Ancestry is based on one's father's origins and in Nigeria everybody has a village or place or original land where his paternal forefathers settled in since olden times and thus you have ancestral ties to that land and you as a person is from that place no matter where in Nigeria or abroad you were born at. Let me use US as an example to make it clear to you, if your paternal ancestors settled in Baltimore, Maryland, Baltimore automatically becomes your village or town or where you are from - ancestral ties, irrespective of whether you were born in Alabama, Texas or Hawaii. You, through your ancestors, have ancestral ties to that particular place or spot. For Nigerians, ancestry is paternally determined - you are from your father's village. Thus, in Nigeria, a person born to an Igbo father (from Anambra state, though he may be born in Lagos state) but Yoruba mother (from Oyo state but born in the UK) is considered Igbo and treated as such.

Therefore, your friend was correct when he said he is from Nigeria.

I think the reason the method of identification in US is different is becaue the US is a land of immigrants - whites and blacks. Thus, no immigrant can claim ancestral ties to land originally belonging to the native indians.

Ohh, okay, thank you. Sometimes he gets into big arguments with people because people tell him that he's from America, and his parents are from Nigeria. It's good to know this now though. So is it all that in other places in Africa? Or do you not know?

MrPresident1:
https://www.nairaland.com/2270917/list-yoruba-dialects

OP, hopefully you will find what you seek in the link above.

Yes it does, thank you.

bigfrancis21:
Ok bro. I thought you had done one already with your result pointing to Nigerian (Igbo) origin. We've had many AAs and Afro-Carribean people in the past that had taken the test and joined this thread to learn more about their Igbo or Yoruba ancestry.

I'm looking forward to hearing the result of your DNA test!

I wish lol, I'm interested in Igbo culture because my best friend is Igbo, and he lover talking about it. He says that he's from Nigeria, but he was born here in the US, I don't know how that works. Is that true?

ChinenyeN:
CluelessGuy, I want to presume that by 'Aba dialect' you mean the version of Igbo spoken by the urban citizens and not the dialect of the actual indigenous community, Aba la Ohazu. If that's the case, then trust those of us here when we say that there versions of Igbo spoken in Aba and Owerri urban centers are more or less the same.

Ahh, okay. What about the dialects spoken in the indigenous areas?

bigfrancis21:
Yes Aba Igbo is similar to Owerri Igbo in many respects.

How are you? Elee ka I mere?
What is your name? Elee aha gi?
Where are you from? I wu onye ebee?
Thank you. Imeela.

Thank you!

bigfrancis21:
Yes Yoruba, just like most African languages, has dialects. Some of its dialects include Ijebu Yoruba, Egba Yoruba, Ibadan Yoruba, Lagos Yoruba, Ekiti Yoruba (the toughest to decipher so I hear) with Ibadan version of Yoruba being the standard written and widely spoken version all over Yoruba land.

If I may ask, are you african american? I see that you have deep interest in Nigerian culture and languages. Did you take the DNA ancestry test lately?

Yes, I am African American. And no, I haven't taken a DNA test, but I really want to. I'll have to make an appointment soon.

I can never find anything on Aba Igbo, all I ever find is that people say that it's the same as Owerri Igbo, which I don't think is true. So can anybody tell me the following phrases in the Aba dialect?

How are you?
What is your name?
Where are you from?
Thank you.

And any other common phrases that you may like to add.

Thank you!

I'm an American who does know much about Nigeria, or Africa as a whole. Anyway, my friend is an Igbo, and he tells me that there are many different dialects of Igbo; some so different that you can hardly understand some if your ears aren't used to it.

With that being said, I want to know if there are differences in Yoruba dialects, and I want to know the extent of it.

Bear in mind that I'm a Yoruba illiterate (Maybe I should take a course here at my university!), so please compare common phrases and examples.

Thank you!

Radoillo:
Pretty good translation. I'm familiar with the second part of that song. 'Jee mekwa ozo jebili' or 'jee ani ozo jebili' means 'migrate to another land'

'I am not going to leave Igbo land for another land/country'.

There are a number of strange constructions and usages in that song. I don't know whether this is because the writer was writing in a dialect I'm unfamiliar with, or because the writer does not have fine mastery of the language.

I can't also precisely say which dialect it is, but it is either from somewhere in Anambra (Onitsha-Idemmili area, most likely) or from the Enuani area in Delta.

It's likely because he was born and raised in America. He tried though. Thank you though, he says that he's from Onitsha.

barrnchedo:
Ana m ekene Olisa mere m Onye Igbo - I thank God who made me an Igbo person. Ana m ekene Olisa na-agozi Ndi Igbo - I thank God who blesses the Igbo tribe.
Maka na umu Igbo o buna bu umu nne m - Because all Igbos are my brothers and sisters. Ana Igbo bu ana nke ezigbo aku - Igbo land is land full of good wealth. Anyi ekwesighi I hapu ana a - We are not supposed to leave this land. Mgbe m ga-afu umu Igbo aga m aju ha- When I see Igbos I will ask them: Kedu ebe Unu si bia? Ala Igbo! Where are you from? Igbo land! Agaghi m ahapu ala Igbo ga ebe ozo ga biri - I won't leave Igbo land to go live elsewhere. Umu Igbo ga Adi ndu! -Igbos will live!

Thank you!

Phut:
You know what? I am going to give it a whirl. Here goes;

I am giving thanks to God who made me Igbo
I am giving thanks to God who has blessed the Igbo
Because all Igbo people are my brothers and sisters
Igbo land is a land of great wealth
We are not supposed to leave this land??
When I see Igbo people, I am going to ask them

Where are you from? Igbo land!
Where are you from? Igbo land!
I am not going to leave Igbo land, jee mekwa ozo jebili
Igbo people are eternal

Thank you! Yes, he apparently translated correctly. Do you know what dialect this is in?

satelliteDISH:
What do u intend to achieve with the info if it makes sense or not. my frd stop pucknosing on our sacred culture and tribe.

Is it a crime to learn more about your people? As I said, I'm just interested... I'd just like for somebody to translate that for me.

I'm American, and literally know nothing about Nigeria - or Africa for that matter. I was referred to this site by my Nigerian friend because I am very interested in Nigerian culture. So I asked my Nigerian friend to write me a song in Igbo (Didn't have to rhyme), and he did. He said that it was his take at an old civil war song. My problem is this: he was born and raised in America, but still says that he's from Nigeria, and speaks Igbo almost fluently. Apparently, if you're Nigerian, you're from the village that your forefathers come from, not the place where you were born. I asked him to translate the song for me, but I am skeptical because he was born and raised in America, so I would like if one of you could translate the song for me. I would also like to know that dialect he is using.


Ana m ekene Ose na eme m onye Igbo
Ana m ekene Ose na eme gozi ndi Igbo
Maka na umu Igbo o buna bu nwanne mu
Ani Igbo bu na ani nke ezigbo aku.
Na anyi ekwesili rapu ani a.
Na mgbe m na afu umu Igbo, Aga aju m fa:

One ebe ka unu si? Ani Igbo!
One ebe ka unu si? Ani Igbo!
Agaro m a rapu ani Igbo, jee meekwa ozo jebili
Agaro m a rapu ani Igbo, jee meekwa ozo jebili
Umu Igbo ga adi ndu!


Thanks!