WE ARE EVERYWHERE: For example, in Jamaican Patoisthe Igbo wordunu, meaning you plural, is still used. [ 74 ]Red Ibo (or red eboe) describes a black personwith fair or yellowish skin. This term had originated from the reported prevalence of these skin tonesamong the Igbo but eastern Nigerian influences may not be strictly Igbo. [ 20 ] [ 75 ]The wordBim, a colloquial term for Barbados, was commonly used among enslaved Barbadians(Bajans). This word is said to have derived frombi muin the Igbo language (orbem,Ndi bem,Nwanyi ibemorNwoke ibem, which means My people), but may have other origins (see: Barbados etymology). [ 76 ] [ 77 ]A section of Belize Citywas namedEboe Townafter its Igbo inhabitants. [ 78 ]In the United States the Igbo were found most commonly in the states of Marylandand Virginia, where they remained the largest single group of Africans. [ 79 ] [ 80 ]Recent Igbo-speaking immigrants have also settled in Maryland, attracted to its strong professional job market. [ 81 ] Colonial period Main article: Colonial Nigeria The arrival of the Britishin the 1870s and increased encounters between the Igbo and other ethnicities near the Niger Riverled to a deepening sense of a distinct Igbo ethnic identity. The Igbo proved remarkably decisive and enthusiastic in their embrace of Christianityand Western education. [ 82 ] [ 83 ]Due to the incompatibility of the Igbo decentralized style of government and the centralized system required for British indirect rule, British colonial rulewas marked with open conflicts and much tension. [ 53 ]Under British colonial rule, the diversity within each of Nigerias major ethnic groups slowly decreased and distinctions between the Igbo and other large ethnic groups, such as the Hausaand the Yoruba, became sharper. [ 84 ] Colonial rule drastically transformed Igbo society as depicted in the book Things Fall Apart. British rule brought about changes in culture such as the introduction of Warrant Chiefs as Eze(traditional rulers) where there were no such monarchies. [ 85 ]Christianity had played a great part in the introduction of European ideology into Igbo society and culture, sometimes shunning parts of the culture. [ 86 ]The rumours that the Igbo women were being assessed for taxation sparked off the 1929 Igbo Womens Warin Aba(also known as the 1929 Aba Riots), a massive revolt of women never encountered before in Igbo history. [ 87 ] Living conditions changed under colonial rule. The tradition of building houses out of mud wallsand thatchedroofs died while houses started being built with cement blocks and zincroofs. Roads for vehicles were built. Buildings such as hospitals and schools were erected in many parts of Igboland. Along with this change came electricity and running waterin the early 20th century. Electricity brought new devices such as radios and televisions which are now common place in most Igbo households.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:50:06 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015