Bishop Joseph Shanahan who introduced western education and the christian gospel message to Ndigbo  arrived at Onitsha in 1902. In his journeys, he penetrated the Igbo heartland, dealt first hand with all groups of Igbo people and all shades of Igbo opinion. Shanahan by his continued contact with Ndigbo through 1913-1926 reached  an understanding of the Igbo character which he expressed at various times and in various ways.
  Father Shanahan tried to summerise the Igbo traits by referring to the name they bear, to him Shanahan I.B.O meant:
I-stands for Industry, ingenuity and inventiveness.
B- stands for boldness, bravery.
O-stands for obedience.
  One of the Igbo teachers who worked with him, William Onuchukwu interjected-the name is IGBO and not IBO. To this Father Shanahan added 'yes' and G-stands Godly.

Is the above descriptions of the Igbo people correct and precise?.

Andre Uweh:

Is the above descriptions of the Igbo people correct and precise?.

Gbam!

Andre Uweh:

Is the above descriptions of the Igbo people correct and precise?.

ajuju dokara crotchet !
I agree with the "I" part though,others . . . .ajuju dokara crotchet.
Bia dis 006,i hope na i bughi Toshamn

Nne, i na e miss Toshman?

^Tosh rie nshi oku dia.

O kwanu onye kwuo, amara ebe aga enyere ya aka.

ifyalways:

ajuju dokara crotchet !
I agree with the "I" part though,others . . . .ajuju dokara crotchet.
Bia dis 006,i hope na i bughi Toshamn

How about the G aspect. Igbo people are Godly. Prior to the coming of christianity, Ndigbo have been Godly. The whites on their arrival in Igboland initially believed the Igbo were ungodly. Later, they confessed to their folly.

"I" is okay, but everything else seems out place.

ChinenyeN:

"I" is okay, but everything else seems out place.

What do you mean?.

Well, "B" just seems out of place because of the "bravery". "G" is far from accurate, in my opinion. If someone could find a synonym for "spiritual/religious" that starts with "g", then I would understand. Lastly, from what I've witnessed, "opinionated" would be more proper for "O" than "obedience".

ChinenyeN:

Well, "B" just seems out of place because of the "bravery". "G" is far from accurate, in my opinion. If someone could find a synonym for "spiritual/religious" that starts with "g", then I would understand. Lastly, from what I've witnessed, "opinionated" would be more proper for "O" than "obedience".

From the 1900's up till 1920's, Fr Shenaham witnessed an obedient Igbo groups that were obedient enough to abandon some of their obnoxious ways. They were obedient to abandon the killing of twins etc. Indeed, Ndigbo are obedient people.

Sure, Andre.

On the ''G'' aspect, Prof Chinua Achebe dealt with that in chapter 21 of his monumental book-Things Fall Apart. Here, mr Brown learns better. The British earlier assumed that the Igbo (Umuofia) were fools pursuing childish beliefs who needed only a little enlightenment to be converted.

Andre are you serious about all this? (rhetorical question). Of course you would be.

ChinenyeN:

Andre are you serious about all this? (rhetorical question). Of course you would be.

The Igbo people are Godly people. This was epitomised in the Umuofian culture which Achebe wrote about.
One Ahiajoku lecture, probably 1985 edition dwelt on this issue.
Ndigbo worshiped Chukwu, Chukwuokike, Chukwuabiamiri, Olisabuluwa etc. That same Chukwu they worshiped in the past is worshiped till this day. The difference now, is the concept of Jesus CHRIST that was introduced.
Hence, Fr Shenahan was right to term Igbo people as Godly.

I'm not so sure that's the meaning of "godly", but okay. I'll just leave you to wallow in. . this (don't even know how best to describe it beyond "this"). "I" is still the only sensible one up there.

ChinenyeN:

I'm not so sure that's the meaning of "godly", but okay. I'll just leave you to wallow in. . this (don't even know how best to describe it beyond "this". "I" is still the only sensible one up there.

You mean Fr Shenahan said non-sense. Nwokem, respect please.
We have discussed all the letters apart from 'B'.
The Igbo he met was an Igbo society that produced brave men and women. Till date, the Igbo continues to produce brave people.
With the fall of the Sokoto caliphate, the Hausa/fulani sultanate came to an end. Likewise, the fall of Oyo empire and the subdue of the Yoruba race and the fall of Overamnwen and the subdue of Benin empire in 1887.
Kudos to the Igbo people who were very brave to resist the British conquest. The western Igbo bravity manifested in Ekumeku wars. Up till 1929, when other parts of Nigeria were in firm control of the British, Aba women were still resisting British occupation. The Aros, Owerris etc also were brave to resist the British.
Who says the Igbo are not brave people?.

*sigh* I hope you don't think I'm arguing this with you. . . Just, by all means, feel free to adhere to those acronyms. I personally don't intend on getting in your opinionated way. If you truly believe what Fr. Onyeowula said, then na ya own bi dat. Carry go. I still don't see how those best describe the collection of peoples referred to as Igbo, but na my own bi dat one.

006:

Gbam!

That sums it up.

Andre Uweh:

That sums it up.

Thank God Ndigbo remains Godly till date.

There might have been numerous churches in Igboland as well as non christians, but they all believe in the existence of God.