Ndigbo Nwere Mmadu

Ndigbo is generally believed to have descended from the line of Jacob – the Jews from Israel. The Igbos can be found in the five eastern states of Nigerian (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo); parts of Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Benue and Kogi States of Nigeria. The Igbos are also natives in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon in West Africa. With a population of over 60 million people, the Igbos can be found in all parts of the world outside their ancestral homes. There is a saying in Igboland that if you go to any place in the world and you do not find an Igbo person, you should pack and leave because life does not exist there.

Oral tradition has it that Ndigbo (the Igbos) are descendants of Eri, the fifth son of Gad, the seventh son of Jacob. According to oral history, Eri migrated from Egypt to the confluence of Ezu and Omambala River. There are two variations of the oral tradition on the first place of Igbos settled (Nri and Aguleri versions). However, it is widely believed that the Igbos first settled in Nri. The Igbos believe that it is from this first place of Eri’s settlement that the Igbo dispersed to other parts of Igboland as we know it today.

Originally, Ndigbo were practicing traditional religion. In that tradition, they believe in the supreme being which they call “Chi”, “Chukwu”, “Olisa”, “Chineke” etc. With the coming of the Christian missionaries to Igboland, a lot of the Igbos converted to the Christian religion. A majority of Ndigbo practice Christian religion will a minute percentage practice traditional and other religions.

The Igbos had a very late start in western education in Nigeria due mainly to when Christian missionaries arrived in Igboland. History has it that some other parts of Nigeria had over 100 years of head start in western education before the Igbos as a result of this factor. The resilience and doggedness of the Igbos are what enabled them to catch-up and indeed overtake other ethnic groups in Nigeria who started before them. At independence in 1960, Nigeria had 5 universities and two Igbo sons were the Vice-Chancellors of two of the universities. One of the mantras of the Igbos is “education is our industry.” Today in Nigeria, the Igbos are the most educated in all fields of human endeavour. Their education achievement has transcended the shores of Nigeria to many parts of the world.

In pre-colonial era, the Igbos were mainly farmers and traders. These two occupations still dominate in Igboland today. However, a good number of Igbos can be found in all fields of human endeavour.

Igbos are republican and conservative by nature. That is buttressed in the saying “Igbo enwe eze.” The Igbos believe that every voice is important and needs to be heard. In Igboland, decision-making starts at the grass-root at the village or kindred level and moved up to the town unions. Igbo government system is mostly administered by “Umunna” and the “Ezes”. They assist in the settlement of disputes creating peaceful environment which reduces the incidence of litigations in Igboland. Igbo government extends far beyond Igboland. Any place you find two or more Igbos, they must form a union called “meeting.” The unions play the same role that Umunna occupy in towns and villages in Igboland. The meetings provide an avenue for networking and social interaction. The advent of social media has not replaced the Igbo networking spirit but has rather facilitated the organization of such meetings.

Women have always played important roles in Igbo society. In the 18^th century, EzeAro IV Nnenne Mgbokwo Udo Omini Oke Nnachi (1799-1825) was a woman. In 1929, following the imposition of direct tax on women by the colonial government and the creation of political and governance institutions that excluded women from the roles they hitherto played in the enthnic groups of Igbo, Ogoni, Ibibio, Andoni, Opobo and other, the women protested. During the protest, many women were killed while many of the Warrant Chiefs were forced to resign. This was the first major revolt by women in West Africa. In 1930 the colonial government abolished direct tax and the system of warrant chieftains, and appointed women to the Native Court system. The riot is credited with being one of the prelude of civil disobedience that eventually led to Nigerian independence.

Prior to independence and up to 1966, the Igbos had the fastest growing economy in the world, highly developed infrastructure network, high standard of living and quality of life. The outbreak of the civil war from 1967 to 1970 eviscerated all those achievements. It is believed that over 3 million Igbos died as a result of the war. Losing the war set the Igbos back and has invariably subjugated the Igbos to somewhat second class citizen in Nigeria up till this day. The Igbo will continually honour our heroes killed during the civil war, who laid their lives so that many of us in Igboland can live.