Igbo people
Regions with significant populations | |
---|---|
Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea | |
Languages | |
Igbo | |
Religion | |
Igbo, Christianity | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Ibibio, Ijo, Idoma |
The Igbo, sometimes (especially formerly) referred to as Ibo, are one of the largest single ethnicities in Africa. Most Igbo speakers are based in southern 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.
Geography
The Igbo in Nigeria are in Abia, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, and Enugu, stretching into adjacent states like Delta and Rivers. Igbo language is predominant throughout Igboland. Prominent cities in the Igbo country include Aba, Awka, Owerri, Orlu, Nnewi, Mbaise, Nsukka, Enugu, Onitsha, Agbo, Afikpo, Okigwe, Umuahia, Asaba, amongst others.
Origin
The Igbo appear to have come south from the area where the Niger and Benue Rivers come together.
According to Professor A. E. Afigbo, an Igbo man, "the Igbo, and perhaps the Idoma and most likely the Ijaw (Ijo), would appear to be the one of the only surviving coherent ethnic groups from the first set of proto-Kwa speakers to penetrate the forest areas of Southern Nigeria and who at one time occupied areas as far to the west as Ile-Ife in Yorubaland.
Archaeological, linguistic, botanical and anthropological evidence also do suggest that the Igbo and their ancestors have lived in their present homes from the dawn of human history.
History
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. Igbo 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.[1]
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.[2]
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 Chukwuma 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 Igbo.
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.
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 Igbo had trouble finding employment, and the Igbo became one of the poorest ethnic groups in Nigeria during the early 1970s. 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 Igbo eventually regained government positions.[3]
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 Port Harcourt, 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,California, Atlanta and Washington D.C USA.
Arts
The Igbo are famous for Mbari architecture and for a variety of styles of carved wooden masks. [4]
Notable people
A number of well-known intellectuals, historic figures, and athletes have been of Igbo descent:[5]
Politics & Leadership
- Michael Iheonukara Okpara - Premier of Eastern Nigeria
- Nnamdi Azikiwe - First President of Nigeria
- Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi - First military Head of State
- Akanu Ibiam - Governor, Medical Scientist, Statesman, Distinguished Leader
- Orji Uzor Kalu - Governor of Abia
- Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme - ex Vice President of Nigeria
- Jaja Wachuku - First indigenous speaker of the House of Representatives
- Nwafor Orizu - First indigenous President of the Nigerian Senate
- Chuba Okadigbo - President of the Nigerian Senate
- Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu - First President of Biafra (defunct)
- P.N. Okeke-Ojiudu - Nigerian Politician and Businessman
- Sam Mbakwe - Governor, Man of The People, Revolutionary Leader
- Emeka Anyaoku - Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations
- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala - First female Finance Minister; Foreign Minister; ex World Bank Vice President
- Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu - Revolutionary Soldier
- Chika Sylva-Olejeme - President, International Peace Institute
Arts, History & Entertainment
- Donatus Ibeakwadalam Nwoga - The Igbo Philosopher of the Twentieth Century
- Christina Anyanwu - Journalist
- Chinua Achebe - Critically acclaimed writer; author of Things Fall Apart
- Obianuju Catherine Acholonu - Critically acclaimed writer
- Michael Echeruo - Titan of Academic Igbo Studies
- Adiele E. Afigbo - Renowned History Professor
- Genevieve Nnaji - Nollywood top actress
- Kenneth Onwuka Dike - Famous Historian
- Mike Onwuejeogwu - Renowned Anthropologist
- Chikezie V. Uchendu - Classical Anthropologist
- Keith Obadike - Musician and Artist
- Oluchi Onweagba - Supermodel
- Chiwetel Ejiofor - Hollywood Actor
- Oby Kechere - Nollywood actress
- Megalyn Echikunwoke - Hollywood Actress
- Okwui Enwezor - Curator and Dean of Academic Affairs and Senior Vice President at San Francisco Art Institute
- Chris Abani - Critically acclaimed author and winner of the 2005 Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award.
- Uzodinma Iweala - Author - "Best of 2005" books list.
- Olaudah Equiano - Eighteenth century writer whose autobiography was one of the earliest narratives about the slave trade
- Benedict Chuka Enwonwu - Artist
- Michael Okwu - CNN International News Correspondent
- Adaora Udoji - International News Correspondent
- 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 Ekeh - Computer Guru and, founder and CEO of Zinox Technologies
- Damian Anyanwu - Inventor, Awarded Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), Diplomat
- 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
- Ezekiel Izuogu - Scientist and inventor of the first automobile of indigenous all-African technology, the Z-600
- 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
- Stanley Ozoemena - Computer Animation Artist
- Ejike Okoye - Physicist, First Class Honors, Summa Cum Laude, PhD, World-class Scientist
- Cyril Agodi Onwumechili - Physicist
- Chike Obi - Mathematician
- Ethelbert Chukwu - Mathematician
- James Ezeilo - Mathematician
Religion
- Francis Cardinal Arinze - Catholic prelate.
- Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi - Beatified Christian Monk
- Romanus Obioma Amanze - Roman Catholic Priest to be beatified
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, founder of Pappilo FC
- 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.
- Ogonna Nnamani - Professional volleyball player, member of the U.S Olympic team
- Victor Obinna - Chievo Verona player
- Mikel John Obi - player for Chelsea F.C in the Premiership
- 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
- Brown Chukwudi - Kagran BC player
- Emeka Okafor - NCAA champion, Charlotte Bobcats player, 2005 NBA Rookie of the Year
Business
- Frank Nneji - Founder of Rapido Ventures & ABC Transport; Awarded Best Land Transit in Africa
- Chief Emeka Offor - Chairman/CEO of Chrome Oil
- Sunny Odogwu - Insurance Magnate
- Eloka Okocha - Business Mogul
- Dennis Imoka - Business Mogul
- Chief Obinna Ujah-Nwosuagwu - Telecommunications
- Mazi Henry Onyebuchi - Philantropist/Business Mogul USA
- Chief Christian Ohakwe-Business Mogul
- Chief Augustine Ilodibe -Business Mogul
- Chief Anny Okonkwor - Industrialist/Business Mogul
Notes
- ^ Njoku, Onwuka N. (2002) Pre-colonial economic history of Nigeria Ethiope Publishing Corporation, Benin City, Nigeria, ISBN 9782979368 ;
- ^ Kalu, Ogbu (1992) "Education and Change in Igboland 1857-1966" in Afigbo A. E. (ed.) (1992) Groundwork of Igbo history Vista Books, Lagos, ISBN 9781344008 pages 522-541;
- ^ Olisa, Michael S. O. (1992) "Igbo politics and governance" in Afigbo A. E. (ed.) (1992) Groundwork of Igbo history Vista Books, Lagos, ISBN 9781344008 pages 161-177;
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Iowa
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Oriji, John N.. (2000). Igbo Women From 1929-1960. West Africa Review: 2 , 1.
References
- Uchendu, Victor Chikezie (1965) The Igbo Of Southeast Nigeria Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York;
- Forde, Cyril Daryll and Jones, G. I. (1950) The Ibo and Ibibio-Speaking Peoples of South-Eastern Nigeria International African Institute by Oxford University Press, London;
- Njoku, John Eberegbulam (1990) The Igbo of Nigeria: Ancient Rites, Changes, and Survival E. Mellen Press, Lewiston, NY, ISBN 0889461732;
- Smock, Audrey C. (1971) Ibo Politics: The Role Of Ethnic Unions In Eastern Nigeria Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, ISBN 0674440250 ;