ianSweet:


Seriously i wonder why u guys love to claim everything to be igbo. This is why many minority tribes call u guys land grabbers.
Igbo is a large tribe and as such would have influenced their neighbouring minority tribes. Almost every one in Borno and Yobe states speak hausa as a 2nd language, due to hausa influence but hausas will not claim these places as hausa land.
Most Nupe and Bariba people in Kwara and Niger speak yoruba fluently (especially at the boundary areas) as an additional language, Ogori magongo people of Kogi answer mostly yoruba names and speak yoruba as an additional language but yorubas never claim them as part of yoruba land.

If most minority tribes around igbos adopt igbo as a second language, i think u guys should see it as a plus and an increasing territorial influence of your language and try to work out some sort of social integration with these tribes. This will not work by claiming these people who speak your language as Igbos. It will only lead to arguments.
Hausas never claim other northern minority groups as hausas, all they did was to find a general name AREWA which helped to define all northernerns.
That is what u igbos should do instead of looking for ways to claim or argue with your neighbouring minority tribes on tribal areas. Things like this will only make your minority neighbouring tribes dread and resent u the more.

I have seen igbos arguing with Edos here over Igbanke, i have seen u guys arguing here with ijaws over Opobo and Bonny, u guys arguing over Benue igbos, arguing over Anioma, Ikwerre and even Akwa Ibom and Cross river. This is just terrible.
How many times have u guys seen yorubas arguing with Nupes, Egbirras, Baribas, Edos, Ogoris e.t.c over tribal boundaries? We igalas even speak a yoruboid language which many yorubas can understand to an extent, but they have never claimed us.

First of all, this thread is not to claim anybody to be Igbos. Look at the title of the thread, Igbo-speaking communities in Kogi state. In my first post I specifically pointed out Igbo-speaking communities in Kogi state, mostly in Ibaji and Igalamela/Odolu LGA. Just as you have been pointing out Igala speakers in Anambra and Enugu states, did anybody call you a claimer of sorts? I guess not, so what brings up Igbos as claimers in this topic?

In your reasoning, any community outside Kogi state that speaks Igala as an additional language to another 'must' be Igala but full-blooded Igbo speaking communities outside SE, aka anioma, to you are not Igbos right? Igbo speaking people in Delta state are not Igbos but Igala speakers in Ebu are Igalas right? For example you pointed out how Igbos are 'claiming' anioma when the anioma people speak Igbo and nothing other but Igbo, except for boundary towns such as Ebu, Ugbodu, Ubulubu and Ukwunzu that are settlers which we already know.

You try to 'mitigate' the Igbo language spoken by southern Kogi as 'a language of trade learned by the people because they go to Onitsha' but does it ever occur to you, in the same vein, bilingual communities in Enugu state could have learned Igala due to close proximity to Kogi state for ease of communication? I am sure that this possibility does not exist in your mindset.

Now, as for the aim of this thread: Igbo speaking communities in Kogi state. That is what this thread is about: pointing out several Igbo-speaking communities in Kogi south. You have been making attempts to classify them as Igalas when some of them identify as Igbos. I gave you proof and uploaded a snapshot of the Eke Avurugo people who claim to be Igbo instead. The Anyikpa people in Igalamela/Odolu are said to be 'ethnic Igbos' and speak only Igbo as native language except those who travel out that pick up Igala. Then we have other towns in Igala south such as Umuoye, Umueze, Ugwuebonyi, Amauwani etc. which are Igbo town names.

The awareness has not been there all along. It is gradually beginning to come up especially in Eke Avurugo. The Igbo consciousness needs to be awakened in other Igbo-speaking towns in Kogi as well because it seems that the Igalas, like you for example, are bent on claiming these people as Igalas instead of realizing that they are Igbo-speaking natives in Kogi state.

If there is any tribe that is bent on claiming other lands, it is the Igalas. For example, we have seen how they tried to drag Ette, a town where they are a minority, into Kogi state. A town that did not belong to them and where the Idomas and Igbos together are a majority. Plus more other examples.

Now observe the physical features of the Igala moving from south upwards to the north. There are stark differences. The very fact that southern Igalas resemble Igbos more than their brothers up north indicates a heavy Igbo blood in the DNA of southern Igala. DNA tests conducted will readily prove this. I would not be surprised if the amount of Igbo DNA in southern Igala, especially Ibaji and Igalamela/Odolu is as high as 70% or even 80% as the case may be. Thus, this would be a case of some people bearing Igala names while they are mostly Igbo in genetic make up. We already know some towns in Ibaji that their ancestors came from the Igbo heartland - Odeke from Aguleri, Uchuchu from Isiokwe Enugu state etc. Ibaji and Igalamela/Odolu have significant Igbo ancestry.

PS: Few months back, the Igwe of the Olumbanasa area of Anambra state visited Governor Obiano demanding for development in the Olumbanasa area and he was gladly welcome and received by the governor. However, can we expect to say that the Benue state governor or Kogi state governor will receive Igbo natives of those states when they visit asking for attention and development in their areas? Oh then, some people will tell them, 'go back to the east, that's where you come from....you don't belong here...bla bla bla...'. Just thinking out loud.

Even if given the option to be merged with Kogi, the olumbanasa people would seem to prefer to remain in/identify with Anambra than Kogi.

LANGUAGE is not evidence of anything the sooner people get this into their heads the better. Many Nigerians today cannot read any other language than English or some variant of English . Most can only count in English. Many speak English better than their native language

Many speak English better than their native language. Language is not a better marker of identity than religion. Most Igbos today have no idea whatsoever of Igbo deities,metaphysics or Cosmology. They are "Christian" what does that prove

That a people speak a particular language is no more informative about their origins than that they worship a particular god. There is no known credible Igbo tradition of Igbos having a common origin or ancestry. Anyone with sense considering the crowded nature of southern Nigeria compared to the whole of Africa would deduce that all our paths must have crossed at some point long ago and then we diverged and many barriers maintained separation. The similarities are more interactional than aetiological to pretend otherwise is just self indulgence or laziness, One day some will do a genetic study that will show that there is more commonality outside linguistic clusters than within. To pretend that there is some blood link between Nsukka and Aba is wishful thinking. This is true for every major ethnic group .A language is just like a mobile phone company the more subscribers the better , also feed the subscribers the illusion that it is THEIR company and they own it

Igboid:


Lol! There are many communities in Igboland who have stories of Igala ancestry but yet don't identify as Igala.


The Igala was aggressive people that went on rampage on Northern Anambra and Enugu, changing the demographics of those part of Igboland, but yet, those communities has in their core, Igbo elements, who were not always as lucky as the Igbo elements in Nzam that won back the throne of Nzam from the Igala invaders and so are able to present us the real history of those places.

And they are still aggressive to this day. Imagine an Igala man from Olamaboro LGA back in my first year then telling me, with a bitter spirit, that the Igalas will conquer Nsukka again. In this 21st century?? How is that possible??

Remember I mentioned to you before that the Igalas had a certain fondness or penchant for Igboland in the past. Honestly, we should begin to ask why majority of their 'outward migrations' in the past was to Igbo-speaking areas where they settled and were assimilated. Were they running from a past unpleasant Attah or what? Was Igboland so welcoming to them that anyone who chose to flee their land moved southwards instead? This is something that needs to be looked into.

omonnakoda:
LANGUAGE is not evidence of anything the sooner people get this into their heads the better. Many Nigerians today cannot read any other language than English or some variant of English . Most can only count in English. Many speak English better than their native language

Many speak English better than their native language. Language is not a better marker of identity than religion. Most Igbos today have no idea whatsoever of Igbo deities,metaphysics or Cosmology. They are "Christian" what does that prove

That a people speak a particular language is no more informative about their origins than that they worship a particular god. There is no known credible Igbo tradition of Igbos having a common origin or ancestry. Anyone with sense considering the crowded nature of southern Nigeria compared to the whole of Africa would deduce that all our paths must have crossed at some point long ago and then we diverged and many barriers maintained separation. The similarities are more interactional than aetiological to pretend otherwise is just self indulgence or laziness, One day some will do a genetic study that will show that there is more commonality outside linguistic clusters than within. To pretend that there is some blood link between Nsukka and Aba is wishful thinking

I am sure you are saying this to imply that Igbo speakers in Kogi state are not ethnic Igbos. Well then in your line of reasoning, bilingual Igala speakers in Enugu and Anambra state are not Igalas. After all, LANGUAGE is not evidence of anything the sooner people get this into their heads the better.

bigfrancis21:


First of all, this thread is not to claim anybody to be Igbos. Look at the title of the thread, Igbo-speaking communities in Kogi state. In my first post I specifically pointed out Igbo-speaking communities in Kogi state, mostly in Ibaji and Igalamela/Odolu LGA. Just as you have been pointing out Igala speakers in Anambra and Enugu states, did anybody call you a claimer of sorts? I guess not, so what brings up Igbos as claimers in this topic?

In your reasoning, any community outside Kogi state that speaks Igala as an additional language to another 'must' be Igala but full-blooded Igbo speaking communities outside SE, aka anioma, to you are not Igbos right? Igbo speaking people in Delta state are not Igbos but Igala speakers in Ebu are Igalas right? For example you pointed out how Igbos are 'claiming' anioma when the anioma people speak Igbo and nothing other but Igbo, except for boundary towns such as Ebu, Ugbodu, Ubulubu and Ukwunzu that are settlers which we already know.

You try to 'mitigate' the Igbo language spoken by southern Kogi as 'a language of trade learned by the people because they go to Onitsha' but does it ever occur to you, in the same vein, bilingual communities in Enugu state could have learned Igala due to close proximity to Kogi state for ease of communication? I am sure that this possibility does not exist in your mindset.

Now, as for the aim of this thread: Igbo speaking communities in Kogi state. That is what this thread is about: pointing out several Igbo-speaking communities in Kogi south. You have been making attempts to classify them as Igalas when some of them identify as Igbos. I gave you proof and uploaded a snapshot of the Eke Avurugo people who claim to be Igbo instead. The Anyikpa people in Igalamela/Odolu are said to be 'ethnic Igbos' and speak only Igbo as native language except those who travel out that pick up Igala. Then we have other towns in Igala south such as Umuoye, Umueze, Ugwuebonyi, Amauwani etc. which are Igbo town names.

The awareness has not been there all along. It is gradually beginning to come up especially in Eke Avurugo. The Igbo consciousness needs to be awakened in other Igbo-speaking towns in Kogi as well because it seems that the Igalas, like you for example, are bent on claiming these people as Igalas instead of realizing that they are Igbo-speaking natives in Kogi state.

If there is any tribe that is bent on claiming other lands, it is the Igalas. For example, we have seen how they tried to drag Ette, a town where they are a minority, into Kogi state. A town that did not belong to them and where the Idomas and Igbos together are a majority. Plus more other examples.

Now observe the physical features of the Igala moving from south upwards to the north. There are stark differences. The very fact that southern Igalas resemble Igbos more than their brothers up north indicates a heavy Igbo blood in the DNA of southern Igala. DNA tests conducted will readily prove this. I would not be surprised if the amount of Igbo DNA in southern Igala, especially Ibaji and Igalamela/Odolu is as high as 70% or even 80% as the case may be. Thus, this would be a case of some people bearing Igala names while they are mostly Igbo in genetic make up. We already know some towns in Ibaji that their ancestors came from the Igbo heartland - Odeke from Aguleri, Uchuchu from Isiokwe Enugu state etc. Ibaji and Igalamela/Odolu have significant Igbo ancestry.

PS: Few months back, the Igwe of the Olumbanasa area of Anambra state visited Governor Obiano demanding for development in the Olumbanasa area and he was gladly welcome and received by the governor. However, can we expect to say that the Benue state governor or Kogi state governor will receive Igbo natives of those states when they visit asking for attention and development in their areas? Oh then, some people will tell them, 'go back to the east, that's where you come from....you don't belong here...bla bla bla...'. Just thinking out loud.

Even if given the option to be merged with Kogi, the olumbanasa people would seem to prefer to remain in/identify with Anambra than Kogi.

What is Igbo DNA

ianSweet:


As much as i dont care about issues of Anioma identity, i dont think u have the right to insult a full grown man who asserts the identity of his own people. You are not from his own people, so u have no rights to insult him on his choices. He has many followers even from Anioma and i admire his knowledge on history, so i follow his write ups. And why do u feel i am using only him to judge?

There is this Nigerian footballer, i think Sunday Oliseh or so, i saw a speech of his where he claimed that he is not an Igbo man. There is this woman called Lauretta Onochie or so, i think she and some other Anioma people on a sort of Anioma group or so and i saw a statement of hers. I also had a coursemate from Agbor with an Igbo name but she claims that she is not igbo, it seemed strange to me because her name was Chidinma, but i had to respect her choice of identity. Many more instances.

Well as many as you list these people you've mentioned, I can give you twice as many Aniomas who are proud Igbos. Remember, nobody forced the Igbo identity on them. They called themselves Igbos. So this point of yours does not hold water.

Finally, this thread is not about aniomas. It is about Igbo speakers in Kogi state. Please let us focus on that.

bigfrancis21:


I am sure you are saying this to imply that Igbo speakers in Kogi state are not ethnic Igbos. Well then in your line of reasoning, bilingual Igala speakers in Enugu and Anambra state are not Igalas. After all, LANGUAGE is not evidence of anything the sooner people get this into their heads the better.

What is an ethnic Igbo let us start from there.Please provide a definition of your choosing and I will work with you

omonnakoda:
What is Igbo DNA

For starters, genetic markers unique and common to the Igbo ethnic group. The markers used here in America in DNA ancestry testing to determine African Americans of Igbo ancestry.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtcgJi8PNZo

omonnakoda:
What is an ethnic Igbo let us start from there.Please provide a definition of your choosing and I will work with you

Well, I am not here to debate anything with you. You are not Igbo neither are you from Kogi. So bounce.

bigfrancis21:


I am sure you are saying this to imply that Igbo speakers in Kogi state are not ethnic Igbos. Well then in your line of reasoning, bilingual Igala speakers in Enugu and Anambra state are not Igalas. After all, LANGUAGE is not evidence of anything the sooner people get this into their heads the better.

That statement is quite general and would apply to speakers of Hausa ,Yoruba, Swahili,English(You and me) and any other language of significance, We cannot and should not be making aetiological deductions of ethnicity based on the language a people speak alone

Igboid:
What facts to discuss again in this discussion?
Discussion had since ran its natural course when you walked in here with your Afonjaic vituperation to make mockery of yourself.

Ette had since been established as an Idoma dominant town where the Igbos run a distant second and the violent Igala third.
Vanguard a national daily had supported this,?and an Ette native on nairaland corroborated it.

But nah, you want me to take the account of Igalas in Ette and those in Edo( Revolva) and Kogi( OmoIgala and iansweet) so that you can continue your Afonjaic masturbation.

Ofcourse I refused and here we are.

You had been peeping into this thread with your AkinEgba handle, but when you felt the Igala contingents were losing as they should, you logged in here with your laudate handle, with which you can claim unconcerned neutral party to prop up and cheer up the Igalas, any thing to get to Omo Ibos right?

Well, you ended up blowing your little cover, and now you are busted and "casted", your Afonja identity unmasked before the public . Then you resorted to wailing all over the thread talking about sound facts and falsehoods, when you AkinEgba are an epitome of falsehood with your chameleon laudate handle.

Get away you! You stink.

The flaws in your line of reasoning have been pointed out repeatedly, but here you are still wallowing in deceit, thinking you can hoodwink everyone with your half-truths. 3 Igala indigenes (i.e. OmoIgala, Iansweet, Revolva) have confirmed that Ette is an Igala community with Igala ancestry, and OmoIgala even provided links to an online source to corroborate his stand.

You have rejected all their comments and evidence, in favour of an unsubstantiated post made by one lordlexy, (who you believe is the sole spokesman of the Ette community, going by the way you have been brandishing his flawed perspective) and a small report in Vanguard. Wise men bow to superior evidence, when it shows that their earlier train of thought is incorrect. But we all know you lack wisdom, that is why you have taken refuge in falsehood and tagging others with names they do not bear.

It shows in the way you have been trying to pin the identity of a different NL member on me, without any success. Sorry I cannot help you, if you keep shouting AkinEgba's name like a desperate heartbroken lover of his. I truly wish the AkinEgba fellow would show up and put you out of your misery. Stop hyperventilating, as your anger could easily cause you to lose the little aspect left of your senses.

There is no contest going on here, so it is unclear why you are talking of a side winning or losing. Only kids view discussions as a 'win or lose' zero sum game. So I guess that makes you one. You have decided to walk the path of error. Because your error-filled comments have made others see you as clueless, you have now gotten angry. Eeyah, sorry o!

Unlike you, Pazienza a.k.a Igboid, I do NOT have multiple handles. There is only one Laudate. Any other one is a counterfeit. When you find the AkinEgba fellow that has you barking on such a short leash, give him my best regards - for he has managed to establish his dominance over you.

The stench from your repetitive barking of the name of your so-called lover that you refer to as AkinEgba, has actually revealed the hidden stench in your character. I hope you will be able to reach deep within, to find relief from your anger and release from the deception that has clouded your vision.

Peace.

omonnakoda:
That statement is quite general and would apply to speakers of Hausa ,Yoruba, Swahili,English(You and me) and any other language of significance, We cannot and should not be making aetiological deductions of ethnicity based on the language a people speak alone

Why am I getting a feeling that this line of argument of yours is only 'valid' when it comes to Igbo speakers outside SE. But it suddenly disappears when it comes to bilingual Igala speakers in SE?

bigfrancis21:


For starters, genetic markers unique and common to the Igbo ethnic group. The markers used here in America in DNA ancestry testing to determine African Americans of Igbo ancestry.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtcgJi8PNZo

genetic markers unique and common to the Igbo ethnic group and these are to be found in America?

The evidence for this is a YOUTUBE VIDEO?

What is the definition of "Igbo Ethnic Group" .

laudate:


The flaws in your line of reasoning have been pointed out repeatedly, but here you are still wallowing in deceit and thinking you can hoodwink everyone with your half-truths. 3 Igala indigenes (i.e. OmoIgala, Iansweet, Revolva) have confirmed that Ette is an Igala community with Igala ancestry, and OmoIgala even provided links to an online source to corroborate his stand.

You have rejected all their comments and evidence, in favour of an unsubstantiated post made by one lordlexy, (who you believe is the sole spokesman of the Ette community, going by the way you have been brandishing his flawed theory) and a small report in Vanguard. Wise men bow to superior evidence, when it shows that their earlier train of thought is incorrect. But we all know you lack wisdom, that is why you have taken refuge in falsehood and tagging others with names they do not bear.

It shows in the way you have been trying to pin the identity of a different NL member on me, without any success. Sorry I cannot help you, if you keep shouting AkinEgba's name like a desperate heartbroken lover of his. I truly wish the AkinEgba fellow would show up and put you out of your misery. Stop hyperventilating, as your anger could easily cause you to lose the little aspect left of your senses.

There is no contest going on here, so it is unclear why you are talking of a side winning or losing. Only kids view such discussions as a win or lose zero sum game. So I guess that makes you one. You have decided to walk on the path of error and because your error-filled comments have made others see you as clueless, you have gotten angry. Eeyah, sorry o!

Unlike you, Pazienza a.k.a Igboid, I do NOT have multiple handles. There is only one Laudate. Any other one is a counterfeit. When you find the AkinEgba fellow that has you barking on such a short leash, give him my best regards for he has managed to establish his dominance over you.

The stench from your repetitive barking of the name of this so-called lover of yours that you refer to as AkinEgba has actually revealed the hidden stench in your character. I hope you will be able to reach deep inside you to find relief from your anger and release from the deception that has clouded your vision.

Peace.

Well, this is utter bullcrap. The 3 people you have been harping on their word of mouth accounts are not objective. If you went to school then you should have known that in research you only go for verifiable sources of evidence and not for word of mouth, which tends to be subjective.

In the light of that, ALL articles online mention the Ette community to be Idoma and Igbo majority and Igalas a minority. Why you choose to go with biased accounts of 3 monikers on nairaland who are pro-Igala is quite baffling and indicates your level of reasoning and objectivity.

Moreover, it is clear you have nothing intellectual anymore to contribute to this thread. If that's the case, then please bounce.

bigfrancis21:
Well, this is utter bullcrap. The 3 people you have been harping on their word of mouth accounts are not objective. If you went to school then you should have known that in research you only go for verifiable sources of evidence and not for word of mouth, which tends to be subjective.

In the light of that, ALL articles online mention the Ette community to be Idoma and Igbo majority and Igalas a minority. Why you choose to go with biased accounts of 3 monikers on nairaland who are pro-Igala is quite baffling and indicates your level of reasoning and objectivity.

Moreover, it is clear you have nothing intellectual anymore to contribute to this thread. If that's the case, then please bounce.

Oh, and the flawed theory your friend Pazienza a.k.a Igboid has been parading (which was originally posted by one LordLexy) is objective, in your own eyes? What makes it objective, while the responses of three Igala indigenes are subjective, in your own view?

You are the one bereft of intellectual ideas to add to this thread, as your line of reasoning appears really shallow indeed. Take the next exit door, please.

Igalas speakers in Anambra and Enugu are Igalas, Ndoki People are Ijaws but Iggbo speaking people in Igaland are still Igalas and Igbo speaking people in Rivers state and Delta state are not Igbos but Bini or Ijaw or Igala even though they speak no other language but Igbo. Una try.

omonnakoda:


genetic markers unique and common to the Igbo ethnic group and these are to be found in America?

The evidence for this is a YOUTUBE VIDEO?

What is the definition of "Igbo Ethnic Group" .

You really do not know anything. And people like you argue back and forth like you know. If you seek knowledge why not go and find it?

DNA testing companies, such as 23andme, have a database of blood and DNA samples taken from many tribes in West Africa. Using different techniques these DNAs are studied and there are distinct differences in the different tribal DNA samples. For example, Akan chromosome differs from Fon chromosome etc. These samples are sampled and patterned and stored in their databases. Any african american who submits his DNA for testing will have his DNA patterned and compared against the samples in their database for the closest match. The video I gave you is just one example of an AA with Igbo ancestry. Here's another one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j09jj9mX54

So yes, there does exist an Igbo DNA - an element of function in every human body that makes one different from others, just as the Yorubas have unique DNA markers and the Hausas too. Physically looking, these 3 tribes all look different from each other and this stems from the differences in DNA make up of each tribe. Don't act like you don't know this.

omonnakoda:
That statement is quite general and would apply to speakers of Hausa ,Yoruba, Swahili,English(You and me) and any other language of significance, We cannot and should not be making aetiological deductions of ethnicity based on the language a people speak alone

If that is the case then, tribal tags such as 'yoruba', 'hausa' etc. should not exist or be based upon solely upon language. After all, we have the Ilorin people who speak Yoruba but are not Yorubas but Fulani by ancestry. We also have the Aworis of Lagos state with part Ijaw ancestry. The Eguns of Lagos and Ogun state are not Yorubas.

bigfrancis21:


Why am I getting a feeling that this line of argument of yours is only 'valid' when it comes to Igbo speakers outside SE. But it suddenly disappears when it comes to bilingual Igala speakers in SE?

You need to examine yourself psychologically. I am not interested in your feelings but what you have to say . That is the only point of contact. My point is simple one; anywhere in the world we cannot deduce very much about a people's origin based on the language they speak,there are countless examples of languages being totally replaced by others and of small groups dissolving into a larger linguistic pool.
WHY IS THERE SUCH A THING AS A NIGERIAN ACCENT These linguistic rearrangements take a very short time indeed

Consider the Jamaican Accent and its similarity to other Caribbean Islands.Apart from skin color is there any way we can tell from listening to them that they are African? They have a few words but the number is insignificant and their language can only be classified as an ENGLISH language but they are NOT an English people. If they had been white maybe we would be having this same kind of argument about their origin. Language only tells you who has ruled a people and where they have passed through ,not where they come from or who they are

A language cluster is not necessarily a political or national identity As far as the Igbos are concerned specifically There was no Pan-Igbo identity or political agglomeration before colonization. Indeed many speakers of "Igbo" neer described themselves as Igbo 150 years ago. This is equally true among speakers of Hausa,Yoruba and so on. The fact that a people USE a language does not tell their full story you must ask them.

bigfrancis21:


If that is the case then, tribal tags such as 'yoruba', 'hausa' etc. should not exist or be based upon solely upon language. After all, we have the Ilorin people who speak Yoruba but are not Yorubas but Fulani by ancestry. We also have the Aworis of Lagos state with part Ijaw ancestry. The Eguns of Lagos and Ogun state are not Yorubas.

I agree with that 100% but the word is ethnic not "tribal"(check a dictionary) or at any rate it should be down to the index group to choose which ethnicity they wish to be identified as. If The Eguns of Lagos do not wish to be called Yorubas they should not be forced to.In that we are in agreement

bigfrancis21:


You really do not know anything. And people like you argue back and forth like you know. If you seek knowledge why not go and find it?

DNA testing companies, such as 23andme, have a database of blood and DNA samples taken from many tribes in West Africa. Using different techniques these DNAs are studied and there are distinct differences in the different tribal DNA samples. For example, Akan chromosome differs from Fon chromosome etc. These samples are sampled and patterned and stored in their databases. Any african american who submits his DNA for testing will have his DNA patterned and compared against the samples in their database for the closest match. The video I gave you is just one example of an AA with Igbo ancestry. Here's another one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j09jj9mX54

So yes, there does exist an Igbo DNA - an element of function in every human body that makes one different from others, just as the Yorubas have unique DNA markers and the Hausas too. Physically looking, these 3 tribes all look different from each other and this stems from the differences in DNA make up of each tribe. Don't act like you don't know this.

I would be the first to admit that I know very little but I compensate for that with my eagerness to learn.Please tell me about this Igbo DNA project ,I am particularly interested in the methodology ,perhaps you can share some citations/literature review and not these You tube videos?

omonnakoda:
You need to examine yourself psychologically. I am not interested in your feelings but what you have to say . That is the only point of contact. My point is simple one; anywhere in the world we cannot deduce very much about a people's origin based on the language they speak,there are countless examples of languages being totally replaced by others and of small groups dissolving into a larger linguistic pool.
WHY IS THERE SUCH A THING AS A NIGERIAN ACCENT These linguistic rearrangements take a very short time indeed

Consider the Jamaican Accent and its similarity to other Caribbean Islands.Apart from skin color is there any way we can tell from listening to them that they are African? They have a few words but the number is insignificant and their language can only be classified as an ENGLISH language but they are NOT an English people. If they had been white maybe we would be having this same kind of argument about their origin. Language only tells you who has ruled a people and where they have passed through ,not where they come from or who they are

A language cluster is not necessarily a political or national identity As far as the Igbos are concerned specifically There was no Pan-Igbo identity or political agglomeration before colonization. Indeed many speakers of "Igbo" neer described themselves as Igbo 150 years ago. This is equally true among speakers of Hausa,Yoruba and so on. The fact that a people USE a language does not tell their full story you must ask them.

Your example is needless because Caribbean folks are African by ancestry. Formally, they are called Afro-Caribbean. Blacks are called African american (Americans with African ancestry). The history of these folks is well studied and recorded. They speak English today due to colonization and cultural strapping where their African languages were stripped of them and they were forced to speak English and bear English names but they are African by ancestry. However, the same cannot be said for most African tribes. So I do not see how the Jamaican example relates to the Igbo-Igala talk on this thread.

Also, 150 years ago Yorubas never referred to themselves as Yorubas. Infact, the word yoruba comes from the hausa/fulani word, yar.iba, in reference to the people of 'oyo'. It explains why till today the egbas, ikales, aworis, ijebus etc. deny being yoruba. If you are going to generalize, please do so in-toto.

bigfrancis21:


Your example is needless because Caribbean folks are African by ancestry. Formally, they are called Afro-Caribbean. Blacks are called African american (Americans with African ancestry). The history of these folks is well studied and recorded. They speak English today due to colonization and cultural strapping where their African languages were stripped of them and they were forced to speak English and bear English names but they are African by ancestry. However, the same cannot be said for most African tribes. So I do not see how the Jamaican example relates to the Igbo-Igala talk on this thread.

Also, 150 years ago Yorubas never referred to themselves as Yorubas. Infact, the word yoruba comes from the hausa/fulani word, Yoruba, in reference to the people of 'oyo'. It explains why till today the egbas, ikales, aworis, ijebus etc. deny being yoruba. If you are going to generalize, please do so in-toto.

Once again I agree with your second paragraph almost100% No one knows where the word Yoruba comes from( There is no language like Hausa/Fulani but we can accept any theory it does not matter. Germans do not call themselves German

I am on record as haviing said that before on Nairaland I am sure I have done so on more than 5 threads so no argument there. The Yoruba identity is a very new one. If all so called Yorubas identified as such no one would have called Oyo an Empire
In fact The "Yoruba" in Benin republic are called Anago not Yoruba .I have said this countless times on Nairaland
Language is not what identifies a people though it can be very important

omonnakoda:
I would be the first to admit that I know very little but I compensate for that with my eagerness to learn.Please tell me about this Igbo DNA project ,I am particularly interested in the methodology ,perhaps you can share some citations/literature review and not these You tube videos?

That is to the extent I know. I took a genetics class during my first year in school and I understand how genetics play out. If you want to learn more about DNA testing you can read up more about it.

How DNA tested Americans are claiming Igbo heritage

Each year growing number of our African American brothers and sisters are reclaiming their Igbo heritage, thanks to the incredible DNA project by our sister Ada Naja Chinyere Njoku and her group. Chinyere has traced her heritage back to Ala Igbo, and several years ago was reunited back with her Igbo family through an incredible and emotional ceremony in Virginia at the Igbo Village, undertaken and presided over by His Royal Highness Eze Ènweleána II Obidiegwu Onyesoh of Ancient Nri Kingdom

This year at the ICOTTH USA Igbo Language Preservation and Cultural Festival, a joint partnership International Festival in collaboration with Africa Business World, scheduled in Maryland at the Prestigious Coppin State University in Baltimore, from August 5-7th, Naja will be presenting all the African American brothers and sisters who through the Igbo DNA project have been tested and found to be of Igbo ancestry The candidates would be accepted and re-united with their Igbo ancestors.

This ceremony promises to be tears dropping and emotional and happy ceremony. As the old saying goes “blood is thicker than water” It is incredible what modern technology can do, and we salute Chinyere and her group for this technological breakthrough. Even after hundreds of years of separation between African American descendants here in the United States and their ancestors in Igboland, reunification has been made possible through technological innovation. Here is the message from Ada Naja Chinyere Njoku and her group.

I am Naja Chinyere Njoku . I am the head of the DNA Tested African Descendants Organization. We believe that knowing where we came from will provide the much needed foundation for reconciling with our homeland and people. We are volunteer facilitators that currently support over 11,000 members from around that world that wish to know where they come from. We assist African Descendants in the process of learning their ancestry through DNA testing and genealogy (family tree building). We provide the tools and resources needed, for someone considering DNA testing, to make an informed decision regarding which company to use and the way forward after receiving the ancestry results. Each facilitator has DNA tested at Ancestry.com , 23andme.com , FtDNA.com and /or Africanancestry.com .

How DNA tested Americans are claiming Igbo heritage. Many of us have traveled to our native lands after learning where we came from. We understand that the initial communications with one’s ethnic groups of ancestry can be exciting and unnerving at the same time. We also understand that first impressions are lasting ones so we coordinate reception and integration events for those that have learned their African ancestry. This is how we dispel the many myths that have kept us separated from our brothers and sister back in Africa. My direct communications with the Royals of various African ethnic groups afford us the opportunity to participate in multiple events. Some of them are introductions, cultural and language classes, naming ceremonies and other festivities.

http://9jatravel.com.ng/how-dna-tested-americans-are-claiming-igbo-heritage/
https://www.africandna.com/


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX4tEu6BuQw
African Americans of Igbo ancestry being given Igbo names.

bigfrancis21:


That is to the extent I know. I took a genetics class during my first year in school and I understand how genetics play out. If you want to learn more about DNA testing you can read up more about it.

I am not wanting to learn about genetics but your claims about Igbo DNA specifically

Can you provide any reference to any peer reviewed articles to back up your earlier claims

This is the Vanguard article dated 10/7/2012 which Pazienza a.k.a Igboid has been basing his flawed arguments upon, trying to label Ette primarily as an Igbo community. The article does NOT state that the community has an Igbo ancestry.

It merely acknowledges that 3 languages (Igala, Idoma & Igbo) are spoken in the town. It says there is an Igbo speaking part of the town, which could be an enclave of migrants or settlers. It does not even say they are indigenes. The report does not provide conclusive evidence in this regard.

It does NOT say that the traditional rulers or custodians of culture in the community are Igbo.

It does NOT say which group has greatest numerical strength in terms of population within the town.

Yet, Pazienza a.k.a Igboid is relying on this article as his sole authority on the ancestry of the Ette community, as well as the words of one of his friends, LordLexy. Wonders shall never end!

VANGUARD: Communal clash: Enugu closes schools ON JULY 10, 2012 | 1:15 | NEWS COMMENTS BY CYRIL OZOR NSUKKA —

Enugu State government has closed down about 16 primary and one secondary schools, as well government offices, including the local government secretariat in Ette, a border community with Kogi and Benue States following disturbances by some of the indigenes agitating to be merged with Kogi State. According to sources, the area which is in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of the state was populated by Igbo, Idoma and Igalla communities who had been inter-marrying for ages.

An indigene of Etteh, Mr Tony Ogidi is cuurently representing the Igboeze North 11 Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly. However, the agitation by a section of the community to be merged with Kogi State started sometime in 1980, during the administration of Chief Jim Nwobodo as governor of old Anambra State, just as the Igbo speaking part of the area had been opposing them, insisting that merging them with Kogi State would put them in minority.

Sources told Vanguard that the matter which had defied political solution was thrown out by the Supreme Court on February 8, 2007 for lack of jurisdiction. The court in its ruling read by the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Alloysius Katsina-Alu stated that it was the duty of the National Boundary Commission to delineate boundary between Enugu and Kogi States, prompting the commission to the visit the disputed areas about two years ago. Other members of the panel which sat on the case at the Supreme Court included Justices Umaru Kalgo, Mahmood Mohammed, Walter Samuel Onnoghen, Francis Talba and Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed.

It was not known if the boundary commission had made the demarcation but the matter was alleged to have degenerated during the last national census when some youths prevented officials of the National Population Commission, NPC, from coming to the area throughout the exercise. However, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, were chased away from some parts of Etteh during the registration of eligible voters by those protesting the inclusion of Etteh in Enugu State, resulting in the inability of some voters to be registered.

An official of the Enugu State government who spoke on the issue on the condition of anonymity said, ‘’it is true that Etteh community is under siege by pro-Kogi youths in the area. Though Etteh has always been a flash point in Enugu State, the situation worsened as pro-Kogi youths of Ette, possibly aided by the Kogi State government, sacked all Enugu State Government’s institutions at Etteh, including the Igboeze North West Development Centre secretariat, a magistrate court, the education authority, and all about chased teachers in about 16 primary and one secondary schools out of their area. ’’

During the last WAEC/NECO examinations, candidates who registered in Ette were moved to the neighbouring schools at Umuopu, Umuogbo and Aji as happened during the last general house of assembly election which was won by an indigene of the area, based on the zoning polical offices in Igboeeze North 11 Constituency (Umunana). Meanwhile, the work on the Nsukka – Ibagwa Aka- Enugu Ezike – Ette road, awarded by the Enugu State government to link the area with Ogugu in Kogi State had been stopped at the Etteh end of the road by youths who had threatened the contractors handling the project if they attempted to entre their area.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/07/communal-clash-enugu-closes-schools/

laudate:
This is the Vanguard article dated 10/7/2012 which Pazienza a.k.a Igboid has been basing his flawed arguments upon, trying to label Ette primarily as an Igbo community. The article does NOT state that the community has an Igbo ancestry.

It merely acknowledges that 3 languages (Igala, Idoma & Igbo) are spoken in the town. It says there is an Igbo speaking part of the town, which could be an enclave of migrants or settlers. It does not even say they are indigenes. The report does not provide conclusive evidence in this regard.

It does NOT say that the traditional rulers or custodians of culture in the community are Igbo.

It does NOT say which group has greatest numerical strength in terms of population within the town.

Yet, Pazienza a.k.a Igboid is relying on this article as his sole authority on the ancestry of the Ette community, as well as the words of one of his friends, LordLexy. Wonders shall never end!

You are the one making extraneous meanings out of the article. The article does not point out, neither that the town is Igala. It clearly said '...some of the indigenes who are Igalas...' These Igalas could be settlers as well, as we all know their tendency to flee Igala land and settle in Igbo land, a migratory pattern starting since the 1700s or beyond. It does confirm Ette to be Igbo-speaking as there are 'Igbo-speaking sections' of the town. Those who believe they are Igalas of the town have failed in dragging the entire Ette into Kogi state. Honestly speaking, how can less than 1/3rd of the people of Ette, who are not even the majority, seek to drag an entire town into Kogi state against the wish of the majority people -Idoma and Igbo due to selfish political reasons? Who are the land grabbers in this scenario now?

Well, they have failed. Ette will continue to remain in Enugu state. The idomas there prefer to remain in Enugu state where they are more welcome than in Kogi state. Igala attempts to grab Ette land have failed.

omonnakoda:
I am not wanting to learn about genetics but your claims about Igbo DNA specifically

Can you provide any reference to any peer reviewed articles to back up your earlier claims

My dear I believe that you are a grown man. I cannot spoon feed you. If you are interested in learning about that, please use google and stop spamming my mentions.

bigfrancis21:
Well, this is utter bullcrap. The 3 people you have been harping on their word of mouth accounts are not objective. If you went to school then you should have known that in research you only go for verifiable sources of evidence and not for word of mouth, which tends to be subjective.

In the light of that, ALL articles online mention the Ette community to be Idoma and Igbo majority and Igalas a minority. Why you choose to go with biased accounts of 3 monikers on nairaland who are pro-Igala is quite baffling and indicates your level of reasoning and objectivity.

Moreover, it is clear you have nothing intellectual anymore to contribute to this thread. If that's the case, then please bounce.

Which articles state that the Igbo are in the majority in Ette community? Provide the source/url. When was a census conducted in that area to determine this?

bigfrancis21:
You are the one making extraneous meanings out of the article. The article does not point out, neither that the town is Igala. It clearly said '...some of the indigenes who are Igalas...' These Igalas could be settlers as well, as we all know their tendency to flee Igala land and settle in Igbo land, a migratory pattern starting since the 1700s or beyond. It does confirm Ette to be Igbo-speaking as there are 'Igbo-speaking sections' of the town. Those who believe they are Igalas of the town have failed in dragging the entire Ette into Kogi state. Honestly speaking, how can less than 1/3rd of the people of Ette, who are not even the majority, seek to drag an entire town into Kogi state against the wish of the majority people -Idoma and Igbo due to selfish political reasons? Who are the land grabbers in this scenario now?

Well, they have failed. Ette will continue to remain in Enugu state. The idomas there prefer to remain in Enugu state where they are more welcome than in Kogi state. Igala attempts to grab Ette land have failed.

Where did you get the info that the pro-Kogi part of the community is only 1/3 of the state? Three languages were mentioned. Details of the ancestry of the entire Ette community was not even stated. The population of each group was not even stated. I am yet to hear that a census was conducted in that area, and you have already jumped to the conclusion that the one group is 1/3 of the population.

You also stated that the article confirms Ette to be Igbo-speaking as there are 'Igbo-speaking sections' of the town. Point of correction. The article says there is an Igbo-speaking part of the town. It does NOT say the entire town is Igbo-speaking.

bigfrancis21:


My dear I believe that you are a grown man. I cannot spoon feed you. If you are interested in learning about that, please use google and stop spamming my mentions.

i am not wanting to learn anything more than for you to back up the ridiculous claim YOU MADE not by producing bogus YOUTUBE videos but by a proper citation. You made a claim and I am asking you to back it up with a reference. There is no such thing as Igbo DNA so please stop talking nonsense

laudate:


The flaws in your line of reasoning have been pointed out repeatedly, but here you are still wallowing in deceit, thinking you can hoodwink everyone with your half-truths. 3 Igala indigenes (i.e. OmoIgala, Iansweet, Revolva) have confirmed that Ette is an Igala community with Igala ancestry, and OmoIgala even provided links to an online source to corroborate his stand.

You have rejected all their comments and evidence, in favour of an unsubstantiated post made by one lordlexy, (who you believe is the sole spokesman of the Ette community, going by the way you have been brandishing his flawed perspective) and a small report in Vanguard. Wise men bow to superior evidence, when it shows that their earlier train of thought is incorrect. But we all know you lack wisdom, that is why you have taken refuge in falsehood and tagging others with names they do not bear.

It shows in the way you have been trying to pin the identity of a different NL member on me, without any success. Sorry I cannot help you, if you keep shouting AkinEgba's name like a desperate heartbroken lover of his. I truly wish the AkinEgba fellow would show up and put you out of your misery. Stop hyperventilating, as your anger could easily cause you to lose the little aspect left of your senses.

There is no contest going on here, so it is unclear why you are talking of a side winning or losing. Only kids view discussions as a 'win or lose' zero sum game. So I guess that makes you one. You have decided to walk the path of error. Because your error-filled comments have made others see you as clueless, you have now gotten angry. Eeyah, sorry o!

Unlike you, Pazienza a.k.a Igboid, I do NOT have multiple handles. There is only one Laudate. Any other one is a counterfeit. When you find the AkinEgba fellow that has you barking on such a short leash, give him my best regards - for he has managed to establish his dominance over you.

The stench from your repetitive barking of the name of your so-called lover that you refer to as AkinEgba, has actually revealed the hidden stench in your character. I hope you will be able to reach deep within, to find relief from your anger and release from the deception that has clouded your vision.

Peace.

Lol!

AkinEgba, AkinPhysicist, Laudate. You bore me.

An objective report in Vanguard is a small report, but those given by Igalas minorities who are dragging Ette are big reports? Hehe!

I mean, how can anybody take the opinions of Igalas on this issue as an objective one? It takes a treacherous Afonja like you to do such. What were you expecting Igalas in Ette and those in Kogi to say? That they are minorities in Etteh:-/

Lordlexy is an indigene of Ette, his opinion on the issue weights more than those of Igalas from Kogi and Edo here. That very much is rational.

What flaws in my line of thought? I had provided rebuttals to all iansweet, Omo Igala, Revolva relevant posts and arguments here, using relevant examples when necessary, neutral folks here can see that easily. So I wonder where you are manufacturing your own flaws.

AkinEgba you can whine as much as you want, but the fact is that your Afonja self have been busted and the more you drag it on, the more you make public disgrace of yourself.