Who Are The Igbo?

WHO ARE THE IGBO?

IGBO is an ethnic group based in West Africa. A people specially made and blessed by the Almighty God.

The Igbo, which is sometimes (or mistakenly) referred to as the Ibo, Eboe or Heebo, are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa, numbering in the tens of millions. Apart from the South-Eastern Nigeria, the Igbo can be found in neighbouring Cameroon; Ghana, and other African countries, as well as in nations outside of Africa. And it is a wonder, though subject to proper verification, that the Igbo is in almost all the nations of the world. This makes the saying truer that in any nation, community, tribe or race, that you did not find an Igboman, the people may be cannibals, and it is to your own interest that you leave immediately because your life is in a serious danger. The Igbo in Nigeria also tries to maintain a sizeable population anywhere they are, and sometimes, can be numbered as the second or third largest population after the host community.

Their language is the Igbo Language which includes hundreds of different dialects. The Igbo are well known for being one of the only African groups, traditionally, without a central leader, and also one of the only African groups, traditionally, with the serious vision to succeed in any environment.

Demographics

The Igbo in Nigeria are found in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, as well as in Delta and Rivers State. The Igbo language is predominant throughout these areas, although English (the national language) is also spoken.

Prominent towns in the Igboland include Ahiara, Aba, Aguleri, Aboh, Anam, Abiriba, Oguta, Awka, Igwe Ocha, Akpo (Umuachara-Elemmadu dynasty), Agbor, Awkuzu, Abagana, Abba, Egbuoma, Omor, Owerri, Orlu, Nkwerre, Isu, Umuaka, Mgbidi, Nnewi, Mbaise, Mbaitoli, Umundugba, Nsukka, Nawgu, Enugu, Onitsha, Abakaliki, Arondizogu, Afikpo, Okigwe, Udi, Umuahia, Asaba, Ohafia, Okigwe, Okija, Arochukwu, Igbuzo, Ihiala, Ndoni, Ngwo, Nteje, Mbaitoli, Ikeduru and Agulu Ihiala amongst others. There are also a significant amount of Igbo people found in other parts of Nigeria in such places as the cities of Abuja and Lagos.

A popular figure put it that the following percentage of Igbo people live in various states of Nigeria:

Imo (96%)

Abia (95%)

Enugu (95%)

Ebonyi (92%)

Anambra (90%)

Rivers (65%)

Delta (55%)

Population

The official population count of the Igbo in Nigeria has remained controversial as a majority of Igbo people in Nigeria think the government deliberately deflates the official population of the Igbo people to give other ethnic groups numerical superiority. The CIA World Factbook put's the igbo population at roughly between 24 and 25 million.

Deliberate underestimation of African population has begun since the days of British colonialism in Nigeria where the Igbo population was put at 6 - 8 thousand people. Some recent sources have even put the Igbo population at 5.5 million.

Identity

The Igbo identity is hard to define as the Igbo are a heavily fragmented ethnic group. The Igbo were and are very independent and autonomous, living in localized communities. Before knowledge of Europeans and the full exposure to other ethnic groups neighbouring them, the Igbo had not had this strong Igbo identity, but instead each community was independent, usually governed by elders.

Alexander X. Byrd argues, upon engaging in a close textual reading of Olaudah Equiano's narrative (1789), that the Igbo identity has its origins in slavery, emerging in the "Holding patterns" of coastal towns of West Africa. Like almost every ethnic group in "sub-saharan Africa", the British and fellow Europeans have identified the Igbo as a tribe.

Chinua Achebe, among other scholars, have challenged the idea of the Igbo being a tribe, suggesting it has negative connotations. The suggestion is that the Igbo should be considered a nation similar to the Cherokee or Japanese, although the Igbo do not have an official recognized state of their own.

There are several theories regarding the etymology of the word Igbo (wrongly spelled "Ibo" by colonialists). It is presumed that the word has Sudanic origin, derived from the verb gboo.

Ndigbo, some theorists have suggested that the word may originate from the neighboring Igala, coming from the word onigbo (a word for slave), but the meaning and origin of the word is still generally unclear.

This may not be all the facts about the IGBO?

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www.istandwithigbo.net

IGBO:

THE PROMISED LAND

Whenever you have the opportunity of meeting an Igboman or better still, interact or work together with him, you will agree with me that God took a longer time in creating the Igbo.

Let me explain. By experience I have seen the Igbo so unique, loving, caring, hospitable, industrious and decently organized and blessed in every ramification. As a result, the Igbo have appeared to have been the most misunderstood by other groups in Nigeria and the world over. Remember the arrival of the Whiteman in Africa and indeed Nigeria. The Igbo was their greatest asset who later became the hardest hit of their presence. I mean the impact of imperialism on the Igbo was enormous.

The Igbo as created by God had first dominated their forest environment, making progress in the forest region, developed and established a rather unique political philosophy for themselves. This philosophy opposed all forms of hegemonistic tendencies. It is a philosophy that tells the Igbo that whenever anything is threatened to grow large, it had to be fragmented. This was what gave the Whiteman an edge that made him able to naked and castrate the Igbo. Fragmentation left the Igbo with an indelible trauma that only true understanding of themselves will heal with time.

Having been let down by the Whiteman and then fellow blacks, the Igbo moved inexorably towards the inevitable catharsis. And the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War that ensued was a pan-Nigerian phenomenon. However, rising from their trauma by a war they have been adjudged vanquished, the Igbo try to push forward laying their hands in any legitimate business they can find.

Ndigbo, having seen all that is going on in our contemporary society today, the Lord laid a prophecy that in no distant time, people will bemoan themselves that they are not of the Igbo stock. Common my brothers and sisters, you are created special. Don't belittle yourself, walk tall; take up your position and be respected again. Let me make this statement of fact, and minister it into your head: Without the IGBO there would have been no NIGERIA! No, this is not to sideline any other group in Nigeria, but what I am saying is that we all made the nation NIGERIA, what it is today and what it would be tomorrow. Let me stun you a little: without the IGBO, there would have been no AFRICA and indeed the whole world. A nation may occupy the position of Nigeria today; a continent may take the position of Africa and a different set of people may have taken the place of the world. The Igbo race made Nigeria, Africa and the world, what they are today, remove the Igbo and you get an incomplete world!

Without the Igbo, Nigeria has no meaning, so it is with the other ethinic groups, whether major or minor. We need each other. The Igbo symbol is Unity, Peace, Love and Understanding. This has made it possible for the Igbo to adapt to different conditions and environment. The IGBO is peace personified, having five undisputable qualities:

1. He is Friendly - The Igbo who is always on the move has distinguished himself as a man of the people. He is constantly faced with the challenge of making new friends. The Bible supports his action: "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24).

2. He is Involved - In everywhere the Igbo is found, the area develops fast and becomes lively. He is involved in developmental projects, sports, usic, trade, technological breakthroughs, etc.

3. He is Hospitable - He blends so fast in any environment. Experimenting with so many things and coming up with great achievements, even things that are beyong the capacity and knowledge of his host community.

4. He is Open Minded - The Igbo delights in hearty and productive discussions that can bring about positive development. He is not an enigma (conundrum), but very understanding who always helps to bring solution where necessary.

5. He is Patient - The Igbo is not in a hurry, but does not condone laziness or give up easily. To the Igbo, the the word, DEFEAT is an inference and a damnable.

6. He is Democratic - Democracy is a native of the Igbo. The Igbo are well known for being one of the only African groups, traditionally, without a central leader. What this means is that no single human being has the monopoly of decision. Anything said and done is universally accepted.

The Igbo must stand tall anywhere in the world. The very reason Nigeria seem to persecute the Igbo is because Igbo is ahead in all things. Given the opportunity, the Igbo will always prove himself. The woman works as much as the man. When you have what others do not have, jealousy sets in, hatred and destruction becomes rampant. They must cut you to size at all cost.

My dear people, it is not our fault. That's how the Almighty God made us. He created us with an unequalled wisdom so that we'll succeed where others failed. I do not know about you, I am proud to be Igbo!

All correspondences should be forwarded to:

I Stand With Igbo Network,

Igbo Gba Gburugburu,

243 Ziks Avenue,

Awka.

E-mail: info@istandwithigbo.net