₦airaland Forum

Sorry, you are indeed trying to start an argument.

OK. Did he identify himself as Igala?

I'm not trying to start an argument or anything. I happen to also know a few people from Nzam, and I spent a weekend there once a long time ago. From information I gathered it seems they consider Igbo to be their mother tongue and Igala to be a second language. It also seems they consider themselves to be primarily Igbo in origin, though they admit Igala people settled among them and were absorbed (some of their villages do have names that look Igala).

However, here on nairaland and a few other online sites they are often presented as one of the Igala communities in Anambra. It gets confusing. I only want to know what the true picture is.

McSterling:
Another nairalander opened a similar thread some time ago. Many people are oblivious to the fact that Igalas can be found outside Kogi State. Several young Igalas from Kogi state think all members of their ethnic group are within the confines of the state. From my own experience, only their elders seem to know there are other Igalas outside, but not much emphasis is laid on this fact. Infact, I have recently met people who have never heard about the Igala people. Well, no thanks to our ethnic diversity in Nigeria.

The Igala people can be found in Kogi, Anambra, Delta(Ebu), Enugu, and Edo states of Nigeria. Of course, the majority of Igalas are found in Kogi state and Idah in Kogi state is the ancestral home of all Igalas. I am an Igala whose hometown is located in Anambra state. This news is often greeted with incredulity. It seems like a travesty, right? "Anambrarians" are all supposed to be igbos, right? No, the truth is that some aren't. The Igala people in Anambra state are found in Anambra West LGA, and are made up of the following villages/towns:
Nzam, Igbedor, Inoma, Odekpe, Owelle, Ukwala, Onugwa, Ode, Ala and Igbokeyi.

I think we Igalas in Anambra are little known largely because of our own attitude. The fault largely lies with us. We attempt to deny who we are or where we're from. We attempt to deny our very identity. Some of us claim to be Igbo while some altogether deny being from Anambra- they claim to come from Kogi state. My parents belong to the latter group.

This latter group usually bear Igala names rather than Igbo ones. Some times, they altogether dump their Igbo names and adopt new Igala ones. Others choose to transliterate their Igbo names to Igala. By doing this, they try to affirm their Igala ethnicity ( which I support and encourage BTW). But then, they go further. They say they are indigenes of Kogi state which is simply not true. What exactly they intend to achieve from this remains unclear to me. Some of these people don't even know the name of the Kogi governor. When they need infrastructure and social amenities, they cry to the Anambra government and yet they say they're from Kogi. Simply doesn't make any sense. The kogi government doesn't know them yet they foist themselves on the state. Do they expect special privileges from the kogi government? The same moribund government that has neglected true indigenes of kogi and has largely remained ineffective?
Makes absolutely no sense.

The former group, as I noted before, claim to be igbo. They deny being Igala. They love their Igbo names and would rather bear them. They would rather speak Igbo than Igala. These are the ones who make weak and frantic arguments to show they're Igbo. They hide their Igala identity or simply don't give it any thought when they say they're Igbo. Granted, I might be overgeneralizing here. Some do this just to get favours from the Igbos whilst privately affirming their Igala ethnicity.

Now, these two groups create a lot of confusion and complexity for us young folks. You see a situation where relatives or siblings are from different states of origin. One is Igbo and the other Igala. You see a person who says he's from kogi but can't precisely tell us where exactly in kogi he's from. I used to be very confused during my childhood. Here, I had my parents who say I'm Igala from kogi. There, I had my relatives who say I'm Igbo from Anambra. This was a rather peculiar dilemma. Which exactly was I? Neither painted the balanced picture. Both were opposite extremes. Thankfully, a well informed cousin provided the answer to this conundrum: we were Igalas but located in Anambra state.QED. As simple as that!

We Igalas in Anambra state must stop living in denial. We are not Igbo. We are not from kogi. Let us create this awareness, let people know who we are and where we're from. We may be a minority but we don't need to prevaricate, lie or be equivocal about it. If your parents made these mistakes, you don't need to perpetuate the same mistake for your kids. Let's correct this error and thus obviate this unnecessary dilemma for our children and generations yet unborn.

Thank you.

PS: Lalasticlala , Seun , Ishilove , Fulaman198 , odumchi , bigfrancis21 or whoever is in charge here, please help me push this to front page. It's really important.

Lol

Ewu, ala piachie Yi onu. Mkpi.
I don't give a damn where you are from. Anambra is Anambra. We have a central language, and you must identify. Igala is your second language full stop.

Klinee:
E mi OMA igalla Dee( this is an Igala son) , a full blooded Anambraian from NZAM in Anambra West local Government Area.
Ina anwu Omo!!!! Ewu!!!!! Ala piachie yi onu!!!! mkpi!!!!!

OP, do you know Nzam people firsthand?

I married from there.

Op u are right Anambra have Ijaw and Igala people from that region.

Igala are the 9th largest ethnic group in Nigeria and cut accross 6 states of Nigeria..

But politics of Nigeria has reduced us to just 1 state.

Jane1234f:
Op point taken, I like your use of words(how you articulate your words)

i am an igala man from kogi, what do u want to learn?

Thank you Op, I am from Anambra East local Government Area,I have a lot of people from Nzam and Inoma then in secondary school as class mates and I still have them as friends today.Majority of Nzam people are Igbo's from Anam,Nzam is usually call Nzam Anam. However Inoma people and Kogi minority in Nzam are regarded as Kogi people that naturalized in Anambra state.

McSterling:
Yeah, he identified as Igala. Actually, Nzam seems to have a combination of both Igbo and Igala people or perhaps the Igalas in Nzam have been most influenced by the Igbos. Check out this link:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nzam

true talk! Nzam people ara half Igbo & half igala because Nzam is even close to argulleri which is predominantly Igbo speaking community. it's only igbedor community that speak more of igala! i served as a NYSC youth coper in anambra west! i was fun, i really missed igbedor!

Igala gat no problem with the igbos.

Obascoetubi:
i am an igala man from kogi, what do u want to learn?

Read my comment very well, I never said I want to learn anything, just appreciating the Op,he is learned

If I had seen this thread earlier last week, it would have been a shocker to me.

But just Friday last week, I was posted to Anambra West as one of the Presiding officers in the just concluded Governorship Election. I was in Nzam briefly. That's where I heard it for the first time; Igala in Anambra state.

Good job OP

McSterling, Ojo ki be ne!

never knew my brothers are even on NL, am from Edo state Illushi precisely.

Bimpe29:
What a diverse nation? I never heard of this. Nigeria is highly heterogeneous culturally and interwoven ethnically,

I'm glad you're now informed. I created the post partly for that purpose.

Funny Nairaland is just now deeming the thread worthy of front page, even though I created it more than 2 years ago.

Thanks a bunch, this is one of the reasons why I visit Nairaland; to be more informed and educated.

McSterling:
I'm glad you're now informed. I created the post partly for that purpose.

Funny Nairaland is just now deeming the thread worthy of front page, even though I created it more than 2 years ago.

Thanks a bunch, this is one of the reasons why I visit Nairaland; to be more informed and educated.

McSterling:
I'm glad you're now informed. I created the post partly for that purpose.

Funny Nairaland is just now deeming the thread worthy of front page, even though I created it more than 2 years ago.

apolonius:
I always find the culture of illogical intellection on Nairaland tiring.

The op has written a fantastic piece on the Igala people living outside Kogi State. He raised issues around identity,language,culture and ignorance of existence. However, some simpletons have reduced the beautiful piece to ownership/settlement debate.

Some posers will highlight the folly of this simplistic reading of the op's perspective by our 'town and village owners' in Anambra.

1. Does settlement deny any people a claim of ownership?Think native Americans/the pilgrims in the US.

2. Even if the Igala people conquered and settled in those communities, does that make them less Anambra rians?

3. We have Igbos in parts of Ibaji and Olamaboro LGAs of Kogi State, even if quite invisible. Are they less Kogites or 'mere settlers' with no ownership claim in those villages were their ancestors lived,built and thrived?

I think Nairaland needs to be more stringent in designing standards for intellectual crossfires. A people must never be demeaned in the name of ownership claims.

@op, thank you for the piece and the maturity that underlie your responses to those rants and empty gravel hits. Agba omaye.

Thank you. Agba.

I love igala people

greatjoey:
I make bold to identify with your interest to make people know your pedigree and your true identity. Having come this far to identify with your lineage, give me a handle so I may contact you and possibly send t history of Igala to you. This may enable you know more of your lineage better. B it known that, Attah Igala ruled from Ida to Asaba and Onitsha in the past. The British carved your place to the present day Anambra for administrative purpose and to weaken the power of Ata Igala

Just PMed you.

wow op this is very informative. I'm igala from kogi. I never knew Igalas are found elsewhere. Can we understand you when you speak and can you understand us?

greatjoey:
I make bold to identify with your interest to make people know your pedigree and your true identity. Having come this far to identify with your lineage, give me a handle so I may contact you and possibly send t history of Igala to you. This may enable you know more of your lineage better. B it known that, Attah Igala ruled from Ida to Asaba and Onitsha in the past. The British carved your place to the present day Anambra for administrative purpose and to weaken the power of Ata Igala

May you live long. And may the wisdom God has placed in your life, continue to wax stronger.

Akowemoon:
If you're for the red cap developers, kindly relocate to igbo land. You're so confused that you can't even identify where you belong...

He has told you where he belongs. He is an Igala man whose hometown falls under Anambra state. Is that too hard for you to understand?

Rajosh:
wow op this is very informative. I'm igala from kogi. I never knew Igalas are found elsewhere. Can we understand you when you speak and can you understand us?

Probably not. Their Igala closely resembles Ibaji Igala, which mainstream Igalas barely understand.

OdenigboAroli:
Be proud of who you are and defend your culture. Omanbalas are peaceful and tolerant; We see you as our brothers and will never oppress you,however,don't sit down and expect the government to do everything for you. Stand up and demand your share because Ana Omanbala is your home and nobody can take that away. Identity crises is everywhere and not peculiar to Igala. Udo.

You know, I was reading his write-up and I continued to think about the Igbos that are native to Delta and Rivers States..
They are facing the same Dilemma..
They are living in Denial of their origins

[quote author=laudate post=62689934]May you live long. And may the wisdom God has placed in your life, continue to wax stronger. [/quote
Thank you, Omaye mi. This Is my number; 08020915759. Yo may add me on WhatsApp so I can send the history to you.

greatjoey:
Thank you, Omaye mi. This Is my number; 08020915759. Yo may add me on WhatsApp so I can send the history to you.

Will do.

laudate:
He has told you where he belongs. He is an Igala man whose hometown falls under Anambra state. Is that too hard for you to understand?

First post of yours that I’d actually agree with. The land grabbers vex me too.

bigfrancis21:
Probably not. Their Igala closely resembles Ibaji Igala, which mainstream Igalas barely understand.

That very true ...our igala and ibaji igala are the same but lemme tell you even the ibajis are from idah so wat up any igala that find him self outside Kogi state is from idah and is free to claim idah as origin

Again igala language is a yorubaiod language in general mean you can find traces of Yoruba language
in it ..

Weda you speak ibaji dialect or if u dialect or idah and ankpa dialect

Those igalas regarding ibajis as less igalas are just very myopic now tell me must evey language have the same tonation ...i hate it when they say that I even like ibajis sense of igala than other part of igalas

@mcsterling pls abeg Bros yes you are not igbos but you are from Kogi state by origin ok don't say you are not Kogi ok do you think any Anambra man will consider you as an indigene despite you find yourself there by settlement decades over decades

Revolva:
That very true ...our igala and ibaji igala are the same but lemme tell you even the ibajis are from idah so wat up any igala that find him self outside Kogi state is from idah and is free to claim idah as origin

Again igala language is a yorubaiod language in general mean you can find traces of Yoruba language
in it ..

Weda you speak ibaji dialect or if u dialect or idah and ankpa dialect

Those igalas regarding ibajis as less igalas are just very myopic now tell me must evey language have the same tonation ...i hate it when they say that I even like ibajis sense of igala than other part of igalas

@mcsterling pls abeg Bros yes you are not igbos but you are from Kogi state by origin ok don't say you are not Kogi ok do you think any Anambra man will consider you as an indigene despite you find yourself there by settlement decades over decades

What is the link between igala and Igbos?
Any ancestral connection?

Revolva:
That very true ...our igala and ibaji igala are the same but lemme tell you even the ibajis are from idah so wat up any igala that find him self outside Kogi state is from idah and is free to claim idah as origin

Again igala language is a yorubaiod language in general mean you can find traces of Yoruba language
in it ..

Weda you speak ibaji dialect or if u dialect or idah and ankpa dialect

Those igalas regarding ibajis as less igalas are just very myopic now tell me must evey language have the same tonation ...i hate it when they say that I even like ibajis sense of igala than other part of igalas

@mcsterling pls abeg Bros yes you are not igbos but you are from Kogi state by origin ok don't say you are not Kogi ok do you think any Anambra man will consider you as an indigene despite you find yourself there by settlement decades over decades

LOL.

Revolva:
That very true ...our igala and ibaji igala are the same but lemme tell you even the ibajis are from idah so wat up any igala that find him self outside Kogi state is from idah and is free to claim idah as origin

Again igala language is a yorubaiod language in general mean you can find traces of Yoruba language
in it ..

Weda you speak ibaji dialect or if u dialect or idah and ankpa dialect

Those igalas regarding ibajis as less igalas are just very myopic now tell me must evey language have the same tonation ...i hate it when they say that I even like ibajis sense of igala than other part of igalas

@mcsterling pls abeg Bros yes you are not igbos but you are from Kogi state by origin ok don't say you are not Kogi ok do you think any Anambra man will consider you as an indigene despite you find yourself there by settlement decades over decades

Stop it! Ethnicity and political states do not have to always align. Mcsterling is an Igala man who is from Anambra. He is not from Kogi. There is at least one Igala commissioner in Anambra state from mcsterling's axis, in the person of Bonaventure Enemali. So don't even come with that divisive tactic that Anambra people will never recognise them. They are already recognised. In fact, Anambra people tell me there are some Igala-language programmes on radio in Anambra state; this last bit I will have to confirm though.