I'm American and recently learned that some of my recent ancestors were Igbo people and I would like to learn more about the culture. Is there anyway i can learn Igbo language? Im in New York City.

come to igbo land

I can be of help except for time constraint.

Any Igbo person here who wishes to assist him can elaborate on the following topics:

Igbo Cultural Music
Igbo Food and Delicacies
Igbo Names and meanings
Igbo traditional marriage
Igbo market days and calendar
Igbo Masquerades
Igbo Burial Rites for a traditionalist
Igbo demi-gods
Igbo attires
Igbo traditional rulers
Igbo system of government
Igbo Sculptures and arts
Igbo traditional wrestling
Igbo architecture

Better still you can look up some of these things on YOUTUBE.

Come down to aba ka ebugi uche

Jcolston89:
I'm American and recently learned that some of my recent ancestors were Igbo people and I would like to learn more about the culture. Is there anyway i can learn Igbo language? Im in New York City.

Welcome to the Igbo fold. Nno! (Welcome). As you probably know by now, there are plenty of Igbos residing here in the US. We hold an annual convention that attracts Igbos from all over the country where the rich Igbo culture is displayed in bright colors. Feel free to attend that of this year as it is a good way to start and get to meet so many Igbos (your relations), make friends, enjoy the beautiful cultural display etc.

Nno!

Umu Igbo Unite Convention

http://umuigbounite.com/

bigfrancis21:


Welcome to the Igbo fold. Nno! (Welcome). As you probably know by now, there are plenty of Igbos residing here in the US. We hold an annual convention that attracts Igbos from all over the country where the rich Igbo culture is displayed in bright colors. Feel free to attend that of this year as it is a good way to start and get to meet so many Igbos (your relations), make friends, enjoy the beautiful cultural display etc.

Nno!

Umu Igbo Unite Convention

http://umuigbounite.com/

I wish there was a convention on the lower East coast.

Jcolston89:
I'm American and recently learned that some of my recent ancestors were Igbo people and I would like to learn more about the culture. Is there anyway i can learn Igbo language? Im in New York City.

Yes
Learning Igbo isn't difficult if you're determined... Its a language spoken by 40million people worldwide and its sentences are in a Subject-Verb-Object(SVO) order.
Get yourself a Igbo dictionary/vocabulary... Or if you want I can send it across to you, it'd be very helpful to you in getting started.
Moreover why not choose an Igbo name for yourself? There are plenty to choose from

MZLady39:



I wish there was a convention on the lower East coast.

Ya really pick an Igbo name for yourself. This was your heritage forcefully taken away from you for over 300 years to hide your identity. African Americans of Igbo ancestry have recently been taking on Igbo names in Igbo naming ceremonies! There are plenty of them out there to choose from.


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

Check out some names here:

http://www.babynamespedia.com/search/f/igbo

bigfrancis21:


Ya really pick an Igbo name for yourself. This was your heritage forcefully taken away from you for over 300 years to hide your identity. African Americans of Igbo ancestry have recently been taking on Igbo names in Igbo naming ceremonies! There are plenty of them out there to choose from.


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

Check out some names here:

http://www.babynamespedia.com/search/f/igbo

Oh thanks brother...but I don't need the ceremony.
I have Igbo blood running through my veins via my dad. My entire name is Igbo (although I was born in the U.S.--and my mother was black American).
My name is Ngozi.....which I'm finding is quite popular amongst Nigerian Igbo names. I've even seen my name several times (via articles, and in diff't rooms with folks' monikers on this site. etc.) throughout NL since I've become a member...originally in Dec. 2016.
I didn't grow up around any Nigerians except for 1...my dad's colleague (whose wife is from Malawi)and whose children were born and raised in the U.S...and who became a very good family friend. That's why I was hoping they'd hold the convention somewhere in the Southeastern portion of the U.S.

cheruv:

Yes
Learning Igbo isn't difficult if you're determined... Its a language spoken by 40million people worldwide and its sentences are in a Subject-Verb-Object(SVO) order.
Get yourself a Igbo dictionary/vocabulary... Or if you want I can send it across to you, it'd be very helpful to you in getting started.
Moreover why not choose an Igbo name for yourself? There are plenty to choose from

I'm actually going to an Igbo naming ceremony in July in Virginia.

Stay a year in igboland

.

bigfrancis21:


Hey quick question. Just curious. If you had an all igbo name, such as Ngozi (which obviously points to your origin), how come you're just discovering recently that you are Igbo?

Also, what is/was your relationship with your dad? Is he still alive? Where in Nigeria is he from?

Hi BigFrancis21,
Did you mean to ask me? Cause you addressed your question to the OP but used my name? I'm not the OP.

MZLady39:



Hi BigFrancis21,
Did you mean to ask me? Cause you addressed your question to the OP but used my name? I'm not the OP.

Hey quick question. Just curious. If you had an all igbo name, such as Ngozi (which obviously points to your origin), how come you're just discovering recently that you are Igbo?

Also, what is/was your relationship with your dad? Is he still alive? Where in Nigeria is he from?

Ya, I meant to ask you. It's been corrected now.

bigfrancis21:


Hey quick question. Just curious. If you had an all igbo name, such as Ngozi (which obviously points to your origin), how come you're just discovering recently that you are Igbo?

Also, what is/was your relationship with your dad? Is he still alive? Where in Nigeria is he from?

No problem with you asking....I'm not just discovering that I'm Igbo..lol. I have known it my whole life.
My dad is still alive and doing very well, I'm very close to him, and he's from Anambra state (I know the exact city...but I'm hesistant to put it here on NL).
The issue is the fact that my dad (who was happily married to my mother..who was black American for 30 yrs), unfortunately did not have the time (due to the nature of his well-respected but busy job) to teach us a whole lot about our Igbo side. So of course, I became immersed in my mother's culture in the U.S. where I was raised..so that's the side I know. While I wish I knew more, I don't blame my daddy because he worked hard to give us a very nice and comfortable life.
I have just started (in recent years) having the urge to want to know my Igbo side...

MZLady39:


No problem with you asking....I'm not just discovering that I'm Igbo..lol. I have known it my whole life.
My dad is still alive and doing very well, I'm very close to him, and he's from Anambra state (I know the exact city...but I'm hesistant to put it here on NL).
The issue is the fact that my dad (who was happily married to my mother..who was black American for 30 yrs), unfortunately did not have the time (due to the nature of his well-respected but busy job) to teach us a whole lot about our Igbo side. So of course, I became immersed in my mother's culture in the U.S. where I was raised..so that's the side I know. While I wish I knew more, I don't blame my daddy because he worked hard to give us a very nice and comfortable life.
I have just started (in recent years) having the urge to want to know my Igbo side...

I'd not blame your Dad one bit...he did what any other Igbo father would've done,give his family a good life
I think what you should do is to come down to Nigeria during the holidays and spend time in Igboland. You can either go to your village in Anambra or stay in either Asaba, Enugwu, Owerre or PH where you'd meet and interact with Igbos. It'd also give you an opportunity to learn the tongue too.
Chi nonyere gi

cheruv:

I'd not blame your Dad one bit...he did what any other Igbo father would've done,give his family a good life
I think what you should do is to come down to Nigeria during the holidays and spend time in Igboland. You can either go to your village in Anambra or stay in either Asaba, Enugwu, Owerre or PH where you'd meet and interact with Igbos. It'd also give you an opportunity to learn the tongue too.
Chi nonyere gi

Thanks so much for the info.....Trust me I'm working on it now & have a target date. My dad said to wait a little bit (which I've been doing), but I'd like to get there and meet my family. My brother is the only sibling (at the moment) who wants to come with me. When my mind is "determined" to do something, I usually am successful.
I'm just so grateful that I can at least communicate with other Nigerians through the English language.
But my goal is to learn Igbo.

Chi nonyere gi [/quote]
This is why I've gotta get to my other "home" & learn. Please translate for me

MZLady39:


Thanks so much for the info.....Trust me I'm working on it now & have a target date. My dad said to wait a little bit (which I've been doing), but I'd like to get there and meet my family. My brother is the only sibling (at the moment) who wants to come with me. When my mind is "determined" to do something, I usually am successful.
I'm just so grateful that I can at least communicate with other Nigerians through the English language.
But my goal is to learn Igbo.

Chi nonyere gi
This is why I've gotta get to my other "home" & learn. Please translate for me

Chi = God
Nonyere = be with/stay with
Gi = you

God be with you.

You often may have seen the Igbo name for females, Chinonye...that's basically the shorter version of the name and its meaning.

bigfrancis21:


Chi = God
Nonyere = be with/stay with
Gi = you

God be with you.

You often may have seen the Igbo name for females, Chinonye...that's basically the shorter version of the name and its meaning.

Thanks....& yes may He always be with me. I should've known "Chi". I'm pretty good with recognizing & pronouncing Igbo names.

It gladdens my heart when I see our long lost brothers coming to identify with us. I have seen your pictures man and I must say you are definitely IGBO by tribe.Nno Nwanne.... It means welcome home brother [b][/b]

MZLady39:


Thanks so much for the info.....Trust me I'm working on it now & have a target date. My dad said to wait a little bit (which I've been doing), but I'd like to get there and meet my family. My brother is the only sibling (at the moment) who wants to come with me. When my mind is "determined" to do something, I usually am successful.
I'm just so grateful that I can at least communicate with other Nigerians through the English language.
But my goal is to learn Igbo.

Chi nonyere gi
This is why I've gotta get to my other "home" & learn. Please translate for me

Bigfrancis just nailed it