₦airaland Forum

shymmex: You haven't answered my question..

Can you marry an osu chic?

Do you even know what 'osu' is? Can you state its origin, its history, the effects it has had on society, or the culture zone which it is prevelant in?

No.

But you talk as if you can. I'm telling you it's better for you to go to your hometown and learn your people's culture, language, tradition, and history before it's too late. You're only wasting your time.

I'm not saying this with any mal intent. Rather, I'm saying this because it gets me annoyed when people come and say whatever they like about others when in actuality they know nothing.

Ekwuo mu o gwu.

shymmex: Check my signature..

Dedicating the rest of my life to the struggle against the Osu caste system..

I'll write an article about it, and expect a documentary from me soon...

Osu caste system has no place in the modern world..

*Sigh*

Nairaland's number one attention seeker, what is it now?

You're speaking as if you know an iota of knowledge on the history and evolution of the people you're taking about. Go and learn about your Yoruba history and culture before your even attempt to delve into the complex affairs of another people.

This is the fourth or fifth time you've posted this thing on this thread alone and I'm sure it won't be te last.

EzeUche: I never lived in Lagos and I never will.

Port Harcourt I hail thee.

EzeUche nwa Aro ibe m, ndaa kwan?

O bu onodi mere ikwokwo o ji ghulie azi.

Na condition make crayfish bend.

Lol.

Can you translate?

.

shymmex: Odumchi, please don't move my thread...

Let's celebrate our unsung heroes..

I'm sorry but there's nothing cultural about your thread. It belongs in another section where it will draw the right type of audience.

ChinenyeN: O di nma nwa avo. Gi kwa?

Nna, anyi na ekele Chineke. Asim ka m bia zonyere unu ukwu.

Ify panyenuru mu na Chinenye efere nsisa na anu ewu.

Ndi di nma kee kwanu?

ọ nku uwa shi a ri?

We have now laid the brickwork for our work. I would like to personally thank all of those who have participated.

May we now find the courage to apply all that has been written on paper into our actions.

Ndi Igbo,

Kedu ka unu melu?
Asim ka m nwelu nwayo guo ife nine unu delu. Oganiru anyi na ewetelu onwe anya di nma. Ka anyi gbagide aka mee ife nine gbasalu konstitushonu anyi a nihi olu nnukwu di anyi na iru.

Odumchi anotago.
Obasi di n'elu chebe unu.

R. Okorocha
S. Chime
B. Fashola
R. Amaechi
G. Akpabio

ezeagu: Most people in the old days didn't get involved in the deeper stuff (at this point we're obviously talking about ị gwọ nshi, ị chụ àjà, ị befu ishi). That was left to dibia, title holders and other important people. Community participation is in things like Iri ji and other festivals related to deities (Iri ji is associated to yam deities), and offerings to a shrine.

You're right. Public perception of these inner ceremonies plays a large role in public opinion. For example, in my town, the senior ekpe age-grades (and anyone else who is interested) congregate around a giant orji tree (converted to an oracle) which is said to bear the ancestral ọvọ of my town. They pour libations to the tree, offer sacrifices, and etc.

However, people don't understand that not every member has to be involved in this. Their perception of a few spoils it for the many.

OMO IBO: What I've noticed recently is that parents especially fathers with titles do not reveal to their families exactly what really goes on when they attend meetings. All we see are the frills, thrills and pageantry.

When the man eventually dies then his children especially male children are forced to carry out some rites.

In that case, it's the responsibility of the man to explain to his family the implications of his entrance into such a society.

Some people pull out and refuse to be involved in any of those deep things.

ChinenyeN: Odumchi, I can understand where you're coming from, on a personal level. See, my culture, in general, doesn't seem to have too much a problem reconciling omelala with Christianity, but my family does though. My father did not look kindly on us (my siblings and I) participating in various cultural performances, for religious reasons, until two years ago, when my sister performed her first mgbede for our annual Ngwa convention.

He still has his reservations. For instance, though it has been suggested on several occasions that I perform ekpo, he's advised against my participating. His understanding is that one thing leads to another. So, an attempt to reconcile omelala with Christianity could potentially lead to traditionalism, which he encourages me to stay away from. I understand where he's coming from though, considering his family background. Still, I intend on delving into various aspects of omelala, since I feel I need to gain a better (i.e. somewhat personal) understanding of them, if I am to write them to film the way I would like.

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I'm sure this feeling is very widespread.

It seems as if people assign stigma to (in this case) omelala due to their personal convictions. Nowadays, the belief is that one cannot fully participate in his/her tradition while being a Christian. Unfortunately, it's this type of mentality that spells doom on cultures.

Maybe your father has had a bad experience with omelala, hence his disapproval. Among my people, ekpo is generally accepted and even encouraged but the same can't be said for ekpe and okonko.

Besides, what's the big deal? It's not as if we are joining a satanic cult.

As long as one is a faithful adherent of his religion and does nothing that defies the beliefs of his religion, all else shouldn't matter.

Odenigbo Aroli: I know you have been itching to join "Ekpe" but be ready for divorce if you are married...lmao You are not alone because myself has been longing to adopt the "Ikenga" but the thought of it alone overwhelms me due to my family's staunch catholic beliefs. The truth is that you can do it but ppl will see you with a bad eye and will start avoinding you. Its very difficukt in this modern day to be a christian and a traditionalist at the same time. I hear say jazz is cool among Aros though.

Lol. My brother it's not easy oo.

I don't think our religions should prohibit us from partaking in our cultures. If everyone had this mentality, how would tradition survive?

I'm sure the road will be difficult but if you believe that Ikenga is meant for you, don't waste time.

Concerning me, every male in my father's side of the family joined both ekpo and ekpe before adulthood and before the faimly's total conversion to Catholicism. Although they're still ekpe members now, they don't partake in the hardcore ceremonies (consultation of oracle, oath taking, and etc) anymore.

I plan to do the same before I become an adult so that I won't have a wife to influence my decision . However, I don't think most of my family members will support this action.

Also, what do you mean by "jazz is cool"? I think you're saying "it's alright" but I'm not sure.

For some time I've been wondering whether or not Christianity should prohibit us from fully partaking in our tradition and cultural heritage.

For example, I know people who are blessed with a rich cultural background but fail to partake in many of their people's practices because (as they put it) "such things are meant for pagans".

Must being Christian mean that our traditions and cultural practices must die? Was it not God that inspired us with our identity and such methods of self-preservation?

I'm also asking because this affects me. I am a Christian, but I don't believe that that should mean the traditions of my people should be ignored. Although this isn't really a problem in my area (since we have healthy attitudes towards cultural preservation), I would like to hear your opinions on it.

As for myself, I plan to join three of the masquerade and secret societies (ekpo, ekpe, and okonko) of my hometown. Does being a Christian mean that an Obosi man cannot partake in egwugwu, a Calabar man in ekpe, or an Ife man in divination?

Nairalanders give me your opinions!

Salut, comment ça va?

Je parlez Français en peu.

I can't say I didn't expect this...

Antivirus, I'll know you're serious when you find a real and detailed account of Aro history and not the Wikipedia version.

Let me just point a few things out here. The Aro are broken into three lineages: Ezeagwu, Ibom Isii, and Okennachi. Ndi Okennachi are from the Edda (who are from the east of the Cross River). Ndi Ibom Isii originally were not Igbo and are from east of the Cross River also. The Ezeagwu lineage resided in the Cross-River basin prior to the establishment of Arochukwu and was led by a man called Nna Uru.

Nna Uru migrated (and brought his clan along with him) from the Igbo heartland and not from northern Igboland. The Igbo heartland refers to the Ideato-Okigwe-Orlu-Nkwerre axis (Northern Imo and a bit of Southern Anambra).

I hope you see what I'm getting at...

I must applaud you for your stubborness, though.

ezeagu: Pan Africanists believe that everybody in Africa is equal to one nation, as in everybody should be united just like a single tribe. Tribalism goes against their ideals because it is the original way of how African (or even any other) peoples lived and still live, which is independently as thousands of tribes, 'clans', village groups, kingdoms, empires, and states.

When you don't want this type of a "unified Africa" (or even unified former-colonial states like Nigeria) you are labelled a "neo-colonialist" , such as by Pan-African figure heads like Kwame Nkrumah.

Ah, I now see. Thanks for the explanation.

It's unfortunate but true. Such ideology is even present here on Nairaland. I'm beginning to see this document through a new perspective.

Odenigbo Aroli: Nwanne,I think we should pay more attention to what he is saying and might actually have a valid point. I know the Aros and Ngwas spoke different dialects from the Nri's but for the most part I can understand you and I know Chinenye can understand my Idenmili dialect for the most part if he actually pays attention. Do you know that Aro dialect is somewhat similar to that of the "Isuofia" where Soludo came from. Have you taken time out to ask yourself why most Igbo understands the Anambra dialect even those that has never came in contact with Anambrarian ? I have this strong believe that we came from the same Origin but as we spread out and settle we lose some of our original traits and develop new one as well and our tones changes but we can still understand the original dialect from where we emigrate from. My uncle once brought a girl from Izzi village to come live with us and I swear I cant understand a single word she speaks when conversing with her relative but she do understands everything we say. How come? And I have no doubt that same applies the "Ngwa's". Why do all Igbo understand the "Anambra dialect" ??

Nwanna, I am well aware that we are all connected culturally and linguistically. In Igboland, (for the most part) only neighboring groups are said to have blood relations with each other.

What I refuse to accept is the belief that one man was responsible for the birth of the entire Igbo nation. There are other possible explanations.

ChinenyeN: That is the new definition by people who want to propagate Pan-Africanist ideologies.

I don't understand. Could you please explain?

Interesting topic. Maybe the use of "tribalism" within the document should be substituted with other words such as "chauvanism", "ethnocentrism", or "nationalism".

In Africa, "tribalism" is synonymous with "racism".

shymmex: To me, too much of everything is bad, especially when you don't understand what you're copying..

There's absolutely nothing wrong with our culture, but because of the so-called; "Western Civilization" - we as Africans have lost our sense of belonging...

The good old African form of marriages were alright, and they lasted longer - but with this new extreme feminism madness, most women have lost their marbles..

No one is saying you should be subservient to men, but TOLERANCE is the key... Choose the right man for the right reason, and practice TOLERANCE - and you'd be alright, ok?

Is it me or are Westerners the only people who are even questioning the legitimacy of the marriage insitution? Africa and Asia seem to be doing fine, for the most part.

Yoruba_Omoge:

Na wetin?

Yoruba_Omoge: Go and get married, old man, stop using this thread as an excuse.

Lmaoo . You're talking to the boy that's yet to be 17.

pufectskin: Why do we feel things r western influenced all d time? Yes many things are; but the truth is that ccultures evolve. Europe and America weren't always pro-divorce...dey had connservative cultures just like us in d past...but as with technology and development, their socio-cultural dymamics r highly evolved compared to us...go figure! As we progress as a society, some things r gonna b put behind us. I am sorry but with divorce rate increasing daily, it is obvious Nigerians r clearly marrying for d wrong reasons...imagine just marrying cos I am from a good home or very pretty or cos my friends r married or cos he drives a nice car, he is cute...what happened to I feel so at ease with him/her and can share anything with him/her...but will u feel dat way 10yrs from now? And if u feel dat way, wat about ur partner? So u know who u love, but do u know who loves u? its tricky and I don't have d answers..its just a debate anyway.

I don't see Western influence as a good thing. It uproots African values/traditions and replaces them with foreign ideas, cultures, and mindsets. Europe and America have so many social/cultural problems that we Africans don't have.

It's just a matter of personal preference. It seems as if you're most worried about getting bored/tired of the other person. Everything in life has its ups and downs. Maybe you should consult your parents or your grand parents and ask them why they chose to marry each other and why they're still together (if they are).

shymmex: That's why marriage needs to be redefined...

Nothing is perfect in life, so, the marriage institution shouldn't be expected to be perfect - but if you marry for the right reasons, then you will never regret it..

Exactly. Well said.