In many nations of the world going to watch football matches live is a great recreational activity that thousands take part in on a regular basis. Is it the same in Nigeria? Will people go to the stadiums to see Kano Pillars play Dolphins on a regular Glo Premier League matchday? If so, what is the process like (in terms of tickets, etc etc)? Is it safe? If you've gone to see a game in the Glo Premier League what was your experience like?
I live abroad but am currently in Lagos till early January. Moving around thus far has been a hassle for me so I will appreciate it if there is anyone who is willing to rent me a car that I can use till I leave. Nothing fancy, just functional.
I know that this can be a difficult thing to ask considering the social climate of the country but anyone interested can post their number and I'll call so we can work something out.
odumchi: Bigfrancis and others who have posted before me have said it all. Learning Igbo requires dedication and sincere effort and isn't something that should be approached as an academic course. It should be incorporated into your lifestyle.
I also left Nigeria at a young age, so I somewhat understand your struggle. I was already fluent in my dialect of Igbo when I left, however I did not learn as much Igbo in the diaspora as I would've learned living at home. Because of this, from the period in between age 5 and age 13, the quality of my Igbo dropped and I began finding if hard to remember certain words and make sentences without adding English here and there. When I was 15 (that was when I joined Nairaland), I began actively learning Igbo through music, movies, asking questions, and taking notes. I started listening attentively to adults as they conversed (especially those that did not speak my dialect) and made a list of words that I found unfamiliar and later asked them questions about it. By the grace of God, three years later, here I am.
It shouldn't be difficult for you since you already know something. Take the advice you've received and before you know it you'll be exceptionally fluent. Nwanne, gbagide aka!
Thank you so much for the answer! Really appreciate it.
bigfrancis21: First off, i'll say a big congratulations to you for the bold step at trying to improve your Igbo language fluency.
I'll give you the best advice based from my experience. I was once in your shoes. At 18 years I wasn't speaking Igbo. I started speaking at 21. And today i'm a very fluent native speaker. Igbo language isn't that difficult. The best way to learn Igbo is to speak, just as any other language. Practice Igbo by speaking Igbo. Keep speaking and speaking. Speak it the first time, second time, before the third time, o malu gi aru(it becomes part of you).
Where are you from? Anambra? Enugu? Delta Igbo? Imo? Learn your own dialect first. Central Igbo can come later. Central Igbo is easy to speak from a few modification of your dialect words. Central Igbo(Igbo Izugbe) is embedded in all the Igbo dialects.
At the initial stages you'll make a few mistakes here and there. But after a few months you'll overcome it.
Your best bet would have been to spend some years in Igboland, around native speakers. However, since you're outside take these extra tips to help you. I know some Igbo people living outside Igboland who grew up in US and UK that speak fluent Igbo, with some having never visited Igboland before, and the rest with one or two visits.
Tips: 1) Practice Igbo by speaking it. There's no better way to learn a language than by speaking it.
2) Listen very attentively to Igbo speakers around you when they are speaking and pay attention to how the words are spoken and pronounced. Make quick several repetitions in your head. Then pronounce them repeatedly. It works magic. Speaking will be much easier. Speech proceeds from thoughts. Speeches are thoughts translated into words.
3) Download Igbo native songs on your mobile device, Ipad, laptop etc and listen to them. You'll pick Igbo a lot from Igbo songs. While listening to these songs, don't just listen to them for their feel. Listen attentively to the musician's words. Practice the sentences in your head severally and also pronounce them out as you practice. Igbo native songs are over the internet. You can download many of them from the internet.
4) Download and watch Igbo language movies on your system. This is one of the best ways to learn Igbo. There are so many of them on the internet. You can download some here: http://www.bunitv.com/movies/igbo
5) Finally, speak, speak and speak! It took me a year to be very fluent in Igbo. If you dedicate yourself, in a year or at most two you'll become as good as Nnamdi, Ofili or Uju who lives in Igboland.
I can't thank you enough for the encouragement, the resources you provided and the time you took to write this post. I have a big problem with speaking igbo to my mother or my fluent friends for fear of embarassment but your words have inspired some motivation to overcome this. Nwannem, dalu! Chineke goziri gi .
DONOCSO: If you reside in the capital city of Abuja and you'r into the business of web design and development, graphic design, article writing, blog/website promotion, have a goodwill and are willing to come under the love of God and Mankind, for the purpose of uplifting our programming and developing life in abuja, to enhance our public confidence, create business opportunities, build small scale enterprises, encourage vocational skills development in different programming language, enable an environment that support innovation and a city were our dreams can come true in a manner pleasing to God.
Please drop your twitter handler or phone number and I will get to you.
Am @DONOCSO on twitter. Thank you.
Have you heard of the Enspire tech hub (@enspireATV)? They're trying to create a community of techies in Abuja and although they're relatively new, they're doing a good job. Give them a shout.
I'd like to rent a camera from someone in Abuja. I plan to use the camera for the Christmas period only and will return in in the first week of January. If you're interested please reply this thread or email chidumaga@gmail.com so we can negotiate a deal. I'm currently out of the country but if you post your number I'll call you.
I'm 18 and my Igbo is whack at best. I go to school outside Nigeria and as you can tell, I want to perfect my Igbo. What do you good Nairalanders suggest ?
One thing I like a lot about the programmer community is the unique level of collaboration that exists. Whether virtually or physically, collaboration plays a huge role in how the stuff we build comes out (think StackOverflow) .
We can bring this collaboration down to a local level. I live and work in the FCT (most of the time) and I was thinking that if there was a way for programmers in Abuja to come together to work, share ideas and grow as a community then it would be beneficial for all of us.