On arrival at the site, Oduduwa set down the five pieces of iron and placed the lump of earth on them. Cele dey deceive una Having strong affinities with the east looming so largely in their imagination, everything that comes from the east with them comes from Mecca, and hence it is natural to present themselves as having hailed originally from that city. About the Igbo People of Nigeria, Location: Nigeria, Africa, is composed of basically three different ethnic groups: the Yorubas, the Hausas, and the Igbo. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Some of these women were slaves, while others were free women who sought the Portuguese masters’ affection. Many of these laws have been dismissed by modern day Igbos as mere superstitions, and thus do not hold water. This assumption is based on the so-called similarities between the Cultures of the Igbo and the ancient Hebrew. Onwuejeogwu (2000) regards the Nri version as the only authentic version of origin in existence in the oral tradition of the Igbo. However, the same cannot be said about the several version of the historical origin of the Igbo’s. Anyone writing an historical account of Igbo people must have facts to back it up. In the subsequent sections, we’ll be clarifying some age long controversies surrounding the origin and traditional belief of the Igbo people. However, no historian can claim the historical accounts of other historians are either truthful or falsehood, because no historical account is nobler than the other. Consequently, they operated a kind of government without kings. The Benin Version Where Did Igbo Originate From? He is reportedly of Jewish origin, and according to historical findings, he was the grandson of Jacob (the biblical Jacob). Your email address will not be published. Igbos is the third largest tribe in Nigeria. In Igboland, burial ceremonies are generally more elaborate than wedding and naming ceremonies. In fact, there are other, more credible, claims as to the actual origin of the Igbo tribe, and we’ll be looking at one these in the next section of this article. pre-1500s == A form of writing called nsibidi, using formalized pictograms, existed among the Igbo and neighboring groups.It died out, probably because it was popular among secret societies whose members did not want to discuss it publicly. One of his descendents, who is known by the name of Menri, went on to settle in a big forest, which later developed into the ancestral Igbo kingdom of Nri. despite the obvious differences in their respective belief system, they still stand together as one and remain one of the largest and most influential tribal groups in Nigeria. Follow us, as we take you through the origin, traditions and historical facts of the Igbo people in Nigeria. Generally, Irrespective of which part of the above five categorization a group falls; they are certainly Igbo’s and would be regarded as such. However, despite the passion and indigenous support for the Igbo Jewish movement in Nigeria, the movement still remains unrecognized by the global Jewish community, most notably the Israeli Supreme Court and other prominent Jewish bodies. They were given fives pieces of iron, a lump of earth tied to a white piece of cloth, and a cockerel. In their paper Yorubaland up to 1800, Akinjogbin & Ayandele (1980) give us a full picture of what Oke Oramfe’s version is all about. You should remember that the Igbo society has always been known as acephalous. The cockerel then spread its toes on the earth. Anambra Igbos see themselves as superior to others. The Igbo, whose traditional territory is called the Bight of Biafra (also known as the Bight of Bonny ), became one of the principal ethnic groups to be enslaved during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. The tribe comes after the second-placed Yoruba ethnic group from the western part of Nigeria and the leading Fulani-Hausa ethnic group from the northern part of the country.The exact population of the Igbo people is not fully known. The Igboland Centred Version The Igbos are mainly Christians, with over 80% of them being of the Catholic faith. CHUKWUKAODINAKA (REMY) ILONA 08065300351 remy.ilona@gmail.com, Ilona@derushapublishing.com This brief survey introduces the Igbo people, traces the origin of the Igbo people, and talks about why the Igbos must invest all their energy, strength and resources to know who they are, and reconnect to their source. This is why it is very difficult to reconcile all these various versions. The Igbo live in southeastern Nigeria.It comes as no surprise that the stifling heat of central Africa would dictate the type of clothing worn by any native peoples. The Ibo homeland is spread from the lower area of the Niger River to the west, while the eastern side of the diaspora has the largest number in population in southern Nigeria. Others believe that the Igbo people had been in their present abode from the beginning. The elderly Mbaise man maintained that the Igbos did not come from anywhere. The first claims that the community concerned migrated from an important kingdom outside the Igbo area, such as Benin or Igala. Round up; the Igbos do not have a concise historical path, as various subsets of the tribe hold different beliefs as to their actual origin. • The Igbo of the North-eastern Nigeria The Igbo language is predominant throughout these areas, although Nigerian English (the national language) is spoken as well. * The biblical connection BY VINCENT UJUMADU THERE is a debate over the origin of Igbo. Another claim seek to establish that the ancestors of the Igbos originated from the area they inhabit, presently known as Awka-Okigwe. Rev. Professor M.A. How much do you know about the Igbo tribe: their tradition and history? Your email address will not be published. This set of people, colloquially known as Igbo Jews, holds the Jewish belief and devoutly so. This is because, from the ancient times, they had no centralized states. They are generally known for their entrepreneurial (hustle) spirit. It is from Egypt, after several years of journey that the Yoruba finally settled in Ile-Ife in Nigeria. With them the East is Mecca and Mecca is the East. Igbo communities generally lack centralized control and leadership structure. : a revelation on the origin of Igbos by Mazi Chukwudi Nweke. The Igbo tribe is one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria (the other two being Hausa and Yoruba). Tags: Igbo attire and it's meaning igbo blouse and wrapper styles igbo couple in traditional attire Igbo history igbo traditional isiagu attire where did the igbos originally come from Who is the father of Igbo The origin of the Igbo people is a mystery and a subject of greater controversy, more controversial than that of every other ethnic group in Nigeria and probably in Africa. Where did the Igbos come from. There is no tangible proof to affirm this. Two Anambra communities – Nri in Anaocha local government area and Aguleri in Anambra East local government area claim the Igbo originated from their areas. The Igbo-Richard locality was clearly a burial place for an elite (wealthy) person, buried with a large array of grave goods, but it is unknown whether this person was a ruler or had some other religious or secular role in their community. In 1904, T. D. Maxwell, Acting District Commissioner in Calabar, was the first European to learn about the existence of nsibidi. Very industrious people. Aptly put, the lighter skin of the Igbos have been attributed to the alleged “Caucasian-Igbo gene” carried by the descendants of those who had intimacy with the Portuguese slave masters. Please do not take anything here seriously. The Igbos, today, are predominantly Christians. • The Igbo of the South-eastern Nigeria Required fields are marked *. The Igbo people, natively called Ndi Igbo and also spelt as Ibo or Eboe, are the third largest ethnic group in Nigeria. Although, it can be said that, most ethnic groups in Nigeria has more than one historical origin of their ethnic groups, but the historical origin of the Igbo ethnic group which occupy mostly the eastern part of Nigeria is far more mystical than every other. Below are some interesting facts about Igbo men: The Igbo tribe’s primary language is Igbo, which is one of the three internationally recognized indigenous languages of Nigeria. Oduduwa is believed to be the first leader that led the Yoruba to Ile-Ife and subsequently sent his sons and grandsons to found other Yoruba kingdoms. The language is spoken by 20% (est.) Both science and intelligence will contribute to uncovering the evidence needed to answer these questions … Yoruba only had 2 versions, the Rev. Taking a brief view at some the various versions, we found the Israeli version to be more popular. In ancient times, Igbo men are widely regarded as great warriors and hunters. Before European colonization, the Igbo lived in autonomous local communities, but by the mid-20th century a sense of ethnic identity was strongly developed. In Conclusion, Let me states that, the only way forward for a people is the knowledge of their past, as this would assist them understand their present and as well as help them fashion out a way forward for their future. The questions of the true genomic origin as well as the direct source of the initial SARS-CoV-2 strain that infected Patient Zero in China, an event that ultimately unleashed COVID-19 on the world to devastating effect, are hotly debated and highly consequential. According to the legend, there was a period when the world was covered by water. However. If you are among five Igbos, do not say some thing that is a secret even in your own language, because chances are that one of the Igbos understand your language. Some Igbo’s are also with the view that, for any Igbo man to excel to the extreme and assume the mantle of leadership of the Igbo race, such individual must hail from Anambra to gain legitimacy. Igbos are the most highly technologically inclined in the whole of Africa. 0 Ratings 0 Want to read; 0 Currently reading; 0 Have read; This edition was published in 200u by PAJAC in Enugu, Nigeria. Follow NaijaGists.com on Facebook and Twitter. Where the Igbos migrated from has not been proved beyond reasonable doubt. Where did Igbo originate from? They are the direct ancestors of Cush, the son of Ham, and the black Cushite migrants and settlers that refused to go to Africa with the other descendants of Cush and his son Nimrod but that rather chose to settle in the ancient Cities of Mecca and Medina in what is presently known as Saudi Arabia. He travelled by sea and later arrived at a settling point, in a place known as Aguleri today. That is why people call them names, that we love money more than anything. There are approximately 35 million Igbos in Nigeria today. if you want the truth, check out what scholars wrote about the origin of the Igbos eg Professor Kenneth Dike or other notable Nigerian historians. The reason behind this remains shrewd in mystery, as there have been claims and counterclaims in this discourse. Below is a summary of some superstitions of the Igbo tribe: Below are some interesting facts about the Igbo people, their custom and traditional practices. The Onitsha and the Igbo on the other side of the River Niger [Delta Igbo], claim Benin origin. The history and origin of the Igbos cannot be discussed without mentioning the pioneer Igbo kingdom of Nri. Killing and/or eating of pythons is an invitation to badluck. The origin of the Igbo people is a mystery and a subject of greater controversy, more controversial than that of every other ethnic group in Nigeria and probably in Africa. While most Igbos are generally dark-skinned, like other West Africans, it is an open secret that the Igbos have a larger percentage of light-skinned individuals than other tribes in Nigeria. If we carefully observe the two version of the historical origin of the Yoruba’s, it would be observed that even though they are different, they have some similarities, which is Oduduwa and Ife. The origins of the Igbo people has been the subject of much speculation, and it is only in the last fifty years that any real work has been carried out in this subject: like any group of people, they are anxious to discover their origin and reconstruct how they came to be how they are. Discus4now@gmail.com, © THEWILL NEWS MEDIA. I have been looking for facts about Igbo culture for kids. If you were to ask and igbo in the ancient world if they were igbo they would tell you no, im (INSERT VILLAGE NAME) but those guys are igbo and point to the next closest village. It is believed to be the centre from which the world was created. God bless my people. igbo was a term igbos used for others around them but not themselves. But, with the mystery surrounding the origin of the Igbo’s, it is my candid opinion that the Igbo ethnic group would find it hard to match forward without discovering its real origin. During the time of the theocratic kingdom of Nri (Igbo tribe’s ancestral kingdom), certain laws and prohibitions (taboos) were allegedly put in place. The Kingdom, in ancient times, formed the core (central zone) of Igbo land, serving as the hub of religion and political activities of the ancient Igbo people. September 7, 2013. None of the two versions argues or dissociated Oduduwa from the origin of Yoruba. In a nutshell, the question still remains unanswered: is the Igbo tribe from Israel? When he arrived at Aguleri, he met some autochthonous group of people who had no living memory of their own and settled with them. Igbo (Ibo), people living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria who speak Igbo, a language of the Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Congo language family. Some believe that the Igbo peoples migrated to their present location from either the North or the Middle-east. Killing a green snake is a taboo; however, if done unintentionally, the snake should be given a befitting burial. Eri migrated from Egypt (before the exodus of the Israelites) alongside some of his kinsmen. It was from this base (Ife) that he extended his authorities to other Yoruba towns and villages. There are so many versions of Igbo origin and it is very difficult, or probably impossible to say which is the most real or most acceptable. Igbo tribe’s traditional system of belief centres around the glorification and exaltation of “Amadioha” – the god of thunder – who is seen as one of the top ministers of Chukwu, the supreme creator of earth. The elderly Mbaise man maintained that the Igbos did not come from anywhere. I really like this update about my people. Oduduwa seized the symbol of authority from him and eventually led the party to the world. Kindly share your opinion with us in the comments section below. Be that as it may, it should be stated here for the purpose of clarity that the word Ndi Igbo/ Ndigbo mean the "Ancient People." Another account presents Eri as one of the sons of Gad (as mentioned in the book of Genesis in the Bible) who travelled down to establish the present-day Igboland. Successive death cases in a family is attributed to a curse or anger of the gods. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Na waoo, Igbo jews indeed By now, we would have manufacturing War weapons for Africans, and no country will have to go outside Africa to purchase weapons to fight Insurgency, if not for the bad policy of Nigeria. Igboman origin, is it a fact or myth? According to Nri version, the ancestor of the Igbo, Eri, descended from the sky and sailed down the River Anambra. The traditional money saving and loan system of. But the fact remains that the Igbos must come from somewhere beyond the limited knowledge of the Mbaise elder. Origin of the Igbo Tribe: Igbo People in Nigeria, their Traditions & Historical Facts. The Middle East Version But the fact remains that the Igbos must come from somewhere beyond the limited knowledge of the Mbaise elder. The ''Yorubas'' are the descendants of Ham who was the third son of Noah. Unlike the Yoruba, which cohabit with the Igbo in the southern part of Nigeria and has only 2 version of its historical origin, Igbo’s had several irreconcilable versions. No, Igbos marry from other tribes more than any other tribe in Nigeria. Some Igbo scholars consider themselves as off-shoots of the lost tribes of the Hebrews who migrated southward. Johnson’s conclusion is worth recalling: That the Yoruba came originally from the East, there cannot be the slightest doubt as their habits, manner and customs, etc., all go to prove. They were originally a pastoral people until they were forced to move into the bush, which is similar to what has happened to the Igbos. There are archeological artifacts that indicate that the tribe known as Igbo today might have been in existence since as far back as 2500 BC. Unlike the Yoruba’s which traces its origin to Oduduwa in Ile-Ife and the Hausa’s, which also traces its origin to Bayajidda in Daura, Igbo have no such historical identification with a founding father or founding home, many version claimed a different source which even made the Igbo origin more mystical. The selling of prisoners of war as slaves or the enslavement of their fellow man in order to pay off a debt as it is found in the Torah, the five Books of Moses. • The Northern Igbo. The Igbo people are descended from Eri, a divine figure who, according to Igbo folklore, was sent from heaven to begin civilization. I will print this and share it with them this coming weekend. Written By AMB Abdulrazaq O Hamzat The Ibo ethnic groups of people have the largest proportion of their population living in Nigeria in West Africa. AFRICA CATCHING UP AFTER HALF A MILLENNIUM, OPINION: THE POLITICS OF AMNESTY: LIKE NIGER DELTA MILITANTS, LIKE BANDITS, OPINION: DIRTY RELIGION AND THE DILEMMA OF MANAGEMENT OF COVID-19, https://www.facebook.com/THEWILL-NIGERIA-204931768800/. They also share a common political system based on decentralization of power and delegation of authority exercised by the holders of the staff of authority, the Ofo. IGBO-ISRAEL: ORIGINS, HISTORY AND CULTURE. An estimated 14.6% of all slaves were taken from the Bight of Biafra between 1650 and 1900. They are all fiction. The Idah Version In the Oke Oramfe’s Version, it traces the origin of Yoruba to Oke Oramfe, which is located in Ile-Ife, in the present day Osun State. However, the traditional belief system is still widespread. Thrills As Genevieve Nnaji Comments On Ini Edo Photo, Facts About Yoruba Tribe In Nigeria: Yoruba Tribe History, Culture, Religion & Traditions. While the traditional belief practices are still in vogue, especially in the rural communities, majority of Igbos have adopted the Christian faith, with most subscribing to the Roman Catholic belief. The Israeli Version Study shows that, the Igbo people are best known for their segmentary or acephalous way of life. According to him, the Yoruba originally came from the North-Eastern area of Africa. And according to them, the British called us IBO … The Igbo Jewish movement came to fore in the late 18th century, when an Igbo man named Olaudoh Equiano (locally pronounced Orauda Ikwuano), in his autobiography, traced and described the migratory origin of the so-called “Igbo Jews” to Israel. The history and origin of the Igbos cannot be discussed without mentioning the pioneer Igbo kingdom of Nri. Have any input or something to correct? Majority of Igbos are satisfied to accept the Israel hypothesis supported by the triple testimonies of oral tradition, Eri migration and archaeological evidence. Osu cast belief: segregation of a so-called inferior class of people, who must not mix with the normal people. There were no equivalents of Oba, and Alaafin or of Palaces over most parts of Igbo land. The Igbos are generally referred to as “travellers”. “In the Igbo area, three different types of traditions of origins can be distinguished. The standard Igbo language is widely spoken in Anambra and other major urban centres in Igbo land. The principal interment is an adult seated on a wooden stool, dressed in fine clothing and with rich grave effects … In fact, all notable cultural/historical tales of the Igbo people emanated from the laws of the theocratic kingdom of Nri, which was then perceived as a divine kingdom. The Awka or Orlu Version In fact, the supposed “genetic proof”, which has been claimed to establish some sort of similarity between the Igbos and the ancient Jews still remains a fallacy to many. The Israeli version has been established to be one of the most popular versions of the migratory stories of origin of the Igbo people. Samuel Johnson’s Version and the Oke Oramfe’s Version. It has also been established that, the Igbo people are predominantly farmers and traders and despite some cultural diversity among them, they do share a common basic culture in their language with a cluster of dialects that are mutually intelligible. Some groups such as the Umunri claim to have migrated to their present location from Idah. The region is divided into five geographical/political zones (states), including Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi. This can also be a short form of the many Igbo names that begin with this element. The igbo ppl were there but didn't see each other as 1 united people. Igbo-Ukwu Burials . The above is one of many tales and mysteries surrounding the origin of the Igbo tribe, most of which remain unsolved till date. Adultery and infidelity is greatly frowned at by the Igbos. These Igbos were believed to be a part of the descendants of Oduduwa, the father of the Yorubas, and originated from Benin Kingdom only to settle at River line area or the Ika Igbo country land of the Igbo man in 17th century A.D. Dr. K. O. Dike, in support of this assertion, said that there was an eastward movement of population from Benin in 17th century A.D., which resulted in increased … The site on which they landed is traditionally known as Oke Oramfe in Ile-Ife. Another claim seek to establish that the ancestors of the Igbos originated from the area they inhabit, presently known as Awka-Okigwe. As believed by many, during the precolonial era, during the time of the Portuguese dominance and slave trade in West Africa, the Portuguese slave masters had free sexual encounters with a significant number of Igbo women. All these are the most probable versions, as you see the issue of the origin of this tribe is quite complicated. The widely acclaimed father of Igbos, who is believed to be the ancestral father and originator of the Igbo tribe is known as Eri. According to another version the tribe originated from ancient Orlu or Awka towns. But the fact remains that the Igbos must come from somewhere beyond the limited knowledge of the Mbaise elder. Furthermore, the claim that the Igbos originate from Israel has been dismissed as mere speculation, as there is no document, artifact or any form of proof to indicate such. Yimu. CHI (2) m & f Mythology, Western African, Igbo Means "god, spiritual being" in Igbo, referring to the personal spiritual guardian that each person is believed to have. This subset of the Igbo tribe tags themselves Igbo Jews. While certain school of thoughts believe that the Igbos originate from the Middle East, a more credible claim indicates that the Igbo tribe takes its root from the ancient Niger-Congo (West African) people. Where did Igbos come from? They are indigenously sited in the south eastern region of the country; although, they can be found in virtually all habitable regions in the country and beyond. As earlier stated, there are so many irreconcilable versions of Igbo origin; this has made it very difficult to ascertain which has gained more acceptances. Eri settled down in this region and procreated. It is said that the Ibo tribes today are descended from the Nri, Nzam, and the Anam immigrants that came from the north and west of Africa many centuries ago. Igbo - Ibo Tribal Mask And Art History And Culture In the North we have the Igbo Mmo society that represents the spirits of deceased maidens and their mothers with masks symbolizing beauty. Igbo men are generally hefty looking and hairy. The elderly Mbaise man maintained that the Igbos did not come from anywhere. This tend to support the claim of an elderly Mbaise man from Imo State of Nigeria, whose name remain anonymous, in a book by Dr. Elizabeth Isichei titled “History of the Igbo People”. Common characteristics found on the masks are- finely sculptured thin and small well-placed women's features, which are accentuated by tattoos. ...their experiences under colonialsim and since Nigeria’s Independence have emphasized for them … Igbos were only defeated during the war due to Hunger policy. Basically, the traditional believers hold the belief that there is only one God, who is known as Chukwu or Chineke. Igbo language is generally divided into 20 different dialects, with the central – standard – Igbo language is serving as the general language. The Igbo are said to be grouped into five sub-cultures, namely: • The Igbo of the eastern Nigeria Furthermore, a tiny fraction of the Igbo tribe associates themselves with the Jewish community. They are widely perceived as being faithful in marriage. There are so many versions of Igbo origin and it is very difficult, or probably impossible to say which is the most real or most […] The Nri Version The Almighty God then decided to send some of his messengers to the world and they included Obatala or Orisa Nla or Orisa Alase [as the leader] and sixteen Oye [immortals]. The elderly Mbaise man maintained that the Igbos did not come from anywhere. African art - African art - Igbo: On both sides of the Niger, but mainly to the east, live the Igbo. Fast forward to the modern day, the Igbos are the original settlers and landlord of the south-eastern land of Nigeria, which is colloquially known as “Igbo land“. I love my tribe. Samuel Johnson’s Version In his book, History of the Yoruba (1950), Johnson was` said to have  traced the origin of the Yoruba to the “East”. Somewhere on their way to the world, the leader, Obatala, got drunk with palm wine. Only on the northern and western edges of the area, under influence from Igala and Benin, are hereditary rulers found. Another principal Igbo deity is Njoku or Ajoku, which they believe as their guardian deity of the yam which in ancient periods or times was the major staple crop of the Igbo people in Nigeria. Below is a list of prominent Igbo dialects: All Igbo dialects are collectively called “Igboloid” languages. In so many parts Igbo land there are monthly and yearly annual rituals in honor of the yam deity known as Ifejioku, and in other parts children who were dedicated to the service of the deity … Subsequently, as a result of dynastic tensions, M-Eru-ka let Kemit with many of his family and followers and set forth towards the south-west, where the great sea of southern Ethiopia washed the shores of Palm-tree lined beaches. In light of this, many have dismissed the Igbo Jewish movement as an underhand attempt by a certain group of Igbo migrants and tourists, in a bid to gain recognition and permanent residency status from the Israeli government. Israeli version is the one that points to Israel as the origin of Igbo. Christian Igbo people use it as a name for the personal Christian god. So, without any doubt whatsoever, the foundation of the Yoruba’s can be said to have started with Oduduwa as reconciled by both versions. As the speculation rages on, in the midst of the global disapproval of the Igbo’s Jewish status, the question that comes to mind is: where did the Igbo tribe come from? Hence, it remains a mere speculation. Several historians of Igbo culture have written various accounts concerning where Igbos originated from. Thanks for the brave input. The Igbo people are natively found in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Delta and Rivers State.