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The History, Origin And culture of The Igbo Language In Nigeria

Blessing Billions Tuesday, October 19, 2021 Basis

 

Introduction

The Igbo people form one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa, with about 15 million living in Nigeria and another million living outside. Their farming communities are broadly situated between the Niger River in the west and the Cross River in the east. The Igbo tribe is a unique tribe in Nigeria and as such, questions like: Where did the Igbo originate from? Where did Igbo tribe migrated from? How many origins of Igbo are there? When was Igbo founded? Who are the real Igbos? Where did Igbo tribe migrated from? are bound to arise, but this article got you covered.There has been debates and Hypothesis on the origin of the Igbo people and as such there are thus diverse views about the origin of the Igbo. The origin of the Igbo people have been the subject of speculations and this is yet to be concluded.This post will provide information on the The History, Origin And culture of The Igbo Language In Nigeria. According to popular believe, Nri Kingdom people originated from king-figure Eri. This mysterious king was described as "sky being". Igbos trace their origin back to the divine ancestor.

History of The Igbo Tribe In Nigeria

The Igbo languages form a cluster within the Volta Niger group, most likely grouped with Yoruba and Edoid group. Williamson In 2002 argues that based on this pattern, proto-Igboid migration would have migrated down the Niger from a more northern area in the savannah and first settled close to the Delta, with a secondary center of Igbo proper more to the north in the Awka area.The Genetic studies have highlighted that the Igbo seem to cluster most closely with other Niger-Congo-speaking peoples. The predominant Y-chromosomal haplogroup is E1b1a1-M2.Though Pottery dated from around 3,000-2,500 BC showing correlation with later Igbo work was found at Nsukka and Afikpo regions of Igboland in the 1970s, along with pottery and tools at nearby Ibagwa; the traditions of the Umueri clan have as their origin, the Anambra valley. In the 1970s the Owerri, Okigwe, Orlu, Awgu, Udi and Awka divisions were determined to constitute "an Igbo heartland" from the linguistic and cultural values. In the Nsukka region of Igboland, evidence of early iron smelting has been discovered, dating to 750 BC at the site of Opi and 2,000 BC at the site of Lejja. Geographically, the Igbo homeland is divided into two unequal sections by the Niger River an eastern (which is the larger of the two) and a western section. The Igbo people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa with about 15 million living in Nigeria and another million living outside.Igbo people have smelted and forged iron for centuries, and their oral traditions are rich with accounts of iron working and iron use. At Leija,a slllall town situated about ten miles south of Nsukka, an ancient iron-working settlement existed where smelting was done in a pit or bowl furnace, initially using rather primitive techniques. Over time, the Igbo improved their technological skills and began to produce sophisticated metal tools such as spearheads, arrowheads, swords, hoes, knives, earrings, finger rings, bracelets, anklets, ham­mers, anvils, tweezers, scissors, and cooking pots. By the first millen­nium of the Christian era, they were already producing bronze masks and figurines, of the types that archaeologists discovered in Igbo­.

Origin Of The Igbo Language In Nigeria

The origins of the Igbo people has been the subject of various speculation and it is only in the last fifty years that this subjec has been focused on, just like any group of people, the Igbos are anxious to discover their origin and historic background to know how they came to be how they are and also their experiences under colonialism and since Nigeria’s Independence have emphasized for them the reality of their group identity which they want to propel into authenticated history. In the 1970s the Awgu, Owerri, Okigwe, Orlu,Udi and Awka divisions were keen to constitute "an Igbo heartland" from the linguistic and cultural evidence. In the Nsukka region of Igboland, evidence of early iron smelting has been found, dating to 750 BC at the site of Opi and 2,000 BC at the site of Lejja. There are however hypotheses on the origin of the Igbo and analysis of the sources that are available fragmentary oral and local traditions of origin, correlation of cultural traits and archaeological discoveries tends to posit three schools of thought on the origin of the Igbo. A school of thought proposes the autochtony hypothesis a basis of origin.The word autochtony comes from the Greek word automaton which suggests aboriginal. This hypothesis says that the Igbo people have been here (where they are located now) since the beginning of time. It argues they have remained in their present area without being immigrants since they occupied a kind of established position territorial wise. This tends to support the views of Hartle who said that Archaeology indicates that the Igbo were in occupation of parts of south-eastern Nigeria by 2000 to 3000 BC.” Afigbo affirms that “the antiquity of the Igbo, logistic evidence probably goes back to five or sixthousand years.”Supporters of this hypothesis claim that the Igbo according to historical records and oramedial traditions never lived anywhere outside the present Igbo homeland. A second school of thought proposes an internal migration hypothesis. Here some say the Igbo migrated from the Benue or from the Enugu area Scholars of this school of thought regard the Niger-Benue confluence as the original homeland of the Igbo people and that it was probably from there that the original Igbo hunters and gatherers moved southwards to the Nsukka-Okigwe.

States Occupied Or Inhabited By The Igbo Trib In Nigeria

The Igbos In Nigeria are indigenous to different states.They are majorly found in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States which is the Eastern States in nigeria though a good population of Igbos are found in Delta and Rivers States having a minor population in Akwa ibom, Benue, Cross River, Edo and Kogi states.

The Igbo Culture In Nigeria

The Igbo culture is practiced in the eastern part of Nigeria even though it culture takes its origins from West Nigeria.The musical instruments of Igbo are opi, igbs, and ichaka and is notable trait is melodic music that was developed in the process of iron forging and the Igbo music in the form of jazz mixed with traditional Igbo tunes was spread all around the world and was particularly popular in the 20th century. In the olden days the traditional Igbo religion is called Odinani they organize feast and masquerades to celebrate different festivals, the most popular is the New Yam festival, but nowadays majority of Igbos are Christians Although many Igbo people are now Christians, traditional Igbo religious practices still abound. The traditional Igbo religion includes an uncontested general reverence for Ala or Ana, the earth goddess, and beliefs and rituals related to numerous other male and female deities, spirits, and ancestors, who protect their living descendants.Hardworking and Industrious. The Igbo people are some of the most hardworking tribes in Nigeria and they are resilient people who do all their best to work hard and make a good earning for themselves.They are very Religious,the Igbo people are a very religious ethnic group as they believe so much in God and the existence of a divine being whom they referred to as Chineke even before Christianity was introduced to them.Igbo folks have claimed to have traced their origin to Israel. Igbos have oftentimes claimed that they may have originated from Israel and are believed to have strong love for money.

| Comments(2) | Views(247)
Debby Thursday, October 6, 2022
This is not helping at all
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Debby Thursday, October 6, 2022
Just kidding thanks
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