A cemetery in George Washington National Forest in Amherst County, Va., is a good example. For decades, observers have commented that the gravestones had “strange marks.” Recently, these marks have been identified by this writer as African ideograms originating in Nigeria. The gravestones are inscribed with what appears to be Nsibidi, an Igbo writing system, confirming the survival of Igbo traditions during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Made of high-quality blue slate indigenous to the area and mined from a local quarry, the stones show little damage from weather or time. Subsequently, the place was named the “Seventeen Stones Cemetery.”



The stones were probably engraved between 1770 to 1830, when the Igbo Diaspora was at its height in Virginia. At that time, the Igbo people comprised approximately 70 percent of the blacks in Virginia, a larger percentage than in any other Southern state.

A star symbol at the top of one stone, signifying “congress” or “unity” has similarities to the Kongo cosmogram that depicts the life cycle of birth, life, death and the afterlife. The cosmogram symbol has equal perpendicular crossbars or lines, sometimes contained in a diamond shape or a circle. Here, the linear symbol in the lower register appears to be a combination of the sign for “individual” and “this land is mine.” Together the signs mean the deceased has joined the realm of the ancestors. Both symbols are enclosed in a rectangle, denoting their association. A line separating the symbols emphasizes they are separate but one.

Igbo ideograms were important elements of religious practice and served as mnemonic devices associated with religion and with moral and historical narratives. In Igbo death and burial traditions, Nsibidi symbols honoring the ancestors were thought to protect the deceased. The most appropriate place to honor one’s forefathers was the cemetery. At times, the deceased were consulted for help with day-to-day problems. Items such as chickens, rum and schnapps were offered as gifts for the deceased during a grave-side ceremony.

In the Seventeen Stones Cemetery, an iron pot was found set into the ground, suggesting the possibility of ancestral worship at this site. Historical sources describe how slaves worshiped in the forest by talking to a pot — the retainer for words and thoughts that could not be made public. African inscriptions and accompanying religious practices were outlawed during the period of enslavement. Creating such symbols was punishable by death because of its association with witchcraft. Hence, few examples of African ideograms still exist in the United States.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNo__febcbM


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j09jj9mX54


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Fx-7b9NscM

[img]http://2.bp..com/-oVkhX8gNYOo/ULcgzOy_eOI/AAAAAAAAfxU/q5DVtrI0t6g/s1600/African+ethnic+origins+saint+domingue.png[/img]



[img]http://www2.vcdh.virginia.edu/gos/imagesAds/v0101.jpg[/img]

There's more to be found about ancient black people all around the world and beyond. Just when we think we know too much, it appears we know little.

Good to know

**modified**

Igbos have been everywhere


Were everywhere

And are still Everywhere.......


IGBO KWENU

only peeps with INFERIORITY COMPLEX will claim the 75% of the entire slaves in another place,yet no visible proof thru(CULTURE, LANGUAGE AND CUISINE ) to back up their claims.
my candid opinion

If only Nigerians will give Igbo people chance to develop her. This shows that Igbo is part of Developed USA. Woow

Interesting

hmmm Good to knw

if its an Urhobo thread some silly Igbos go jst cum they talk rubbish, like they did @ https://www.nairaland.com/2289624/meet-ofoni-people-bayelsa-only

worst tin they b calling us lazy SOBos, Igbo's learn to respect other people culture and tradition so urs will b respected, always think u re d best SMH

anyway, Nice 1 op, Nigerians making name in US since 90BC without Nigeria no USA

Make e for no loss,

MJBN

Yep, that's right. I rep Igbo.....(And I made FP or the first time)

This gonna be nice

Chris brown is from Virginia.
Does it mean he's an igbo dude?

Hyper active mod I hail

Igbo everywhere.

Ndi Igbo every where, ndi Igbo amaka

Read
Venezuelan TV presenter strips naked during report on Cristiano Ronaldo

[url]proudlyweb.com/venezuelan-tv-presenter-strips-naked-during-report-on-cristiano-ronaldo[/url]

These signs are disputed as being European designs.

tobtap:
only peeps with INFERIOR COMPLEX will claim the 75% of the entire slaves in another place,yet no visible proof thru(CULTURE, LANGUAGE AND CUISINE ) to back up their claims.
my candid opinion

They're not 75%, 75% have at least one ancestor. There are evidences of Igbo culture, language and cuisine in the United States. The word okra was introduced into English by American Igbo slaves. The culture of Jonkonnu and Obeah/Hoodoo practices were introduced by Igbo slaves. Gumbo is very similar to Okro (or okro soup) and it's based on okra.



Virginia/North Carolina Jonkonnu masquerade

.

Jealous children of hate from will soon invade this trade and start cursing. Just watch out

Chai, my people and waka waka no be today oo. Imagine in 177...

This just goes to show that Igbo ppl were the most gullible tribe and were most easily tricked into working as slaves in the US

The history of the black man is and has always been as told my the white man. We existed before the 1800s. Only if we collectively desire to understand our roots will we finally find true peace. A lot can be taken away from a man by masking his history. Like they say, you cannot know know where you are going when you don't know where you re coming from. In a country that seems to show little interest in our history as a people, we can only piece together whatever we can find. The Nigerian history didn't start in 1960

Nawa o

All dis igbo posts are starting to annoy me
It shows inferiority complex,stop digging out all this facts like like u need anyones validation

And before u judge
I'm igbo
Full blooded