Stats: 3,186,777 members, 7,930,656 topics. Date: Sunday, 25 August 2024 at 02:05 AM |
Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Culture / The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. (10959 Views)
Anything Wrong With Marrying An Osu(outcast From Some Parts Of Igboland) / Laws Of Igboland (Iwu Obodo) / What Part Of Igboland Are You From. (2) (3) (4)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (Reply) (Go Down)
The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by Ihuomadinihu: 10:38am On Sep 24, 2014 |
This is a study of the socio-cultural systems of Igbo speaking people in general and Oratta and Isu groups. Sir C.K Meek,a British anthropologist in 1933 reviewed the cultural differnces and the dynamic quality of lives and characters of the people. Meek reported to the colonial adminstration that the Oratta group centered around Owerri,while the Isu extended Northwards down to Okigwe and beyond. This is Meeks's report: ''The Sub tribal title Oratta(now Owerri) was probably conferred originally by the Isu as a general term for all those towns located near the town(or village group) of Oratta,and was subsequently adopted by these people as a convenient mode of differentiating themselves from the Isu. The term Isu as a Sub-tribal title is even more ambiguous. It is said to mean merely traders but as used by Oratta it has a scornful significancee,viz, 'bush people'. It is a term which almost any village group will apply contemptously to its next door neighbour(just like Igbo). The Oratta themselves are included in the term Isu by people living further to the south,and in some of their old songs the Oratta would refer to themselves as the Isu Oma - I.e the good Isu. Nevertheless,the term Isu is nowadays accepted to diffferenciate themselves from the Orattas.'' Meek went on,''The Oratta affect to despise the Isu on the ground that they(the Oratta) were warriors,while the Isu were traders. There is no apparent justification for this claim.....another differentiating feature between the Oratta and Isu is that the former use Spoons(formarly of calabash or iron but now of any metal) in eating food,whereas the latter do not. An Oratta holds his piece of pounded or sliced yam in his left hand and his spoon in his right hand. He conveys the food to his mouth with his left hand,and at the same time dips the spoon into the soup and brings it to his mouth with his right hand. As Isu conveys his food(after having dipped it in soup) to his mouth with his right hand and then proceeds to lick his fingers. To an Oratta,moreover the species of yam known as 'Ona' (dioscorea dumetoreum) is taboo as food,but the Isu do not observe this taboo.'' 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by Ihuomadinihu: 11:04am On Sep 24, 2014 |
Meek also observes that the Isu bride price is higher than that of Oratta. The Isu also lived in less concentrated groups. They appear to suffer more than the Oratta from shortage of land,and their crops are,in consequence of a poorer quality. They Isu attempt to compensate themselves by a keen devotion to trade and the breeding of fowls and dogs. |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by Ihuomadinihu: 11:19am On Sep 24, 2014 |
Here is my opinion: i have a feeling that Uratta and Isu groups are the same people,probably shared an ancestor,absorbed other groups and became distinct over a period of time. I have tried to discover why Owerri people refer to other Imo and Abia igbos, as Isomas. But why will Oratta refer to themselves as Isu Oma and why does Ikwerre refer to Imo igbos as Isoma,even though they share significant kinship with Urattas? Well,they are the same people and it's nothing but pre-conceived prejudice. Am made to understand that Isu were one of the aboriginal clans of Igbo that probably migrated from Okigwe/Orlu axis as anthropological,cultural and linguistic evidence supports this fact. Isuama is the living area of the Isus. The Isu group is comprised of Northern Imo state, parts of Abia/Ebonyi,parts of Enugu and Southern Anambra state. In the same vein,Isus do not have an account of migrating from anyother area apart from Igboland, they appear to be the largest of the Igbo subgroups. 3 Likes 1 Share |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by Ihuomadinihu: 11:36am On Sep 24, 2014 |
Another interesting feature is how the term 'Isu' is thrown around. Nobody wants to be called Isu. Lol. Isu is used to refer to other neighbouring towns/villages within the vicinity. This has an apt correlation with how Igbo was thrown around in pre-colonial igbo land. Each village group would point to other village groups as Igbos but they never refer to themselves as igbos. This is why i believe that 'Igbo' was the name of the (one of) founding father of the Igbo nation as evidenced in Igboukwu and Igbo Ngidi(Amaigbo). In consideration to the fact that Igbos were clannish and individualistic,i would say pre colonial igbos had a sub-conscious filial/kinship relationship,whereby they knew the meaning of igbo but sought to distance themselves from other igbos,e.g Mbano wants to be called Mbano not Igbo. So i would say they started off as Igbos or from a proto - igbo related group, while migration,cultural diffusion and dialectal distinction changed them to Ikeduru,Owerri, Nri, Wawa, Isu etc,and subsequent colonial encroachments in Nigeria unified them as one Igbo Nation. 1 Like |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by ChinenyeN(m): 3:14pm On Sep 24, 2014 |
I'm enticed, but I'll hold my tongue for now. This could make for a very interesting thread. What's the premise here? What are we trying to converge on, because I can definitely see this topic going several different directions. |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by Ihuomadinihu: 5:23pm On Sep 24, 2014 |
ChinenyeN: I'm enticed, but I'll hold my tongue for now. This could make for a very interesting thread. What's the premise here? What are we trying to converge on, because I can definitely see this topic going several different directions.i'm looking at the term 'Isoma' but you can start from any angle. |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by Abagworo(m): 11:54pm On Sep 24, 2014 |
I've written in several instances in the past about this reality which people try as much to dismiss or in usual Igbo manner try to exonerate themselves from glaring reality. The tribes that lie to the South of Igboland known today as mostly Owerri, Ngor-Okpala, Ohaji, Ikwerre, parts of Mbaise(Ezinihitte) etc. always viewed every other Igbo as Isoma or Isuama until the coming of Whitemen. The Southwestern Igbo area around the River Niger knew all these people (Ikwerre + Isu + Nri + Ngwa + other people to the right ) as Umu onye Igbo which is more or less a derogatory term in reference to slavery or something close. An example is in Oguta where we regard Aboh, Kwale, Ndoni and other Southwestern Igbos as fellow Oru whereas Mgbidi which is just 2km away is called Igbo. In Owerri town, the Orji people know Mbieri as Isu even though they are highly inter-married and live few metres away from each other. They call them Nwisoma which I believe is also a derogatory term. My conclusion going by google pictures and concentration of heavy population between Mbieri, Nnewi and much of the area around them which includes Ekwulobia, Orlu, Akokwa, Nkwerre, Amaraku, Ehime, Amauzari, Umunze, Uga, Igboukwu, Iseke, Ihiala, Amaigbo, Umuaka, Utuh, Ezinifite and many other over-populated rural area is that they've been inhabited much longer than other parts of Igboland making them give a fake urban feel but yet rural in the sense that indigenes built up the land and not migrants as found in typical cities. 3 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by Nobody: 3:36pm On Sep 26, 2014 |
The Isu factor is (to me) one of the biggest enigmas in Igbo history. It appears to me that Isu could have been an ethnonym for a large, ancient Igbo-speaking group that formerly occupied much of the northern section of what geographers call the Awka-Orlu uplands. A number of communities in this northern section of the uplands still bear 'Isu' in their names... Isu-Aniocha, Isuofia. I think there is also an Isulo (Isu-Ulo?) somewhere in Orumba area. Perhaps these represent surviving enclaves of a culture group that was formerly widespread in that area before the immigration of a different Igbo-speaking stock from the Anambra Basin colonized the area and pushed the Isu farther south. My hypothetical immigrants from the Anambra River Basin probably introduced the dialect strain which is now considered the 'stereotypical Anambra tongue' (with Ani/Ana for Ali/Ala and Ife for Ihe). The dialects spoken by the ancient Isu (going by evidence from the southern section of the Awka-Orlu uplands, i.e., Northern Imo State and Southern Anambra State) would have approximated what we would now consider as 'stereotypically Imo'. In some Nnewi traditons there seems to be some remembrance of the conflict between the (hypothetical) 'Anambra-speaking' incoming groups and the Isu who seem to have preceded them in that area, and whose leaders were referred to in Nnewi traditions as Eze Isu. Even today the dialects spoken in that general area seem to be a cross between the stereotypical 'Anambra' and the stereotypical 'Imo'. According to some oral accounts, it was some of the Isu expelled from the Nnewi area that went west and established Igbuzo. Perhaps it was the Isu who moved south that congregated in the Orlu section of the uplands and became the Isu-Ama. And I think Afigbo was right when he translated 'Ama' in this instance, not as 'centre/square/town', but as 'outside'. Thus Isu-Ama (according to Afigbo) means 'The Isu who have gone abroad'. Isu-Ama (in more historical times) would become a source of population pressure on the Southern Igbo groups. This is all just a hypothesis pieced together from scant traditions and an imperfect understanding of dialects. But perhaps you guys from the Southern Igbo area who have been in more contact with the Isu in recent times than we in the north have been may have an enlightening perspective on this. This could be educating. *Apologies if this post does agree with your intentions in creating this thread. I realize I may have gone off tangent.* 4 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by Ihuomadinihu: 10:05am On Sep 27, 2014 |
All views or perspectives are welcome. The study of the ISUS could probably reveal the true origin/identity of Igbos. I found a controversial article written by Ndagi Abdullahi, which claims that Igbos originated from the Gara kingdom around the Niger-Benue valley....probably one of the many pseudo historians out there. I will post it later. 1 Like |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by abagoro(m): 5:03pm On Sep 27, 2014 |
Ihuomadinihu: All views or perspectives are welcome. The study of the ISUS could probably reveal the true origin/identity of Igbos. Even as the SUG elections of Nekede Poly, the Isu politics is there. Look at what was written by a student. We want to retrieve our indigenous right here in FEDPONEK! Enough is enough, hw can we be in water and foam enter our eyes! Pls my fellow owerri! Imo state students here in FEDPONEK we must stop dis mess. Nw b4 it get out of hand! For d next comin SUG election we can't allow (isoma) asin any person dat is nt 4m owerri or imo state 2 rule us again! We can't be in our house and be a servant! Here is d right man who wil maintain peace and retrieve d lost pride and dignity back for owerri and imo state students knw other person expect 2 Likes 2 Shares
|
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by Nobody: 6:04pm On Sep 27, 2014 |
Is Mbaise reckoned as part of Isuama/ Isoma? |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by abagoro(m): 6:41pm On Sep 27, 2014 |
Radoillo: Is Mbaise reckoned as part of Isuama/ Isoma? Mbaise is not Isuama but some parts of Mbaise is. Mbaise is not a homogeneous entity. It is more or less a recent amalgam and coinage with a combination of people that were originally Uratta, Isu and Ohuhu or Ezinihite. Isuama starts North and West of Owerri. 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by abagoro(m): 6:44pm On Sep 27, 2014 |
You can read chapter 10 of this book and know a bit more about old Igboland as recorded by "Baikie" who happens to be the origin of the use of "Bekee" by Igbo in reference to White men. http://www.archive.org/stream/narrativeofexplo00baik/narrativeofexplo00baik_djvu.txt 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by abagoro(m): 6:55pm On Sep 27, 2014 |
Radoillo: The Isu factor is (to me) one of the biggest enigmas in Igbo history. Afigbo is not completely right. To understand the meaning of Isoma, it is best to ask people from neighbouring area its meaning. To the best of my knowledge from Ohaji and Uratta definition, Isoma were a group of very highly populated people that lacked arable land. They were moving from their original enclave to other people's area to either farm or work in farms to survive. If you look at this definition it suits the characteristics of some area of Igboland till this day. Some parts of Igboland have people that believe in staying in their village while others believe in adventure as they lack arable land and there is high level of competition in their enclave. 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by ChinenyeN(m): 7:02pm On Sep 27, 2014 |
Radoillo: Is Mbaise reckoned as part of Isuama/ Isoma? No, Mbaise isn't, but due to some [mis]conclusions on the part of Forde & Jones, subsequent Igbo historians (including the most renowned) have been erroneously claiming Mbaise communities to be a branch of "Eastern Isuama". However, Mbaise communities have an nfulala (in situ) tradition which has apparently gone unrecognized by Igbo historians 'til this day. In their traditions, pre-colonial Mbaise also recognized the Isu/Isuama elements (known locally as the Isoma) in modern Mbaise as immigrants who they traditionally claim to share no ancestry with. 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by Ihuomadinihu: 5:06pm On Sep 28, 2014 |
abagoro: You can read chapter 10 of this book and know a bit more about old Igboland as recorded by "Baikie" who happens to be the origin of the use of "Bekee" by Igbo in reference to White men.Wow,that was interesting. So, what is Elugu? He also described the ichi bearers as Isuama people. Mgburichis are supposed to be Nri,right? Don't wanna start anything but he gave a sordid account of Ngwas and Ndonis,not forgetting the Aros, who i believe owe Igbos an apology for intentionally exploiting the cave complex. |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by Ihuomadinihu: 5:10pm On Sep 28, 2014 |
abagoro:I'm confused. Is Ohuhu not part of Isuama. |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by ChinenyeN(m): 6:13pm On Sep 28, 2014 |
Ihuomadinihu: No, Ohuhu is not Isuama. |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by ChinenyeN(m): 5:24am On Sep 30, 2014 |
Ihuomadinihu: i'm looking at the term 'Isoma' but you can start from any angle. Alright, now I've got some time to really put some content into this thread. I've always held that Igbo people best limit their overall acceptance of European accounts. There is no denying that Europeans kept generally impeccable accounts of the facts surrounding their experiences while on the ground. However, their interpretations of those facts can often times be said to have been categorically incorrect. That being said, I want to point out the likely mistaken interpretation of the term "Isoma" as "good Isu" by Meek. Granted, we could cite where Meek talked about old Oratta songs and then turn to say that we cannot entirely dismiss the possibility of the locals providing Meek with that "good Isu" interpretation. However, Oratta traditions are specific about autochthony and also, at the very least, their is no recollection of shared ancestry in oral tradition, neither by Isu nor Oratta. It is because of such discrepancy that I'm inclined to dismiss the "good Isu" interpretation. Instead, if I had to speculate, I'd say that the simplest (and in my mind, the most likely) interpretation to begin with is that we are looking at a classic case of corruption. In other words, Isuama being mispronounced by the pre-colonial Oratta & other locals as "Isoma". There is good enough substantiation for this. In their traditions, the Isu apparently recognize the term "Isuama" as self-proclaimed and not coming from an outside group (unless I've been misinformed), meaning that the source of pre-colonial Oratta & co.'s "Isoma" expression (or corruption) has to be from the Isuama themselves. There may not be any hidden meaning behind Isoma at all beyond that. 1 Like |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by Abagworo(m): 11:48am On Oct 02, 2014 |
The forgotten or scattered ancestry of Igbos makes some assumptions or hypothesis form part of most views expressed by Igbo historians. I personally believe that the "Isu" term is same as "Isoma" or "Isuama" and is related to language. "People that speak purer Igbo" . In Igbo language to speak Igbo means "Isu Igbo" and language is "asusu" or "okwu" but I'll go with "asusu" here because the backbone of it is "su" of "isu". To speak well is "Isuma". I believe the language known today as Igbo is likely original Isu language and as you depart from that area so do we have variations. Isuikwuato Abia Isunjaba Imo Isu etche Rivers Isuofia Anambra Isu Onicha Ebonyi The term Isu occurs as much as the term "Onicha", "Ihite", "Itu", "Nkanu/Akanu" and some other names which I consider tribe-related across Igboland. Itu I believe belongs to same Itu found today in Akwa-Ibom that does not speak Igbo. The Isu belongs to same Isu found everywhere. 2 Likes 1 Share |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by Nobody: 4:22pm On Oct 02, 2014 |
Abagworo: The forgotten or scattered ancestry of Igbos makes some assumptions or hypothesis form part of most views expressed by Igbo historians. I personally believe that the "Isu" term is same as "Isoma" or "Isuama" and is related to language. "People that speak purer Igbo" . In Igbo language to speak Igbo means "Isu Igbo" and language is "asusu" or "okwu" but I'll go with "asusu" here because the backbone of it is "su" of "isu". The only problem is that ịsụ (to speak) and Isu (the Igbo groups) are pronounced differently and both words have different vowels. I don't also buy into the idea that the Isu or any other Igbo-speaking group from central Igboland speak 'original or purest Igbo'. It sounds a lot like the mistake early Sierra Leonean linguists made while researching Igbo language in the late 19th century. In fact,I think the dialects of central Igboland (including the Isu dialects) have been very innovative compared to frontier dialects such as Ehugbo. I have reason to believe that Ehugbo and some other frontier dialects have been somewhat conservative and have preserved 'archaisms' which the more central dialects have lost. 3 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by Abagworo(m): 7:13pm On Oct 02, 2014 |
Radoillo: I seem to share that Ehugbo/Afikpo view in terms of preservation of more ancient form of Igbo. Based on the way its pronounced in Ikwerre language "Isoma" sounds more like "Isụma" than "Isuama". The Igbo spoken in Isu is very strange and is nowhere near the central Igbo we speak today. In fact if undiluted it is as confusing as every other peripherial dialect of Igbo when compared with today's standard Igbo. 1 Like |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by ChinenyeN(m): 9:01pm On Oct 03, 2014 |
Radoillo: I have reason to believe that Ehugbo and some other frontier dialects have been somewhat conservative and have preserved 'archaisms' which the more central dialects have lost. Mind going into more detail on this, with examples as well? I'm interested in hearing it. |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by Ihuomadinihu: 9:57am On Oct 04, 2014 |
Abagworo: |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by Ihuomadinihu: 9:57am On Oct 04, 2014 |
Abagworo:I would say the Isus speak the most ancient igbo dialect,considering their aboringal history in Igboland. Isoma from Owerri to Ikwerre is just a term for people that were supposedly less evolved. |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by ChinenyeN(m): 9:02pm On Oct 04, 2014 |
It would be presumptuous to state that the Isu speak the most ancient form of Igbo, just by virtue of their aboriginal tradition and geographical location. Isu is just one group among a list of others with an aboriginal tradition. Focusing solely on Isu and consequently neglecting others is an oversight. In fact, it is the very same oversight (or maybe purposeful blunder) that Igbo historians have been guilty of for decades now. If anything, we can reasonably expect the Isu speech forms to have experienced their own fair share of innovation. The Isu 'homeland' is around the Awka-Orlu axis. That is where they have their autochthony. A good chunk of that region also fell within Nri sphere of influence. We can be certain that Eri elements introduced new linguistic features upon settling in the Isu homeland (as Radoillo rightly pointed out). The introduction of these new linguistic features, and the interaction with Eri elements prior to the Isu southerly expansion, would most certainly have affected Isu lects. There's no reason to believe otherwise. We then rightly have to apply this same criteria to other groups. In doing so, we see that it is very difficult (if not impossible) to claim that so and so group speaks "the most ancient Igbo". On top everything, we must admit that we don't really know what "ancient Igbo" even is. We were having an interesting discussion about it earlier this year though, but then the NL hack wiped that wonderful discourse from the server. |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by OdenigboAroli(m): 10:31pm On Oct 04, 2014 |
Ihuomadinihu: If at all there were ichi rituals among Isu then they must have borrowed it from the Nri. From what I am beginning to understand,Isu were probably one of the primitive aboriginals inhabiting the lower Omanbala area. I know there were Adamas but we Nri doest have any legends about Isu like we have of Adama Nri. Basically,we dont know anything about them. |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by OdenigboAroli(m): 10:42pm On Oct 04, 2014 |
Ihuomadinihu: And how do we know that the Adama of Nri who Eri met on ground were not older than Isu? You see,we cant be in a hurry to make conclusions here. I admit the Isu were probably there before Eri arrived but they are certainly not the only group present,as evidenced by the Adama accounts. And how do we know Isu spoke Igbo before Eri arrived. It is apparent that Eri culture spread,influenced and shaped what is known as Igbo identity,TODAY! So,how are we sure this colonization didn't go in line with Eri language, I.e Igbo language ? 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by OdenigboAroli(m): 10:44pm On Oct 04, 2014 |
I need to return to the culture section because I see alot of distorters. |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by OdenigboAroli(m): 10:46pm On Oct 04, 2014 |
Radoillo: Pretty good analysis. |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by OdenigboAroli(m): 11:02pm On Oct 04, 2014 |
Abagworo: This is complete madness! So,according to your warped analysis "isu"(to speak) and "isu"(the towns) are pronounced the same way ? Just because they have the same spelling doesn't mean they are the same or that it was borrowed. This is a desperate move to elevate oneself...lol Wont work thougb. In my Anambra dialect to speak well means "isu ofuma". There is not even anything like Isu dialect....lol My oldest auntie is married to Isuofia and they speaks almost exactly like Awka people. I have a friend from Isunjaba and they sound nothing like Isuofia people. So,which is Isu dialect ![]() ![]() Agadi na agwo ofe ! 1 Like |
Re: The Social Prejudices Between Oratta(owerri) And Isu Groups Of Igboland. by OdenigboAroli(m): 11:05pm On Oct 04, 2014 |
By the way there are more Ifite in Anambra than any other state. 50% of Anambra towns has Ifite. There is Ifiteora,Umuoji. Ifite,Awka. Ifite,Aguleri. Ifite,Alor....and go on. 1 Like |
The Fulani - Bibbe Fulbe Lessdi Afriki / My Boyfriend Wants To 'Take An Oath' In Nigeria / Join If You Are Proud To Be Hausa/fulani..
(Go Up)
Sections: politics (1) business autos (1) jobs (1) career education (1) romance computers phones travel sports fashion health religion celebs tv-movies music-radio literature webmasters programming techmarket Links: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) Nairaland - Copyright © 2005 - 2024 Oluwaseun Osewa. All rights reserved. See How To Advertise. 111 |