Olu317: Historian?Yes but not in the like of Prof. Osuntokun because what they look differs from what I researched and still researching . Most of the times, historians of Yoruba extraction don't believe Yorubas are migrants and the ones who believed were not too bold to look at certain tradition which seem not found within the radius of Yoruba neighbourhood to affirm their migration history and they don't do interviews with most people of Yorubas, especially Oooni descendants wherever they are located to hear their own account of their ancestors history but restrict certain information seeking to ILE IFE .This is because people moved into ILE IFE and some still move out through same migration to new places. Perhaps funding could be a problem. Hidden information about Yoruba are been let out gradually despite interactions with each group Yoruba had contact with.... However, I appreciate all these historians because without their effort some more research wouldn't have been done. Take for instance, Samuel Ajayi Crowther's account that blundered and narrated OONI as OWOONI (A supposedly adopted child of Odu'a who takes care of Odu'a shrine) Who does not exist because OBADIO lineage are the ones that are the keeper of Ooni Admlia or Adimunia shrine . Even the so called OGBONI wasn't of Odu'a formation. There are hidden information that would have created more problems about Yoruba society until it was rebranded to be accepted by all. This is the reason OGBONI is under any OBA in his domain and the OBA remain as the head. In Yoruba land,there are different people that became woven into one but the main stock of these people are of Odu'a group.
^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ @Olu317
Oh thanks for emphasising this fact about immigration and emigration from Ile-Ife.
The Yoruba for instance are an amalgamation of different peoples who merged with autochtonous communities. Prof. Jide Osuntokun's write ups emphasized the fact that Odua dynasty was a foreign one that merged with the autochtonous people. It was the rise of a new dynasty.He said there were people in multiple locations in Akure/Ife axis in Yorubaland before the arrival of Oduduwa. It is worth finding out more.
There were even several Obas who ruled in Ife before Oduduwa Dynasty came - based on what I have studied going back to several years now.
The British monarchy led by Queen Elizabeth too is a of a foreign origin from Germany. King George 1 how is Queen Elizabeth's direct ancestor could not even speak good English when he arrived from his country to assume the kingship of England.
My gut feeling tells me you are vast in first-hand issues that have to do with the esoteric mysteries of Ile-Ife...
If you go to page 1 of this thread, you will see where I indicated that I read a magazine titled: ROOTS in 1991 which emphasized that some places and personalities in Ife have names of IGALA origin. The article gave the impression that Oduduwa was from Igala land as well. Oloja[Onoja] and some other names were published which I can't recall right now but I will share them with you when I check my archival materials.
Even the controversy involving whether Odudu duwa came from the Bini area can be solved via DNA tests such as AfricanAncestry.com or DNALand.com which are very accurate in identifying ethnic origins of African-Americans. Several people traced their origins to Yorubaland, Ashanti, Quincy Jones for instance has a paternal ancestry to the Tikar ethnic group in the Bamenda Region of Cameroon.
Olu317: IGALA are also known as IDOKO or AGATU by Yoruba groups, depending on the location within Yoruba land. These people had existed in some areas before the Yoruba people came into contact with them. And they are peaceful people within Yoruba enclave, which was the reason it was easy to assimilate and intermarried to some Yoruba stock. On your question, it is difficult to identify those of them who had married into Yoruba groups but can be identified if deep and thorough research is done. Although ,in the olden days time, Yoruba people were very industrious and well to do. The ones that aren't married into Yoruba groups can still be found in the areas you mentioned. The 60% + Yoruboid classification was as a result of these interaction which has lasted over 400 years contact with Yoruba group. ADO Ekiti's account , ONDO Town's account (ÉKIMOGUN) etc showed that they had contact with IGALA group. All the groups even more like Kanuri, Fulani etc you highlighted had contact with Yoruba.
^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ Beautiful... Brilliant!
@Olu317
I'd like to know if you are a Professional Historian in the mould of Prof. Jide Osuntokun for you to have gotten access to these timeless Info that you won't find easily in the history books? I read on another international forum in 2009 that a National Archive exists in Ibadan where rare documents can be found.
Olu317: Really?Yoruba's Ogèdègbè or Ogèdèngbè ,either of it is used interchangeably and the nearest interpretation of it “Incantation aided " or “conjured potent words aided". The real meaning is deeper than these interpretation despite the fact that I was economical with it . What is the meaning in Edoid language?
^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ Gurus in the building...I have learned a lot more on Yoruba words, etymology and culture from you!
@ Efewestern,
@Olu317 wants you to tell us the meaning of Ogedegbe in the Edoid languages.
nnokwa042: Igbo woman first lady of ondo ,Paul adefarasin wife Igbo,femi Pedro former deputy governor of Lagos his son dey marry Igbo girl,one of obasanjos son dey marry Igbo girl , now whole Soyinkas son ,sheyi and wande coal want half cast they ran to Igbo girls AY and his brother Igbo girl,so who come remain for afonjas land wey Igbo no dey the family even aresekola alaos son they marry iwuanynwus daughter,anyway no better afonjas for naira land na ogbomosho and Ibadan full here
^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ @Nnokwa042
Read my post right on top of this one. It sheds more light on what you have posted.
Ifeanyi Adefarasin is from Asaba, with a white German mother. Her late father comes from one of the Ogbe quarters or communities in Asaba. One of late Prof. Achebe's daughter's is married to an Ogun state man. Achebe's other daughter is married to an Itsekiri man, while Achebe's only son is married to an Oguta woman from Imo State. Achebe's son said this in a Punch newspaper interview that I read soon after his father passed on.
One of Alex Ekwueme's sons is married to an Osun woman, I could go on. But more Yoruba men [i.e., only 1 in 10 Yoruba men] marry from across several ethnicities because of the practice of Islam/Christian religions/other faiths like Buddhism, etc, among the Yoruba.
kettykin: Who will marry all the unmarried Yoruba ladies because from what I have seen Yoruba guys have given up on them, in a week banks and Soyinka son all married non Yorubas. Will there be some sort of subsidy for those ladies who are stranded in Yoruba Land.
^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ...@kettykin, your post is quite hilarious... OK...
Only 1 in 10 Yoruba men marry non-Yoruba women... The remaining 9 in 10 get married to Yoruba women! Go through the "Change of Name" sections in newspapers and you will see that trend.
Most of the non-Muslim Yoruba men marry mainly from Edo/Delta/Kogi axis and not to core hinterland Ibo women from Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, etc, East of River Niger. Others marry foreigners such as Americans, Ivorians, Ghanaians, British, etc.
Delta North [Anioma] areas such as: Agbor, Asaba, Ukwuani, Illah, Issele-Uku, Onicha Ugbo, Olukumi[Yoruba and Ibo-speaking] area of Aniocha North, etc, are responsible for MOST of the marriages that involve Yoruba men and Ibo-speaking women with some others from Anioma part of Anambra such as Onitsha, Ogbaru, Obosi, even Oguta in Imo State.
A little digression, Desmond Olusola Elliot's mother is from Illah in Delta North while his father is an indigene of Olowogbowo area of Lagos Island. [Olowogbowo is where many Yoruba repatriates who came back from especially Sierra Leone settled and became indigenes of Lagos Island settled after the slave trade was abolished. Many of them where among the 91, 491 Africans from several ethnic groups who were rescued from many slave ships from the year 1817 to about 1850s by the British Naval ships that patrolled the Atlantic ocean searching for illegal Portuguese, Spanish, and American slave ships]. Yoruba returnees from Cuba and Brazil settled in the Campos Square and Brazilian Quarters of Lagos Island and became indigenes
Rivers/Akwa Ibom/Cross River State ladies too have married seriously to Yoruba men. I did some research years back out of curiosity and found these areas to be the epicenters of marriages to Yoruba men.
I know several folks from those types of unions.
Others like Yoruba Muslims have the latitude to marry from several Muslim communities in Nigeria: Nupe, Auchi or Etsako in Edo, Ebira, Igala, Fulani, Hausa, etc, just like the Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi's son who is about to marry the Kano State Governor's daughter.
Olu317: *BRITON CONFESSES TO FRAUDULENT CENSUS IN NIGERIA* The man Harold Smith is not new in Nigerian history. He is one of the architects of colonial foundation that midwife Nigerian independence in 1960. His response was "I am in my 80s now; I have agreed but in the past' they' did not want me to say anything, but now I don't want to go to my grave without telling the truth about the atrocities perpetrated in Africa by the colonialists. Brothers and sisters; on Ben TV last Thursday, Harold Smith was on a program to reveal what went behind the scene before the independence. The Oxford University graduate had this to say about his role in Nigeria pre and after independence era. ‘Our agenda was to completely exploit Africa . Nigeria was my duty post. When we assessed Nigeria, this was what we found in the southern region; strength, intelligence, determination to succeed, well established history, complex but focused life style, great hope and aspirations… the East is good in business and technology, the west is good in administration and commerce, law and medicine, but it was a pity we planned our agenda to give power "at all cost" to the northerner. They seemed to be submissive and silly of a kind. Our mission was accomplished by destroying the opposition at all fronts. The west led in the fight for the independence, and was punished for asking for freedom. They will not rule Nigeria ! Harold Smith confessed that the Census results were announced before they were counted. Despite seeing vast land with no human but cattle in the north, we still gave the north 55 million instead of 32 Million.This was to be used to maintain their majority votes and future power bid. He stated that the West without Lagos was the most populous in Nigeria at that time but we ignored that. The north was seriously encouraged to go into the military. According to him, they believe that the south may attend western education, but future leaders will always come from military background. Their traditional rulers were to be made influential and super human. The northerners were given accelerated promotions both in the military and civil service to justify their superiority over the south. Everything was to work against the south. We truncated their good plan for their future. "I was very sorry for the A.G; it was a great party too much for African standard. We planned to destroy Awolowo and Azikiwe well, the west and the east and sowed a seed of discord among them". We tricked Azikiwe into accepting to be president having known that Balewa will be the main man with power. Awolowo has to go to jail to cripple his genius plans for a greater Nigeria . However, Harold Smith justified the British agenda of colonialism in Nigeria , which he believed was originally to help build Africa after the ruins of slave trade, but lamented that the British only looked after themselves and not after Nigerian interest. The British really let Nigeria down. When I see Nigerian been accused of fraud and from what I saw on the streets of Lagos ; the British were worst fraudsters.Looking at the northern leaders now he said, "If they have any agenda in Nigeria at all, sadly it is only for the north, and nothing for Nigeria . He stated that the British look after the British people and this is so all over the world. He said the time has come now to see people of intelligent minds with an open and inclusive agenda for all Nigerians in power…people who will really look after Nigerians large population…but "I still curiously and sorrowfully see now that the British has not let go of Nigeria…her wealth,. her potentials, her future. He opined that the Caucasian people now assert themselves as the keeper of the "New Age" keys. He therefore said that it is only logical for Europeans to maintain their position of power, scientific superiority, economic exploitation, they must continue to perpetuate their lies and falsehoods and this is the most unkindest cut of all in relation to Nigeria situation!
According to him, Nigeria , a great nation was crippled not because of military juntas or corrupt leaders alone but by the British and American fear of Nigeria great future. He confessed, "The fear of the place that will be our ‘dumping ground' really occupied our minds". Some of the things he said were not new to Nigerians or to the whole world but hearing it from the horse's mouth is quite revealing and established more reality zones. He finally submitted that the colonial masters have caused havoc while they were in Africa , and planted timed bombs when they finally left. What we see since independence, the administration of new internal colonial masters by fellow Nigerians holding sway in power is doing more damage to Nigeria . Instead of detonating the time bombs planted by the British, the north is planting mines. He added that ‘It was my duty to carry out all of the above and I was loyal to my country. Nigerians should try to be loyal to their country leaders and followers alike. Love your country. You have got the potentials to be great again and the whole world knows this'. I am sorry for the above evil done to Nigeria . I can't say sorry enough……
HeyCorleone: Until we understand that this so called "white wedding" is nothing other than the traditional marriage of most European countries, then we would stop placing so much emphasis and hype on it..
.According to Bob Marley "emancipate yourself from mental slavery..."
laudate: Thanks bro.' But his claims of living in Lagos all his life, without having any friends among the indigenes, are rather baffling
^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ @Laudate
I'm just seeing your post, hope you had a great day today?
I think his claims might have to do with his area of residence in Lagos...or it could also be that he may have perceived hurt from rejection and/or altercation with some SW people or indigenes. It's all about subconscious perceptions and the people we have within our inner circle of influence!
But I find Meilyn to be a likeable person though I've never met him before but only interacted online with him.
3 Nigerians Beaten Up At Rajiv Chowk Metro Station, New Delhi, India
Chaos prevailed at the Rajiv Chowk Metro station on Sunday evening when three Nigerian nationals were allegedly thrashed by a mob, including a group of students, after an altercation, police said.
Eyewitnesses said the Nigerians were beaten up after a rumour that they had allegedly passed some lewd remarks on some girls travelling in a Metro train. It was also alleged that the Nigerians had slapped a youth when he intervened.
Dismissing the allegations, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officers said an argument had broken out between the Nigerians and the students when they were trying to enter a train. The incident took place around 5.30pm.
The CISF is responsible for security inside metro stations.
“The Nigerians and the group of students were trying to board a yellow line train at Rajiv Chowk going towards South Delhi. Due to some rush, there was some pushing around and the Nigerians allegedly made racist remarks. This apparently angered a group of people who pushed the Nigerians out of the train and started beating them,” said a CISF spokesperson.
The spokesperson said a team of CISF personnel immediately rushed to the spot and rescued the three foreigners. However, the crowd again tried to beat up the three Nigerians while they were being take to the CISF control room. “Three Nigerian nationals suffered minor injuries in the clash. They were taken to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital for medical attention,” a metro police officer said.
Rakesh Pawariya, deputy commissioner of police (Metro), said they had received a complaint from the Nigerians. “We are registering a case on the basis of their complaint,” said Pawariya. The injured Nigerian nationals are students and they are staying in India on student visas.
I must say that I'm really happy that the data cap on your data plans were increased and we all are quite grateful for that. I also want to thank you for all the bonuses and promos (at least that is what is keeping some of us from porting) .However, with all due respect your data services in most areas are very slow and nothing to write home about. Around my area, It's quite slow and the only place I get to see a full 3G connection is in the toilet and I keep wondering why it has to be the toilet of all places.
Sometimes, when the network speed seems to improve, it would drop drastically in a few minutes .It seems Glo officials in Nigeria have started using other networks to surf the web because the current download speed is enough to wait for the second coming of Christ. I'm sure other subscribers would have their own unfortunate tales to tell about your data services. Most of us don't even use up to half of the plans we paid for before it expires. The network speed is very frustrating. Imagine taking over 25 minutes to download a file of 40MB. I'm actually wondering if the money meant for improving your network's services are being used for entertainment shows instead.
I heard 9Mobile is being sold and you're listed as one of the top 10 companies that want to buy the company. On behalf of other subscribers, Please try to make the deal successful because we all certainly hope it would improve your services nationwide and please don't allow 9mobile's spamming influence your network.
Almost every USSD code dialed on 9mobile returns results as an SMS, please don't impose it on us as we will not hesitate to port. The second thing I believe majority of my fellow subscribers strongly kick against is the fact that you keep calling us with strange numbers every day. You call us more than husbands call their spouses and more than boyfriends call their girlfriends and we wonder if we are actually dating you. It is really annoying and the most painful part of the whole thing is when someone is expecting an important call then you start calling us.
I know some people activated DnD (Do not Disturb) Mode on their respective lines but now you have resorted to calling us as the only way to reach us. I won't say this particular problem is not on all networks but no day on planet earth passes by without any subscriber receiving more than 3 calls from you guys. One day, I was expecting a very important call and my phone was plugged my room and i almost tripped rushing to answer the call only to hear a robot talking to me. I was utterly disgusted.
I'm still trying to understand what type of advertising that is because to the best of my knowledge, an average Nigerian would not spend time listening to a computer on the phone yet you won't put an end to the calls. Believe me, the only time subscribers can really listen to all that computer talk is when we have actually called the customer care line to rectify a problem. We pay you for the services offered to us and we deserve at least a simple code to opt out from all the calls. The ads we see on billboards, social media and on the television is enough for all of us. On behalf of all Glo subscribers, I sincerely ask that you fix these issues .
We do hope you redeem your name from ''Slow With Pride'' and ''Grand Snail Of Data'' to ''Glo with Pride'' , Unlimited or rather as ''The Grand Masters Of Data'' as you call yourself. Forgive my rant , I'm just a frustrated subscriber who wants a better network
Yours Sincerely, NaijaTechGuy An Angry Glo Subscriber.
^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ...The Slow Masters of Data...Slow with Pride!
laudate: Keep who in check? Me?? Don't make me laugh. Like I said, I find your lies and ignorance quite entertaining. Do carry on... At such a young age of 22 years, you still have time to get rid of your ignorance, before it is too late.
^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^
@Laudate How are you doing today?
@Meilyn is actually a real-blooded Igala guy and he is who he says he is. I've known him from his previous useful posts on Nairaland going back to some years now as an Igala. He's also lived in Lagos as well!
You know people leave a digital trail online that gives them away, but Meilyn is Igala.
MEILYN: Well, as much as I think I have no reason to explain anything to you, I really think your idiocy on this platform needs to be checked. You thought I was lying when I said I am from Kogi State and I have lived in Lagos all my life.
Lol, here are my birth certificate and state of origin certificate. This will clearly keep you in Check. Why you think I am lying baffles me, maybe everyone should have a Yoruba friend according to you.
They will be deleted soon though..
^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ @ Meilyn
It's been up to 4 months since I chatted with you on a Politics thread topic where you were "just having fun!"
Good to see your brief posts on this thread. Hope you can contribute your piece here as a true Oma Igala.
On the 1st page of the: "I Want to Learn Igala Language" thread which was started 2 days ago by @IgalaSchool, and is already 6 pages as of today, I posted some information from Saturday Punch of 26th August, 2017 where HRM Attah Michael Ameh Oboni talked about the origins of Igala people being an amalgam of Wukari Jukun, Yoruba, Bini, and some Ibo. It was a very illuminating 2-page interview from your king. You can check out the thread and Punch article online if you haven't.
@ Laudate, I can confirm that Meilyn is an Igala and has never hidden it on NL. I have been reading some of his useful posts going back to a couple of years now on NL. He is who he says he is.
bigfrancis21: I noticed you keep reposting certain quotes, maybe out of your own indulgence or something. In case you don't know, Anambra does not derive from Omambala. It derives from the Anam people, who live close to the Anambra river. The state was originally described by the British as starting from the 'Anam branch' of the river, from whence 'Anam bra' stuck. It may surprise you to know that the Umuleri people call the same river Onwubala. Omambala coming from 'Omaobale' really does not make any sense if you look at it. Omambala as a word itself has meaning in Igbo, if we were to look at it that way, and it means 'beauty of the environment', a beautiful environment which Anambra is even known for.
^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ @bigfrancis21
Thanks for your response. This thread should help in clarifying issues on history and language etymology as well.
I have noted your citation of the Anam hypothesis as the source of the name Anambra. Some sites have even stated that Omambala is the source of the name Anambra.
The Omambala/Anambra Igala definition is what I gleaned from the mainstream media and even on Nairaland/online from Igalas within the last 27 years that I first took interest in the Eri/Igala history.
The British colonists corrupted African words such as Owerri which is actually spelt as Owerre in Ibo, Enugu is Enugwu, Sokoto is actually Sakwato in Hausa pronunciation.
I will read more on the Anam origins of Anambra as you have indicated in your post, and since you have Anambra/Enugu origins yourself, it will be easy for you to point out any discrepancies and urban legends pertaining to Anambra/Igala/Ibo interactions.
My dear, in this 21st century of perverted minds and high libidos, you don't spend a night with a guy, on the same bed for that matter!
And she has a boyfriend too, what was she expecting? That they'll sing hallelujah together? And my dear, the guy already hinted sex.
I'm not going to put the entire blame on that beastly attitude, but she should face the consequences of her actions! Every decision we make in life have consequences, whether good or bad. What was she thinking? They could've gone on an afternoon date why would she spend the night with him on his bed? My dear, few guys have that self control. Maybe she has done this risky adventure with brother John, and thought brother Mike could control himself too..
She laid her bed, she should lie on it. The guy too is wrong sha, he shouldn't have done it. But the girl too, he was doing touching body and she couldn't leave the room for him?
Phew! They should be blamed. They're adults responsible for their actions and decisions they both made.
vivienbabe: I'm following this intense discussion with great admiration. I thank the OP for bringing up this community in the social media. I have since been scouting for more information on Nzam community, but am a little confused because i found out that this community has an Igbo monarch as well. Then i stumbled on an article written many years ago by a soldier who was stationed there during the civil war. His observations about Nzam was also quite illuminating.
Please, I will like the OP to shade more light on the bolded parts of the article for my knowledge enrichment. Is Nzam Igbo or Igala or both?READ THE ARTICLE BELOW:
A FISH CALLED BIAFRA
Biafra was not death and sorrow all the time. In the mist of all the uncertainties, there was ‘normal' life going on. After my Red Cross assignment at Iyienu hospital Ogidi, I came back to Achi for a one-week break before undertaking my second assignment, this time I was posted to Nzam.
Nzam is a unique Igbo town. Unique is so many ways. For instance they are a bilingual people. I do not know about these days, but during the hostilities when I was there I discovered that every Nzam person apart from speaking Igbo as their mother tongue, also spoke Igala, the language of the ethnic Igalas bordering Igboland in the North. This may have to do with the movement and settlement of people from that area hundreds of years ago, as it is believed that some other Igbo communities along the Niger, in Asaba and Onitsha, may have migrated from Igala.
In the past Niger River was the main trading route between communities along its coast, it also facilitated migration and settlement. It may not be impossible therefore that the Nzam people or a part of them migrated from Igala. But the more common explanation by the people of Nzam regarding their bilingualism was that Nzam mastered Igala language as a trade strategy. Nzam was an important trade post during the boom days of the Niger River trade route. Being located upper north, it was one of the first large Igbo communities the Igala traders arrive in. Through such regular contacts, they learnt their language. When other Igbo traders come in from the hinterland, the Nzam trader becomes the go between, the middlemen. Because of his mastery of both languages the Nzam people were able to make good bargains to their advantage.
Nzam is also rich agriculturally. They have a very rich soil that is watered and at the same time fertilized by the yearly flooding ‘Iji' of the river Niger. Their yams are one of the earliest to be harvested. When I was there it was quite interesting to see partially submerged yam farms. It was also interesting to watch farmers harvest their yams. Anyone who knows about yam farming must agree that it is a tough job, and this includes the harvesting process. It takes a careful digging to successfully get a yam tuber safely dug up. But for the Nzam yam farmer, they practically pull large yam tubers off the soil with ease, sometimes using a canoe, as the farms are often partially submerged.
The uniqueness of Nzam and its environ will be incomplete without mentioning mosquitoes and sand flies. These two were my nightmare apart from the raging war. By daytime the sand flies take over. These tiny, and almost invisible flies can really be big menace. Their stinging multiple bites sends irritating sensation all over your body, and they attack in droves making you slap yourself all over. But wait until the night comes, when their big brother, the mosquito takes over. The Nzam mosquito is a rare breed. I guess it has a tiny sword for proboscis, if not how came it could pierce through army fatigue uniform to reach the skin. Well, it is often said that you can never have it all, this must be the reason Nzam is rich agriculturally.
Another aspect of Nzam and the one I enjoyed most in those days was the river Niger and the abundant fishes therein. Having grown up in dry hilly hinterland of Enugu, the rivers I knew were spring waters, shallow streams, brooks, and water ponds. To suddenly be in a place almost surrounded by a massive body of water was extremely exciting. Luckily near my boarding school before the war in Umunze, there was this stream called ‘Unyo'. We were mandated to fetch water from the stream every morning, ahh! How I hated being woken up as early as 6am by hostile sound of the bell and driven off my bed half awake. The awful sound of many swinging metal buckets could be heard as the boys rush to the stream. Anyway I learnt to swim, thanks to ‘Unyo'. I love swimming and I swam everyday throughout my stay in Nzam, but so does everyone I guess, for I cannot imagine how someone can stay in that area without dipping oneself into River Niger.
Yes the fishes, how can I forget the delicious fresh water fishes from the river. We ate fish on a daily bases, both fresh and dried ones. In Nzam those days, soups are made with so much fish in it that you hardly see the rue. For each bolus of pounded yam, a magnanimous piece of fish to go down with. Such was the case in Nzam. And the war raged on.
Like I mentioned earlier, the yearly flooding of the River Niger enriches the lands along the banks of Anambara River, all the way down to its confluence where it joined the River Niger. All the towns along the river, towns like Otu Ukpo, Orometiti, Mmiatta, Ode. Odekpe, Nzam and others enjoy a yearly soil enrichment which guaranteed good farm harvest, and a constant supply of fresh fish.
I was once privileged to observe a fish harvest. Before this time I never heard anything about fish
farming, and I am not sure it has been introduced anywhere in the then Eastern Nigeria
before the civil war. Even if it had been, it was still uncommon. But the people of Nzam and its
surrounding did not need anyone to teach them fish farming, for their forefathers have been practicing that from day one and albeit in the most natural way. Traditional fish farming in Nzam and its surrounding goes like this; Keeping in mind that the ‘Iji', the yearly flooding, takes place during the rainy season, they have studied its pattern, they know the right spots to dig a trough to hold up a reasonable amount of water. The Iji when it comes, brings in a large variety of fishes that get trapped in the trough after it had receded. Tree branches and leaves are then cut and dumped in the through now turned pond, to make it as inhabitable as possible for the fishes. On a daily bases remains of food and other biological refuse are dumped in the pond, for instance cassava and yam peelings. These become a source of food for the fishes. Thus the fishes are fed fat before they are harvested. The harvesting takes place during the later part of dry season, say around mid January. It was one of such harvesting I witnessed during the civil war in a village in Nzam. This was a pond owned by a family I got to know at that time. They invited me to join in the fish harvest; they also invited other friends as it is customary in Igboland. By the time I arrived at the pond, young men in two canoes were already clearing the pond by removing the tree branches, trunks, and other foliage put in there to provide shelter for the fishes. Soon after, the actual harvest started. The harvest team armed with a long fishing net swept the entire pond from end to end, and from the final outlet, they scooped out the largest quantity of fish I saw for the first time in my life. That was extremely exciting for me being a hinterland person. The variety of fishes from that pond, was another thing that struck me apart from the quantity, it was simply amazing.
After pulling the fishes out, I was told that every one is now free to try their luck if they can find some take-home fishes from the pond. One of the sons of the owner of the pond opted to fish on my behalf, and you cannot imagine what sizes and quantity of fish I went back to the camp with that day. At the time the men were busy getting the fishes, by the right end of the pond the women were busy setting up a makeshift kitchen and a massive drying ramp, and when the fishes were all brought out of the water, the fire of the drying ramp was ready, and the fishes were carried by the women and set on a long row of dying ramp under the heat of the burning coke. Everywhere smelt fish. The evening came to an end after a delicious feast of pounded yam and fish studded yummy Nsala soup, washed down with some of the best ‘Ayigo' – raffia palm-wine. I came home to the camp that day feeling real good, and I slept so deep that I for once didn't bother about the sword mouthed mosquitoes of Nzam. And still the war ragged on.
The next day was a Sunday, you know the saying ‘Lazy like a Sunday morning' or was it a song title? Well, that was how I felt, and did I sleep long and tight? Then suddenly there was some commotion outside, and one thing you learn in a war situation is not to take anything for granted. Whenever you look outside and many people are moving, looking, acting, or talking in a particular manner you have to quickly get out to know what is amiss. It could be an air raid for instance. And this what is called being vigilant. Well, I quickly went out to find out what was going on, and what I found was one big mystery. Some people were digging a toilet pit behind the building, in the process they dug up a life fish from about six feet under the earth. How could that be possible? I was saying something like, no way, this must be a joke. A crowed gathered to observe this miracle. The poor fish was breathing slowly with the eyes still closed. In all the excitement, I suddenly observed that the Nzam indigenes in the crowd were simply having a big laugh out of the whole thing. One of them observed that this is a common thing. It was from him I learnt that this particular specie of mudskipper could survive extreme draught for years, and under the most difficult condition. It goes into an inactive mode until the condition becomes conducive. Years later after the war ended I was reminiscing on my wartime experiences, and the thoughts about this fish crossed my mind. And I found myself saying ‘this is what survival is all about, and Biafra was all about survival, a war of survival of a people, the Igbo people. Then I said to myself, ‘Biafra was that fish, and the fish Biafra, and I further mused ‘A Fish Called Biafra.
Olu317: HRM Attah Ameh has done some study even if one take away oral account and Art work to have made him arrive at this point. People are really trying so hard to seek out their ancestral origin which is a normal thing to do if one sees the needful of it. It is pertinent to emphasize here that Yoruba had in the past had contact with these people, which could be relatively because of intermarriages and trade. This had been identified through researches and orally transmitted account about these group of people that were largely farmers and fishermen in the olden days time which wasn't too different from the rest of other people. Even if there are differences. Till today, there are even migrants of Igala that have been assimilated one way or the other through intermarriages in Yoruba land. Source of information claimed that they are largely Jukun people with input from other tribes that became settlers within them. There are artifacts of IGALA that were dug out over 50 years ago that has similarity with BINI Art. Many tribes in Nigeria are related via marriages and trade. And by this, the spot of communication of business dealing was indeed around Jebba /Lokoja, in the olden days, when Yoruba beads was highly sorted after. While there were trading off of horses from the Northern part into Yoruba land. The location of trading did facilitated the Yoruboid languages classification of the IGALA .
^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ @Olu317
Thanks for the insightful response you posted here.
You made very profound submissions which indicate that there are more ties that bind us together.
I've also always wondered about how some ethnicities wear their caps or Gobi like the Yoruba's who are more clearly identified or defined with it. Ebiras, Igalas, Jukuns, Idomas, Gwaris, Tivs, Eggons, etc, all bend their caps like the Yoruba men do to their "gobi."
Finally, is there any specific community you can site that has Igala assimilation in Yorubaland? Could this be in Kogi/Kwara/Ondo axis?
greatjoey: Rooster is called. 'Aikó' in Igala. Thanks. Permit me to let you know that, the Igala and the Igbo have one ancestor called Eri. The Ata who is the Igala progenitor was the second son of Eri who also is the progenitor of all Igbo today. Ata actually migrated up north to Wukari where he met and cohabited with the Jukums and other tribes to form the old Kwararafa Kingdom. After a long time, his offspring rose up and revolted against the king of Wukari hence the return to the present settlement. However, on arrival at Ida, the Abutu-eje who is Igala ancestor today met some Ibos. He conquered and subjugated them and made them his subject because he was powerful and brave. Their lineage is called Ete ma hi (Etemahi) who are the kingmakers of Ata till date. But they cannot become Ata. Predominately, they occupy the Igala mela today. Note that, all true Igala descendants have one and only progenitor called Abutu-eje. Whoever does not trace his lineage to him is not a true son of Igala Thanks.
^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ Absolutely profound post!
I got to know about Eri and Igalas for the first time in a 1991 magazine called ROOTS.
You can read my post directly above on what I read in the magazine.
So were the Ibos the original owners of Idah? What year did this conquest by Abutu-eje occur?
Thanks again @Greatjoey for your fantastic response!
scholes0: How about the Igbo word “Ejima” for twins? Which yorubas call Ejire or Ibeji?
That word looks too suspociously Yoruboid.
Especially since Eji means 2 across Yoruboids.
^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^ @Scholes0
I love your brilliant post on "Eji and Ejima." I see some uncanny similarities there!
We need to find out from Igalas what twins is called in Igala.
In 1991, I read a defunct magazine called ROOTS, [published by a man from the SE Region] that sensationally reported that "Yorubas are Ibos" in a 2-part series which I still have in my procession!
But on reading the magazine, all the editor/writer could state is that Igalas are originally Ibos [sic] who allegedly migrated out of Anambra/SE Region. The article made reference to Eri, Aguleri, Umuleri, and Onoja his children and how Oduduwa was an Igala man of Ibo origin.
The article incorrectly stated that Oduduwa means last child or "odudu nwa" in Ibo. According to a Tuesday June 22, 2004 Guardian article on Ife/Bini relationship by Professor Jide Osuntokun, [Nigeria's former Ambassador to Germany and a notable Historian], Oduduwa or Odua means "odu and iwa" or in English language: "The Knowledge or Mystery [Odu] of how to Behave [Iwa]." In other words Odua is:[The belief, law, governance and lifestyle of how to correctly run human affairs].
The rest of the 1991 article just went on showing HOW Yorubas and Igalas are ancestrally and linguistically similar and it listed up to 5 words in Ibo that look like Yoruba words such as:
That triggered my quest to know more about the Igala people and I'm glad to be involved on this thread provided by NL to connect with Igalas and non-Igalas to finally UNRAVEL the truth about the historic ties that bind us all together.
It is getting clearer that it is Igala bloodlines of Anambra /Enugu who introduced the "Igaloid-Yoruboid" words into Ibo.
greatjoey: Stone is called Okuta in Igala, Omaobala means that child of a cat. Ugbede means gratitude Adejo is a modern pronunciation of Adu-Ojo which means the servant of God. Crown In Igala is called Ukata or Ukata Onu. Thanks.
^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ @Greatjoey
Thanks for the response.
Wow...it is now clear that the Igala migration in the Anambra/Enugu/Delta North areas influenced the use of "Okuta or stone" which was corrupted to "Okwute" in Ibo language!
Some people do NOT know that there are indigenous Igalas or Igala-associated communities in Anambra/Enugu/Delta North, etc. Examples are Asaba, Okpanam, Onitsha, Illah, Ebu, Ogbaru.
The Igalas introduced the RED CHIEFTAINCY CAP into Iboland via Nsuka as well, and the red chieftaincy caps are used by some Nigerian cultures like the Yorubas of Kogi State, Ebiras, Igalas, and some other Middle-Belt ethnicities.
Last but not least, my number 1 question was on the translation of C.OCK in Igala but the word was changed funnily to "rooster" by the NL editing platform.
So can you kindly tell us what C.OCK means in Igala language?
C.ock is called "AKUKO" in Yoruba, while it is called "OKUKO" in Ibo.
Danladi7: Onitsha Mmili was known as Ado N'Idu by migrants who departed from the vicinity of the Kingdom of Benin near the far western portion of Igboland (near what is now Agbor ), after a violent dispute with the Oba of Benin that can be tentatively dated to the early 1500s. [5] These migrants traveled eastward through what is naow Western Igboland and various towns also called "Onitsha", for example Onicha- Ugbo, "farmland-Onitsha". Folklore has it that, Onitsha was founded by one of the sons of Chima, the founder of Issele-Uku kingdom in western Igboland . Chima, a prince of the ancient Benin kingdom emigrated, settled and founded what is now known as Issele-Uku in Aniocha North Local Government Area. The eldest son of Chima eventually emigrated across the Niger River to establish the Onitsha community.
point of correction:This doesn't mean Edo people own onitsha like some people with low I.Q think of lagos(lagos Island per say,excluding lekki).by the way,benin people never founded lagos,they only ruled and live with few of their descendants still in lagos island .
I'm looking to move to the Island in short order. My single biggest worry is the high risk of flooding on the Island. We know the rains will be here very soon, and I really don't want to experience the flooding that many experienced this year on the Island.
Which leads me to my question: Where are the least flood prone areas on the Island? More specifically, anywhere between Lekki and LBS? -looks like the farther away from LBS the estates and areas are, the less planned/maintained (or maybe someone can educate me?). I'm also open to other suggestions if you have them.
All other things being equal -good security, drainage, roads, gated communities, and planned estates- I'd appreciate your recommendations. Please understand that I'm not particularly worried about rent and living costs per se. Just don't want to deal with a flooded apartment and/or street (okay, maybe the occasional flooded street. Definitely not a flooded home).
The farther away I can be from flood prone areas, the better really.
I'm hoping that this thread would not only benefit me, but also prove to be beneficial to other people who are thinking about doing the same.
Mods... Lalasticlala mynd44 lawyer... please epp me (make I no go become cautionary tale o) . Na beg i dey beg o. Please help a brother. Thanks.
^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ Brilliant!
I'm happy you created this thread because I was also thinking of doing so too. I've got some major investments to make in that axis too and don't want to throw good money into the bush!
Danladi7: The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, on Thursday visited the Lagos State House of Assembly to watch the plenary sitting of the House conducted in Yoruba language.
Speaker of the Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, restated the commitment of the Assembly to the promotion of Yoruba language and the culture of the Yoruba people. Obasa assured the Yoruba monarch that he and his colleagues in the Assembly will continue to work to promote the Yoruba language and culture.
“We’ve started conducting our Thursday plenary sessions in Yoruba. We’ve gone ahead to organise the Yoruba Stakeholders’ Summit and we will ensure that the teaching of Yoruba language becomes compulsory in Lagos State. We will not relent and we will continue to do more so that our dear language will not go into extinction,” he said.
The Lagos Assembly Speaker urged Yoruba wherever they are to make the language the tool of communication with their children at home. “The era of using other people’s language as tool of communication for our children should be rejected and should be done away with,” he said.
Ooni Ogunwusi commended the Lagos lawmakers for being in the forefront of the struggle to promote the Yoruba language and culture. “I’m very happy to be here and I want to commend the members of the Lagos State House of Assembly for being in the forefront of the struggle for the promotion of Yoruba language and culture,” Oba Ogunwusi said.
The monarch stated further that he was particularly pleased with the plenary sitting of the House conducted in Yoruba, saying that he had to push forward his visit to the House by 24 hours because he wanted to witness the Yoruba plenary session of the lawmakers.
“I’m highly impressed and indeed with what you have done, the Lagos State House of Assembly has become role model for others in the country in the area of culture promotion,” Ooni Ogunwusi said. The programme was concluded with exchange of gifts between the Speaker and his visitor.
^^^^^ Modern multimedia techniques should be used to easily teach kids Yoruba in schools in Lagos state and other Yoruba States to make it fun and educative. The old method of cramming a new language and have a teacher writing from a black board is not the best.
The immersion techniques used in French learning should be applied in teaching Yoruba and other Nigerian languages in schools.
IgalaSchool: Hi. This is a thread for those interested in learning Igala Language. Igala is a language spoken in central Nigeria by about 2 million people, mostly in Kogi East Zone.
Igalas are anong the largest minority ethnic groups in Nigeria, and once had a great and extensive kingdom which exerted considerable influence over all its immediate neighbors in all directions.
Join me, as I introduce you to the Igala language for those interested in learning , and fellow Igalas too.
^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ Now to my 2nd post, but 1st question to you @IgalaSchool:
1. What is COCK called in Igala language? Cock is called Akuko in Yoruba. Cock is called Okuko in Ibo.
So I believe it is through the Igala land bridge that the near-similarities in spelling among the Yoruba and Ibo.
There is Igala ancestry/bloodline in 13 of the 21 LGAs in Anambra state alone!
2. What do you call STONE in Igala. Yorubas call it Okuta. Ibos call it Okwute.
3. The name Anambra is a British corruption of the Igala word/phrase: Omaobala. What does Omaobala mean in Igala? OMA is child in Igala so what is the full meaning of Omaobala?
4. I have seen Omambala being used as the name of the River that Anambra was named after. I have also seen another spelling of Omaobala.
Which of the 2 spellings is correct?
5. Praise Ugbede Adejo(Praiz is Igala) What is the full meaning of Ugbede? and What does the name Adejo mean?
Ade simply means crown in Yoruba, so does the "Ade" in Adejo also refer to a crown?
I'll stop right here and it is my wish that this thread will serve as a source of enlightenment for the benefit of all knowledge seekers.
#Loving Igala Nation
All the best!
PS: It is very clear that Igalas are direct ancestral cousins to the Yorubas, Jukuns, Binis, and Ibos from HRM Attah Michael Ameh Oboni's 2-page interview in Saturday Punch of August 26, 2017.
IgalaSchool: Hi. This is a thread for those interested in learning Igala Language. Igala is a language spoken in central Nigeria by about 2 million people, mostly in Kogi East Zone.
Igalas are among the largest minority ethnic groups in Nigeria, and once had a great and extensive kingdom which exerted considerable influence over all its immediate neighbors in all directions.
Join me, as I introduce you to the Igala language for those interested in learning , and fellow Igalas too.
^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ @IgalaSchool
Good to see you have started this thread. I've been reading about the Igala people and history in steady increments since 1991! I find you folks to be a unique people in the Nigeria because you are at the epicenter/confluence of a cultural vortex.
The current Attah of Igalaland [HRM Dr. Michael Idakwo Ameh Oboni] had an interview published on August 26, 2017 in Saturday Punch. He indicated that Igala language and people evolved from the migration of a sizeable group of people from Wukari [Jukunland] in Taraba and they moved along the confluence of River Benue to Amagede then to Idah where they settled and MERGED with a sizeable group or population of Yoruba people, Bini people, and to some extent a small group of Ibo. "So the Wukari migrant population merged with them to form the language called Igala as a people."
This thread and HRM Attah Michael Ameh Oboni's interview could well shed more light on why Bowen's research classified Igala (and Itsekiri) as Yoruboid languages.
I look forward to asking you and Igalas on Nairaland some questions on linguistic translations of Igala words.
Let's PUSH this thread to the FRONT PAGE just like the ITSEKIRI thread created by @onuwaje ["I Want to Learn Itsekiri Language"].
The Igalas on NL that I have been following on NL should fall in and bookmark this thread:@Meilyn, @Revolva, @McSterling, @omaigala, @ednoville ~~~~~
Some Notable/Popular Igalas: ----------------------------------------------------- [1] Praiz [Praise Egbede Adejo] He sang "Rich and Famous" in 2014.
Culture › Re: I Want To Learn Igala Language, Get In Here. by Konquest: 7:19am On Nov 28, 2017
Like I said, I find your lies and ignorance quite entertaining. Do carry on... 
At such a young age of 22 years, you still have time to get rid of your ignorance, before it is too late.