The Igbo people and 4 things you may not know about them!

Where did the Igbos come from?

The story of the origin of the Igbos is not a unanimous one. Some believe the popular Igbo Folklore that states the Igbo people descended from Eri, a divine figure who was sent from heaven to Earth to begin civilization (Onyinye, 2022). Others believe that Eri was a son of God (Chukwu) as depicted in the Bible—the Christian’s holy book. Some others, not minding the very origin of this tribe maintain that the first Igbo originated in an area about “100 miles north of their current location at the confluence of the Niger and Benue Rivers” (New World Encyclopedia contributors, 2022).

Till date, the Igbo people live chiefly in southeastern Nigeria and inhabit an area referred to as Igboland, which is divided into two sections along the lower River Niger. They live in most or all parts of these five Nigerian states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, as well as minor parts of Delta, Rivers and Benue states. As a result of the transatlantic slave trade, “the Igbos have migrated to other countries for centuries including Jamaica, Cuba, Barbados, Belize, the United States” among others (Adeboyejo, 2018).

The Igbos were around as early as the 10th century

The earliest surviving Igbo art forms are from the 10th century (Igbo Ukwu), and the fine quality of those copper alloy castings suggest that Igbo society had already achieved a level of technology rivaling contemporary Europeans (ibid).

The pre-colonial system of government wasn’t monarchical

Do you know that during the precolonial era, the prevalent Igbo traditional system of government was a consultative assembly of common people? Contrary to the popular monarchical system of government of the other tribes during the pre-colonial era, the consultative system of government the Igbo’s adapted guaranteed equality to its citizens. Basically, they had no centralized chieftaincy, hereditary aristocracy, or kingship customs, as can be found among other ethnic groups.

Yam is a very important Food crop

The Igbo people’s most important crop is the Yam, and it is the reason for the New Yam Festival (Iri Ji) celebrating the harvest of new yams (Onyiye, 2022). It symbolizes the conclusion of a harvest and the beginning of the next work cycle. The Yam is also a significant part of a traditional diet and can be prepared as pounded yam, eaten with different soups or eaten immediately after being boiled. The New Yam festival depicts the prominence of yam in the social-cultural life of the Igbo people.

To learn more fun facts about the Igbo ethnic group, join us at Karibani and also get to learn the Igbo language at your convenience. 

Nnoo n’uolo – Welcome Home!

References

Onyiye, Winner, “Eri: The father of the Igbo people”, The Guardian https://guardian.ng/life/eri-the-father-of-the-igbo-people/, (accessed May 25, 2022)

New World Encyclopedia contributors, “Igbo People,” New World Encyclopedia, https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Igbo_People&oldid=1009344 (accessed May 27, 2022)

Adeboyejo, Adejoke, “An Introduction to Nigeria’s Igbo people”, Culture Trip, https://theculturetrip.com/africa/nigeria/articles/an-introduction-to-nigerias-igbo-people/ , (accessed May 27, 2022)