₦airaland Forum

Nice response, Chinenye. I'll get back to you very soon.

Antivirus92: I wouldn't like to disturb this thread as i have vowed not to involve myself in such thing again. I like the thread odumchi even though alot of lies and contraditions are in it. Pls odumchi, tell ignorant people like chinenye and abagworo to keep off the thread. To odumchi and most people here,you guys don't still know what "igbo" really means and that's why you keep making mistakes.

Omara omaragbaa, ndaa aga I mere? O dila ezi anya nza m nusoro mkpotu gi.

NRI PRIEST: I'm coming back to answer both of you....Decendants of human sellers!

I rere ivoro gi na Nkwo Nnewi?

ChinenyeN: Sigh, Eze Nri, you're clearly not on the same page as Odumchi.

Anyway, Odumchi, mind expanding on what you believe these inaccuracies are?

I must admit that this thread is indisputably analyzing culture from the perspective of an eastern Igbo. To me, that's completely natural since the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Igbo culture is my own [Aro] culture. Anyway, here are those inaccuracies that I mentioned:

1. When I was discussing religious beliefs, I said something about Aro being responsible for the spreading of the idea of Chukwu throughout Igboland. This is not exactly true. The concept of a supreme cosmic being such as Chukwu is ubiquitous throughout ali Igbo. The only thing is that in certain culture zones, Chukwu goes by different names. The only thing that bears some element of factuality in what I said is that the Aro did carry the name "Chukwu" along with them.

2. I also said something about Amadioha existing in mostly southern Igboland. This is also not exactly true. To the best of my knowledge, Amadioha (who is said to be based in Ozuzu, Ahoada) exists in parts of the north and is known as "Amadiora" while in the central and southern areas he's known as "Amadioha". Amadioha as a deity is nonexistent in the east. From Bende to Arochukwu, the deity that replaces Amadioha is Kamalu.

3. I think I described the strength and influence of both Nri and Aro too generously. First of all, Nri was not a center of trade and commerce nor was it exactly a center of academic learning. Agukwu Nri was simply a small town that was famed for having powerful medicine men and strong and well-developed religious traditions. Nri derived its influence from the fame of its revered medicine men who submitted to the authority of the chief medicine man, Eze Nri.

Arochukwu on the other hand was not as large (population-wise) as I made it out to be. At its height, (late 19th century) it probably had a population of maybe (generous) ten thousand people. In this time period, the Aro families that held an oligopoly on interior Igbo trade chose to host their renowned market fairs at other more-econimically-strategic towns such as Bende. Arochukwu was economically relevant mainly because it was the main transit point for slaves headed to Calabar and Bonny from the Igbo hinterland. Volumes of slaves, pilgrims, and desired goods and commodities passed through Arochukwu, but despite this, Aro families preferred to hold their large market fairs elsewhere since Arochukwu was more of a redistribution point than anything.

Mazi Achebe, the great tree that marks the forest, rest peacefully and quietly in the bosom of the Lord.

TheBookWorm: Thank you for creating this thread odumchi.

I was very interested in seeing the "A Gateway into Kano" documentary. It really shows that there is humanity in all of us.

It doesn't matter what religion, language, or our ethnicity, we are still part of the human race.

No problem. I equally agree that sometimes we need a fresh reminder of our shared humanity.

Looking back at my work from nearly two years ago, I see a tremendous growth in thought and understanding from where I was then to what I am now. Many of the things that I said back then were inaccurate and I've come to recognize that as the byproduct of growth and progress. I must say that as I continue to grow, my perception of certain things will definitely change. What I believe today may not be what I believe five or ten years from now, and that's completely natural. When I see this thread, what I see is a younger version of me trying very hard to promote something he loves, and I hope that's what you all see too (whether Aro or not).

Nwonyeke m, m vuru na I nawa ejega acho ihe I ma-ekwu. Biko, gaa noro ebe olu.

Beretta92: I wonder hw one can be so convinced that his/her child is a witch and would subject that child to such despicable treatment.Why is this so rampant in that region of the SE?Is it the myth that's thriving there at the time?

Iberibe wu oria.

Enndubyaess: Daalu! You're so kind! I am excited to get started! I'm kind of new to Nairaland too, are there ways to send private messages where I could drop my e-mail in order to chat?

Signed, your sister haha

Nwanne m nwaanyi (my sister), sorry for the confusion o!
Anyway, yes, there are ways to send private messages on Nairaland. You can do so by clicking on a person's profile and then clicking the "send private message" button, but I'm afraid that I won't be able to assist you via email. What we can do, however, is open a thread (here on Nairaland) and then discuss there so that anyone else who wants to drop in can do so. And also, there are many threads in the culture section that help teach the Igbo language. Oh, and by the way, we are from the same town.

CAMNEWTON4PRES: SIR odumchi where are you?
Someone please to unban me and unlock the hidden comments in this thread .thank you

https://www.nairaland.com/1183773/les-fang-beti-pahouin

Done.

Enndubyaess: Ndewoo! Kedu!

Reaching out to my fellow Igbo friends, hoping to find a language partner. I am a Nigerian-American whose family is from Arochukwu and who wants to finally learn how to speak Igbo correctly Anyone willing to help me practice?

Daalu!

Chai!

My brother, you have come home. I am more than willing to help in whatever way I can.

EzeUche: Thank you for whoever cleaned up the Igbo People page on Wikipedia.

Our true population is now correct.

I choro ikwuru m na I nobe na-eche ka wo mezie ya nza ohu?

o'boy:
ya its 'Ula' but we do say 'ahu' in my side

Ife melu bu na ife izizi na-abia m na isi ma m na-elota Igbo Anambra bu asusu ndi Idemili. Amaro m na ufodu ndi Idemili di arafu isu "aru" bia sizie "ahu" mana nsogbu adiro ma ncha. Amutago m ife ofulu kita.

In what areas is the term 'Mazi' most prevalent?

I may be wrong, but don't Idemili people say 'ula' and 'aru'?

Mrs..Chima:
Oh.I made that already..we call it goulash.

Goulash is different. Here's what Olugbu soup looks like:

https://www.allnigerianrecipes.com/images/bitterleaf-soup.jpg

Pazienza, I like the way you put that. We Igbo are known for our abundance in human resources; we are a people who fashion success and progress out of our hands and sweat rather than complete reliance on others or on mere circumstance.

Igbo nwere ndi eji eme onu. Igbo ebuka.

ifyalways: Igbo names for Chicken pox,small pox,measles anyone ?

Odumchi,me likey your siggy.

In Aro, measles is arurubara while chicken pox is oganelu or oku nmuo.

Ify, ndeewo maka signature m. O dii nve ma olu. A si ihe oma di nma.

NRI PRIEST: Okwa ebe ana ele mmadu..

I choo kwa, anyi eree gonwo.

NRI PRIEST: No,I don't think so because you have never been to Nnewi,Amichi,Ozubulu,Umuoji,Oraukwu,Awka-etiti,Osumenyi,Alor-London and every other Anambra town with heavy wealth.

Nwonyeke m, ńaa nti ńazie nti: Hapu m aka, I nula ya? Ebe dum m gara I buru osuaghara gi sota m azi. Ekuo ihe nke a ngen? Ihe gi a agwula m ike. Agamu mmekpo azi nke a avutee m nza.

If you're really interested in finding native speakers of these languages, you'd have to go their respective localities. If you go to the creeks and mangrove swamps of Akwa Ibom and Cross River, you'll find young children and old men and women who don't know a spot of English.

Eheenini.

Odenigbo Aroli: Odumchi,you speak out of complete Ignorance! If Nri didn't invent the Ikenga which signifies individual strenght then who did ? When these "dibias" are buried their right hand is kept up from the coffin holding a head of the ram that was killed for their Ikenga and these ritual originated from Eri/Ifikuanim time. Nwokem,you are beggining to sound like a busted drum! Aro of yesterday? Tomorow you will claim Aro invented ufiejioku/Ikeji/iwaji/ili ji....old boy go and dance okonko or ekpe.

You're misunderstanding me. The Ikenga I am talking about is not the cult (Aka Ikenga). What I am referring to is the concept of the Ikenga spirit. Telling me that Nri was responsible for the concept of Ikenga is like saying Nri was also responsible for Ali, Ovo na Ogu, and Chi.

Oh, and for the record, Arochukwu doesn't practice Okonko nor does it "dance" Ekpe. Ekpe is a sociopolitical institution that is regarded highly not only in Aro culture but in the cultures of many Cross River peoples. Okonko (which goes by the name of Ekpe, in Aro) is more or less the Igbo equivalent of Ekpe. So please, next time when you're trying to make an insultive remark, do so correctly and knowledgeably.

If war were to break out in Lagos, of what value would a Lekki estate be? Would I carry my mansion atop my head as I run home? Building homes in one's native town is the best way of investing in one's self. I believe Abiriba people do this best.

Eze Promoe: [color=crimson]Seriously i'm just hearing this 'aka ikenga' for the very first time.[/color]

I used to think that "aka Ikenga" was very common. I guess I learned something new.

ChinenyeN: I would say that there are stark differences. 'Left hand' and 'right hand' are simply descriptive. So what actually matters is the left/right indicators. From that perspective, there are stark differences between ikpa (Ngwa/Ikwerre), ibita (Aro), mburu (Elai), ekpe (Izugbe), etc.

Side comment though; In my honest opinion, the language should have long since developed to the point that 'aka' can be dropped from directional construction, since what actually matters is the indicator that follows.

'Gaa l'ikpa a' (go to the left of it) or 'O no n'ibita m' (it is to the left of me) should be acceptable. But alas, that is not the case. Though the above examples may fit fine in one's mind, they might actually end up sounding clumsy and awkward when vocalized. Sigh. So dissapointing.

That's an interesting perspective. I don't see the need for the dropping of "aka" because it is the beauty of the language. Doing so would mean bastardizing the language in an attempt to achieve brevity and modernity.

Odenigbo Aroli: Really,you guys call left hand "aka Ikenga" ? I'm very curious on how Aro came up with the word "Ikenga" because Nri,which is where the "Aka Ikenga" cult originated from doesn't call the right hand "Ikenga". To us the Ikenga refers to the right hand but it presents a very mystical concept.

In Aro culture, the spiritual force called Ikenga is used to symbolize potency, success, strength, and action. We believe the right hand is where the Ikenga's abilities are manifested, thus the it is called "aka Ikenga". The concept of Ikenga is widespread throughout Igboland and often goes by different names, depending on where you are. Nri did not invent the concept of Ikenga. It simply used it to develop a cult.

In Aro, left hand is aka ibita while right hand is aka ikenga.

Inyi emeele o. Thanks everyone.

I just wanted to see if there were any stark differences throughout the various subregions; but it doesn't seem as if there are any.

I'm also guessing you all call "right hand" áká Ikéngà?

Antivirus, nwonyeke m, ka m duo gi odu:

Why is it that you speak as if you own a copyright on the Igbo identity; as if your father was the first Igboman, therefore everyone that wants to identify as such must answer to you?

My guy, your reasoning is very faulty and extremely insultive. You not only spoke condescendingly on the legions of our brethren whose sole fault is that they occupy the "wrong" side of the Niger, but by making such a statement, also drove a stake into the heart of the very fabric that unites the "Igbo nation": diversity.

By asking such a question, you made a painfully broad and ignorant statement. All politics aside, in what way(s) are the Ikwere/Ika/Ukwuani any different from the Nkanu/Urata/Egbema? What makes their presence in the "Igbo mix" any less "important" or "significant"? Let me tell you, what your doing is outright discrimination and self-abuse. Mentalities like this will forever continue to pierce holes within our solidarity as Igbo, weakening us politically and creating unnecessary tension, division, and mistrust...

M sila ya mbu kama m ma-ekwu ya odo: Igbo dum wu olu. O nwee onye kara ibe ya wuru onye Igbo. Inyi ghosa ihe a ngwangwa, oganivu anyi abiakwa ngwangwa.

Well, since tomatoes were introduced from the Americas, we don't really have a native name for them.