₦airaland Forum

Igboid:
There is.https://www.legit.ng/1160049-governor-obiano-appoints-igala-man-commissioner-anambra-photos.html

But they are very small.
And are at the border of Anambra and Kogi.

No indigenous lgala in Anambra state, obiano is free to appoint anyone the way governor of Lagos appoint igbokwe in Lagos.

Interesting.

SlayerForever:
Interesting.

What is interesting? Is it that no lgala in Anambra is interesting if that is the case,is true no lgala in Anambra state

Igboid:
They wouldn't do anything, they can only bark.

This is my issue with Ndiigbo. We are too soft.
The few Igala people in Anambra, we respect them and accord them their independent status. We even have news in Igala in Anambra state radio station to carry them along, despite the fact that these lots came to our land via invasion by the Igala general known in history as General Ajida.
We forgave them and accepted their descendants.

But Igala people don't want the Igbos indigenous to Kogi East to be recognized as independent indigenous ethnicity in the state.
They want them to be forcefully tagged as Igala.
Igala is a minority and not up to 1/20th of Igbo population, but they are this expansionist in nature.
Imagine if they had Igbo numbers and we had theirs?

We are not doing well, I swear.

You should be shameful of words you use. How can you claimed that you respected and accorded independence to indigenous Igalas of Anambra state? In their own ancestrial land? You must had vomited a blasphemous utterances. If it is in the ancient days, you would had been sacrificed to appease the gods of Igala land.
Anambra state as a state is made up of about 90% indigenous Igbos and 10% indigenous Igalas based on language identity. But the real statistics may varies, reason being that most northern and river coastal part of Anambra traced their origin to Igala.

BKayy:
First of all, there is nobody known as General Ajida. The few Igala people that came into Omambala areas came as farmers not warriors. The same can be said about Nsukka. They came and many never left.
Our ancestors accommodated those that stayed because of some stupid reasons known to them.

In modern age, the Igala people in their Igala land made up those stories to make themselves look though but in reality there was no invasion whatsoever into Igboland. That aside, what Ndigbo need to think of is the future instead of fooling themselves of one stupid peaceful nature status.

Technically, there is no single Igala land in Anambra. What we have is few Igala cluster in the farmlands of few communities in Northern most part of Anambra bordering Kogi. They have no village belonging to them. All they rely is to drag igbo aborigines of those communities into their tales who are trapped into it because they want to be seen as the mighty invaders that took a land instead of a meek powerless aborigines.
Most of those that say their ancestor is Igala in those communities are actually Igbo that want to partake in the fake brave stories.

I think the old age of being reasonable have passed. Modern Ndigbo need to think ahead. "Biri ka m biri" is Simply weakness. It is either you are taking or someone is taking from you.

I appreciate people like Ogbonnaya that are making the move to correct many things. It takes alot.
Having said that, we need to reconsider the stance of the Ọhaneze ndị whatever they call themselves on Igbo affairs. It is either they change their name or step aside for a more serious organisation that understands the game to take over. I don't know for some but Ọhaneze Ndigbo does not represent anything Igbo.

If one may ask, can anybody point out one thing Ọhaneze Ndigbo have achieved that will maintain the integrity of Igboland or ensure the future of the Igbo nation is safe since its inception?
Your guess is as good as mine. Absolutely Nothing

What kind of hemp do you take? Anambra is about 90% Igbo and 10% Igala that are indigenous, though there is largely increased number of non indigenous Igbos immigrating into Anambra from other South Eastern part in search of greener pastures.
I am fully blooded Indigenous Igala of Anambra state.
So just create an avenue in your mind and accept the fact.

Nwanyiogwashi:
What is interesting? Is it that no lgala in Anambra is interesting if that is the case,is true no lgala in Anambra state

Yes o. It's actually interesting to hear there's no indigenous Igala in Anambra despite all we've known here for years. I will do a personal enquiry on that.

Come to think of it, I know one. But the argument now is whether their family is indigenous to Anambra or not. Asking her will look somehow.

Klinee:
What kind of hemp do you take? Anambra is about 90% Igbo and 10% Igala that are indigenous, though there is largely increased number of non indigenous Igbos immigrating into Anambra from other South Eastern part in search of greener pastures.
I am fully blooded Indigenous Igala of Anambra state.
So just create an avenue in your mind and accept the fact.

No be only 10% na tithe offering.

Igboid:
Well Nzam history spoke of a militant General Ajida who invaded the Igbo community of Nzam from Idah causing the Igbo villages to scatter
However they later regrouped and conquered the Igala Invaders.
Those who refused to surrender were killed and those who surrendered were assimilated as Indigenes of Nzam till today.

I wouldn't know how true the story is, but the current King of Nzam is from the blood line of those who retook the town from Igala and this was their official story.

It could be false or true, but it's plausible and rational.

Yes I understand many Igala refugees trooped into Northern Igboland following their wars with Jukuns and Binis and were accommodated by indigenous Igbos those places.

Nzam is original Igala but due to proximity, intermarriage and acculturation to Igbos, Nzam were able to flow fluently in Igbo language while maintained the original and main language which is Igala.
The historical and unique nature of Nzam has it that, Igala happen to be the first and main occupant of the land before the subtle Igbo migrants from upland came in and were accommodated by the Igalas.
Not only Nzam, a large part of Anambra state were largely Igala settlers but because of proximal acculturation to Igbos neighbours they lost their original Igala language and picks Igbo language.

[s]

Klinee:
Nzam is original Igala but due to proximity, intermarriage and acculturation to Igbos, Nzam were able to flow fluently in Igbo language while maintained the original and main language which is Igala.
The historical and unique nature of Nzam has it that, Igala happen to be the first and main occupant of the land before the subtle Igbo migrants from upland came in and were accommodated by the Igalas.
Not only Nzam, a large part of Anambra state were largely Igala settlers but because of proximal acculturation to Igbos neighbours they lost their original Igala language and picks Igbo language.

[/s]



I implore all umuigbo to ignore. Don't give him that audience he is seeking.

Igboid:
Yes!
The Igbos considered them as being mentally inferior, which is wrong.
Hence "Onuku/Oluku Igala" came to mean in Igbo parlance, a derogatory term for a stupid someone.

I understand where you are coming from.
And this term was coined by Agulueri and other Northern Igbos.

If they considered Igalas of lower mental capacity to them, where then is all these Oboli Onoli and General Ajida stories coming from?

Somethings are not adding up.
We need to spend big on archeology in Igboland.
Too bad we are trapped in a retrogressive country and are hence still in survival stage of existence.

Onuku in Igala language and that in Igbos is actually a word of the same spelling and pronunciation but literally have different meaning.
In Igala language onuku means 'friend' while in Igbo language onuku means 'abnormal'
It's just coincidentally words and have nothing to with Igala or Igbo

Klinee:
Onuku in Igala language and that in Igbos is actually a word of the same spelling and pronunciation but literally have different meaning.
In Igala language onuku means 'friend' while in Igbo language onuku means 'abnormal'
It's just coincidentally words and have nothing to with Igala or Igbo

Onuku in Igbo is derived from Igala Onuku.
And it is so because Igbos at Kogi-Anambra boundary considered Igalas a people of lower intellect.
Onuku is a derogatory word that means a stupid person.
The full term is "Onuku-Igala".

It's not a good thing to use, as I'm against Yorubas calling me "Omo-Igbo" or Hausa use of "Nyamiri".

SlayerForever:
[s][/s]



I implore all umuigbo to ignore. Don't give him that audience he is seeking.

I don't think ignoring him is wise.
We can't allow him have the narrative to himself.

Klinee:
Nzam is original Igala but due to proximity, intermarriage and acculturation to Igbos, Nzam were able to flow fluently in Igbo language while maintained the original and main language which is Igala.
The historical and unique nature of Nzam has it that, Igala happen to be the first and main occupant of the land before the subtle Igbo migrants from upland came in and were accommodated by the Igalas.
Not only Nzam, a large part of Anambra state were largely Igala settlers but because of proximal acculturation to Igbos neighbours they lost their original Igala language and picks Igbo language.

Nzam is not and have never been Igala.
Igala in Nzam are migrants and they know themselves.
The Royal family of Nzam is of the Aboriginal Igbos who fought the Igala usurpers and pushed them back, while assimilating the more friendly ones into the town

Igboid:
I don't think ignoring him is wise.
We can't allow him have the narrative to himself.

What he is saying is so silly, personally I won't bother responding. But I know who will

A FISH CALLED BIAFRA

Biafra was not death and sorrow all the time. In the mist of all the uncertainties, there was ‘normal' life going on. After my Red Cross assignment at Iyienu hospital Ogidi, I came back to Achi for a one-week break before undertaking my second assignment, this time I was posted to Nzam.

Nzam is a unique Igbo town. Unique is so many ways. For instance they are a bilingual people. I do not know about these days, but during the hostilities when I was there I discovered that every Nzam person apart from speaking Igbo as their mother tongue, also spoke Igala, the language of the ethnic Igalas bordering Igboland in the North. This may have to do with the movement and settlement of people from that area hundreds of years ago, as it is believed that some other Igbo communities along the Niger, in Asaba and Onitsha, may have migrated from Igala.

In the past Niger River was the main trading route between communities along its coast, it also facilitated migration and settlement. It may not be impossible therefore that the Nzam people or a part of them migrated from Igala. But the more common explanation by the people of Nzam regarding their bilingualism was that Nzam mastered Igala language as a trade strategy. Nzam was an important trade post during the boom days of the Niger River trade route. Being located upper north, it was one of the first large Igbo communities the Igala traders arrive in. Through such regular contacts, they learnt their language. When other Igbo traders come in from the hinterland, the Nzam trader becomes the go between, the middlemen. Because of his mastery of both languages the Nzam people were able to make good bargains to their advantage.

Nzam is also rich agriculturally. They have a very rich soil that is watered and at the same time fertilized by the yearly flooding ‘Iji' of the river Niger. Their yams are one of the earliest to be harvested. When I was there it was quite interesting to see partially submerged yam farms. It was also interesting to watch farmers harvest their yams. Anyone who knows about yam farming must agree that it is a tough job, and this includes the harvesting process. It takes a careful digging to successfully get a yam tuber safely dug up. But for the Nzam yam farmer, they practically pull large yam tubers off the soil with ease, sometimes using a canoe, as the farms are often partially submerged.




The uniqueness of Nzam and its environ will be incomplete without mentioning mosquitoes and sand flies. These two were my nightmare apart from the raging war. By daytime the sand flies take over. These tiny, and almost invisible flies can really be big menace. Their stinging multiple bites sends irritating sensation all over your body, and they attack in droves making you slap yourself all over. But wait until the night comes, when their big brother, the mosquito takes over. The Nzam mosquito is a rare breed. I guess it has a tiny sword for proboscis, if not how came it could pierce through army fatigue uniform to reach the skin. Well, it is often said that you can never have it all, this must be the reason Nzam is rich agriculturally.

Another aspect of Nzam and the one I enjoyed most in those days was the river Niger and the abundant fishes therein. Having grown up in dry hilly hinterland of Enugu, the rivers I knew were spring waters, shallow streams, brooks, and water ponds. To suddenly be in a place almost surrounded by a massive body of water was extremely exciting. Luckily near my boarding school before the war in Umunze, there was this stream called ‘Unyo'. We were mandated to fetch water from the stream every morning, ahh! How I hated being woken up as early as 6am by hostile sound of the bell and driven off my bed half awake. The awful sound of many swinging metal buckets could be heard as the boys rush to the stream. Anyway I learnt to swim, thanks to ‘Unyo'. I love swimming and I swam everyday throughout my stay in Nzam, but so does everyone I guess, for I cannot imagine how someone can stay in that area without dipping oneself into River Niger.

Yes the fishes, how can I forget the delicious fresh water fishes from the river. We ate fish on a daily bases, both fresh and dried ones. In Nzam those days, soups are made with so much fish in it that you hardly see the rue. For each bolus of pounded yam, a magnanimous piece of fish to go down with. Such was the case in Nzam. And the war raged on.

Like I mentioned earlier, the yearly flooding of the River Niger enriches the lands along the banks of Anambara River, all the way down to its confluence where it joined the River Niger. All the towns along the river, towns like Otu Ukpo, Orometiti, Mmiatta, Ode. Odekpe, Nzam and others enjoy a yearly soil enrichment which guaranteed good farm harvest, and a constant supply of fresh fish.

I was once privileged to observe a fish harvest. Before this time I never heard anything about fish

farming, and I am not sure it has been introduced anywhere in the then Eastern Nigeria

before the civil war. Even if it had been, it was still uncommon. But the people of Nzam and its

surrounding did not need anyone to teach them fish farming, for their forefathers have been practicing that from day one and albeit in the most natural way. Traditional fish farming in Nzam and its surrounding goes like this; Keeping in mind that the ‘Iji', the yearly flooding, takes place during the rainy season, they have studied its pattern, they know the right spots to dig a trough to hold up a reasonable amount of water. The Iji when it comes, brings in a large variety of fishes that get trapped in the trough after it had receded. Tree branches and leaves are then cut and dumped in the through now turned pond, to make it as inhabitable as possible for the fishes. On a daily bases remains of food and other biological refuse are dumped in the pond, for instance cassava and yam peelings. These become a source of food for the fishes. Thus the fishes are fed fat before they are harvested. The harvesting takes place during the later part of dry season, say around mid January. It was one of such harvesting I witnessed during the civil war in a village in Nzam. This was a pond owned by a family I got to know at that time. They invited me to join in the fish harvest; they also invited other friends as it is customary in Igboland. By the time I arrived at the pond, young men in two canoes were already clearing the pond by removing the tree branches, trunks, and other foliage put in there to provide shelter for the fishes. Soon after, the actual harvest started. The harvest team armed with a long fishing net swept the entire pond from end to end, and from the final outlet, they scooped out the largest quantity of fish I saw for the first time in my life. That was extremely exciting for me being a hinterland person. The variety of fishes from that pond, was another thing that struck me apart from the quantity, it was simply amazing.

After pulling the fishes out, I was told that every one is now free to try their luck if they can find some take-home fishes from the pond. One of the sons of the owner of the pond opted to fish on my behalf, and you cannot imagine what sizes and quantity of fish I went back to the camp with that day. At the time the men were busy getting the fishes, by the right end of the pond the women were busy setting up a makeshift kitchen and a massive drying ramp, and when the fishes were all brought out of the water, the fire of the drying ramp was ready, and the fishes were carried by the women and set on a long row of dying ramp under the heat of the burning coke. Everywhere smelt fish. The evening came to an end after a delicious feast of pounded yam and fish studded yummy Nsala soup, washed down with some of the best ‘Ayigo' – raffia palm-wine. I came home to the camp that day feeling real good, and I slept so deep that I for once didn't bother about the sword mouthed mosquitoes of Nzam. And still the war ragged on.

The next day was a Sunday, you know the saying ‘Lazy like a Sunday morning' or was it a song title? Well, that was how I felt, and did I sleep long and tight? Then suddenly there was some commotion outside, and one thing you learn in a war situation is not to take anything for granted. Whenever you look outside and many people are moving, looking, acting, or talking in a particular manner you have to quickly get out to know what is amiss. It could be an air raid for instance. And this what is called being vigilant. Well, I quickly went out to find out what was going on, and what I found was one big mystery. Some people were digging a toilet pit behind the building, in the process they dug up a life fish from about six feet under the earth. How could that be possible? I was saying something like, no way, this must be a joke. A crowed gathered to observe this miracle. The poor fish was breathing slowly with the eyes still closed. In all the excitement, I suddenly observed that the Nzam indigenes in the crowd were simply having a big laugh out of the whole thing. One of them observed that this is a common thing. It was from him I learnt that this particular specie of mudskipper could survive extreme draught for years, and under the most difficult condition. It goes into an inactive mode until the condition becomes conducive. Years later after the war ended I was reminiscing on my wartime experiences, and the thoughts about this fish crossed my mind. And I found myself saying ‘this is what survival is all about, and Biafra was all about survival, a war of survival of a people, the Igbo people. Then I said to myself, ‘Biafra was that fish, and the fish Biafra, and I further mused ‘A Fish Called Biafra.

Ikechukwu Ude-Chime

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http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/a-fish-called-biafra.html

See a long article written by an Aboriginal Igbo Nzam man about Biafra.
Funny enough my mum and her mother use to go to "Afia Odekpe" and "Afia Attack" to buy fishes and salt in wholesale which they resold in retail, during the Biafran war.

Klinee:
Nzam is original Igala but due to proximity, intermarriage and acculturation to Igbos, Nzam were able to flow fluently in Igbo language while maintained the original and main language which is Igala.
The historical and unique nature of Nzam has it that, Igala happen to be the first and main occupant of the land before the subtle Igbo migrants from upland came in and were accommodated by the Igalas.
Not only Nzam, a large part of Anambra state were largely Igala settlers but because of proximal acculturation to Igbos neighbours they lost their original Igala language and picks Igbo language.

cc BeijinDossier, imaxdocuments, spacetour

Igboid:
Onuku in Igbo is derived from Igala Onuku.
And it is so because Igbos at Kogi-Anambra boundary considered Igalas a people of lower intellect.
Onuku is a derogatory word that means a stupid person.
The full term is "Onuku-Igala".

It's not a good thing to use, as I'm against Yorubas calling me "Omo-Igbo" or Hausa use of "Nyamiri".

Your lies are very unfathomable! Onuku as a word is not commonly used by the Northern Igbo, the word is very common in Southern Igbos. It has never been affiliated to the Igalas. Onuku in Igbo mean imbecilic person and has nothing to do with Igalas. Like I had 'onuku-Igala' once in my life in one Nollywood movie called 'AKWA-UGO' Patience Ozorkwo used the word.

Klinee:
Your lies are very unfathomable! Onuku as a word is not commonly used by the Northern Igbo, the word is very common in Southern Igbos. It has never been affiliated to the Igalas. Onuku in Igbo mean imbecilic person and has nothing to do with Igalas. Like I had 'onuku-Igala' once in my life in one Nollywood movie called 'AKWA-UGO' Patience Ozorkwo used the word.

Onuku is used in Anambra. Ask around.
I'm from Idemili.
The full word is Onuku-Igala.
And it means a "Onye nzuzu".

Ask around.
I doubt you are from Anambra.
I always suspected you were a Kogi man.

God bless Mazi Ogbonna Okoro
God bless Mazi Nnamdi Kanu
Thunder fire ohanaeze nde Igbo

Danjikanbauchi:
God bless MNK, he was the first to bring the world to notice of Igbos in kogi, Benue and Edo state.

Has nothing to do with kanu.
Maybe, the like of you and his other followers are just knowing.

BKayy:
You have the idea. Infact you are close but let me give you the full gist.
"onuku" came about as the way the Igala migrants, who are farmers at that time were calling themselves while romancing.
It is a corruption of the word "Oleku" which means "my love" in Igala language.

Like the old men explained to me. Such stupid way of expressing love or behaviour where the man will be behaving like someone lacking basic reasoning and be calling the other Oleku was totally strange to Ndigbo so they use the word to describe stupidity or someone with low reasoning.

Ndigbo never considered Igala as equal, even today. So all those spartan invasion stories are lies. Total fallacy. They never happened.

I am from this axis of Anambra and I can tell you there was no story of inversion in our history from Igala. The only attack in the history of Anambra North came from Aboh which is currently in Delta state being another neighbouring community.

That axis is 100% into farming and fishing, people migrated there for those purposes including some migrants from Ebonyi who still come yearly till this day during every planting season but returns afterwards. The Igala community obviously came in as a settled migrants and assimilated into the community over time.

Igboid:
Onuku is used in Anambra. Ask around.
I'm from Idemili.
The full word is Onuku-Igala.
And it means a "Onye nzuzu".

Ask around.
I doubt you are from Anambra.
I always suspected you were a Kogi man.

Is a lie! Onuku is an imbecilic behavior and has nothing to do with Igalas. Onuku is not a common word for our neighboring Igbo speaking towns and it has nothing to do with Igalas.
It's just a coincidentally words. Stop lying to people!!!!!

Klinee:
Is a lie! Onuku is an imbecilic behavior and has nothing to do with Igalas. Onuku is not a common word for our neighboring Igbo speaking towns and it has nothing to do with Igalas.
It's just a coincidentally words. Stop lying to people!!!!!

Haha!
You don't want to accept the bitter truth.
I doubt you are from Anambra Sha.
If you were, you will know about "Onuku Igala".

SaintBishop:
Let me break it down for you so that you will understand.
There are no igbos in Baysela,not even a single soul, so this your land grabbing tendency will not,can not work, cause none of Ijaws lands will be given to Igbo people to form your fairy tale Biafra.

Shut up

Klinee:
What kind of hemp do you take? Anambra is about 90% Igbo and 10% Igala that are indigenous, though there is largely increased number of non indigenous Igbos immigrating into Anambra from other South Eastern part in search of greener pastures.
I am fully blooded Indigenous Igala of Anambra state.
So just create an avenue in your mind and accept the fact.

Mtcheww... Next.
I don't have time to waste with liars. 10% na obodo ebe?

No single Igala owned community in Anambra
No single Igala owned village in Anambra.

So whatever you are high on, get down from it. I am not those Igbo that entertain you lots stupidity.
Come on give me one fake story.

Klinee:
Is a lie! Onuku is an imbecilic behavior and has nothing to do with Igalas. Onuku is not a common word for our neighboring Igbo speaking towns and it has nothing to do with Igalas.
It's just a coincidentally words. Stop lying to people!!!!!

It is called "Onuku Igala" all around Anambra.

PHIPEX:
I am from this axis of Anambra and I can tell you there was no story of inversion in our history from Igala. The only attack in the history of Anambra North came from Aboh which is currently in Delta state being another neighbouring community.

That axis is 100% into farming and fishing, people migrated there for those purposes including some migrants from Ebonyi who still come yearly till this day during every planting season but returns afterwards. The Igala community obviously came in as a settled migrants and assimilated into the community over time.

Thanks for this.
The only problem we had was that we allowed outsiders tell our stories to suit themselves. The stories later became what our children read in Schools and kids have a way of thinking that whatever that is written in a book is fact but that era is over.

No single Igala community in Anambra

Danjikanbauchi:
God bless MNK, he was the first to bring the world to notice of Igbos in kogi, Benue and Edo state.

.


If you never knew this before until ya supleme leader told you, then you don't know anything

Igboid:
Haha!
You don't want to accept the bitter truth.
I doubt you are from Anambra Sha.
If you were, you will know about "Onuku Igala".

There is nothing like 'onuku Igala', it's 'onuku'!!! Don't be stup.id!

Klinee:
There is nothing like 'onuku Igala', it's 'onuku'!!! Don't be stup.id!

Onuku-Igala. That's what it is. You as an Igala man cannot teach me an Igbo, my language.
Stop being funny.