Igbo people: Difference between revisions
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== Notable people == |
== Notable people == |
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A number of well-known intellectuals, historic figures, and athletes have been of Igbo descent: |
A number of well-known intellectuals, historic figures, and athletes have been of Igbo descent: |
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[[image: The_Ultimate_Dr._Sir_Warrior.jpg|right|thumb|Ezebuiro C. Obinna, UDSW]] |
[[image: The_Ultimate_Dr._Sir_Warrior.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Ezebuiro C. Obinna, UDSW]] |
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[[Image:MegalynEchikunwoke.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Actress Megalyn Echikunwoke]] |
[[Image:MegalynEchikunwoke.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Actress Megalyn Echikunwoke]] |
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<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Achebe.jpg|thumb|right|100px|Author, Chinua Achebe]] --> |
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Achebe.jpg|thumb|right|100px|Author, Chinua Achebe]] --> |
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Revision as of 07:55, 6 September 2006
Regions with significant populations | |
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Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea | |
Languages | |
Igbo | |
Religion | |
Christianity, Traditional, Judaism | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Ibibio, Ijo, Ekoi, Igala, Idoma, Nupe |
The Igbo, sometimes (especially formerly) referred to as Ibo, are one of the largest single ethnicities in Africa. Most Igbo speakers are based in southeast Nigeria, where they constitute about 17% of the population; they can also be found in significant numbers in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. Their language is also called Igbo. The primary Igbo states in Nigeria are Anambra, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, and Enugu States. The Igbos also constitute more than 25% of the population in some Nigerian States like Delta State and Rivers State. Traces of the Igbo Culture and language could be found in Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa States. Igbo language is predominant in such cities like Onitsha, Aba, Owerri, Enugu, Nnewi, Nsukka, Awka, Umuahia, and Asaba, amongst others.
Origin
The Igbo originated from Owere-Olu-Okigwe-Umuahia areas in Imo and Abia States. This is the original Igbo heartland. From here, they expanded to different directions, absorbing different people and radiating the Igbo culture beyond the heartland belt[1].
Pre-colonial life
Pre-colonial Igbo political organization was based on semiautonomous communities, devoid of kings or governing chiefs. With the exception of towns such as Onitsha, which had kings called Obis, and places like Nri and Arochukwu, which had priest kings known as Ezes, most Igbo village governments were ruled solely by an assembly of the common people. Although titleholders were respected because of their accomplishments, they were never revered as kings, but often performed special functions given to them by such these assemblies. This way of governing was immensely different from most other communities of Western Africa, and only shared by the Ewe of Ghana. Igbo secret societies also had a ceremonial script called Nsibidi. Igbos had a calendar in which a week has four days. A month has seven weeks and thirteen months a year. The last month had an extra day. They also had mathematics called Okwe and Mkpisi and a saving and loans bank system called Isusu. They settled law matters by oath-taking to a god. If that person died in a certain amount of time, he was guilty. If not, he was free to go, but if guilty, that person could face exile or servitude to a deity.
Post-colonization
The arrival of the British in the 1870s and increased encounters between the Igbo and other Nigerians led to a deepening sense of a distinct Igbo ethnic identity. The Igbo also proved remarkably decisive and enthusiastic in their embrace of Christianity and Western education. Under British colonial rule, the diversity within each of Nigeria's major ethnic groups slowly decreased and distinctions between the Igbo and other large ethnic groups, such as the Hausa and the Yoruba became sharper.
The novel Things Fall Apart by Igbo author Chinua Achebe, is a fictional account of the clash between the new influences of the British and the traditional life of the Igbo.
Instability and Biafra Secession
In 1966, a failed coup d'état by Nigerian army officers led by an Igbo—Major Kaduna Nzeogwu—resulted in the death of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, a prominent northern Nigerian of the Hausa ethnic group. Although the coup was foiled primarily by another Igbo, Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, the belief prevailed in northern Nigeria that Hausa leaders were singled out for death. This situation gave rise to a retaliatory pogrom in which tens of thousands of Igbo were murdered in northern Nigeria, which led to the headlong flight back to the Eastern Region of as many as two million Igbos.
Eventually, the crisis reached an apex in May 1967 with the secession of the Igbo-dominated Eastern Region from Nigeria to form the Republic of Biafra headed by the aforementioned Colonel Ojukwu. The secession quickly led to civil war after talks between former Army colleagues, Yakubu Gowon and Ojukwu broke down. The Republic of Biafra lasted only until January 1970 after a campaign of starvation by the Nigerian Army with the support of Egypt, Sudan and the United Kingdom led to a decisive victory.
Excerpt from last wartime speech of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Head of Biafran state.
"In the three years of the war necessity gave birth to invention. During those three years of heroic bound, we leapt across the great chasm that separates knowledge from know-how. We built rocket, and we designed and built our own delivery systems. We guided our rockets. We guided them far; we guided them accurately. For three years, blockaded without hope of import, we maintained all our vehicles. The state extracted and refined petrol, individuals refined petrol in their back gardens. We built and maintained our airports, maintained them under heavy bombardment. Despite the heavy bombardment, we recovered so quickly after each raid that we were able to maintain the record for the busiest airport in the continent of Africa. We spoke to the world through telecommunication system engineered by local ingenuity; the world heard us and spoke back to us! We built armored cars and tanks. We modified aircraft from trainer to fighters, from passenger aircraft to bombers. In the three years of freedom we had broken the technological barrier. In the three years we became the most civilized, the most technologically advanced black people on earth."
The Igbo today
After the Nigerian Civil War, Igboland had been severely devastated. Many hospitals, schools, and homes had been completely destroyed in the brutal war. The Federal government of Nigeria denied the Igbo people access to all the hard currencies such as pound sterling they had saved in Nigeria banks before the civil war, and only allowed them a minuscule compensation of £20 per adult bank account holder. For example, a man who had over £450,000.00 savings in one or several bank accounts could only receive £20.00 following this policy.
In addition to the loss of their savings, many Igbo people found themselves discriminated against by other ethnic groups and the new non-Igbo federal government. Due to the discrimination of employers, many Igbos had trouble finding employment, and the Igbos became one of the poorest ethnic groups in Nigeria during the early 1970s. As an even greater insult, in Port Harcourt, their control was handed over to their Ijaw neighbours and the Ikwerre (an Igbo subgroup who have separated and claimed no Igbo origin). Igboland was gradually rebuilt over a period of twenty years and the economy was again prospering due to the rise of the Niger Delta petroleum industry, which led to new factories being set up in southern Nigeria. This recovery, from the depths of the Biafran War, is an example of the uncanny resilience and resourcefulness of the Igbo. Many Igbos eventually regained government positions.
The Igbo, however, also face many problems and challenges today. Even today, Igbo people have sometimes continued to face discrimination from other ethnic groups. Igboland towns, such as Enugu, Onitsha and Owerri, lack sufficient resources and good infrastructure for their inhabitants. Also, because the traditional Igbo homeland was becoming too small for its growing population, many Igbo have emigrated out of Igboland.
The Igbo diaspora
After the Nigerian Civil War, many Igbo emigrated out of the traditional Igbo homeland in southeastern Nigeria due to a growing population, decreasing land, and poor infrastructure. Not only have the Igbo people moved to such Nigerian cities as Lagos, Benin City, and Abuja, but have also moved to other countries such as Togo, Ghana, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Prominent Igbo communities outside Africa include those of London, UK, Houston, Atlanta and Washington D.C USA.
Notable people
A number of well-known intellectuals, historic figures, and athletes have been of Igbo descent:
Politics & Leadership
- Michael Iheonukara Okpara - Premier of Eastern Nigeria
- Nnamdi Azikiwe - First President of Nigeria
- Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme - former Vice President of Nigeria
- Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi - former President of Nigeria
- Nwafor Orizu - First indigenous President of the Nigerian Senate
- Chuba Okadigbo - President of the Nigerian Senate
- Jaja Wachuku - First indigenous Speaker of the Nigerian Parliament
- James Africanus Beale Horton - African Nationalist and Scientist
- Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu - First President of Biafra
- P.N. Okeke-Ojiudu - Nigerian Politician and Businessman
- Emeka Anyaoku - Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations
- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala - First female Finance Minister, and Foreign Minister of Nigeria, former vice-president of the World Bank
- Chukwuma Nzeogwu - Revolutionary Soldier
- * G.O.P Obasi - Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organisation
Arts & Entertainment
- Donatus Ibeakwadalam Nwoga - The Igbo Philosopher of the Twentieth Century
- Chinua Achebe - Critically acclaimed writer; author of Things Fall Apart
- Kenneth Onwuka Dike - Famous Historian
- Genevieve Nnaji - Nollywood top actress
- Ezebuiro Obinna - Ultimate Dr. Sir Warrior - Music Art Prodigy
- Oluchi Onweagba - Supermodel
- Chiwetel Ejiofor - Hollywood Actor
- Olaudah Equiano - An African writer of Igbo Origin
- Oby Kechere - Nollywood actress
- Megalyn Echikunwoke - Hollywood Actress
- Chris Abani - Critically acclaimed author and winner of the 2005 Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award.
- Uzodinma Iweala - Author - "Best of 2005" books list.
- Obianuju Catherine Acholonu - Critically acclaimed writer
- Olaudah Equiano - Eighteenth century writer whose autobiography was one of the earliest and most detailed narratives about the slave trade
- Benedict Chuka Enwonwu - Artist
- Michael Okwu - CNN International News Correspondent
- Adaora Udoji - International News Correspondent
- Yaphet Kotto - Hollywood Actor (from Igbo of Cameroon)
- Nnenna Agba - Model on America's Next Top Model
- Nkem Owoh - Nigerian Actor (best known as Osuofia).
- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Award winning author
- Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu - Award winning author
- P-Square - R&B Duo
- Christopher Okigbo - Poet
- Ruggedman - Rapper
Science & Technology
- Leo Stan Eke - Computer Guru and CEO of Zinox Technologies
- Damian Anyanwu - Inventor
- Cyprian Emeka Uzoh - "Father of Modern Chip Interconnection Technologies", World-class scientist and prolific inventor holding over 100 US patents.
- Augustine Njoku-Obi - Developer of cholera vaccine
- Bartholomew Nnaji - Robotics Scientist
- Peter Nwangwu - Famous pharmacology research scientist, American Businessman of the year as chosen by the Business Advisory Council of the United States
- Philip Emeagwali - American computer scientist and mathematician, winner of Gordon Bell Prize for supercomputing - winner in Price/Performance ratio category.
- Augustine Esogbue - NASA scientist
- Cyril Agodi Onwumechili - Physicist
- Chike Obi - Mathematician
- Mike Onwuejeogwu - Renowned Anthropologist
- Ogonna Nnamani - Professional volleyball player, member of the U.S Olympic team
Religion
Sports
- Stefano Okaka Chuka - Player for A.S. Roma in Serie A
- Ugo Ihemelu - Los Angeles Galaxy (Major League Soccer) player
- Nwankwo Kanu - player with Ajax, Inter Milan, Arsenal, West Brom and currently Portsmouth
- Austin "Jay Jay" Okocha - member of FIFA 100
- Nedum Onuoha - Manchester City player
- Iffy Onuora - Player for several English clubs; former coach at Swindon Town
- Oguchi Onyewu - currently plays for Standard Liège in the Belgian Jupiler League.
- John Amaechi - Former player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, and Orlando Magic; now a sportscaster in the United Kingdom
- Ike Diogu - Golden State Warriors player
- Andre Iguodala - Philadelphia 76ers player
- Emeka Okafor - NCAA champion, Charlotte Bobcats player, 2005 NBA Rookie of the Year
- Nnamdi Asomugha - Oakland Raiders player
- Christian Okoye - Former Kansas City Chiefs player
- Osi Umenyiora - New York Giants player
Business
- Chief Emeka Offor - Chairman/CEO of Chrome Oil
- Sunny Odogwu - Insurance Magnate
- Eloka Okocha - Business Mogul
- Dennis Imoka - Business Mogul
- Prince Charles Jiduwah - Investment Magnet
- Chief Christian Ohakwe-Business Mogul
- Chief Augustine Ilodibe -Business Mogul
- Chief Anny Okonkwor - Idustrialist/Business Mogul
Notes
- ^ Oriji, John N.. (2000). Igbo Women From 1929-1960. West Africa Review: 2 , 1.
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