Thursday, December 11, 2014

Basic Overview Of The Igbo Culture

By Claudine Hodges


Igbos are an African ethnic group of over 30 million people in Nigeria, Niger to east of underflow lives mainly in interrupted from savannah rain forest. The term of ethnicity as the language spoken by their speakers. However, the correct usage is Igbos . The language of belongs to family of Igbo languages and enjoys the status of national language of Nigeria - Hausa and Yoruba addition (Igbo culture).

By the mid-20th century in Igbos develop a strong sense of national identity. Some conflicts with other Nigerian nationalities led to fact that Igbos became the dominant ethnic group in eastern Nigeria vyshedschey from Nigeria to establish an independent state of Biafra, which led to Civil War in Nigeria (July 6, 1967 - January 15, 1970). With the defeat of Igbos Republic of Biafra was absorbed by Nigeria. Sectarian organizations continue to nonviolent struggle for an independent state Igbos.

Most Igbos are Christians. In traditional religion of "Lord of Earth" has the highest religious prestige. He secures a priest of earth goddess Ala fertility of land. The earth goddess stands as her consort the God of Heaven Chi aside. In addition there are numerous divine addition to powers and spirits. Particularly significant is among Igbos of ancestor worship. Funerals and festivals occur masked dancers, who are grouped together in special secret societies. A few thousand Igbos also consider themselves to be Jews.

It has been argued that the ancestors of Igbos the majority of their neighbors belonging to a group of proto-qua, came from the area of African Great Lakes and Mountains of Moon in East and Central Africa, through the savannah, the site of which is now dominated by the Sahara. Desertification has forced people to migrate further south and north to confluence of Niger and Benue, where Nok culture developed.

Kwa group of people migrated to south of this merger. Of them came peoples ygala, ydoma, Yoruba and Igbos . Kwa-people settled in northern part of Central Rise (Nsukka-Auca-Eagle) about 5000 years BC. E. Igbos consisted of highly disparate and politically independent communities. Before acquaintance with the Europeans and close contacts with neighboring ethnic groups Igbos had a clear identity as a distinct people.

Based on a reading of "interesting stories about life Olauda Equiano, or Gustavus Vasa, African, " historian Alexander H. Byrd claims that Igbos ethnic identity has its roots in slavery, Igbos sold in so-called "waiting areas" and from the coastal cities of West Africa . Like most ethnic groups, the British and other Europeans considered Igbos tribe. However, a Nigerian writer, poet and literary critic, Igbos ethnic, Chinua Achebe, along with other researchers spoke out against such a definition because of its negative connotations and possible misunderstanding. He proposed to consider Igbos nation, like the American or Japanese Cherokee, although Igbos do not have a recognized state.

Igbos are one of largest and most influential ethnic groups in Nigeria. In connection with the consequences of migration and the Transatlantic Slave descendants Igbo ethnic groups settled in countries such as Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, as well as outside of Africa. Their exact number is not known outside of Africa, but today, many African-Americans and people of African-Caribbean origin - Igbos . In rural areas, mainly Igbos - farmers.

Ethnogenesis Igbos has not been studied. There are various hypotheses about their origins. Some authors argue That Igbos ancestors came from Egypt. Ethnogenetic legends suggest of old economic and cultural ties with the Yoruba Igbos, Ibibio, beanies, Igalo and others.




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