₦airaland Forum

please as you are reading this, read with your bible..... God to genesis 46: 16, Exodus 39:7,14......

I almost cried yesterday when i saw ERI in the bible being one of the sons of Gad, who happens to be one of the twelve sons of jacob who became the twelve tribes of isreal.....

The Ibo Benei-Yisrael within Nigerian History

Modern day Nigeria is a federation of states segregated by 3 major ethnic groups: the Ibo (Igbo),the Hausa/Fulani, and the Yoruba. The Ibo dominate the eastern and some southern regions, the west by the Yoruba and the north by the Hausa/Fulani. These three major groups were brought together via European efforts to divide Africa among themselves. Mounting ethnic tensions between these groups caused the Biafrans - the Igbos and other minority ethnic groups - in the southern-eastern region to fight for their independence from the federation only 6years after Nigeria gained it independence from British rule in 1960. [16]

The Ibo Benei-Yisrael as with other Jews have had to fight persecution as was seen during the unfortunate Nigeria - Biafra war (1966 to 1970), when abandoned by all, the Ibos alone faced Britain,Russia and the rest of greater Nigeria for more than 2 years. The Ibos forged armored cars from sedans,refined petrol using the crudest home made implements, made rockets, all these while under a blockade
enforced by Nigeria, Britain, Russia, and certain Arab States, which sent military personal to the region.

The current Ibo population is estimated to be between 50 - 60 million worldwide. A brief rendition of the character and behavior of the Ibo Benei-Yisrael and Igbo in general is that of, "a habitual wanderer, a trader, but his heart is always in Igboland." A true and popular saying in Nigeria is, “If you visit anyplace and fail to see an Ibo there, leave the place with haste as it is uninhabitable.”

Religious Practices and the Return to the Israeli Way

There are two theories in regard to the Jewish heritage of the Igbos. One theory states that as early Ivrim (Hebrews)migrated into Nigeria, the moniker by which they were called by outsiders was corrupted from Ivri to Ibo or Igbo. The second theory is that Igbo society may have been already established before Jewish migrations into the region. This theory goes on to state that as Jews made their way into West Africa that they intermingled with certain Igbo ethnic groups and thus only certain Ibo families have Jewish descent while others may have converted or were influenced by the Jewish presence in the society.

Most Igbos profess a belief system about which a partial description of can be found in the writings of Olaudah Equiano titled, "Interesting Narratives of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa the African,1789." This belief system is believed to be that of an early form of the Israeli faith before and during the early stages of when the people of Israel settled in Canaan. This system, as described by Olaudah Equiano, has for some Ibo been fused with Christianity due to the push of missionaries into West Africa. Yet, there is a minority that still cling on to the older purer version, which is believed to be the core of the Ibo Benei-Yisrael Jewish heritage.

When missionaries first made their way into West Africa the Ozubulu clan of the Ibo Benei-Yisrael resisted the Christian religion and most never converted. In recent years, a number of Ozubulu descendents are modernizing the very ancient form of the Israeli faith that their ancestors once practiced.In the Ozubulu region, they built a synagogue, even though for a lack of better terms they called it a "Traditional Church." This move took place with no outside influence, and is now causing a ripple effect within the local Ibo Benei-Yisrael communities.

Even to this day Ibo Benei-Yisrael practices are still in line with the commands given in the Torah. Even with the loss of the written record, the Ibo Benei-Yisrael people have maintained the customs and traditions of ancient Israel in an oral form. A few of these customs still in practice are: circumcision of sons on the eighth day of life, separation of women during the menstrual cycle, not cross
breading animals or plants, the prohibition of un-kosher animals for consumption, the celebration of Yom Kippur and Sukkoth, immersion for uncleanness, and Passover just to name a few. Similar to the Samaritans in Israel, and some Moroccan Jews certain Ibo Benei-Yisrael elders, believed to be descended from ancient Levites due to their Levitical practices, are distinguished within the community by donning red head coverings which only they can wear.

Though, for many Ibo Benei-Yisrael these practices have existed in their society for more than 1,000 years it was not until recently that some were able to make the more distinct connection to exactly why they were to be performed. This of course was another result of the loss of the written Torah from within the Ibo Benei-Yisrael community. According to G.T. Basdenin his book, ‘Among the Igbos of Nigeria",p. 31 noted:

“The Igbo country lies within the recognized Negro belt, and the people bear the main characteristics of that stock… There are certain customs which rather point to Levitic influence at a more or less remote period. This is suggested in the underlying ideas concerning sacrifice and in the practice of circumcision. The language also bears several interesting parallels with Hebrew idioms.” [17]

Recent archaeological discoveries in Igboukwu, a town about 30 kilometres from Onitsha by a team of researchers led by Professor Thurstan Shaw (1970) of the University of Ibadan, seem to suggest a lot more facts about the relationship between the Igbos and the Jews of old than was hitherto imagined. Like the mentioned teams of archaeologists, a fact-finding team of Israelis from King Solomon Sephardic
Federation made yet another significant discovery on the origin of the Ibos in 1997. On this Alaezi (1998) comments.

[b]According to various accounts there is a very significant concentration of the descendents of Eri,
the fifth son of Gad (see Genesis 46:16) live in Aguleri, Anambra State. Recently a very important discovery of clear evidence of Jewish ancestral origin of the Maghrebi Igbos was made in the domain of the traditional ruler of Aguleri at the instance of an Israeli team on a fact-finding mission in December 1997.What is believed to be one of the “memorial onyx stones" for the sons of Israel as HaShem commanded Moses (see Exodus 39:7) was discovered and identified as such by the team leader from the King Solomon Sephardic Federation. On the stone discovered in Aguleri engraved in a form of ancient Hebrew is the name ‘Gad’ in reminding one of the writing in Exodus 39:14. “There were twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of the twelve tribes.” There are also accounts of DNA testing which found the Kohen DNA marker within members of both Igbo and Yoruba peoples.[/b]

Currently there are thriving Maghrebi Igbo communities in places like Tel Aviv-Israel, south-eastern Nigeria, the United States and other places in the world. With the current resurgence of Jewish practice amongst Igbo men and women desiring to return to the international Israeli and Jewish community, the Maghrebi Igbo society is still a growing one with Hebrew and Torah study once again becoming more of the norm. There are currently more than 26 Igbo and non-Igbo Synagogues within Nigeria performing normal Shabbat (Sabbath) services and that number is growing. Further research is also being performed in and outside of Nigeria to give a more clear and concise account of the Jewish
origins of the Ibo Benei-Yisrael. It is the hope of this community of Jews that one-day they will be officially recognized under the Jewish Law of Return in Israel and abroad.

Written by Remy Ilona
The Ibo Benei-Yisrael Association of Nigeria
P.O. Box 11505
Garki-Abuja, Nigeria
011-234-8044103026
rcilona2000@yahoo.com
Edited by Ahab Eliyah
The Ibo Benei-Yisrael Association of New York
514 E. 88th 3BNew York, New York 10128

Methods of Hebrew and Jewish Migrations into the Maghreb (West)

According to most accounts, the earliest Israeli settlements in Africa were in places such as Ethiopia, Egypt and Tunisia. It is believed that these settlements may have been in existence as early as the kingdoms of David and Solomon, as well as during the Assyrian invasion of northern Israel in 722 BCE and the Babylonian captivity of Judah in 586 BCE in the Punic-Carthaginian age. These communities were augmented by subsequent arrivals of Jews after the destruction of the 2nd Jerusalem Temple in 70CE, when 30,000 Jewish slaves were settled throughout Carthage by the Roman emperor Titus. [7]

Africa is thus identified with it even more closely (Tamid, 32b, and the parallel passage, where "African land," is evidently the same as Carthage). The Septuagint (Isa. xxiii. 1), and Jerome (on Ezek .xxvii.), who, though a Christian, was taught by Jews, and very often the Aramaic Targumon the Prophets, identify the Biblical Tarshishwith Carthage, which was the birthplace of a number of rabbis mentioned in the Talmud (compare above the identification with Tunis). Africa, in the broader sense, is clearly indicated where mention is made of the Ten Tribes having been driven into exile by the Assyrians and having journeyed into Africa ( Mek., Bo, 17; Tosef., Shab. vii. 25; Deut. R. v. 14; and especially Sanh. 4a).

Connected with this is the idea that the river Sambation is in Africa. The Arabs, who also know the legend of the Beni Musa ("Sons of Moses", agree with the Jews in placing their land in Africa (compare
Bacher, " Ag. Tan." i. 298; Epstein, " Eldad ha-Dani," p. 15). The probable basis of this legend must be sought in the actual existence of the Beta Yisrael (Jews of Ethiopia) in Africa. Rabbi Akiba, who traveled in Africa, on one occasion made use of an African word (Rapoport, in "Bikkure ha-'Ittim," iv. 70, 1823).[8]

In terms of the Ibo Benei-Yisrael, there are three possible methods from which their Jewish ancestry arrived within West Africa, specifically Nigeria.

1) Through early Hebrew and later Israeli migrations west from the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and the Sudan.

2) Through trade and travel of North African Jews within the West African Kingdoms of Mali, Songhai, and Kanem-Bornu.

3) Through Jews traveling with Kel Tamasheq (Tuareg) trade caravans from various parts of Northeast Africa into West Africa.

The exact arrival date of the first Israeli ancestors of the Ibo Benei-Yisrael, from the Middle East into West Africa, is somewhat of a mystery. It is believed that the first migration of Semitic peoples into the region was prior to 202 BCE with the appearance of iron working civilizations, the most notable of which was the Nok. According to "The Penguin Atlas of African History", Page 30, by Colin McEvedy:

" The technology [iron working] had presumably spread from Egypt via Nubia and the Sahel corridor: spread from North Africa seems less likely (for a lack of trans-Saharan communication at this time) and independent local invention improbable (the timing fits the transmission hypothesis too well)." [9]

According to Nahum Slouschz's book, Travels in North Africa , page 211, "Inscriptions indicate that certain tribes of Israel, Asher and Zevulun, lived in Carthage ever since the foundation of the city." [10] Slouschz further wrote:

"We have seen that in all probability there were in Carthage and its dependencies large numbers of Jews, whom followed the Phoenicians into Africa. In this local tradition is in agreement with certain historical indications, while the manners and customs of the Jews of Tunis still give
evidence of their ancient origin. There is not the slightest doubt that the Jew was persisted in these parts from the Roman epoch to our times." [11]


In later centuries ancient Israelis and Jews are believed to have settled in Western Africa during the height of the Songhai, Mali, Ghana and Kanem-Bornu empires. According to various accounts from explorers of the region, several of the rulers of the Songhai empire were of Jewish origin, until Askia Muhammad came to power and in 1492 decreed that all Jews either convert to Islam or leave the region.[12]

It is also more than possible that the Ibo Benei-Yisrael, as well as other West African Jews, may be descendents of a people described by the 9th Century Jewish traveler Eldad ben-Mahli (also known as Eldad the Danite) who related the location of several of the "Lost Tribes of Israel." He further detailed that his tribe, Dan, had migrated from their Palestinian home so as not to take part in the civil war at the time of Yeroboam's secession, and were residing in the land of Havilah beyond the Rivers of Ethiopia.Three other tribes, Naphtali, Gath and Asher, were with them; these had joined them in the times of Sennacherib. They had an entire body of Scriptures barring Ester and Lamentations. They knew nothing of the Mishna nor the Talmud; but they had a Talmud of their own in which all the laws were cited in the name of Yehoshua ben-Nun (Joshua son of Nun) as he had received them at the hands of Mosheh (Moses). Eldad exhibited a ritual dealing mostly with the rules pertaining to the killing of animals for food. [13]

Historically, Jews have migrated from region to region in Africa based upon three factors: 1) Persecution, 2) Trade, and 3) Freedom to practice Torah. Jewish communities in locations such as Egypt,Ethiopia, Tunisia, and Morocco served as the core population centers of the Jewish periphery in Africa.During times of Islamic persecution, and also during times of relative calm, Jews traveled all over Northern and Western Africa for the purpose of establishing trade connections. According to Biblical and Talmudic sources this trade route, with West Africa, may have existed from as early as the reign of King David and the use of the term Tarshish in the Tanakh, Hebrew Bible, could also describe the Ivory Coast of West Africa.

This route may have been established in part because of the need in ancient Israel to produce the tekheletdye used for the tztzith (fringes)of Jewish garments. This dye, made from a gland of the Hillazon fish, was at one time very prominent in the Mediterranean and according to some accounts on the shores of West Africa. [14] In 2nd Kings chapter 10 verse 22 there is also a description of a three year voyage undertaken during the reign of King Solomon that was said to have returned from a portion of Tarshish with gold, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

Arab chroniclers of West Africa such as the 13th century historian Ibn Khaldun, the famous 12th century geographer Al-Idrisi, and the 16th century historian and traveler Leon Africanus wrote accounts of peoples whom they termed as "Jewish Negroes" in the Western Sudan. Looking at maps from the period we find similar use of the terms Tarshish, Ethiopia, and Kush, which were often used in ancient times to describe all peoples whom at the time some chroniclers were calling "Negro/Negroid" in the various regions of Africa. Early maps made by these explorers often depicted the "Sudan" and "Ethiopia" as lands from as far-east as modern day Ethiopia to as far west as modern day Nigeria and Cameroon. This similar to the way the "Africa" is used to describe the continent.

The decline of the Jewish communities of the Africa-Maghreb (West Africa) most likely began with the influx of Muslim invaders into North Africa starting in 640 CE and later into West Africa in the 1300's and 1400's CE. Various accounts record that Jews were instrumental in fighting with and often times leading the coalitions of peoples who unified to fight off the Islamic invasions. The most notable of which was the Jewish Berber Queen Kahina Dahiyah Bint Thabitah ibn Tifan, known as El Kahina. Believed to have been a descendent of the Israeli priestly class, El Kahina was able to lead North-African Jews, Berbers, Christians, and Greeks alike against the Arab invasions until her defeat at the hands of the Arab commander Hassan Ibn Numan. [15] During these times many of the Jews in Northern and Western Africa were forced to covert to Islam, exiled, sold into slavery, or massacred. Incursions of Christian missionaries may have also played a role in the decline of the distinct Jewish written element in the region.

As with other Jewish communities in Moslem controlled lands, the Jews of West Africa also suffered at the hands of various nobles in the Islamic ruling parties, which took power in the 1300 to 1400's. Such is the case of Al- Maghili whom tolled the death knell of Sahara and savanna Jewry when, in 1492 after destroying the Jewish enclaves in the Tuat, Mali he convinced potentates throughout the Western Sudan and the founder of Songhai to banish Jews from the empire's cities. No doubt that some sought refuge south and south east toward the forest. The records of such are some three hundred years later than the destruction of the independent Jewish enclaves of Qamnurya or Naghira, in the area of modern day Senegal, in the 11th and 12th century.

Due to these and other pressures the Ibo Benei-Yisrael along with other West African Jewish communities lost whatever written documents such as Torah, and other written traditions that may have existed. Yet, these communities, including the Ibo Benei-Yisrael, to this day were able to maintain at the least a knowledge of their Israeli origin and in some cases continue to practice their traditions in secret.Records of these communities however do exist within the Timbuktu, Mali Islamic library, which has documents of the presence of several Jewish families in West Africa dating from before the Muslim arrival in the 1300's CE.

The Ibo Benei Yisrael Jews of Nigeria

The Ibo Benei-Yisrael of Nigeria, sometimes addressed as "Igbo," are an Ibo ethnic group whom descended from the southern and westward migrations of both ancient Hebrew and later Israeli peoples from the Middle East into Africa. In more modern times the ancestral homeland of the Ibo Benei-Yisrael is in the Southeast and Western regions of Nigeria. The area where a majority of Ibo dwells straddles the River Niger, which divides the River and the Anambra States. Nigeria operates on a federal structure, of 36 states and the capital Abuja. The overall Igbo populations are normally found in the states of: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Rivers State, Delta State, and Imo.

The oral traditions of the Igbo maintain that their presence has been in what is termed "Igboland" for over 1500 years. The same oral histories also state that their ancestors were migrants from ancient Israel, possibly beginning with the Semitic migrations from Northern Arabia into Eastern Africa around 500 BCE.

According to the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) the Israeli patriarch Ya`aqov ben-Yitzhhaq (Jacob son of Isaac), had twelve sons whose descendents became the 12 tribes of Israel whom inherited the land of Canaan. There are several tribes of Israel, which according to The information in this document is copy written by the Ibo Benei-Yisrael Association ª February 16, 2003 various elders fathered the Igbo clan structure within the Ibo populace as it exists today. These Ibo ethnic groups are comprised of the following 3 lineage types:

• Benei Gath: Igbos said to have descended from tribe of Gath ben-Ya`aqov, who was the 8th son of the Israeli patriarch Ya`aqov (Jacob).[1] This lineage is traced though Gath's son Eri ben-Gath. [2]The clans said to come from this lineage comprise of the Aguleri, Umuleri, Oreri, Enugwu Ikwu, Ogbunike, Awkuzu, Nteje, and Igbariam.

•Benei Zevulun: Igbos said to have descended from the tribe of Zevulun ben-Ya`aqov, who was the 5th son of Ya`aqov (Jacob).[3]This lineage comprises of the Ubulu Okiti, Ubulu Ukwu, in Delta State,who settled in Ubulu Ihejiofor. According to tradition, it is said that a descendent of the tribe of Zevulun named Zevulunu, on the advice of an certain Levite, married a woman from Oji, whom descended from the tribe of Judah, and from this union was born Ozubulu ben-Zebulunu. It is said that Ozubulu then went on to have 4 sons of his own who settled into other parts of the region.These sons being: Amakwa, from whom a clan in Neni, Anambra State descended, and Egbema, from whom the Egbema Ugwuta clan in Imo State and the Ohaji Egbema clan in Rivers State descended.

•Benei Menashsheh: Igbos whom it is theorized may be descendents of the tribe of Meneshsheh ben-Yoseph, who was one of the grandsons of Ya`aqov (Jacob) through his 11th son Yoseph (Joseph). [4] According to the Torah Jacob claimed both Menashsheh and his brother Ephrayim as his own sons. [5] It theorized by some that this is the possible lineage of the Amichi, Ichi, Nnewi-Ichi clans.

It is also more than possible that certain Ibo Benei-Yisrael families may be descendents of Levitical (Levite Priests) migrants from Jerban, Tunisia whom were said to have left Judah and settled in North Africa before and after the destruction of the 1st and 2nd Temples in Jerusalem.[6] The most likely scenario is that the ancestors of the Ibo Benei-Yisrael were made up of familiar clans of Israelis and Judaens whom, for various reasons, left Israel before and during the Assyrian and Babylonian sieges.This would explain how their oral tradition contains the specific tribes these clans originated from.

Former Aston Villa and Middlesborough central defender Ugo Ehiogu has been officially named as the new Tottenham U21 coach.

“We are delighted to announce the appointment of Ugo Ehiogu as coach of our Under-21 side,” a press statement by the White Hart Lane club revealed.

The coach who was well respected during his playing days will be responsible for marshalling some of Tottenham's best talents towards the first team from this season onwards.

Ehiogu has been working at the Spurs academy on a part-time basis and will be assisted by Matthew Wells who steps up from coaching the Under 15s.

The ex-England international is a candidate who has been quietly subsuming himself into the environment which he has now received a key post in for a decent length of time now, and will thus be able to hit the ground running with his colleagues and new charges.

The 41-year-old was a member of the England U20s staff as a coach observer under Peter Taylor at last summer’s FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey as part of his studies for the UEFA A Licence.

Speaking at the time, Ehiogu said: "I’ve done a couple of coaching prep courses and I’m on my A Licence.”

"So I’m fortunate that I’ve been able to get some experience and regular work with Spurs, but there’s a massive amount of knowledge to pick up and use."

The tough tackling Ehiogu won four England caps during a career which took in spells with West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Rangers and Sheffield United.

Ugochukwu Ehiogu officially unveiled as new Tottenham U21 coach

Former Aston Villa and Middlesborough central defender Ugo Ehiogu has been officially named as the new Tottenham U21 coach.

“We are delighted to announce the appointment of Ugo Ehiogu as coach of our Under-21 side,” a press statement by the White Hart Lane club revealed.

The coach who was well respected during his playing days will be responsible for marshalling some of Tottenham's best talents towards the first team from this season onwards.

Ehiogu has been working at the Spurs academy on a part-time basis and will be assisted by Matthew Wells who steps up from coaching the Under 15s.

The ex-England international is a candidate who has been quietly subsuming himself into the environment which he has now received a key post in for a decent length of time now, and will thus be able to hit the ground running with his colleagues and new charges.

The 41-year-old was a member of the England U20s staff as a coach observer under Peter Taylor at last summer’s FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey as part of his studies for the UEFA A Licence.

Speaking at the time, Ehiogu said: "I’ve done a couple of coaching prep courses and I’m on my A Licence.”

"So I’m fortunate that I’ve been able to get some experience and regular work with Spurs, but there’s a massive amount of knowledge to pick up and use."

The tough tackling Ehiogu won four England caps during a career which took in spells with West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Rangers and Sheffield United.

like Michael Emenalo, we keep conquering the world....

mstik: Igbo and proud

God go make you bigger..

mstik: Igbo people are just so awesome

Thanks sis....are you igbo if i may ask?

I intend to reopen this thread for Igbo readers and open minded non Igbo who may want to know more about ndi igbo. It is purely for educational purpose.....God bless Ndi igbo. From ''Anioma to Anambra to Enugu to Imo to Abia to Ebonyi igbo to Rivers igbo to Benue Igbo to cross river and Akwa ibom igbo and Ndi igbo in diaspora''..... God bless our cousins also (Efik, Ibibio, Annang and, Idoma)

In this piece, I intend to focus on the Igbo as a people. The Igbo, their culture, civilization, and their contributions to world greatness, are, perhaps, among the most little understood, taught, publicized and recognized of all human knowledge. What is sometimes upsetting is the little the Igbo themselves, including their educated sons and daughters know about themselves. Or, more bafflingly, how the educated Igbo parrot, and hold fast, without taking a second look at the false information about the Igbo, which they heard or read from scantily informed or biased sources, foreigners and natives, and, of course, the ever busy Igbo detractors.

I decided to write this article after the now familiar surprise look I get from many an educated Igbo when I begin to discuss Igbo factoids and misrepresentations. What embarrasses most of them is that certain incontrovertible, and some would say, elementary facts about the Igbo, which were always self evident, now suddenly hits them like a thunderbolt and it becomes crystal clear to them that their previous beliefs which they parroted were false. Here are a few facts in question and answers:

Question: Is Southeast and Igboland the same thing?

Answer: Not at all. Southeast is only about 3/5th of Igboland. Igboland covers the whole of Southeast, parts of Rivers, Delta, Benue, and Akwa Ibom states.

Question: Why were we taught in school that Igbo people are easterners?

Answer: It is both an unfortunate parroting by teachers and careless adoption by Igbo educated class. Igbo people come from Southern Nigeria and not Eastern Nigeria. It may be correct to say that the Igbo are found predominantly in eastern Nigeria. However, by saying that the Igbo are easterners, the implication is that the Igbo in western Nigeria, numbering about 2.5 million (Agbor, Ogwashi Ukwu, Ibuzo, Okpanam, Asaba, Orimili, Ndokwa, Anioma, etc) are not Igbos. The best known Igbo anthropologist Professor Mike Onwuejeogwu is from the western part of Nigeria, Chukwuma Nzeogwu, Dennis Osadebe, Okonkwo Adibe (the famous musician), Sony Odogwu, etc. are all from the western part of Nigeria. They are no less Igbo than those who live in the eastern part of Nigeria. The correct answer to your question is "the Igbo come from Southern Nigeria."

Question: Why do some Igbo refer to themselves as "core Igbo?"

Answer: That is clearly arrant nonsense. Nobody is core and others peripheral. All Igbo are the same. It is both arrogant, thoughtless and insensitive for anybody to regard others as marginal.

Question: Is Igboland landlocked?

Answer: Not at all. Igboland stretches from Igwe Ocha (Port Harcourt) to Agbor. The Atlantic ocean washes the shores of Igboland. Africa's second largest river - River Niger, traverses Igboland with one part of Igboland in the east and another part in the west of Nigeria. Uguta Lake has the potential of accommodating large ships and could be made a navigable port. If Igboland is landlocked, then all Nigeria is landlocked.

Question: Is there oil in Igboland?

Answer: Yes, indeed. There is a lot of oil in Imo State, Abia, Ebonyi, Rivers State and Delta States Igbo areas, and now in Anambra. Besides, Igboland has many other natural resources, including coal, limestone, etc.

Question: Are the Igbo a nation or a tribe?

Answer: The Igbo are a nation, and a very large one. There are many tribes in Igbo nation, just like you have many tribes within Israel.

Question: Why do some Ikwerre people say they are not Igbo?

Answer: First, it is not up to them to say what they are and what they are not. When God created them, He did not ask them who they wanted to be. He just created them Igbo. The only way you'll know who belongs to what ethnic group in Nigeria is the name and what language the name comes from. Anybody whose name is Amadi or Onyeri, or Eke, or Odili, Wanodi (Nwanodi),Adaeza,chibuike,uchenna does not need to tell you who he is. He is Igbo, his politics notwithstanding.

Question: But they claim that their language is Ikwerre, not Igbo.

Answer: That is politics. Ikwerre is a dialect of Igbo language. Just like an Ngwa man speaks Ngwa Igbo, Arochukwu speaks Arochukwu Igbo, etc.

Question: Some people say that Igbo language is not complete, is it true?

Answer: No language is complete. All languages borrow from each other. Igbo language is very rich. It has inexhaustible and rich linguistic features like idioms, proverbs, aphorisms, sayings, anecdotes, riddles, folklores, etc. Igbo language is one of the major languages of the world, being spoken by millions of people.

Question: How many are the Igbo?

Answer: The Igbo are very numerous. There is educated guess that if Nigeria's census is properly enumerated, the Igbo could easily be the largest ethnic group in the country. They may number up between 50-60 million. Everything right now, is speculation. Nobody knows the true stratification or ethnic populations in Nigeria. The Igbo are the only ethnic group found in large numbers everywhere in Nigeria, and foreign countries more than any other ethnic group in Africa.

Question: Do the Igbo have a culture of their own?

Answer: Yes, indeed. Igbo culture is perhaps, one of the richest and all-encompassing cultures in this world. Igbo culture always observes the temporal and the spiritual aspects of cosmology. The study of Igbo culture reveals that it is extremely deep and original.

Question: Why do the Igbo wear Yoruba Agbada and Hausa babban riga but the Yoruba and the Hausa do not ever wear Igbo national dress?

Answer: Unfortunately this is the case. The Igbo have very attractive and resplendent national dresses. And they come in assortments that are extremely dignifying. The Igbo take up foreign cultures more readily than other Nigerians, and they seem not to care that nobody reciprocates their carefree attitude to life. Most ethnics promote their cultures and show off what makes them unique. Actually, it is still the same so-called educated Igbo class who behave in such disgraceful and the devil-may-care attitude.

Question: Why do the Igbo call themselves Biafrans?

Answer: Great question. Some people have the idea that Biafra originates from the Bight of Biafra. But that is wrong. There was the Kingdom of Biafra that ruled most of the ancient world about 50,000 years ago. Unfortunately, nobody talks about it, for whatever reason, I do not know. But, it is in the ancient maps of the world.

Question: Were the Igbo also taken into slavery during the slave trade?

Answer: Yes. The Igbo slaves themselves gave account of their travails in slavery. Olauda Ekwuano an Igbo ex-slave who bought his freedom in Britain was the first slave to write about his experience in slavery. His book has become a classic. You ought to find it and read it. Also, other Igbos who were brought to America revolted and some walked back on water and were said to have returned to Africa. Several books have been written about them. One of such books is "Ibo Landing." It is available in bookstores like Barnes & Noble. In Haiti, the Igbo settled there and refused to be colonized by anybody. There are many places where the Igbo left their mark or their signature.

Question: How did the Igbo know days and years?

Answer: The Igbo invented an accurate, if not the most accurate calendar called "Iguafo Igbo (Igbo Calendar)." In Igbo calendar, there are four market days - Eke, Afor, Nkwo, Orie that make one week. Four days make one week, seven weeks make one month, and thirteen months make one year. There are 28 days for each month, with the last month having 29 days. Each month starts the same day as the previous. Igbo calendar forms the perfect astronomical alignment with the cosmos, and regulates the seasons, agriculture, navigation, astrology, geography, mathematics, travel, etc.

Question: Did the Igbo have their own alphabets?

Answer: Yes, indeed. It is called "Nsibidi."

Question: How about mathematics; did the Igbo know mathematics?

Answer: Yes, indeed. There are such inventions as "Okwe" and "Mkpisi" which the Igbo used to resolve figures.

Question: Did the Igbo know anything about banking?

Answer: Yes. Igbo banking was more in the nature of Savings and Loans. The authentic Igbo savings and loans invention called "Isusu' in which contributions are pooled each week and one person, who has the need, collects, is still in practice. Igbo slaves took this invention to the Caribbean Islands where they still practise it and call it "Sue Sue."

Question: Some people say that Igboland is too small for the Igbo, that they have no alternative than to live as Nigerians: is this true?

Answer: False. Igboland is a large country. Do every Igbo need to stay and work in Igboland? No. Everywhere in the world, some will stay home while others venture abroad in search of opportunities. Igboland is large enough for the Igbo. And it is a very rich and hospitable part of the world. It has rich soil for agriculture, abundant rainfall, good sunshine, and table land in many parts. Its land space and population are more than that of over half of the present countries in the world.

Question: Where did the Igbo come from?

Answer: That question is still being asked. There are very intriguing theories or histories now being studied. You may have heard of the Jewish angle, the Egypt angle, and the Origin of man angle. This twenty-first century, hopefully, will resolve the mystery.

Question: Why do people say that the Igbo are not united?

Answer: Those who say so, do so out of ignorance. The Igbo are famous for their unity. In the colonial period and the First Republic of Nigeria, the Igbo were always envied for their unity. Under Igbo Union, they accomplished many things. They were feared by others for this. Since after the war, the Igbo are gradually recovering and getting rid of the individualism they developed brought about by their war experience which enabled them to survive as a disinherited people. Now, there are vigorous efforts to reunite them and return them to their old glory which served them well in the past.

Question: Some people say that the Igbo are susceptible to being bought by some other Nigerians, and that they "sell" the Igbo in the bargain; is this true?

Answer: The same parroting and recycling of unfounded talk. When you hear such a talk, challenge the one who is mouthing it to give you evidence, or to cite an example of such an Igbo person. He is likely to say "what of Jim Nwobodo?" Tell him that the Igbo number about 40 million, if it would be fair for the action of one person to represent the integrity of the other 3.99.9 million. The truth is that an Igbo is like any other human being, when he sees where he can take advantage of a situation, he goes for it. It has nothing to do with "selling." Were we not told that fish clusters where the river was deepest or that the dog follows he who has crumbs? Not long ago in the history of Nigeria, other Nigerians were also running after the Igbo for crumbs because the Igbo were in position to call the shots. Things will not remain as they are today. In fact, things are changing fast.

Question: Why are other Nigerians always persecuting the Igbo?

Answer: I have always tried to know myself. I am one of those who believe that the Igbo are among the most peaceful people on earth. But, because of the fact that they are very hardworking, ambitious, and not afraid to live anywhere, or take up any task, they tend to be resented by their less ambitious and successful neighbors or hosts. When you confront a non-Igbo to say what specific offense the Igbo have committed against them, oftentimes they draw blank, or engage in fabrications, which they insist must stand for a fact. The Igbo believe in live-and-let-live. It is virtually impossible for any Igbo to rise against their guests or hosts. It has never happened in Nigeria, or elsewhere. It is an abomination in Igboland for a host to cause his guest harm. Instead, a guest is considered metaphysically and physically under the protection of the host. All Igbo deities forbid doing harm to a guest. The Igbo are accused of "loving money." I suppose the charge is based on the fact that they work hard and acquire money in the bargain. One would like to believe that the outcome of hardwork is good harvest and hopefully prosperity. If anybody takes offense at the prosperity of a hardworking person, then the Igbo or for that matter any other person or persons, have no apologies to render.

Question: Do the Igbo have their own system of jurisprudence before the arrival of the white man?

Answer: Yes. The Igbo had a system of resolving conflicts. The elders were presented with cases that could not be satisfactorily settled within the family or kindred. Matters where veracity must be ascertained, the Igbo resort to spirituality. Oath-taking is a matter left to the spirits to settle. Those who swear falsely were expected to be killed by the spirits within a given period. After the period, he is acquitted and he could celebrate with public merry-making. The Igbo did not have any prisons, but they could ostracise a culprit, exile him, or send him into slavery or to serve to a deity.

Question: Why don't the Igbo teach these things you are telling me to their children?

Answer: In the pursuit of what they taught was the "new way" either from Europeans or o Christianity, the Igbo began to distance themselves from their heritage, and in the process became lost in the wilderness of a world they hardly understand. They have learned their lesson the hard way. The twenty-first century will lead them back home.

http://www./Igbo%20101.htm

Inside Innoson Motor Manufacturing Plant Nnewi Nigeria - Africa's first Car Manufacturer

This is to for those confuse and retrogressive Nigerians who don't see anything good and don't believe they are capable



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ukk42wLeVpI

A group known as Ikwerre Development Coalition has berated the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi over a comment he made in an interview with AIT Television where the Governor accused President Goodluck Jonathan of developing Biafran People and neglecting his State Rivers State.
The Governor Amaechi in an interview with AIT television said that, President Jonathan has developed Abia, and Imo but he refused to develop Rivers. Are we Biafrans?" -
The group, in a statement by its statement by its Convener, Hilary Wosu regretted that Governor Amaechi is grappling with the reality of having lost the support of the people who have refused to defect to APC with him and are vehemently in support of Jonathan.
Wosu said: “The people of the South-East are our blood and geographical brothers. What Jonathan is doing in the South-East, he is doing in Rivers State. The President is constructing the Elele-PH road which is nearing completion, he is constructing the East-West road to be finished in 2014, he rehabilitating the PH-Enugu road, he has built the Law Faculty at Uniport which had none for over 30years and he has also built the complete structure for the Faculty of Biological Sciences.
“The reconstruction of the PH International airport will be concluded this year, while he has constructed a brand new Girl-Child Model School in PH and also two electronic libraries at the Federal Government College, PH and Federal Government Girls College, Abolema. Need we mention the laboratories and classroom bocks built at the Federal College of Education (Technical) Omoku.”
He, however, said that at least Governor Amaechi has recognised the marvelous work the President was doing in his neighbouring states, even though he denies the obvious work being done in Rivers state.
“Thank God we are seeing while Amaechi remains blind. The truth is that he is being deceived by the unrealizable promise that he would be a Vice President. He lost out in the mainstream, and he can only continue to cry

Madiba and chinua achebe, and ojukwu the greatest heros of our time

Rip to the greatest african hero of our time.we will miss you

bcomputer101: Source: www.punchng.com/opinion/the-shame-called-murtala-muhammed-international-airport/

. So suprise this made the front page. Now I know the moderators are bigot knowing to well that there was a thread of mine debunking some of the allegations made against princess oduah's aviation projects being a scam. To my suprise the thread never made front page rather it was taken away from politics and hidden in the travel section.here is the link. Pro oduah like me will not make anti oduah propagander to suceed.

https://www.nairaland.com/1507627/pictures-stella-oduahs-airport

Donalð Genes: Wtf! I wonder which tribe in Nigeria is putting us in such a bad spotlight? Na waooo all because of money some people will wanna soil our image and now the whole Nigerians will be paying the price for their illicit business

I would rather sell marijuana than be a terrorist

Bad Belle people and APC can go and drown in the lagoon,we dont care. Stella Oduah remains the best aviation minister ever............#TeamfreshAirTill2019#

People ask if this is overseas, NO this is pix of the newly rebuilt MMIA under Stella Oduah

We even have clean toilets with running water like most western airports

Call it a scam but ffk couldn't do nothing but to enrich himself

Today it will be purchases of armored cars, tomorrow is high cost of renovation, next is she is not classic, another her looks. Aren't u guys stupid, when u all have wives, sisters and mothers at home.

Pictures they say speaks volume. Attack of Stella Oduah is pure baseless

Last time I came home, we all lined up for trolleys which has unmovable Tyre. Now we can easily move our luggage without airport touts helping out like in any other western country

Wa ooo enemies of Stella Oduah won't see good in their life, cos they hate progress