₦airaland Forum

Personally, I don't believe in any of these Egyptian/Ethiopian/Hebrew ancestry theories. Nok seems more probable.

shymmex: Omalicha nma ifunnaya ka gi (whatever that means)

You said, "beautiful knife, seeing that it is greater than you"

Kedu ebe oke a si riputa ?

Dear Nairalanders,

I'd like to inform you guys that I will be traveling in a few days time and will be gone for a few weeks. In my absence, my co-mod Michelin will continue to make sure that things are the way they're supposed to be and that everything goes smoothly.



stay classy,
Odumchi

Obiagu1: ^^^

Summary ...

It's just describing the process of centralization from the Isuama period to our modern Izugbe period.

Obiagu1: I really doubt "owu ite" is anyone's dialect as far as I know, it's just a word that evolved.

Oh okay.

Anyway, here's another song I need help interpreting. The song is in Owere and the particular verses that I need help interpreting are: "shim ma shimalama o rii ihe m mere gi o, onye ripkoma chi ya adomara ya" (0:50) and "awa shiri umunna, a na shima onye ebebe emele m o, kajia achukwala nwa nihi na ofo eji egbu egbu ka e ji egbu nma mana m merenini na egbu ofo" (0:25 to 0:40).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBHs9KkEe2U&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Lol, I know this one will be very difficult.

This isn't anybody's fault. Rather, it's a perfect example of the dialectal variation in the Igbo language. In my own dialect, poverty is 'mgbei' and we don't have anything like 'owu'.

Prior to you guys' explanations, I knew that that saying (owu as gi, i ga amalu ife) had something to do with hardship/poverty but I didn't exactly know what 'owu' meant.

Andre Uweh: This arist is very familiar with Ghana and Ghanian artists. Even one of his songs-Eddie Quasah was about a Ghanian.Probably, that song is from one of the Akan groups in Ghana. Peacocks speaks many dialects and I can remember he sang in Ikwerre dialect in one of his songs.

ooh. Is that so...

No wonder. I was beginning to wonder why I didn't understand anything. Thanks a lot, Andre.

The party should try hard and make itself more attractive to the other Southeastern states. Hopefully with people like Rochas in its ranks it won't have much difficulty doing so.

May the guy rest in peace. This could've been the handwork of a school-based fraternity.

Abagworo: That I don't know yet but the Isu in the name suggests Isu origin just like Isuikwuato and Isu in Onicha LGA of Ebonyi. I have however read where they were referred to as "Otanzu". They are related. I think most Igbos have one thing or the other with Isu and Nri.

Oh okay. I believe there's a good possibility that they're Isu but, since I'm not sure, I won't say anything. However, if they are Isu then that's revolutionary news for me personally because my maternal great grandmother was married over from Isuochi; meaning I'd have Isu ancestry.

Anyway, I found this document that sums up the history of standardization attempts within the Igbo language. It should answer the question of which dialect is nearest to (or resembles the most) Central Igbo once and for all.

[url]http://www.nuc.edu.ng/nucsite/File/UNN%20Inaugural%20Lectures/33rd%20Lecture.pdf[/url]

To supplement what I wrote earlier...

I have to admit that I am also one of those who fell victim to the current condition of things in Igboland since I am currently writing to you guys from abroad. I'm also sure that I am not the only one here who isn't in Igboland. I'm not saying that the majority of the Igbo live outside of our homeland, but what I'm saying is that the fact that we choose to leave our fatherland in search of a better living/wealth in another man's land is absurd.

The worst part of all of this is that some of us who leave often forget those they left back home. I've seen people who haven't stepped a foot in Nigeria (not to talk of Igboland) in 10, 15, 20 years. Our presence in other peoples' lands brings development and commercial activity to them but at the end of the day, what's our benefit? I even know people who have built mansions in their foreign country of residence but don't have as much as a shack built in Igboland.

This reminds me of some verses in the song Arabanko which go:

"Nani industry anyi nwere na Owere bu filling station na hotel aka ipa ka nri" (meaning the only industries we have in Owere are filling stations and hotels left and right)
"Ogu su na Zamfara, Igbo, i ga ebu company ala?" (meaning if a war breaks out in Zamfara will you carry your company atop your head and run home?

ChinenyeN: I think you all should consider a more holistic approach, in achieving your objective, because each person just seems to be pinpointing one thing here, or another thing there. I realize that Odumchi requested input on the most urgent need, but at the same time, the way I understand this topic, you all are looking to build or establish an entire society. To do such, requires a holistic outlook. Economic needs are connected with media/entertainment needs. Home/community issues affect and are affected by education needs, etc. etc.

Simply put, every need is all-inclusive and integrated into one another, and so must be addressed concurrently. Nnyukalata mamiri nj'agba ufutuu, as the saying goes. Multiple people and a mutli-dimensional approach, when urinating, produces more foam. I can understand if you all were to be discussing most urgent tasks (i.e. Task Management: What needs to be done in order to make this or that possible, or to solve this or that need?). Identifying the most urgent tasks can potentially solve many needs, or at least potentially make solving those many needs less difficult.

Your suggestions are recieved warmly.
So what your saying is that we should identify an umbrella issue which, if solved, would take care of all of these problems?

I think that's a good way forward. Based on my perceptions and on the replies here, I think the umbrella issue is the fact that we Igbo move away from our land into other peoples' lands in search of better opportunities. This is directly related to the lack of commercial opportunities and International presence in Igboland. As Onlytruth pointed out, it is directly related to the language issue. If the airports/seaports issue is solved, Igboland would progress economically, politically, culturally, and socially.

Does anyone know if Isuochi community in Okigwe LGA is also Isu?

Sam_Ikenna: Its a shame brother, those days now belong to history books.

It's very unfortunate. The rate that things are spoiling in this country is astounding.

bayooooooo: I remember the issue of Mutalab and how almost everyone responded that no Nigerian would go on such a suicide mission. Nigerians love life, you know.
We know better now.

The sad truth is that filling up one's head with radical ideology can cause one to do unimaginable things.
It's really a disturbing thought that someone can hate another so much that he's willing to kill himself just to kill them.

I remember the days when we heard about bombings, massacres, and terrorism in distant and strange countries. We never expected such things to come near us and we had this comforting sense of security.

2012. Now look at us...

One issue which I think is paramount is the lack of a 6th Southeastern state. The void created by this "missing state" has caused our main geopolitical zone (the South east) to lose billions in funding, our people to have less represention at the National Assembly, and has resulted in the political marginalization of nearly 2 million of our brothers in Delta.

I remember a thread, some time ago, saying something about the creation of two additional Southeastern states. Ever since then, I haven't heard anything about it and I'm beginning to doubt whether or not we will get those states. Aside from this, another vexing issue is where those states will come from. I think it's safe to say that there is a general disdain towards any state creation models seeking to divide pre-existing Southeastern states. The most logicall answer to our 6th state would be Anioma state, but knowing the people we are dealing with, it won't be an easy venture.

There are many media through which we can easily reach our representatives and voice out our opinions and thoughts so why shouldn't we take advantage of them?

noiseless: I believe that there is a also a need to reach out to those our church going brothers/sisters by making their "religious leaders" to join hands get involved in the movement and use their position to tell their congregations the truth, about the need is it for us to understand the roles our socalled reprensentatives play in our lives and how dangerous it is to ignore them to do whatever they like with the position of power. Since most of them do listen very much to those PASTORS AND PREACHERS then it is not a sin for their congregations to know that any politician in power or in opposition who lost touch with the common people after any election should not be allowed to continue to spit on us, cos the people are the real power unless their MEN OF GOD are deceiving them and doing business with those thieving politicians, either by not letting them know that there are things which requare prayers and things that simply need questioning and pressurizing their political leaders or are just enemies of their progress, whichever way it is our people have to know the power they have in their hands and how to effectively use it to better their lives collectively. Also our brothers who are into trade or other occupations as many of them are already members of one union or another they should be targeted as well, and not leaving out the traditionalist believers too they should be reached out to as well.

Well said my brother. Churches play a large role in our society and they should be used as a tool for social empowerment and eventual change. As you stated it's sad that most times, our only response to difficulty is prayer. I'm not saying that prayer is bad but, heaven helps those who help themselves.

Good things are coming forth from this our discussion. I thank you again for your input.

achi4u: Oke Odum(chi)!,kedu ka imere?____na umu Igbo ndi ozo ihe Oma na amasi.

Anugo m ihe nile ikwuru.Onyekwanu ka m bu igbaha unu okwu...ejuru m eju bara-a-abara ma dikwa m njikere iru oru Obolu unu ga asim ruo.

Abum onye ihe omena_ala ndiigbo na amasi___maka na anyi ama hapu "Omena_ala mewa omene-elu" nke putara na imirikiti ndiigbo ahapugo ikuziri umu ha asusu igbo gaa na akuziziri ha supirisupriri bekee(pigin henglish even most of them are stuch illitrate).

Ofu ihe m chuputara bu na onye obula choru ichi ochichi ga aburiri onye mara asu asusu bee ha ofuma(igbo inclusive)

Nke a mere na onye obula na-anghi akuziri umu ya asusu igbo anaghikwa atoro umuaka ya ntoala izo okwa ochichi na ala igbo.

Okwu jiri m onu mana m kwusigodu ebe a.

udo diri unu umuigbo di 'special'

Esim Ebonyi steti nedepu okwu ndi a.

Nwanna Achi4u,

I meela nu maka o bughi obere ihe. Anam ekelekwa gi maka otu a I si si ka I wee soro anyi. Biko zigara Eze Ndi Igbo NL ozi na emailu ya (ezendigbo_nl@hushmail.com) ka anyi nabata gi. Uche a I kwuru maka ochichi na osusu Igbo dikwa nma. Ihe a nile bu ka anyi gba mbo ka Asusu anyi dirikwa.

Eh-heh, i si na i bu onye Ebonyi? Ndeewo oo! Mu wa abum onye Abia.

Joookwa! Ma o buru ndi unu

ChinenyeN: Oh. I see. Thank you.


haha I know exactly what you mean. As for "feriserima", I have no idea.

Lol , thanks.

I Here's one that I need help comprehending. If you could skip to 3:35 of this album and listen to "Feriserima". Amazingly, I understand none of the words in it. I think it's because they aren't signing clearly.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikzPf8gI6qg

I just listened to it and I think it's along the lines of what Afam said since the guy said "O wu sa gi, i ga amara ife".

ChinenyeN: Okay, "Owu sa gi" song. What does that expression mean and where does it come from?

Hmmm...
Let me listen to the song and get back to you.

I've found msyelf listening to many songs and then wondering what they meant either because I don't understand the dialect being used or the idioms/figures used within the speech. So in order to help myself and everyone else, I decided to make a thread where we can post songs/music (in a Nigerian language) and ask for interpretations.

afam4eva: Let's try and see if we can contact other Igbo groups both online and offline, so that they can pass the message to their members.

This is a good idea.

ndu_chucks: @odumchi, I must confess that your level headedness and style of conversation shows that you have the type of leadership skills needed in the Parliamentary office. People like Onlytruth come across as too confrontational and will drive away the youths instead of encouraging their participation.

kudos to you, keep up the good work.

Thank you. Think of our team members each as instruments in an orchestra; all of us combined make music.

isale_gan2: Goof site, but some sections have way too tiny font.



They should start learning the language. Today.


Good move welcoming the contributions of Naijas of good will regardless of ethnicity. A little bit more of this togetherness in the country at large and I can realize the dream of my nephew becoming a governor of Lagos state in the next 20-30 years! By that time, he might not even be the first elected Lagos governor with an Igbo last name.

You're probably viewing it from a mobile device. It's best suited for computers, however, we will consider your feedback. Thanks.

Onlytruth: Very good question, because one has to ask the right questions to get to the right answers.

The answer is that some of them are forbidden by law openly, while some are forbidden by an unwritten law which every Nigerian president has implemented since 1970 (which is part of why Igbo want to produce a Nigerian president); for example, you should not (or even must not) build "federal projects". It means that even if you build an international airport today there, if the Feds don't approve it (which they would likely not to due to whatever they fear about us) then, the project would become another TINAPA. Nobody wants to waste his money. The second Niger bridge is more of a funding issue (for SE) because no SE state will like to shoulder the cost burden. You raised a good question about why the SE governors are not cooperating to develop such projects. Well, to get to the answer, you have to go back to the intentions of those who initiated state creation in Nigeria in 1967. Their intention was obvious -to divide the East politically, making it difficult for our people to unite around any agenda. They masked this intention by doing same to other parts of Nigeria, but those of us with eyes to the ground are not deceived one bit. lol The first state creation was a MILITARY STRATEGY. The same division of the East has now spread to all parts of Nigeria, making Nigeria one of the most divided countries I know.

Now, the only short-cut out of this problem was supposed to be by joining the so called "national party" (PDP), but alas it appears as if this national party is only interested in sustaining the undeclared subjugation of Igboland. Notice that they have somehow refused to create more states in the SE to balance the geo-pol regions, even though the PDP has maintained a constant dominance of the center, and SE since 1999. They have ZERO interest in building those things, and are simply dangling them to our faces every election year. This is the main reason why I don't like PDP.

Our chance of coming together to build things for ourselves lie in joining a party that MUST CONFRONT the "national party" by whatever means necessary to give us our fair share of development and dignity in our corner of Nigeria.

We must always connect our misfortune to political events on the ground.
We cannot plant yam and reap cocoayam, or sow corn and reap banana. Our unity must begin with joining a LOCAL PARTY that understands our needs and NEVER mortgages them by joining any "national party". I personally believe that Fashola of Lagos would never have achieved much if he is in PDP. This my view may be controversial, but I plead that our people start to connect their problems/solutions to REAL political events, else, we can never get out of our problems in Nigeria.

I see what you're saying; Igboland is fragmented politically. Although it may seem easy to ask everyone to just defect to the "better" party, it is a complicated task. For example, contrary to the popular belief that PDP is worthelss, my dad (a member of the PDP) achieved much in our town during his term as a PDP councillor in our local government, and PDP is fairly popular in my area of Abia. However, if you go to Imo or Anambra, people will have totally different opinions of PDP.

Personally, I believe that it will be hard for Igboland to be dominaated by one party because of the independent modes of thinking that people have. However, that doesn't that we still can't progress. The North, for example, is divided between PDP and CPC, yet its leaders are still working together.

I prefer AGPA to PDP but the truth is that most people don't see a political party's presence past what it does in that person's locality.

afam4eva: There are many problems facing Igboland today but the one that worries me the most is the face the we have no presence in the media. Do you know that you'll hardly see a TV station in Nigeria talking about the civil war but the same stations talk about june 12 like it's the worse thing that ever happened to Nigeria. We have been often represented in the media so many times and we've not been able to defend ourselves and even project our image via the media. So, I think we should towards that direction.

One_Naira: GBAM!! It is a shame and it is not just TV station, even schools do not teach the history. Can you believe I actually learned about Biafran war in America yet I was raised in Nigeria and I attended schools in Nigeria to make matters worse, I went to several schools due to family movement from one state to another and to add insult to injury, it was a white woman whom told me of this part of our history. I later researched and learned alot both from parents, elders back home and online but it still a shame, no school felt the need to teach this history. I once watched one of dawn's show online where she interviewed chimamanda ngozi adichie about her book; one part of the interview that stuck with me is when dawn asked ngozi why she wrote the story. she even went to the extent of mentioning it is an event that happened in the past, why bring it up? I enjoyed adichie's reply to the question but dawn's question made me wonder if it's a taboo or a governmental thing or the fact that many are trying to force igbo to forget therefore the history of the war is kept on the hush hush form in Nigeria. SMH Shame

@ Odumchi
The most urgent problem in Igboland imho is the lost of history. Though we have material things we should focus our opinion on but their are some things people shouldn't forget. How many Igbo children do you know today that can narrate to you the history of their state or village without going online to research it first? Its a pity we are letting alot of things of interest die a painful death right in-front of us. Some Igbo parents aboard would even disregard teaching their children the language. why? because they are in America SMH. I realize this is a nigerian phenomena and not necessary an igbo thing but it is still a problem we need to fix and fast.

I understand perfectly what you and Afam are saying. There is clearly a lack of media coverage/information on issues regarding Ndi Igbo and the East in general. I also experienced something similar.

I never knew much about the Biafran war until I started asking my grandparents (who witnessed the bloodiest parts of the war) about their experiences. My guess is that the Nigerian government/educational system seeks to avoid as much discussion about the war as possible because it is a sentimental and volatile topic. It's seen as one of those topics which are sure to resurrect age old feelings of hatred. However, that shouldn't be the reason why it is avoided and seldom discussed. History repeats itself way too often.

It's this type of attitude that leads to loss of history (as One Naira clearly pointed out). If history is not taught, then it dies along with those that made it; that's the same thing that's what Nigeria is attempting to do with regard to the Civil War.

achi4u: I think our immidate problems are lack of co-opreation amongst igbo states,what happen to southeast economic summit?
what are our governors do discuss at their southeast governors forum.

Is there any law forbiden igbos to come together and build international airport,second niger bridge,interna'l trade fair center,rail system...just act like an independent country?pls help me out.

*i only learn about biafran war after reading the book of Major Gen Madu Ebo.

This is also a very important issue. The problem with people (in general) is that everyone is seeking to reap for only his/her own benefit. If the South Eastern states co-operated wore with each other, things would have been a bit better than they are now.

Take for example the confronation between Abia and Imo state over civil service. Abia recklessly sacked all of its non-indeginous civil servants (many of which were Imolites) in complete disregard for how it would affect its neighbors. If the SE governers' forum was used accordingly, this small issue could have been resolved and a compromise satisfactory to both parties could have been made.

Personally, I believe that states should be given the freedom to develop themselves as they like without any hindrance from the FG. The FG's main roles should be to fund states, regulate inter-state and international commerce, resolve inter-state disputes, and (off course) represent the Nigeria as a wholer.

As Onlytruth pointed out, the FG (along with our corrupt leaders) are the reasons why certain things are the way they are. International airports, international ports, and other things of that nature require a combination of federal fnding/approval and state contribution.

Honestly, I've yet to see any obvious indicator of federal presence in the South East (commercially speaking).

They tried but they should've given credit to Herbert Udemba: the original father of Bottom Belle (way back in the 60s or 70s).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt_AC9Cex6U&feature=youtube_gdata_player

EzeUche: Arochukwu I hail thee!

@Eze Uche,

Ndaa aga i mere? O dila anya nza anyi vusoro gi. Ndaa kwan?

Thanks for your replies. Soon, I will respond to them adequately.

alj harem: Thanks a lot, Yes I meant like Linda Ikeji.

Actually there is some similarity between yoruba and Igbo, but that is for another thread

Thanks again

No prob, mate.