Igbo

Igbo or Ibo, major ethnic group living mainly in south-east Nigeria. The word is pronounced “eebo”, with a bilabial consonant not used in English that has a “g” and a “b” sound in it in place of the “b” sound. Ibo is an older spelling. No one knows for certain how many Igbo—or Nigerians—there are. They are certainly one of Nigeria’s largest ethno-linguistic groups (along with the Yoruba and the Hausa people).

Igbo, a Niger-Congo language with around 18 million speakers, has many dialects, some of which are barely mutually intelligible. However, Igbo speakers from different areas can usually communicate with each other, tending to adapt their speech to one of several central forms. Igbo is a tonal language like Chinese, which means that the meaning of certain homographs (words that are spelt alike) is distinguished by pitch.

Igbo is distantly related to the languages of neighbouring peoples; this indicates that the Igbo have been in much their present home in south-eastern Nigeria for a very long period. Evidence of ancient settlements, stone tools, and pottery dates from several thousand years ago. Most Igbo lived between the lower Niger River and the Cross River though a substantial minority lived west of the Niger. Many now live in other parts of Nigeria or abroad, in Britain, North America, or other African countries, especially South Africa. This is sometimes called the Igbo diaspora and began in the era of the slave trade.

In modern times, Igbo have emigrated in search of educational and work opportunities. Traditionally, the Igbo lived in small village democracies. Not all were equal however; slaves had no civil rights and women had less power than men. Men of roughly the same age formed an age grade, to which they belonged through life, unless demoted—a great disgrace. Older men controlled the affairs of the community, and decisions were taken by consensus, after long debates. There was a system of titles, which were not inherited, but achieved by an individual’s own efforts.

The western Igbo lived in towns, but the majority, east of the Niger, lived in village groups—settlements that were geographically dispersed but united by a tradition of a single founding ancestor. There were hundreds of these village groups. In their turn, village groups were part of a larger unit, sometimes called a clan. What linked the members of a clan, village group, or village, was a tradition of descent from the same ancestor. For example, the members of the Umueri (Children of Eri) clan believe they are descended from an ancestor called Eri. One of his sons was Nri, the founder of the Umunri village group. Other sons founded different groups.

Another way in which communities were linked was through a network of regional oracles. The best known was Arochukwu (Chukwu means “god”). The Aro people (a subgroup of the Igbo) were long-distance traders; during their travels they would come across cases of disputes or accusations and would bring clients back to the oracle. The reputation of these oracles depended on the justice of their judgements.

The Igbo have a long history of cultural achievement. Traditionally, the Igbo have excelled at metalwork, weaving, and woodcarving. Excavations at the village of Igbo Ukwu have unearthed sophisticated cast bronze artefacts and textiles dating from the 9th century. Since ancient times the Igbo have traded craft goods and agricultural products. Traditional Igbo religion varied regionally, but generally included a belief in an afterlife and reincarnation, sacrifice, and spirit and ancestor worship. The Igbo performed elaborate ceremonies marking funerals and other life passages. Yam was the most important crop and staple food for the Igbo and they still hold an annual yam festival to celebrate the harvest and the beginning of the new farming year.

In the late 19th century the British gradually extended their rule (see British Empire) over what became Nigeria. It was a British colony until 1960. Nigeria became independent with a federal constitution, with three (later four) regions, each dominated by a large ethnic group (the Igbo were a majority in the Eastern Region). The secession of the Eastern Region from the Federal Republic of Nigeria led to the Nigerian civil war (see Biafran War) of 1967-1970. While ethnic tensions remain, the Igbo are again integrated into Nigerian society. Several of Nigeria’s leading writers are Igbo, including Chinua Achebe, Cyprian Ekwensi, and Nkem Nwankwo. Nigeria’s first president, Nnamdi Azikiwe, was Igbo.