₦airaland Forum

Andre Uweh:
The Igbo because of our decentralization were not easily conquered. I will go on and on if you like. We were the last group to fall in West Africa. From 1886-1929, go and figure.

Andre Uweh:
I do not really know what groups you mean.
As for Ndigbo, they were not easily conquered by the imperialists. Up till 1929, Igbo men and women were still at war with the British. In 1914, it was the British against Western Igbo communities, in 1902, it was against the Aro, in 1905, it was against Ezza etc. Am sure you do not mean that the Igbo were easily conquered.

otapiapia:
^^^

Are the jews of biblical times white? What has the whiteman got to do with this?

ORIGIN:

NRI KINGDOM is the oldest Kingdom in Nigeria. It was founded around 900AD by the progenitor, Eri, the son of Gad. According to biblicalaccounts, Jacob had Leah as his wife who begot four sons for him. When Leah noticed she had passed child-bearing age, she gave her maid – servant, Zilpah to Jacob to wife, and through Zilpah he had a son named Gad. Gad then bigot Eri, who later formed a clan known as Erites vide Genesis Chapter 30 verse 9; 46 verse 16 and Numbers chapter 26 verses 15-19. Eri was therefore amongst the twelve tribes of Israel via Gad.

During their stay in Egypt Eri became the high priest and spiritual adviser to Pharaoh Teti, the fifth dynastic king of Egypt around 2400 BC.

During the Exodus, which marked the beginning of the mass movement of the tribes of Israel, the tribe of Eri was amongst the tribe that left Egypt following the injunction from God to the Israelites (see Deuteronomy chapter 28 verses 58 – 68). Some of these tribes founded settlements in the southern part of Sudan, where they established the “Nok” culture, which is similar to that of other (sun Cult) culture, like Nri, Fiji, Samoa, and Jukun in the Northern part of Nigeria and elsewhere. But others who could not remain in the Southern Sudan traveled further South, some branched off to Jukun, in Northern part of Nigeria, others continued and arrived at the confluence of Rivers Niger and Anambara known as “Ezu-na-Ọmambala” and settled there while some veered off to the Island of Fiji in the South Pacific Ocean. An intelligence report notes that the Fijians have the same sun culture with the people of Nri.

When Eri arrived at the confluence of “Ezu-na-Ọmambala” he had two wives, namely Nneamakụ and Oboli, Nneamakụ begot five children, namely (a) Nrifikwuanịm-Menri being the first son (b) Agụlụ (c) Ogbodudu (d) Onogu and (e) Iguedo the only daughter. Oboli begot Ọnọja, the only son who founded the Ịgala Kingdom in Kogi State. Meanwhile, Nri-Ifikwuanịm begot Agụkwu Nri, Enugwu-Ukwu, Enugwu-Agidi, Nọfịa, and Amọbia, while his brother Ogbodudu who later became Nrinaoke N’Ogbodudu had founded the Diodo Dynasty, while his brother Ezikannebo founded Akamkpịsị and Amanuke. Onogu Begot Ịgbariam, while Iguedo, the only daughter, begot Ogbunike, Ọkuzu, Nando, Ụmụleri, and Nteje, Known today as Ụmụ-Iguedo clan, while the former are better known as Ụmụ-Nri clan. According to Nri Oral tradition recently substantiated by archaeological findings of Ọraeri/Igbo-Ukwu objects, the unification of Agukwu, Diodo, and Akamkpịsị was enacted constitutionally during the beginning of reign of Nribụife (AD 1159 – 1252) who was the first Eze Nri to observe the Ịgụ-Arọ Festival as a pan – Igbo affair in 1160AD (Prof. M.A. Ọnwụejeọgwu 2003).

Nri-Ifikwuanịm took after his progenitor Eri, and became a high priest among his people. He left Agụleri in search of a better living place, according to Mr. M.D.W. Jeffreys report, and settled at present Nri site. He started performing what Eri did at Egypt, cleansing of abominations, giving titles such as prestigious Ọzọ title, to his people, proclaiming the New Year (Ịgụ-Arọ) etc.

ỊGỤ-ARỌ: Ịgụ-Arọ is an annual festival of the Nri people. It is during this festival that Eze Nri proclaims the New Year to all the Igbo communities under his jurisdiction, and he then announces the Nri calendar to the people. The Nri calendar is made up of thirteen (13) Lunar months namely:

(1) Ọnwa Mbụ (1st moon) starts from 3rd week in February each year.

(2) Ọnwa Abụa (2nd moon) March to April, (clearing and farming).

(3) Ọnwa Ife Eke (3rd moon) April to May (Ụganị or hunger period)

(4) Ọnwa Ana (4th moon) May to June (planting seed yams).

(5) Ọnwa Agwụ (5th moon) Ịgọchi and mmanwụ (Adult Masquerades) June-July.

(6) Ọnwa Ifejiọkụ (6th moon) Yam Ritual (Ifejiọkụ) July –August.

(7) Ọnwa Alọm Chi (7th moon) Yam Harvest (For Alụsị only) comes up August to early September.

(8 Ọnwa Ilo Mmụọ (8th moon) Ọnwa Asatọ festival (September ending).

(9) Ọnwa Ana (9th moon) Ana Ritual comes up in October.

(10) Ọnwa Okike (10th moon) Okike ritual takes place in early November.

(11) Ọnwa Ajana (11th moon) Okike ritual takes place in November ending.

(12) Ọnwa Ede Ajana (12th moon) comes up in ending of November to early December.

(13) Ọnwa Ụzọ Alụsị (13th moon) offering to Alụsị (early January to early February).

The Nri were great innovators in rituals, diplomacy, economy, administration, and management of a segmented and decentralized people. The Lunar system of calculating the year with a system of adjustment was known to the Nri priests of Alụsị Arọ and the knowledge of the movement of the heavenly bodies were employed in calculation the lunar year, according to Northcote Thomas (M.A. Frai) a British Government Anthropologist who served in Ọka District in the early 20th century, in 1910 he reported he got names from the following heavenly bodies at Nri-Pleiades, Orion and Great Bear. Therefore Nri elders had clear knowledge of these stars and others which helped them in calculating the intervals between each Lunar period and finding their directions during their sojourn from one Igbo Village to another in both the semi – forest and the forest zones.

During the Ịgụ-Arọ Festival, Eze Nri proclaims the New Year; he also distributes seed yams to the Igbo People and asked them to go home and farm. He tells the people that after his Ịgụ-Arọ, approximately within four days but certainly not more than three native weeks (Izu Anọ) “you will have the first rainfall, so after this rainfall you can go ahead to cultivate your crop”.

Eze – Nri introduced the cowrie currency (Ego ayo), and a sophisticated system of using cowrie as a medium of exchange and valuation was developed in the Igbo cultural area. The system of calculation and the table of conversion used in the Nri area in the late Nineteenth century were as follows:

1 Mkpụlụ Ego = 1 Cowrie

6 Mkpụlụ Ego = 6 Cowries = 1 isi ego

10 Isi Ego = 60 Cowries = 1 Ukwu

20 Ukwu = 1,200 Cowries = 1 Afịa

20 Afịa = 2,400 cowries = 1 Akpa ego or ili Afịa

10 Akpa (bags) = 240,000 cowries = Nnu Afịa.

Fowls and bags were valued in Ukwu, goats and sheep in Afịa, cows, slaves and land in ili Afịa. Bride wealth was negotiated in nnu, never to exceed four Nnu Afịa. Iron bars and rods, copper bars and rods and manilas were valued in terms of cowries. In order to facilitate carrying them around for transaction, cowries were strung together in rows of sixes and sewn permanently on mats in bundles of 6, 1,200, 24,000, and 240, 000. The mats were rolled, loose ones were tied in bags of 24,000 called akpa.

Prof. M. Angulu Onwuejeogwu equally reported the conversion of cowries to British currencies this way. At the beginning of the 19th century, the British introduced the pound, shillings and pence #, s. d. currency system. This new system was resisted in various ways. First a dual currency system was developed, traditional goods were sold in cowries and European goods in British currency. Later cowries could buy British currency and British currency could buy cowries. By a system of haggling, the exchange rate varied and was determined by several factors. As more European goods began to penetrate without replacement, the British currency backed by law, became dominant. In 1925, the following rate of exchange was still operating in many rural markets.

10 cowries = 1/2d (Half Penny)

20 cowries = 1d (One Penny)

60 cowries = 3d (Three Pence)

120 cowries = 6d (Six Pence)

240 cowries = 1/- (one shilling)

1200 cowries = 5/-(Five Shillings)

1400 cowries = ₤1 (one pound)

24,000 cowries = ₤5 (Five Pounds)

120,000 cowries = ₤25 (Twenty five pounds)

Having introduced trading and currency which was the cowrie system, and having worked out the rate of exchange to accommodate the British traders and their currency system, Eze Nri introduced a sort of local system for people with extra money to keep on this Prof. M. Angulu Onwuejeogwu 1981 writes:

In Nri, a rudimentary local banking system developed, during the slave trade period, men with strong buildings began to keep the cowries of other people in return for commission. Such men became very rich and were able to give a capital loan to persons who wished to begin a trading venture. No fixed rate of interest was paid, one had to haggle over the interest called Ọmụlụnwa on the principal, isi ego.
Stock Exchange was introduced for the first time in Nri, for instance stock exchange was associated with Ọzọ title. In this system, a person who had belonged to one of the alliance groups called Ogwe Mmuo. The candidate for the title will purchase a total of Nine (9) shares known as “Ọfọ Itenanị”. The shares are known as “Ọfọ” the stall of immortality. The Ọzọ titled man will get his entitlements depending on the number of Ọfọ Ọzọ he has. An Ọzọ man with nine Ọfọ Ọzọ will be entitled to nine shares whenever a new person took the title and made payment. One could sell his Ọfọ, except three, within his Ọzọ group at a loss or profit, whenever he is in need of money. He could use his Ọfọ as security for a loan, the person giving the loan will take the shares allocated to the Ọfọ whenever payments of share were made until the capital and interest were paid back by the owner of the Ọfọ. If a man dies his male children will inherit the total Ọfọ Ọzọ and the allocated shares. Shares of Ọfọ Ọzọ lapses two years after the man’s death, it is known as ovunisi. The family of the dead Ọzọ man will continue to take all shares accruing from the Ọfọ Ọzọ left. The son could use one of the Ọfọ Ọzọ in taking his own Ọzọ title. If he did this he would continue to take shares accruing from his own Ọfọ and those inherited. If he has brothers, the Ọfọ Ọzọ of their father would be shared according to the law of inheritance in Nri. (Northcote W. Thomas, M.A, F.R.A.I) 1913.

The Ọfọ, the staff of immortality, ritual and political authority was converted into a type of security certificate. Nri used the ritual system to achieve economic enhancement via Stock Exchange. This cultural civilization was introduced to Igbo – land before the coming of the British Colonial Administration. Therefore, Nri bequeathed this highly civilized pattern of exchange to Igbo – land.

Eze – Nri introduced the four market days to the Igbo Land, namely Eke, Oye (Orie), Afọ and Nkwọ. In each of the communities where the Eze – Nri establishes these markets, he will keep one of his Alụsị (Deity at that market square, and leave one of his agents to take care of that Alụsị. The inhabitants of that community will pay allegiance to the Eze – Nri through that agent, especially during the Ịgụ – Arọ ceremony of Eze – Nri.

It is on record in Igbo land that Eze – Nri introduced agriculture in Igboland. He introduced yam, cocoyam, and other cash crops in Igbo – land. That is why at every Ịgụ – Arọ ceremony, His Majesty the Eze – Nri will share out seed – yams to the people present, to go and plant. This symbolizes the introduction of yam to the Igbo race.

NRI KINGDOM is the oldest Kingdom in Nigeria. It was founded around 900AD by the progenitor, Eri, the son of Gad. According to biblicalaccounts, Jacob had Leah as his wife who begot four sons for him. When  Leah noticed she had passed child-bearing age, she gave her maid – servant, Zilpah to Jacob to wife, and through Zilpah he had a son named Gad. Gad then bigot Eri, who later formed a clan known as Erites vide Genesis Chapter 30 verse 9; 46 verse 16 and Numbers chapter 26 verses 15-19. Eri was therefore amongst  the twelve tribes of Israel via Gad.

During their stay in Egypt Eri became the high priest and spiritual adviser to Pharaoh Teti, the fifth dynastic king of Egypt around 2400 BC.

During the Exodus, which marked the beginning of the mass movement of the tribes of Israel, the tribe of Eri was amongst the tribe that left Egypt following the injunction from God to the Israelites (see Deuteronomy chapter 28 verses 58 – 68). Some of these tribes founded settlements in the southern part of Sudan, where they established the “Nok” culture, which is similar to that of other (sun Cult) culture, like Nri, Fiji, Samoa, and Jukun in the Northern part of Nigeria and elsewhere. But others who could not remain in the Southern Sudan traveled further South, some branched off to Jukun, in Northern part of Nigeria, others continued and arrived at the confluence of Rivers Niger and Anambara known as “Ezu-na-Ọmambala” and settled there while some veered off to the Island of Fiji in the South Pacific Ocean. An intelligence report notes that the Fijians have the same sun culture with the people of Nri.

otapiapia:
I think there are some biblical references showing similarities between some Igbo and Hebrew words which the proponents of this theory use as their arguments.

They may be correct.

0lumide:
Look, I'm tired of all these he is weak arguments and party loyalists faulting opponent's candidates,

Beaf and gbawe, you too need to grow da hell up and I'm sure I'm saying this to people my dad probably drinks beer with!!!

Look, unless you kill Jonathan, he is still the one who is the closest to changing things and if things won't change, he is the closest to making things change,

Feedeefee or essien, it doesn't matter now; the elections are over and now isn't the time to have that "I told y'all so attitude",

We won't get no where if after elections, parties are waiting for their opposition to fail because they didn't win the election,

Seriously, I see too many buhari supporters coming out to say all sorts of nonsense hia!! Even Igbos that voted zombiatically for odechukwu are coming out to denounce him,

Look the nation in heading down, now if you can't help stop the down spiral, don't sit down entertain yourselves with the failure of our dreams!!!!

I don't care what party is in charge, Jonathan like many of you agreed is weak is in need of your support to strengthen his will right now!!! Don't wait for him to lose his will so you can laugh!!!

Organize, let him know you are in full support of him, show him the lack of change hurts, This guy hasn't seen a crying hungry baby in years so really, you know even though he had no shoes, he can now step on gold,

I want Odua nation but not that Nigeria must fail for such to happen,

Stop with the peniss measuring competitions you grown for nothing drones! The internet is not for you, you are suppose to be out there protesting, campaigning for what you think is right,

The internet is to spread information not to act, You can't change Nigeria by dissing odechukwu on here you retardeens,

If you are too scared to live and die for what's right then you deserve to die for the wrong reasons (Jmaine, my words not from movies lol) ,

How do you old folks in your 30s and 40s feel sitting here with 24yrs olds and below but still getting schooled on what it do

Seriously shame on you decays of humanity, shame on you,

Jonathan needs your honest and best support to know that Nigerians will die for him if he does the right thing, There are powerful cabals running this nation to the dark and if you let them absolve Jonathan, you won't say up nepa for a long time,

Kindly drop your slow unforgiving attitudes and go out there and show support for the president, let all the ACN senators, all the opposition members show their support for him, not kiss his Bottom but show him if he does the right thing, they are right behind him!!!!

We can't afford to be Republican, democrat crap right now in Nigeria,

Let them get involved too. If Jonathan fails, Nigeria is over but the real failures are those who out of hatred watch it fail,

Agbayas beaf, seanet, eko ile, aloy emeka, jason123, dayokonu, ezeuche, dede1, aigbofa, alj harem, Ileke Idi, kobojunkie, chyz, south east, gbawe, antitipiah, ekt bear, bluetooth, haka nai, big boi, Jarus, Negro_ntn.

Shame on all the above people shame!!! 30s, 40s all coming online to vent and hate even in a society that has freedom of speech SHAAAAAMEEEEE 30s 40 somethings coming online to cry that their age mates are making life difficult for them SHAAAME, They are your age mates, confront them already you silly pansies !!!!!!

You can't vent your angers by organizing massive protests but you can come online and cry and cry cry!!!

I came here and realized I'm dealing with relics of years and years of failures, You guys almost changed my view on tribes and almost made me a stoopid tirbal nutjob like you losers but good thing for me, I have Igbo friend's Hausa friends and their lives aren't like you relics of failures want it to be,

Tpia/musiwa are probably the only respectable ones among you all, you failed relics of failures, You and yours are the reason Nigeria is as it is, My generation will send you foools to nursing homes and abandon y'all there, Failures bunch of losers coming online to cry their mates are beating them hard!!! GTFOH

Eko Ile:
.

alj_harem:
so now you know that they are animals and can not be reasoned with

i dey laff o

alj harem:
the education is full of crap. there should be a section for science and maths

calling me aboki will not do anything as majority of you igbo folks are olodos. fact

and if u believe that u are smarter than an aboki, I challenge you to any debate on maths, anything science