nengibo:

Mbire, don't mind them

HopeAtHand:


The answer to your question is there in my comment.

He contested to represent Ikwerre state constituency in Rivers HoA and lost. He was clearly a better candidate, more intellectually sound than Amaechi but lost because his people consider him as one who wouldnt represent us squarely given that he considers himself an Igbo. That is the rejection im talking of.

Thespacepilot:


Dude if ikweres aren't Igbo's fine..
They should stop answering Igbo names....Simple as that because nobody can differentiate BTW a ikwere obinna or amadi with a Igbo obinna and amadi...You guys only have four LGA in rivers and there are other Igbo clans there like etche and ndokis even the people in opobo speak igbo ...So its simple if you people deny Igbo heritage than stop answering Igbo names...Even etches and ndokis are proud of there own Igbo heritage...Even ogba people self.

AbakalikiPress:


The same Ogba wey get Oba?

Kiki...

blues20:

You don’t have a point here. As at the stated time, Amaechi had more political clout than Uche and also banked on Odili/Marshal Harry political influence to win that election. I was in my early teen then, but we knew what played out. Uche did not loss because he was pro Igbo, but because of Amaechi political tact and doggedness..... #fact.

Thespacepilot:


People in arochukwu don't speak Ibibio...Stop these lies...How king is obbunaya okoro....People from arochukwu answer three surnames mainly KANU,kalu or okoro...Stop lieing please I beg you stop this lies..

HopeAtHand:


I didnt want to reply wen i saw your comment @bolded. But lemme just educate you, for reference purposes. Mr. Amaechi by 1999 had no political clout whatsoever. He was just an errand boy to Deputy gov. Odili. Deputy governor Odili of 1999 also had no political clout.(I wonder since wen did deputies start having clout, even Osinbajo is looking for clout). He looked easy on the eyes and was picked by Marshal Harry so he can be a puppet governor. Odili was not even expected to win Ebenezer Isokariari. He won by massive rigging. Minorities hardly win majority ethnic group in Rivers.(His deputy too was a minority Opobo man).

To the matter. You can ask any Ikwerre who was politically conscious in 1999, Barr. Uche Okwukwu was far more popular than Amaechi, and from a bigger clan. So dont tell me about clout. Uche Okwukwu cannot be claiming to be an Igboman, yet contesting to represent Ikwerre LGA in RVHA. So we bounced him.

pazienza:


From the premise of your argument, it goes to show that Amaechi benefitted from the same rigging machinery of his principals Odili and Harry, for if they can rig Odili in, they can also rig Amaechi in, politics is all about cronies in Nigeria.
Rationally analysing your argument, it's safe to say that Uche Okwukwu lost to the rigging machinery of marshal Harry, which Amaechi benefitted from through his association with Odili, and not because he was rejected by his people for his pro Igbo stance, because if we tell ourselves the truth, we would agree that Igbophobia in Ikwerreland is lowest in Elele side and worst at Ogbakiri side, the reason for this is obvious.

cc: Abagworo

HopeAtHand:


In an electoral contest between two Ikwerres, their popularity and sellability usually determines the outcome, and not rigging.

pazienza:


Are you saying that Ikwerre is immune to the rigging machinery prevalent in the entire Nigeria and Rivers state that Ikwerre is part of?

I think you are being ridiculous and it doesn't look on you.

pazienza:


From the premise of your argument, it goes to show that Amaechi benefitted from the same rigging machinery of his principals Odili and Harry, for if they can rig Odili in, they can also rig Amaechi in, politics is all about cronies in Nigeria.
Rationally analysing your argument, it's safe to say that Uche Okwukwu lost to the rigging machinery of marshal Harry, which Amaechi benefitted from through his association with Odili, and not because he was rejected by his people for his pro Igbo stance, because if we tell ourselves the truth, we would agree that Igbophobia in Ikwerreland is lowest in Elele side and worst at Ogbakiri side, the reason for this is obvious.

cc: Abagworo

HopeAtHand:


Ikwerre isnt immune to Rigging, its purely a Nigerian thing. But a case in point where a candidate represents the aspirations and desires of its populace, he will always win, regardless of rigging machineries put in place. Riggin in such instances will only help to reduce the margin of defeat. Anything other than that wil lead to violence from the disenfranchised populace. That is my summation.

nengibo:

Dey actually do, fluent ibibio, they call God Obasi(Abasi) isn't dat enuf clue for you

HopeAtHand:


@bolded. There is no Igbophobia anywhere in Ikwerreland. We only ask that we be recognised as distinct

pazienza:


Igbophobia exists in Ikwerreland hinterland , and I had witnessed it first hand, both online and off line but places like Elele that are close to SE are free of such, because they have better understanding.

pazienza:
Some Igbos call God Obasi, it doesn't make them Ibibio as Obasi is still quite distinct from Abasi.
It's as good as saying that Igbos that call God Osebuluwa are Edo, since it's similar to Osanobua used by Edos.

God is called Obasi in many parts of Igboland, not just Arochukwu, Obasi is used as far as Enugu state.
Those of us into football would remember Ogbuke-Obasi, that played alongside Mikel in that under 20 World Cup in Canada as a striker, while those of us into Igbo gospel music would remember late Patty Obasi, both of them are from Enugu state.

A simple facebook search of the name Obasi, would show Igbo bearers from many parts of Igboland.

Thespacepilot:



You should say the ibibios living in arochukwu not the entire Igbo's in arochukwu...Again I beg you stop all this online lies we don't speak Ibibio but Igbo in arochukwu..arochukwu is a Igbo majority town..Arochukwu, sometimes referred to as Arochuku, or Aro-Okigbo, (pronounced Aruchukwu) is the third largest city in Abia State (after Aba and Umuahia) in southeastern Nigeria and homeland of the Igbo subgroup, Aro people. It is composed of 19 villages with an overall leader called Obong Aro. Arochukwu is a principal historic town in Ibibio land. It was also one of the cities in the Southern protectorate targeted by the British colonial government. Several historic tourist sites exist in the city. The mystic Ibini Ukpabi shrine, the slave routes and other relics of the slave trade era are frequently visited by tourists. It is also in the food belt of Abia state where most of the staple foods are produced.

History Edit

Main article: Aro History
Arochukwu is believed to have been the homeland of the Ibibio as they arrived in 300 AD from the Benue valley and founded early states like Obong Okon Ita and Ibom. Many years passed as Igbo immigrants came along and pressed into the Ibibio occupied territory and founded several states. The first Igbo group were the Ezeagwu group from Abiriba led by their leader Agwu Inobia. As Aro-Ibibio wars occurred, there was a stalemate. In reaction, the Eze Agwu clan invited a priest named Nnachi from the Edda clan of northeastern Igboland and another group from the east of the Cross River through Nnachi. These people were identified as the Akpa people. Akpa forces led by Osim and Akuma Nnubi, they helped the Igbo forces capture the rest of the area. This formed the alliance of 19 new and old states in the area known as the Arochukwu kingdom around 1650-1700. The first king (or Eze Aro) of a unified Arochukwu was Akuma but after his death, Nnachi son's Oke Nnachi took over and his descendants have the throne to this day.

By the mid-18th century, there were mass migrations of several Aro business families into the Igbo hinterland and adjacent areas. This migration, influence of their god [b]Ibini Ukpabi[/b]through priests, and their military power backed up by alliances with several related neighboring Igbo and eastern Cross River militarized states (particularly Ohafia, Abam, Abiriba, Afikpo, Ekoi, etc.) quickly established the Aro Confederacy as a regional economic power. However, Aro economic hegemony was threatened by the penetration of Europeans, mainly British colonists in the wake of the 20th century. Tensions finally led to bloodshed and the Anglo-Aro War took place from 1901-1902. The Aro Confederacy stoutly resisted but were eventually defeated. This helped the British to occupy the rest of what is now known as Eastern Nigeria.

People of Arochukwu founded many other communities both within and outside Igboland.[2][3]

Arochukwu played a significant role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade of the 1600-1800 AD. The Aro confederacy (Aro slave traders) scattered throughout the hinterlands of the Igbo nation, orchestrated the sale of over 4 million Igbo sons and daughters during the transatlantic slave trade. Many Igbo slaves who were shipped from the slave outposts in Calabar and Bonny to Europe and the Americas, were first assembled in Arochukwu,and then transported to Calabar or Bonny via the Aro Blue River which pours into the Atlantic Ocean. Most Igbo slaves were shipped to North Carolina and Virginia, in the United States. Igbo slaves were also shipped to the Caribbean Islands of Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba...


Obong Aro Ogbonnaya Okoro[1]

AbakalikiPress:
Another fact is that All Igbo towns with Obis are not truly Igbo.

In Ebonyi where I come from for example, I can't even mention any prominent kingships that exist anywhere..
We Igbos in our natural state don't HAVE KINSHIPS. /

As an Ebonyi Ezaa man, The concept of an Obi is as alien to me as having an Emir.

That is the simple TRUTH.

AbakalikiPress:


Guy, are you even Igbo?
Youa re only trying to save face.

Every serious academic work confirms everything i have been saying on this thread while you remain there and keep lying to all our very faces.
The true Igbo believes in ''Egbe'belu - Ugo'belu'' i.e Live and let live.

But these days, Igbos like yourself and others have become desperate land grabbers looking for relevance everywhere.

Look at a comprehensive Linguistic map of Africa by Ethnologue showing language areas.
Even though it isn't 100% accurate but it is close.

Notice that a good chunk of Ebonyi state and the Aniomas except the Asaba Area are not even classed as Igbo speakers. Neither are the Ikwerres and some others.

AbakalikiPress:


Hhaha, this one you posted is the "Modernist" version of Igbo territory.
Ethnologists are not stupid.

Again, look at ANOTHER map of TRUE speakers of Igbo. Not political Igbo.

Again it agrees with all my points. Northern Enugu - OUT. Ebonyi - OUT, Anioma - OUT, Arochukwu - OUT
Again, let me mention that it isn't accurate, but it is close.



In rivers, only the Omumma general area is there. Ikwerre, Ekpeye and Etche are out.

AbakalikiPress:


Hhaha, this one you posted is the "Modernist" version of Igbo territory.
Ethnologists are not stupid.

Again, look at ANOTHER map of TRUE speakers of Igbo. Not political Igbo.

Again it agrees with all my points. Northern Enugu - OUT. Ebonyi - OUT, Anioma - OUT, Arochukwu - OUT
Again, let me mention that it isn't accurate, but it is close.



In rivers, only the Omumma general area is there. Ikwerre, Ekpeye and Etche are out.

ifeanyiAdemola:
My name is ifeanyi ademola ukachukwu.My dad is ikwere and more mom is yoruba ...I will educate so people on the full extent of Igbo land.. Thank you

Igboland
Àl'ịgbò (Igbo)
Southeastern Nigeria
Cultural region
Àlà na ḿbà ṇ́dị́ Ìgbò
Nkanu West, Enugu
Nkanu West, Enugu
Nickname(s): Biafra, The East
Location of Igboland (dark green)– in Africa (green & dark grey)– in Nigeria (green)
Location of Igboland (dark green)
– in Africa (green & dark grey)
– in Nigeria (green)
Part of Nigeria
- Founding of Nri c. 900
- British Colony 1902
- Nigeria 1914
Founded by Proto-Igbo
Regional capital Enugu
Composed of
States
Most or all parts of:
Abia State, Anambra State, Ebonyi State, Enugu State, Imo State
Major parts of:
Delta State, Rivers State
Minor parts of:
Akwa Ibom State, Bayelsa State, Benue State, Cross River State, Edo State, Kogi State
Government
• Type Autonomous communities
Area[1]
• Total 40,000 km2 (16,000 sq mi)
Highest elevation 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
Lowest elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Population (2015 estimate)[2]:15
• Total ~ 40 million
• Density 400/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
The population of Igboland stated here is an accumulation of the 5 main states Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo only
Demographics
• Language Igbo
English
• Religion Syncretic Christianity (+90%)
Odinani (5-10%)
Time zone WAT (UTC+1)
God Chukwu
Alusi Ala
Igboland (Standard Igbo: Àlà Ị̀gbò), also known as Southeastern Nigeria, is the indigenous homeland of the Igbo people.[3][4]:307 It is a non-governmental cultural and common linguistic region in southern Nigeria. Geographically, it is divided by the lower Niger River into two unequal sections – an eastern (which is the larger of the two) and a western section.[3][4]:307 It is characterised by the diverse Igbo culture and the equally diverse Igbo language.[2][3][4]:307[4]:315

Politically, Igboland is divided into several southern Nigerian states. Culturally, it is divided into several subgroupings, including the Anioma, Ngwa, Edda Egbebu, Ezaa, Ibeku, Ohuhu, Omuma and the Ekpeye. William Balfour Baikie remarked that "in Igbo[land] each person hails, as a sailor would say, from the particular district where he was born, but when away from home all are Igbos. And yet considerable differences exist between different parts of this extensive country, and the dialects spoken also vary greatly."[4]:307

Territorial boundaries Edit

Igboland is surrounded on all sides by a host of large rivers, and other southern and central Nigeria indigenous tribes namely Bini, Itsekiri, Ijaw, Ogoni, Igala, Tiv, Yako, Idoma and Ibibio.[3] In the words of William B. Baikie, "Igbo homeland, extends east and west, from the Old Kalabar river to the banks of the Kwora, Niger River, and possesses also some territory at Aboh, an Igbo clan, to the west-ward of the latter stream. On the north it borders on Igara, Igala and A'kpoto, and it is separated from the sea only by petty tribes, all of which trace their origin to this great race".[4]:307

It is primarily situated in the Lowland forest region of Nigeria, with parts in the Niger-Delta, where the Niger river fans out into the Atlantic Ocean in a vast network of creeks and mangrove swamps on the Bight of Bonny.[5]

The earliest found settlements in Igboland date back to 4500 BC in the central area, from where the majority of the Igbo-speaking population is believed to have migrated. The northern Igbo Kingdom of Nri, which rose around the 10th century AD, is credited with the foundation of much of Igboland's culture, customs, and religious practices. It is the oldest existing monarchy in present-day Nigeria. In southern Igboland several groups developed, of which the most notable was the Aro confederacy. Igboland was part of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate of the British Empire and was amalgamated into modern-day Nigeria in 1914; the nation gained independence in 1960.[3] Shortly afterwards Igboland was involved in its biggest war during Biafra's movement for secession, which eventually ended in 1970 when this area rejoined Nigeria.

Ancient trade routes Edit

Igboland's culture has been shaped primarily by its rainforest climate, its ancient trade, migration, and social history within its various clans and peoples, and with its ancient trading neighbours, allies and lately with Europeans.[3] Mr W. B. Baikie said, "I seized the moment, and, by our interpreter, told Tshukuma, that we had come to make his acquaintance and his friendship, and to ascertain if the people were willing to trade with us", whilst signing a trade agreement with Igbo chief, Mr Tshukuma (Chukwuma) Obi from Aboh clan, who were one of the leading Igbo clans, engaged in early active trading with Europe.[4]:45 Similarly, "after our salutations, I spoke of friendship, of trade, and of education, and particularly enlarged upon the evils of war, and the benefits of peace, all of which was well received", remarked William B. Balkie when signing a trade agreement with Igbo chief, Ezebogo in Asaba on August 30, 1885.[4]:296

Due to the native common linguistic standard and interrelated cultures in Igboland, pre-dating the arrival of Europeans, the lower Niger River, which divides Igboland into unequal eastern and western parts, has from ancient times continued to provide easy means of communication, trading and unity amongst Igbos on both sides of the Niger River,[4]:300 as well as promoted ancient trade and migration of people into Igboland, and between Igboland and rest of the world.[3] Some of the notable ancient trade and export routes in Igboland included the famous lower Niger and Njaba-Oguta lake-Orashi navigational routes via Asaba-Onitsha-Aboh,[4]:315[6] and Awo-omamma-Oguta-Ogba–Egbema–Ndoni-Aboh ferry services respectively.[4]:300[7]

History Edit

Pre-history (6000–3000 BC) Edit
Early settlement of Igboland dates back to 6000 BC based on early pottery work found in the Okigwe, Oka Igwe, and known today as Awka. Some local Villagers retains the Original name, like Umuzuoka, The Blacksmiths Ezioka, Okigwe, Imoka, etc.Oka ,igwe-Nsukka axis.[8] There is, however, evidence of Palaeolithic man settling in southern Nigeria from at least 10,000 years ago. Much of the pottery excavated by a team led by Thurstan Shaw with the University of Nigeria at Nsukka in 1978 uncovered a rock quarry which was a mine for tool and pottery making for a 'stone civilisation' nearby at Ibagwa. Anthropologists at the University of Benin discovered fossils and use of monoliths dating back to 6000 BC at Ugwelle-Uturu in the Okigwe area. Further evidence of ancient settlements were uncovered at a hypothesised Nsukka metal cultural area from 3000 BC and later settlements attributed to Ngwa culture at AD 8-18.

Ancient history (3000 BC–AD 300) Edit
The Nsukka-Okigwe axis forms as a basis for a proposed Proto-Igbo cultural heartland antecedent to contemporary Igbo culture. It is unclear what cultural links there are between these pre-historic artefacts and today. Later human settlement in the region may have links with other discoveries made in the wider area particularly with the culture associated with the terracotta discoveries based at Nok spanning a wide area about north-central Nigeria.

Much of the Igbo population is believed to have migrated from a smaller area in this region, starting several independent Igbo-speaking tribes, village-groups, kingdoms and states. The movements were generally broken into two trends in migration: a more northerly spread group towards the banks of the Niger and the upper quadrant of the Cross River; the other, following a southerly trail had mostly risen from the Isu populations based nearer the axis from which the majority of southern Igbo communities were populated. Mbaise are notably the best examples of an Igbo group claiming autochthony and rejecting many migratory histories about their origins, many of these groups either way are evidently culturally northern or southern Igbo based on the proximity of their traditions to those of their neighbours and, many times, familial and political ties.

Igbo-Ukwu and early settlements (300–900) Edit
See also: Archaeology of Igbo-Ukwu
An image of a bronze bowl from the Igbo archaeological site known as Igbo ukwu
Igbo-Ukwu was the site of an early indigenous bronze industry that was rediscovered in the 20th century. Many of the items recovered were ritual objects like this 9th century bronze vessel.
Isiah Anozie was digging in his compound to install a cistern in 1939 when he stumbled unto the first finds of the Igbo Ukwu metal and precious artefacts that led to the discovery of a larger network of linked metal works from the 9th century. The works were based in Igbo Ukwu and further finds were found by archaeology teams led by Thurstan Shaw in 1959-60 and in 1964 in the compound of Jonah Anozie.

Initially, throughout the 1960s and 1970s it was thought that the Igbo Ukwu bronze and copper items were of an external origin or were influenced by outside technology due to their technical sophistication. The opposite was revealed to be true since local copper deposits had been exploited by the 9th century and anthropological evidence, such as the Ichi-like scarifications on the human figures, show local origin. The works have been attributed to an isolated bronze industry which had developed without outside influence over time to reach such sophistication.

Igbo trade routes of the early second millennium reached the cities of Mecca, Medina and Jeddah through a network of trade routes journeyed by middlemen.[9] There was evidence of beads that originated in India in the 9th century Igbo Ukwu burial sites: Thousands of glass beads were uncovered from the ruined remains of a nobleman's garments. The burial site was associated with the Nri Kingdom which began around the same century according to indigenous history.[10]

Nri and other migrations (900–c. 1560) Edit
The northern Igbo Kingdom of Nri, rising around the 10th century based on Umunri traditions, is credited with the foundation of much of Igboland's culture, customs, and religious practices. It is the oldest existing monarchy in present-day Nigeria. It was around the mid-10th century that the divine figure Eri is said to have migrated, according to Umunri lore, to the Anambra (Igbo: Omambara) river basin — specifically at its meeting with Ezu river known as Ezu na Omambara in present-day Aguleri. The exact origins of Eri are unknown and much of Nri traditions present him as a divine leader and civiliser sent from heaven to begin civilisation. In contrast, Eri's origins generally suggest a north easterly origin which has sparked up debate pertaining to a possible Igala origin for Eri.

Due to historic trade and migration of old, other people also entered the Igboland in about the fourteenth or fifteenth centuries and mixed with the natives.[3] Towards the western end of Igboland, across the Niger River, rose a man known as Eze Chima who fled Benin with his accomplices after a dispute with the Oba of Benin who consequently exiled him in the 1560s. As they left Benin City heading eastwards, Eze Chima and his followers settled in a number of lands and established monarchies with the natives in those areas.[3] Those grew into major village groups and towns after the 16th century.[3] Collectively, these places are known as Umuezechima which translates as 'the children or descendants of king Chima'.

Igala wars and European contact (1450–18th century) Edit
Igboland was historically known as the Ibo(e), Ebo(e), and Heebo Country by early European explorers.[11][12][13][14][15] Igboland was conquered by the British Empire after several decades of resistance on all fronts; some of the most famous of the resistance include the Ekumeku Movement, the Anglo-Aro War, and the Aba Women's Riots which was contributed to by women of different ethnic backgrounds in eastern Nigeria.

The extreme northern parts of Igboland in the eighteenth were subject to much raiding by elements of the Igala people of Idah under Onoja Oboni, a descendant of one of the Idah royal families. The conflicts drew down further into areas in central northern Igboland, particularly Nsugbe near where early European settlers with Joseph Hawkins noted events from parts of the conflicts between the 'Ebo Country' and 'Galla' in A History of a Voyage to the Coast of Africa published in 1797. Umunri traditions state that Onoja Oboni, however, is of royal Nri stock and founded Idah as he trailed northwards. The Igala do not claim origins from Onoja Oboni or the Igbo.

Arochukwu and the slave trade (1750–1850) Edit
A number of polities rose either directly or indirectly as a result of Nri; the most powerful kingdom of these was the Aro Confederacy which rose in the Cross River region in the 17th century and declined after British colonisation in the early 20th century. The Aro state centred on Arochukwu followed Nri's steady decline, basing much of its economic activities on the rising trade in slaves to Europeans by coastal African middlemen.

The present site of Arochukwu was originally settled by the Ibibio people under the Obong Okon Ita kingdom before the conquest of what became Obinkita in the 17th century by two main Igbo groups: the Eze Agwu clan and the Oke Nnachi assisted by the Ibom Isi (or Akpa) mercenaries under the leadership of the Nnubi dynasty. Led by Agwu Inobia, a descendant of Nna Uru from Abiriba, the Eze Agwu clan was centered at their capital Amanagwu and were resisted by Obong Okon Ita which led to the start of the Aro-Ibibio Wars.

The war initially became a stalemate. Both sides arranged a marriage between the king of Obong Okon Ita and a woman from Amanagwu. The marriage eventually failed to bring peace but played a decisive role in the war. Oke Nnachi was led by Nnachi Ipia who was a dibia or priest among the Edda people and was called by Agwu Inobia to help in the war against the Ibibio. These groups were followed by a third non-Igbo Ekoi-cultured group, Akpa or Ibom Oburutu who were led by Akuma Nnaubi, the first Eze Aro, the title of the king of the Aro.

In southern Igboland several groups developed mostly independent of Nri influence. Most of these groups followed a migration out of Isu communities in present-day Imo State, although some communities, such as the Mbaise cluster of village groups, claim to be autochthonous.

Colonial era (1850–1960) Edit
A picture of a panorama of the Nigerian city of Enugu which is considered the Igbo capital
Enugu, the capital city of the old Eastern Region of Nigeria.
Following the British parliament's abolition of the slave trade in 1830, the British royal navy had opened up trade with coastal towns Bonny and Opobo and further inland on the Niger with Asaba in the 1870s. The palm oil industry, the biggest export, grew large and important to the British who traded here. British arrival and trade led to increased encounters between the Igbo and other polities and ethnic groups around the Niger River and led to a deepening sense of a distinct Igbo ethnic identity. Missionaries had started arriving in the 1850s. The Igbo, at first wary of the religion, started to embrace Christianity and Western education as traditional society broke down.[16][17] Christianity had played a great part in the introduction of European ideology into Igbo society and culture often time through erasure of cultural practice; adherents to the denominations were often barred in partaking in ancient rites and traditions, and joining fraternities and secret societies were forbidden as the church grew stronger.[18]

Due to the incompatibility of the Igbo decentralized style of government and the centralized system required for British indirect rule, British colonial rule was marked with open conflicts and much tension.[19] Under British colonial rule, the diversity within each of Nigeria's major ethnic groups slowly decreased and distinctions between the Igbo and other large ethnic groups, such as the Hausa and the Yoruba, became sharper.[20] British rule brought about changes in culture such as the introduction of warrant chiefs as Eze (traditional rulers) where there were no such monarchies.[21]

Nigerian independence (1960s) Edit
Following the independence of Nigeria from the United Kingdom in 1960, most of Igboland was included in its Eastern Region.


Geography and biodiversity Edit

Map of Igboland in southeastern Nigeria[27][28]ÉnugwúUmuahiaBight of BiafraAtlantic
OceanBight of BeninNsukkaOboloAbakalekeIgritaEleleAhoadaAbaOguIhialaOkigweOkaOnichaOwerreObiarukuAgborNiger
RiverUgwu ỌchaAtakpaIdu
Historically, Igboland has taken up a large part of southeastern Nigeria, mostly on the eastern side of the Niger River. It extends westward across the Niger to the regions of Aniocha, Ndokwa, Ukwuani, and Ika in present-day Delta State and also minute parts of Edo State in Nigeria. Its eastern side is terminated by the Cross River, although micro-communities exist over on the other side of the river; its northernmost point enters the Savannah climate around Nsukka.

Bonny Island and Opobo are often included in the Igbo speaking region since the language of trade of the island and town is Igbo and since many inhabitants are ethnic Igbo. Through these ports, the Igbo speaking region reaches the Atlantic Ocean to its south, although both towns are geographically separated from the rest of Igboland by smaller Ijaw and Andoni speaking communities.


Nkanu West, Enugu
In Nigeria today, Igboland is roughly made up of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, and major parts of Delta and Rivers states.[29] Small parts of Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River, Edo, and Kogi State make up the rest of Igboland. More than 30 million people inhabit Igboland and with a population density ranging from 140 to 390 inhabitants per square kilometre (350 to 1,000/sq mi)[30] it could be the most densely populated area in Africa after the Nile Valley.[31][32] Altogether Igboland has an area of some 40,900 to 41,400 km2 (15,800 to 16,000 sq mi).[1][33]

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