Igbos are versatile and pragmatic. We seek peace and bring prosperity and blessings of Chukwuanbiama to any place and every tribe and race that welcomes us. Ndigbo will survive in any culture, custom or economy because all the great teachings of life and in modern day education are second nature to us. Every Igbo child is raised up to understand the laws of economics and commerce. Every child understands the interplay between demand and supply and the profits of providing goods and services. Religion is ingrained in us from birth. We are taught to reverence the Great God, Chineke (the Creator). Our names are prefixed by a strict allegiance and reverence to God (chinedu, Chinemere, Chiamake, etc) Conservation and preservation of our Earth is a Decree. You are taught early to honor Mother Earth (Ani/Ala). Self sufficiency and agriculture is the mainstay and great honor is accorded to those who work hard with titles such as Eze ji Ogbuefi, etc.
The Igbo politics is largely democratic. We have the Eze (king) and his Council of Chiefs, and advisers but equily very powerful is the Aladinma or other Community group public Parliament where issues are debated and voted upon on the majority of votes cast. The youths and strong men were the local Law Enforcement for the execution of orders. There were the Ndi Nze, Ozo, the Elders and Age Grade Clubs that kept the peace and settled disputes. News disemination was carried out by the Town criers and other gadgets such as the ‘Talking Drums’. Amadioha and the Chief Priests were the spiritual guides for ethical and moral suasion or punishment for crimes. There were taboos and the communities were law abiding and peaceful.
Igbos revere education and knowledge. There were idioms and words of Wisdom by the elders. There were groups and age grades Unions and folktales, riddles and days set aside for kindred or village meetings. The wine tappers were not allowed to sell on those days. They donated drinks for the Aladinma meetings. We listened to jokes and words of Wisdom from everyone, especially the elders and wisemen and women. Everyone loved each other. There were community charitable and cooperative lending and trading clubs. You would borrow or contribute to the pool of resources and when it is your turn you have a windfall. Wealth was celeberated by taking chieftaincy titles or marrying more wives. Everyone knew the gains of hard work and honesty.
Prior to the white man’s invasion of our cultures we had invented protocols for food storage and preservation such as the eleborate yam barns, we had gunsmiths and blacksmiths, we had great hunters and great farmers, We built secure homes, Marriages and chieftaincy or other community festivals were great community entertainment. Respect for our parents, community elders and the fear of Chi were part of the norm. As a little child I was alotted my own land by my Grandma ... “This palm tree is where your unblical cord was buried, so this land and the tree is yours’. We all grew up with the sense of belonging to the community and a sense of duty to preserve and till the land for food. Everything that the children of our world learn today in advanced tertiary institutions of economics, government and Science, I learned as a child. They were traditions handed down, generation to generation. Science and Medicenes of today was stolen from Igbos. My Grandma knew the potency of every green grass and knew which to combine for each ailment.
Igbos were killed in millions and given only twenty pounds at the end of the Biafra civil war of genocide against Igbos but we have risen to become the mainstay of commerce and industry for Nigeria and West Africa. Igbos have been sidelined from Nigerias politics, industry and economic investments, yet we have built up every community and brought them into prosperity. We bear no ill-will and we have never been aggressors, but yet the rest of the other tribes in Nigeria hate us with passion. O’ Chukwabiama, when will you remember all we have gone through and deliver us from those who hate us. Give us victory and restore our hopes to continue to be great and prosperous. Bless those who welcome us and prosper those who love us. Make our posterity Great. Bless every Igbo child with the Wisdom and Understanding to do good to others and to live in abundance and prosperity. Igbos know you have chosen us as a favored people. Give us Peace, Love and Wisdom to change our world for better and may everyone who is kind to us be blessed. Amen.
... Charles Uzoma Abiahu
