Here are 10 interesting things you may not have known about the Igbo speaking people of Nigeria in the South East.
The Igbos are an ethnic group of Southeastern Nigeria who
constitute a significant portion of the Nigerian population. Their
language, traditions, and culture are immensely influential in Nigerian
society and across Africa. Here are 10 things you didn’t know about the
Igbo people.
THE YAM IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CROP OF THE IGBO PEOPLE
Though cassava and taro are also key crops, the yam is the
lifeblood of the Igbo people; for those who live in rural areas and
work as farmers. Annual celebrations are even held to celebrate the yam
harvest such as the New Yam Festival (called “Iwaji” in Igbo), where
people show off their yam tubers as a sign of success and wealth.
POLITICALLY FRAGMENTED
The Igbo were politically fragmented before British colonialism:
Colonial powers often overlook cultural distinctions between groups, and
the nature of the Igbo people changed drastically during the time of
British imperialism. Before that, however, there were starker
differences between groups with regard to art styles, clothing,
religious practices, and dialect. British colonialism introduced “Eze,”
or kings, into most local communities, centralizing political authority.
ACHEBE
Chinua Achebe, author of “Things Fall Apart,” says Igbo should be
classified as a nation, not tribe. Claiming that this distinction
promotes negative connotations and inaccurate facts, Achebe maintains
that the Igbo should be defined as a nation, such as the Native American
Cherokee nation or Japanese, rather than a tribe. Though they do not
have a homeland of their own, he asserts that this classification is
more in line with the actuality of the Igbo people, and their vast
diversity.
SLAVE TRADE
The transatlantic slave trade had an enormous impact on the Igbo:
Up to the late 19th century, the transatlantic slave trade meant
thousands of young Igbo slaves were taken, mainly from the Bight of
Biafra, and sold to Europeans. Young people were the biggest target, and
warfare increased as slave traders offered high prices to kidnappers.
IMMIGRATION
There’s been Igbo immigration out of Nigeria, since the
Nigerian-Biafran War. After the Nigerian - Biafra War (1966-1967), Igbo
land was devastated. Fighting destroyed much of the region’s
infrastructure including hospitals, schools, and homes. Many Nigerian
Igbos chose to leave the country in favour of neighboring countries in
Africa, as well as areas of Europe and the Americas. While many stayed
and helped to rebuild the area, there was a significant diaspora of the
Igbo people.
DIALECTS
There are hundreds of different Igbo dialects: Though Igbo is
considered a language in itself, there are hundreds of different Igbo
dialects and Igboid languages. “Igbo” often refers to Central
Igbo, the standard Igbo dialect that includes the Owerri and Umuahia
groups, as well as the Ohuhu dialect.
HIGHLIFE
Highlife is a widely popular musical genre in Igbo communities: High-life is a unique musical genre that combines a fusion of jazz and
traditional music. It has become extremely popular in Igbo communities,
and has been popularized by the works of Dr. Sir Warrior, Oliver De
Coque, Bright Chimezie, Osadebe and others. It often uses traditional
Igbo percussion instrument such as the udu, the ekwe, and the ogene.
JEWISH
The majority of Igbo people are Christians, but there’s a small
continent of Igbo Jews: While the majority of the Igbo people are
Christians, and predominantly Roman Catholics at that, there is also a
small population of igbo jews. They claim to descend from ancient Jewish
traders who came to the region and married local women; creating a
unique Jewish community in Nigeria.
POPULATION
The Igbo population estimated at approximately 40 million: The 2013
CIA World Factbook estimated the Nigerian population at about
170million; and the Igbo population at 23.5 percent of that – making
the Igbo population approximately 40 million people. They live
predominantly in Southeastern Nigeria, the most densely populated area
of the country.
MARRIAGE
Igbo marriage is a process that takes several years: Before a
marriage, the woman must give her consent, negotiations must be made
through a middleman, her character must be tested, and the groom must
pay something known as bride wealth. The process is rarely accomplished
in less than two or three years, at which point the ceremony may take
place.
