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@Negro, It is not true that Igbos donot have cultural factors binding them as a people. Amongst the ones which are universal in the Igbo speaking world are
1) The primacy of the Ani (Ala or Ana) or Earth spirit which is found in all Igbo communities and similarly worshipped.In Igbodo , my hometown in Delta State, we have several of these "Ani" shrines which connects us to our cultural root Nri. These includes Aniozuzu( the Obi is the priest), Aniuzugbo and Ani Ukwu.This is the most important deity in Igboland and in the past before you can do anyhting on the land , you must worship Ani to accept such proposal.

2) All Igbos rever Yams and Kolanuts. Take this title I listed as one of the titles of Igbodo "Ojifulueze" meaning kolanuts are kingly or in another literary translation kolanuts deserved to be honoured reveals that all Igbos value kolanuts very well.For yams , we share the same veneration. Thus we all celebrate new yam festivals which we call "Iwaji" or "Iriji". In the festival , all Igbos worship "Fejokwu" or "Njoku" which is the deity(according to tradition) responsible for yams and the keeper of farms generally.

3)We all have titled societies.In the East , such titled groups which are actually "clubs" reflecting status in the society are called "Ozor", InAniomaland, we call such titles "Nmor" and depending on the locality it is called Okpala, Onotu (or Olotu), Alor or Igbu.

4)We all have Ikenga, Nze and  Ndiche institutions

5)We all have the "Umunna"(it have alternative names in various  localities) for men and "Umuada" fro women.Now, these are groups of descent from a common ancestor.The concept of  "Umuada" is identical in Igboland. These are daughters who play significant roles in many traditional functions.In Igboland , Umuada are chief mourners and this is the case in Anioma and just the case amongst the Ezza of Ebonyi State.

6)All rulers in Igboland and this is in most times based on age( which we call Okpara, Diokpa , Onyishi or Opara) or seniority in such tittle societies have in their possession an "Ofor" which is unique to all Igbos. An Ofor is the most important symbol of authority and respect in Igboland.


7)We all have the same market days and the sacred status of Eke is the same in Igboland.

@Ezeagu, I love the pictures, Reminds me so much about home. Umuanioma Ofu Obi Bu Nk"anyi

Great.

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@ Obiagu, nobody is forcing you to read anything. If you like, skip all my posts anytime you see them. Thanks.

Ogbuefi: @Physics
1)I never claimed to be an expert but what I know ,I know too well and cannot be dismissed especially if those so called "facts" are not verifiable or have been smeared with lies and half truths.I left this thread and you felt that your time "to shine " has arrived. This is just the character of an average Edo proud , tribalistic and at times cowardly. I have read your posts. So lenghty yet so empty and I will exposse them one by one . The funny thing here is that superficially you appear knowledgeable but on a deeper look , very  shallow but I admit that you are intelligent( I have said that severally and if I was proud as you claim would not have done that ), to dribble around.

1.  You were the first person who "left" the thread because you had other things to attend to, not me. But that was not an issue for me or anyone else, because it makes sense that you would have other things to do.

I think you may have memory issues or senility is kicking in a little early for you, so let's get  a few things straight.

First,

At one point of this thread you responded, on June 1, to a post I made on May 28. You began by saying that your absence was "unplanned" and that you were "engaged with other issues."

I was surprised by the statement because I don't consider a period of a few days to be an "absence" from a thread, nor do I consider it something that needs defending or explanation. People have real lives to attend to and it would make no sense to assume that everybody is able to constantly monitor and respond to a thread from day to day, yet you were explaining and excusing your "absence" to your followers or other readers.

Second,

If you were more perceptive, you would note that I responded to your June 1 post on June 10. That's an interval of 9 days!

But that was only a response to the first 2 parts of that June 1 post.

I responded to the other parts of your June 1 first post on June 22. That's 12 days later!

To anyone with a brain, it would have been obvious that I was never constantly keeping up with this specific thread and that I was only returning at intervals.

Yet when I left (after finishing my response over a period of several days), then returned,  and then left again after the spambot kept blocking me, you later responded (AFTER I'd already left), and kept responding for multiple days in a row, and when I finally came back and responded, you started babbling about "cowardice"!!!! YOU were the one who kept responding when I had left,  but I did not accuse you of doing it in order to make yourself look clever.

If it was so important to you for the other person to be there when someone is posting, you would have waited before posting the essays (yeah, you write essays also -in fact, that's why you keep getting spam banned), rather than posting all those essays when I was busy. I could just have easily accused you of waiting till I was not there to make it look like you had "refuted me" but I actually have a brain so I'll do no such thing.

YOU were the one who posted "refutations" when I had left and started portraying yourself as though you had "refuted" me. I did no such thing when I made my comments.

Who are you trying to fool? If anyone could be accused of exploiting the "absence"  of the other poster to look like he was demolishing that person's argument, it was you, not me. I had no idea when you were going to come back to the thread and I didn't (and still don't) particularly care about whether you happen to be there at the time that I'm responding.


2. I have said this already, but I am a student and therefore I have more time than many older people on here who have to work from morning to evening, but I still do have other more important things to do with my time than constantly monitor this thread. The thing I don't understand is how you - a man in his late forties - has so much time to devote to debates with Agbontaen/omijie (such as in that enormous thread on that other forum) and how you have so much time for the internet that you actually consider an interval of a mere three days without posting to be an absence.

3. I don't care whether you think I'm intelligent or not. That's completely irrelevant. Intelligence is useful, but it doesn't decide who is right or wrong or whose positions and perspectives are valid. Lots of people who are intelligent have been wrong. Being wrong is part of learning and therefore it means little to me to be wrong on any issue. I'm not here to be right on everything all the time. The only reason for my presence is when some of these characterizations and claims get out of hand.

4. "This is just the character of an average Edo proud , tribalistic and at times cowardly." - This is coming from someone who attempted to accuse me of tribalism!!

I know you're not that bright, but you should refrain from advising people about "tactfulness" in their comments given your tendencies.

5. "Deep", "Shallow", etc. More nonsense. I never claimed to be an expert. All I know is that YOU definitely are not one. You've committed so many blunders and said so many silly things that it's hard to keep track of them all.

And what do you mean you never claimed to be an expert? You explicitly and specifically stated that you were an expert on all of the peoples of the old Midwestern region!!!

I really think that senility is kicking in early, old man.

Also, with regard to using the internet, I read across many different fields and from many sources and I do not discriminate on what to read based merely on the origin of information.

But for you to claim that you don't read things on the internet and run with them makes me think your memory is escaping you or maybe you're just resorting to the same dishonest tricks again.

How are on earth are Naiwu Osahon's writings (which you must have found on facebook or using google (and not merely "stumbled upon" or by looking at some of those yahoo discussion groups, which you found through a search engine like google) reliable sources that make you someone who argues based on what they see and hear and not an internet scholar? How are facebook and wikipedia such reliable sources? You were silly enough to insinuate that H.U. Isichei, a complete nobody, was more notable than Dr. Emovon because you read that H.U. Isichei was a notable UniJos academic on Wikipedia!!!!!

You read stuff on the internet and you start thinking the root meaning of ogie is king. You read stuff on the internet and you start thinking that no non-Edo was ever given a title, even though an un-assimilated Dutch trader was given an honorary title in the 1700s. You read stuff online written by some crackpot claiming that Maduemezia was nominated for a Nobel prize, and without even thinking about the silly claim or bothering to check it, you accept it as true. I will absolutely and completely demolish any claim you put forward in this regard and if you have any self-respect, you'll back down from this nonsensical claim immediately.

Regarding an apology, I have never apologized to omonuan and have nothing to apologize to him for. I couldn't care less what he thinks now, because I know he's just an irrational individual.

Anyway, expect a response from me in a few days, but not today or tomorrow. I will NOT alter my schedule in real life for you. This forum (nairaland) is only for free time.

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@Physics, Indeed  posts on nairaland is just for free time and I am waiting.

@Physics, I am in my early 40s and I just as youthful as you or anyone or this thread. Now, that Issele Uku whatever is supposed to mean what ? Because Issele Uku people are Igbos and merely used that to connect that ancient link which I have noted connects the community with Benin though the aborigines of the town are from Nri and have the rights to coronate all Obis of the kingdom.

So funny , so you think I read abt Prof H.U. Isichei on wikipedia, Hahaha, No my boy ! That was not the source of my knowledge of the Prof. I came to know him long ago when I came across Elizabeth Isichei's books.

Dedicated to Ogbuefi1, Omonuan, Chyz and all the Delta Igbo people in this thread.

May God bless the Igbo in Delta state (Anioma) and the entire Igbo nation.

@Andre Uweh, Thks

@Physics,

1)Look very well on the debates between me and Omojie on NBF , I think it was Omojie that had all the time to write not me. In fact I left there because it was worthless engaging in any debate with someone like him.I am even ashamed of him and I candidly told him that.I am just being myself to announce when I intend to write, if I want to leave or the reasons for not writing because I believe there are people out there who enjoy my posts.I therefore will not have to change my character because I am writing in fora like these.
I announced that "I was suspending postings on this thread" and of course you read it and the next was the longest series of posts I have ever encountered in any fora eventhough I had announced I was suspending postings here. Do you think I dont understand the motive for such posts from you ? And funny enough these were addressed to me.You can deny this for all I care because it is in human nature to be deceptive.

2)Yes, right I just remembered yes I once made that declaration on my being an expert on the Midwest and from a relative point of view , I think I am and I have even corrected you severally on this thread.You at one time (though you cleverly want to deny) that the Urhobos were of Igbo stock just to dismiss your irrational justification for the killings in Benin, Sapele and Warri.But as an "expert" I was ready to correct you.Now, mind you even experts and those who are intelligent often make mistakes considering the debatable nature of our history and this is problematic because it was unwritten.As such people can "create" new stories and theories to support whatever claim.
In addition , as an expert I am again correcting you in your list of "Benin notables" Prof Philip Igbafe is an Afenmai and not a Benin man just like Prof Ayo Binitie is an Itsekiri.I understand you love Edo so much and would want to make some comparisons with the Anioma. If I were as desparate as you are I would have even be tempted to list some notables amongst the Anioma people of the Old East like Onitsha but that is not the issue.
I mentioned Prof Elizabeth Isichei because by marriage she is an Anioma in the same light people from Abia State can claim Oknojo-Iweala and I dont have problem with that.In Igbo custom(as a woman) when you are added by your in-laws as part and parcel of their kith and kin , it means you are truly married to your husband and his family.I therefore donot see anything wrong with that except that you feel you can bring down the Anioma by making such dull , chidish and irresponsible claim tht "she is an Oyibo"

3) On Prof Nwanze and Prof Osagie, I dey laugh , You see my boy , nothing you write here will change that fact that Prof Nwanze was VC of UNIBEN before any Benin born academic. Really I am not interested in Google Scholar or its citations ( which is your sole source for justifying academic achievements) because both of us cannot really claim that we have access to their academic career and achievements.Howeevr what is important is that Prof Nwanze had floored Prof Osagie to clinch that position and academic qualifications should have been one of the prerequisites used. Appointments of VCs of course have some political undertones to it however the primary factor had always been academic in nature.
Now, whereas you were free to note how Prof Osagie was an ex president of the Nigerian Society of Biochemists, and use it as an academic advantage over Prof Nwanze, you were quick to dismiss Prof Uwadia's achievements as President of the Ngerian Society of Computer Scientists apparently because you could not get any name to match his.There are several Anioma sons and even daughters who have from an academic background made some impact in the software industry apart from Prof C. Uwadia.The likes of Chris Uwaje, Aloy Chife, Valentine Obi, Florence Seriki or Nweike Onwuyali fits into the category.I would also like to mention the young Prof Nwanua Elumeze who is a celebrated inventor and businessman.

4)On Prof Linus Ajabor, I see nothing wrong mentioning him and more importantly if he is from my home town. In Aniomaland and indeed Igboland we celebrate achievers and as a man who went through hell in the 1960s to attain that position is worthy to be mentioned.From Prof Osato Giwa-Osagie I was able to get the list of fellows of the college, and behold the names of people of Anioma origin were just to long to compare with names from other parts of the Midwest.In fact it made me proud ( You guessed it I am very proud of my people) beacuse true to the claim I made earlier the names of Anioma people there outnumber by far , the names of other Midwest peoples put together.

Unlike the Olukwumi people which have been assimilated as Anioma people , your Usen people donot think they are Benins.

yeah ryt olukumi was assimilated by anioma and usen was not assimilated by edo, it sound like something dat would come out of your filthy wrinkled mouth. and a lot of things u say are wild claims and dat is why i find u amusing.

anyway so are u also telling me igbos who cannot speak their dialects are not "proud" igbos? a lot of aniomas in benin cannot speak their dialects and have never been to their villages. they wander back and forth from benin to lagos and never go home until they die and these are the people who u claim are proud igbos.

ive already said i cannot speak usen, if u have been reading my posts u would have known dat but obviously u are a dullard so i can't blame u for your lack of comprehension. however, bini is also spoken in usen and actually a lot of usen people are bini stock dat is why lots of usen people will identify as bini even before they do usen. my dad who has an usen first name dat people think is a yoruba name is a bini man. it is amongst binis dat he identifies as usen and edo. but outside dat gathering, he is a bini man to other nigerians and he can speak usen and bini.

the current ima of benin okhaemwen tayo akpata is an usen man and actually from the same family as the elaware of usen and he is a proper bini man. so why don't u go tell him dat he is a confused individual coz dat is an insult to his usen heritage. his house is at along capiona in G.R.A, benin city. for once in your life don't be a coward and put your money abi na post i go call am where your mouth is.

and dat your igiogbe issue i have already addressed but since u don't know what an igiogbe mean to edos den dat is your problem

How did you come to know  ( and from your references love so much ) about Ikhimen( Chime in Anioma Igbo) ?

actually dat was not the first time i was hearing it. it was just surprising dat u a "proud igbo" would support the claim. dats all.

but it is getting clearer u are really from owerri cos obviously u have never been to ogwashi cos u would have known dat there is a particular market i can't remember its name now dat has a big tree located right in the middle of the market and dat tree is home to a lot of bats. and ogwashi people still answer bini related names and these are people u say kept to the non-existent nri traditions. u are a clown.

Ogbuefi daru unu nwenne. Please work vigorously for Anioma state. I will do what I can as well to promote it. One thing is for sure, we must have Anioma state. It is non-negotiable! We belong in the SE and that is that.  


@Ezeagu, May God continue ur zeal!



                                                                          [size=13pt]ISIAGWALI[/size]!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@Physics,
1)Mind you I never said Benins are slackers academically , howevr that does not put them in the same pedestal as the Aniomas , period. Indeed you should know tht in big names the Benins are no match for the Aniomas and I was somewhat tempted to go on and on but on a second thought , it is just  a waste of time.

2)On the Aniomas waiting for the Catholics to establish secondary schools for them, Yes they did just like others  did elsewhere and I have not heard that it was via contributions from the Edo community that led to the estalishment of Edo College which from the Pic has an Anioma has its first Principal.

3)On Edo being a slave , These are originally the words of an Edo chief and not mine.

@Exothief, It seems you are crying here, Just look at the emotions pouring out from you, You cannot speak Usen and you are proud to be from Usen, If indeed you are proud try and learn the language boy.You are young and can still learn it. When I was in Benin , I was quick to learn the Edo language.Yoruba is not difficult and I dont think Usen is.
On the issue of assimilation, it is the position of the Olu-Awure of Usen which holds more water than Chief Tayo Akpata who is by the way a chief of the Benin Kingdom and has divided loyalties.
Now, on the Olukwumi , they have never denied that they have Yoruba connection, Ok and Anioma people celebrate their diversed ethnic origins and this is why we easily assimilate others and that is why you can never hear of such dissident voice on the issue of who is not Anioma is our area.This is very remarkable because of our diversity as a people.
Zik was a proud Igbo just like myself but never hide the fact that his ancestry was Benin and this is why Onitsha people say Onicha Ado N'Idu but it has neer made them less Igbo.Napoleon the legendary French leader is Italian by origin yet it never made him to think he was less French.
I have been to Ogwashi severally and I went there not because I am looking for bats. Of course there should be bats in rural and semi-rural areas but what is remarkable is that a town as large as Benin City should keep and nurture of bats in so many trees . Ogwashi was founded by the son of the Ezenri and this is why throughout her history she never practised human sacrifice though there were several instances of slavery.

@Chyz, To get Anioma State is a task that must be done and to transfer it to the SE is even a greater task because of the mind set of some people in the Ika and Ndokwa areas.I have been doing some sensitization in the Ika area and wow , you have taken up that responsibility to do like wise for the Ndokwa area.
There are at present talks on new states and using the criteria laid down by law , I am very sure we will get. Ofu Obi

You cannot speak  Usen and you are proud to be from Usen, If  indeed you are proud try and learn the language boy.You are young and can still learn it.

dat is not even a point, when i learn usen, i will still be edo. speaking usen does not change anything, i will still remain an ovbiedo kpataki. i don't see how u can't understand dat. and i never said i wasn't interested in learning usen so keep your advice for your children in benin who can't speak their dialects.

When I was in Benin , I was quick to learn the Edo language.

why won't u be quick to learn edo when u spent your entire childhood in benin and still live there? am sure u were even trained by an old bini woman and she was the one who paid your school fees and put u thru school cos im sure your family was one of those wretched anioma tenants who squat at homes of a proper bini family and live with dem at the boys-quarter

Olu-Awure of Usen which holds more water  than Chief Tayo Akpata

huh? i can't remember saying anything that they had conflicting issues. and u have not posted anything the elaware said so wots the conflicting issue? 

i just mentioned an usen man u would know who would not take likely to wot u said. i could have said my dad, but u won't know him. i could have said my cousins but u would know dem, dat was why i mentioned a figure u would know. get it?

okay, here is another figure u would know. lucky igbinedion is the iyase of usen. altho originally from okada on his dads side, he is from usen on his mums side so he is a bini/usen man who holds an important position in usen, go tell him he is confused about his identity.

I have been to Ogwashi severally and I went there not because I am looking for bats. Of course there should be bats in rural and semi-rural areas but what is remarkable is that a town as large as Benin City should keep and nurture  of bats in so many trees .

hahahahah  see how u have now twisted that your bat issue cos it is clear u have never been there? Hahahaha dat was funny! but shut up u cos  since when did having so many trees in a city become a bad thing? there are trees in benin not bushes unlike anioma dat is a bushland.

and it would interest u to know dat long ago before he passed, olu akpata a proper bini man from usen, he advocated for the planting of trees in benin city and people should desist from cutting down old ones. he used to come on tv shows nta benin in those days and advocated for it.

benin is a well planned city with trees and today is dat not what oyibo are telling us? to plant trees in cities cos the world is going green? whereas we have been doing these things long ago but to u igbos na new thing cos na oyibo recently advice una.

Pls, what is d meaning of d name OKONTA. They tell me it is delta igbo