₦airaland Forum

afam4eva: I love the Owerri dialect when it's used in songs.

I agree. Pure Owerri Bongo is therapy to the ears.

*Plays Saro Wiwa*

"Enyi m eeh, Wiwa nwanne m apalile egwu o!
Ya wu egwu oma ri nma egwu gbara buba egwu Bongo!
O kwa emezhie nu he uwa akpo kwa ya he zhiri ezhi
Egwu anyi gbara-agba ofo, ofo duru ogu wu ofo zhiri-ezhi
A nwoke shi ya ji ofo, a nwanyi shi ya ji ofo,
Chineke kere uwa amara kwa na onye ji ishi wu onye ji nu ofo..."

Negro_Ntns: Eze,

I nominate all of them. Add Onila there too.

Can you do me a favor?

No problem. Just have them come and accept and the changes will be reflected on the board.

What is the favor?

Mrs.Chima:
Even if we take away phrases that you find offensive will not change the fact that the damage have exceeded past repairs. There are "blacks" who have taken steps to "work together" but you will always have spoiled apples in the bunch even in your own families. It will not change the fact that the mere notion of "unity" will not surface at the volume you dreamt of.

It is good that you are not a pan africanist because I was beginning to worry that I may have to pull you from la la land. Your ancestors have fought over 600 years to even put in place that all "blacks" work together. It will never happen however nothing wrong with being hopeful.

Not saying something offensive will not change the mindset. We have to always remember that. What is also sad to hear some
"blacks"feel and say that they trust non=blacks more than "blacks" If those can't trust those that look like them...team building will be difficult task...impossible but achievable in nano years.

I am curious to know what is "black problems?"

I don't get what you're trying to say about my ancestors fighting 600 years for "black unity". Could you please explain?

The issue facing Africans worldwide (black problems) are numerous:
In the New World, African-Americans are facing challenges with drugs, violence, education, family issues, social disintegration and poverty. In Africa (the world's poorest continent) Africans are battling poverty, disease, illiteracy, war, and unstable governments. This shows that on every corner of the world, the "black" peoples are suffering and are in need of an urgent socio-political/socio-economic revival; these are things that sitting around and calling each other "ape" won't accomplish.

Like I said earlier, I'm not saying that we should pretend as if nothing is wrong. What I'm saying is that "black" peoples everywhere should awaken and realize their situation in the modern context. As an African-American (I'm not referring to you specifically), you can't just exist oblivious to what's going on in Africa because you don't consider yourself African. The same also goes for an African who tries to act as if he is living in a microcosm that contains only himself and his immediate concerns.

Ignorance is no longer an excuse.

nedu210: nawa 4 u odumchi, ina akowazi na Ify bu enwe?

O di ka I na-acho onye I ga-eye na nsogbu? Ify lee kwa o! O nweghi mgbe m si kwa ihe di otu ahu. Ama kwa m na o bu gi ka Pres-elect na-azunyere ihe ukwu. Unu bia gbaa kwara m aka ebe!

pres-elect:
Odumchi amaghi m ihe ikoga. Kwuo m ugwo m.
Hoha!
New osiso. Shoe ahu nu on sale. Before ha emechie sale. Ify m ga alike the shoe

M ga ekwe gini akwu gi? Nna gi o kuru osisi na-ami ego na azu ulo gi? M mere ihe ojoo kooro unu akuko ahu?

Negro_Ntns: I read through the whole thread and Im wondering to myself if there s any reason why Ify is not in the panel of judges. Shouldn't her name have been the first on the list already before anyone else's?

Why isnt anonymous on the judges panel?
Why isnt physics on the judges panel?
Did Ileke-Idi turn down an offer to be a judge, if not why isnt she there?

Who are all these people you got on the panel what do they know about culture?

Let those people that you just mentioned come out and nominate themselves/express their interests and all else will follow.

Mrs.Chima:
You are more than entitled to your opinion about the "root" thingie. There is no such thing as black race however the societal classification base on ethnicity is necessary to distinguish for identification purposes. Back in ancient times...there was a nation that was governed by a powerful black king and queen. They managed to grouped a few individuals with similar mindsets until "judas spawns" contributed to their untimingly demise.

Before the coming of transatlantic slavery..."blacks" were divided by clans and tribes and fought each other for land and power. Women and children were kidnapped during the invasion and held as prisoners/slaves. Some women were raped and produced babies of other tribes/clans. It also explains the variety of "looks" within Africans in certain regions.

Now transatlantic slavery begun and "blacks" are divided again and this time the POW's and innocents were given/sold in exchange for some flip flops and mirrors. The "merchandises" were from various tribes/clans which explains exotic looks of those aboard.

The point of all this to say disconnection began in Mother Africa and extended all over the world. It is too late for millions to wake up...the damages has exceeded beyond repairs. The best thing people can do is start at home fixing their personal issues and hope for positive change.

You are right..."blacks" are responsible for their own woes.

By the term "black race," I'm referring all of the black-skinned peoples of Africa and their descendants in the diaspora. My own ideology is that being aware of one's origins is empowering in its own right. There is no need for one to necessarily "feel" or even embrace a connection to the motherland [of all black peoples], but I do think that it is necessary to acknowledge the significance of Mother Africa in our pasts.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not a Pan-Africanist. I'm not saying that long ago all of Africa's peoples coexisted harmoniously in perpetual peace and harmony without discord, no, off course not. However, what I am saying is that, today, due to the conditions that the "black race" finds itself in, it is almost imperative for us to find ways to work together and achieve the things that matter to us. Sitting around and tossing around phrases like "African booty scratcher" or "field negro" won't do us [the children of Mother Africa] any good; it's not enough to simply solve our immediate problems and worry only about what immediately affects our lives.

stillwater: Older Nigerians who may not even be graduates have a better command of English than today's graduates.

It's a pity that this is true.

Mrs.Chima:
by

Not everyone from Mother Africa by birth or descendent feels any connection with Mother Africa.

Then it's time for them to wake up and realize themselves. The blacks across the Atlantic are undeniably rooted in Africa, whether or not the connection is felt. What's important is that Mother Africa's children on both sides of the world learn to cooperate and push for mutual goals and objectives because if they don't, then the "black race" has only itself to blame for its woes.

Sometimes it seems as if the "black man" is constrained not only by the physical and psychological chains fastened upon his ankle by his traditional adversaries but also by the hate of his fellow peers which continues to checkmate his attempts at progression.

The children of mother Africa really need to get it together.

pres-elect:
Ngwa odumchi kwuo m ugwo maka ajuju m zatara
mee osiso enwere shoe m huru na oxford street. ify ga aliki the shoe. mee osiso.
e neediri m another cracker ibonge this week from ify
udi ndi ahu ana aku, a-chilie ukwu abuo elu .

Enwe ana na-eyi ihe ukwu?

netsurf: Thanks @ responder and the mod.

Pls how do you say Good Evining?

Good Morning

Good Afternoon in igbo?

No problem.

'Good morning' is 'I bola chi?' or 'I tetela?'
The phrases 'good evening' and 'good afternoon' do not exist naturally in Igbo. However, the most natural way to greet someone at any time of day after the morning is 'ndeewo'. 'Ndeewo' can have a host of meanings depending on how and when it is used.

Eifeh: what is the name of your town? I think enugu west called it okpa becouse nkanu people call it okpa too

Arochukwu, Abia State.

Nice thread, Promoe.

Q: Kwuoro m onye uwa dum na-atu egwu; onye amaa nne mo nna; onye amaa nkpona mo mgbei; onye amaa odibo mo eze; onye na-emete gi mgbe ura kagba uto? (onwu)

Tell me who the whole world fears; who can't tell mother from father; who can't tell rich from poor; who can't tell servant from king; who wakes you up when your sleep is sweetest? (death)

Nice website, Afam.

In a few years now, your members will begin collecting money to buy you a private jet.

1ndidi2: Imeena ezigbo mmadu

Nsogbu adighi.

Eze Promoe: The word 'ukwu' can be used when refering to the whole leg but 'okpa' can be used when refering to it in parts e.g mkpisi okpa (toe), mbo okpa (toe nail) etc.

I understand. I was just saying that the most widely accepted and standardized of the two is 'ukwu'.

Eifeh: in my village we call it okpa Nenwe in enugu state

It's called 'okpa' in my town too.

1ndidi2: Ekene kwam ndi no n'ulo oma nke a

Biko,my aunt needs some unique/rare- making sense Igbo names for both boys and girls!

Any suggestions are highly welcome. Thank you

Ndeewo. Gaa ebe a: https://www.nairaland.com/11383/igbo-names-meanings

Eze Promoe: Even in Igbo Izugbe.
BTW, are you from Ikwerre?

I was asking because the Izugbe for leg is 'ukwu'.

Ikwere eye? Odii. M wu onye Aro na Abia steti.

Eze Promoe: Now if you all have understood this, then see this words and tell me the meaning:
1. Ígwê
2. Ìgwè
3. Ígwè
4. Ígwé
5. Àkàrà
6. Ákàrà
7. Ókpà
8. Òkpà
9. Ézê
10. Ézè

These questions are open question anyone can answer, Ezenwanyi inclusive.

In Ikwere do they call 'leg' 'okpa'?

Torch1: Eke is derived from Chin'EKE'? Okwa ya?

O bu ya kama...
Ikè ekè (the verb) means "to create". Ekè (the noun) can also mean creation, creature, or being.

netsurf: Moderators...this should be a permanent topic on the front page why move it into culture? Yes, I understand language is part of our culture but this is for educational purpose and I believe it should be left in the Education forum.

A similar thread already exists.

https://www.nairaland.com/1098993/want-learn-igbo-language-thread/3

netsurf: Moderator shld pls place this on the front page so that people can respond and learn


Pls how do you say...how is your health? In Igbo?

"How is your health" is "Ahu o di gi"?

ifyalways: Being noun= still trying to work it out. Onye does not really capture it.

What about Eke?
Certain groups in Imo state call God "Eke kere uwa" meaning "the creature/being that created the world".

pres-elect:
O si ya
"My throat is calling me firewood"

Lol
O di ka I nutula ya mbu.

ifyalways: ^ lol.

Odumchi o zatara ya?. Nke a yiri bekke Tosh .

Lol eeeh. O kotara ya.

Itoroetti :
Who told u that Ekpe masquerde is IGBO?It is proper Efik/ibibio ting

Ekpe is practiced throughout the Cross River region and is not limited to the Efik; Arochukwu, Abiriba, Ohafia, Abam, Bende, Uzuakoli, Arondizuogu, Ututu, Ihechiowa, and Afikpo are all Igbo communities that practice Ekpe.

Only a handful of Ibibio communities practice Ekpe, by the way.

I'd you'd like to see pictures of the slave routes go here:

http://www.wku.edu/%7Ejohnston.njoku/arochukwu/

Lol

Akuko a mere mgbe ochie ri, mgbe ndi bekee ka biara ohuru. O nwere otu nwantakiri ana-akpo Peter. Peter amaghi otu esi asu Bekee.

Ya mee otu ubochi, Peter gara ulo akwukwo nke ndi bekee mehere na obodo ya. Mgbe o no na klassi nmiri bia guwa ya, ya bia suoro onye nkuzi ya na Igbo "akpiri na-akpo m nku". Onye nkuzi bia mee ka o nughi ya. Ya were Bekee si Peter "say it in English".

Unu ama ihe Peter suachiri ya?

I think that she desires to live among her children but sees her increasing needs as an impedement to her children's happiness. It is the wish of every man to take care of his children and have his children take care of him when the time comes. However, placing the man in a retirement home/nursing home ultimately defeats that purpose. Furthermore, I think that such an environment breeds depression and sadness.

I think, in your case, what she needs is to be in the company of relatives and loved-ones. You might need to set up accommodations for her within your home (if you think that's best).

It's because of things like this that our ancestors built large houses and established compounds.

O nwere otu akuko m si m koro unu...

Emzybrown: Op ,abeg sasha get boyfriend am interested to date her!!

O boy, e be like say Yankee prison dey hunger you.

Promoe, ndeewo maka threadi ohuru ahu I meheere anyi. O bu udi ihe ahu bu ihe ga enyere anyi bu Igbo aka.

ogugua88: What are the pronouns and some common verbs and negations?

I know:

a = I
i/gi = You
o = he/she/it
anyi = we
unu = You

I don't know "they". Some verbs I'd like to know are "be/to be", "can", "will", etc.

As per negations, is it always "ro"? As in, "o di ro nma" (it's not good)?

Nice.

'They' is ha in standard Igbo.
'To be' is idi (the 'i' before the 'di' means 'to').
'Can' can be expressed in two ways: inwere ike (literally meaning "to be able to" ) or by adding "ga" as a prefix to a verb and 'li' as a suffix (ex: i ga-biali meaning "can you come?" )
'Ro' is said mostly in Anambra, and even though it's not the standardized way of saying it, people will still understand what you mean. The standardized one is dighi (the 'ghi' is pronounced like the 'g' in gini) so it would be: o dighi nma.

As for pronouns, 'ya' also means "he/she/ it" but is only used when you're talking about something aforementioned.