Of Titles & Impersonation -- MAAZI & MAZI
Maurice O Ene
>mazi egwu E. Kalu wrote:
>N/B: I started using the title "mazi" since 1972 as an elementary school
student. I took the title when it was expalined to me that "mazi" was
closest thing to Mr. As a little boy, I addressed myself as "mazi-nta"
meaning Master
until my adulthood when I changed it to "Mazi". Is that impersonation too ?
=========================
YES! ..... probably :))
=========================
Nwanna na umuibe:
Any Igbo man using the spelling variant "Mazi" MUST be an Aro-Okeigbo man
[Arondizuogu, Ajalli (Ujali Kokoobasi) Ndeowu, Ndeikeelionwu, or any of the
many Umuaro settlements in old Udi Division, present Oru LGA and sections
Abagana, Ikeduru, etc]. And he MUST be the head of the immediate family....
say, his old man has moved on, and he is the "okpala" or "opara" or
"okpara" --[never "OPALA"], meaning "first-born male." Therefore, a very
good example is the ONE and ONLY man very proud to use the title from day
one, and in addition to his certified professional qualification:
Mazi Alex Ukoh, MD
If you qualify as above, please feel free to be "Mazi": say, Mazi Okereke
Udoakpuenyi, Ph.D.
But "Kalu" [from "Kamalu," ( the god of thunder)] is more Ohafia/Bende
than Aro, where "Kanu" is popular. "Kanu" is from "Kamanu" -- the god of
thunder; of course, "Amadi" is also short for "AMADIOHA" -- also good of
thunder and lightening! My point, before I am carried away, you may not
qualify on the first count. Then again, what do I know.
Now, since we don't want to screw up a very revered title of Ndearo, [use
"Ndiaro" --if you like] I have decided to use "MAAZI" as the equivalent of
English "Mister" or German "Herr," Spanish "senor" or French "Monsieur," or
Russian "Tovarash" or ..... it goes on and on. So you can now use:
Maazi M.O. Ene, WASC, NYSC, PHD
where:
WASC = Wasting Abroad Socially & Culturally
NYSC = National Youth that Soldier Canned -- a verification of military
humiliation before.... in Kaduna.
PHD = Permanent Head Damage, or "Playing Half Dead" -- depending on what
you do.
Now, what does MAAZI mean? I will explain.
"Ma" is a dialectical version of "MMUO" [Spirit] as used in and around
Enugu; it is short for "mmanwu." To call a fellow man "mmanwu" is
considered to be respectful in the area. To call someone "mmanwu shinne" [a
big spirit] is the height of respect in many communities. ["Shinne" for
"big" --instead of "nnukwu" as in the mainstream Igbo-- is common in old
Udi and Asaba communities.]
"Azi" is straight from the Onicha Ado clan. You see, the Igbo are NOT a
tribe: we do NOT share common ancestry; we share a common culture. [Now,
culture means our being -- from language to religion and traditions and
behavioral traits.] So, when these people arrived from Bini, the brought
some linguistic "ife-di-iche." With Catholicism, we took many of their
term. "Azi" is one: you remember it from "Umuazi Jeso" -- the disciples of
Jesus, but "umuazi" on its own means "children"; literally
""umu"[offspring, sons] of ["azi"]! Yes, "azi" means "TODAY"! You will see
it in "iduuazi" -- Igbo for "novel"; as well as in other words common in
northern Igboland. More on those later.
So, "MAAZI" should mean, literally, "Mmuo azi" --that is, "Spirit of
today"! By which you presence is acknowledged and your importance
recognized. You see, even if your are not there, your spirit is; and this
spirit of the day will eventually become one of our ancestors -- NDIICHIE!
So, when you become big enough and decent enough, you can be addressed as
"ICHIE" -- a sort of canonization of your earthly existence. [NB: "Ichie"
means a worthy representative of a community is a higher body within the
Igbo agnate system of "umunna" geronto-merit democracy..... if you get my
drift .]
needless to add: "Nwamaazi" is an equivalent of "master." Apropos, while we
are on titles that is, "Odz." [from "Odoziaku."] is sailing on as "Mrs."
--which replaces the political incorrect "oliaku"; thanks to Okaa Ejike Eze
(Omenka). Yes, yes, yes, "okaa" is a master of his trade; and, let me beat
my chest here: it has 'come to become' Igbo for whoever has risen to the
apogee of his/her profession.... Ph.D? So, if a JD has NOT reached there
yet.... assuming LLM and LLD are still necessary, then he should not be an
"OKAA." But an engineer is "Okaauzu," so a lawyer is "Okaaikpe." A judge?
"Okaaiwu" -- you see, the judge sets the laws ["iwu"] right; but the lawyer
argues a case ["ikpe."]
Titles are important in our lives. Yes, even in the USA, Congressmen and
women append "Rep." and "Senators" are for life! Anyway, what I am saying
is this: out of every crazy discussion, and unnecessary as in this case,
something good comes out. But if I had known this was going to boil down to
"titles" and stupid statements and insults, I would have enjoyed a quiet
evening in the Jersey burbs and not drive up and down the Garden State
Parkway like a maniac trying to accomplish someTHING for a lost generation.
What a waste ot time and efforts!
Yes, this has been VERY therapeutic and I am out of here. Have a blessed
weekend.
MOE
~ Ichie Egbedaaovulu IV ~
.
ALEXANDER E. J. UKOH, M.D.,F.A.C.S.
You are basically right in your explanation of the title
Mazi in the Aro culture context.
Ndewo.
Mazi Ukoh.
ALEXANDER E. J. UKOH, M.D.,F.A.C.S.
Egbedaa is right in his ascertion as to the origin of
the word Mazi. Mazi originated with the Aro people, and it was used to
address ONLY the aristocrats among the Aros. Any son/daughter of an Aro
aristocrat was referred to as Nwa-Mazi/Ada-Mazi. As MOE rightly stated a
Nwa-Mazi did not become a Mazi as long as his father, the Mazi was still
living. Even with the Mazi dead, a Nwa-Mazi did not become a full fledged
Mazi, until he, the nwa-Mazi became a family head.
Yes, you are right, the word Mazi was rightly borrowed by
central Igbo linguistics to replace the Anglo, Mr. as a prefix to an Igbo
man's name.
Ndewo.
Mazi Ukoh.
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Kalu <ek...@wombat.eng.fsu.edu>
To: enem...@shu.edu <enem...@shu.edu>
Cc: igbo...@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu <igbo...@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu>
Date: Monday, September 28, 1998 9:16 AM
Subject: Re: Of Titles & Impersonation -- MAAZI & MAZI
>> MOE wrote:
>>
>>
>> I am glad though that I got the main gist through. The only rightful
MAZI
>> in the 'hood right now is Mazi Alex Ukoh! Others are MAAZI. Agreed? Of
>> course, Alex is also "Maazi" and also "Okaaogwu" :)
>>
>>
>MOE,
>
>Languages and cultures are dynamic. As such, I do not share the same view
with you
>regarding the usage of Mazi. Each Igbo dialect has a way of addressing a
man or a woman.
>Unfortunately, these usages vary from locality to locality. We have
borrowed words from
>other langauages, so what is wrong in using one of our own dialects ? Mazi
may be used
>to refer to "Okpara", then the argument goes that my own son is Mazi while
his father is
>not one. After all, he is the "Okpara" as far as his father's house is
concerned.
>
>In any case, you may not address me as Mazi but after 26 years of usage, I
feel pretty
>sure that I have some history behind me on the issue. I am Mazi, and I
understand it to
>connote a respectful way of addressing a man in Igbo land. If you were from
my neck of
>wood, I might have allowed you to call me "ogboo Egwu" or "Dem Egwu" or
"Okoo m Egwu"
>depending on your age versus mine.
>
>Ya gazie.
>
>mazi egwu kalu
>
>
>>
>> Ndeewo.
>>
>>
>>
>> MOE
>> -------
>>
>
Ayika, Chris I
Umuazu below. I cannot contribute to your piece with MOE, since I don't know
much about either. However, I have a correction to make in the example you
used in the posting. There was no Baptism of the today Enugwu-Ukwu from
Enugwu Awka. Enugwu-Ukwu has never been Enugwu-Awka by name except for
reference. Awka was added to Enugwu-Ukwu to differentiate it from Enugu-Ngwo
which the colonial masters selected as the capital of Igbo land. Prior to
current practice of calling Enugwu-Ukwu by its full name, she went by her
hyphenated name Enugwu just like we currently call Enugwu-Ngwo Enugu. Due to
the confusion of calling both Enugwu, Awka was added to Enugwu-Ukwu for
clarification. In early sixty the Enugwu-Ukwu town council decided that its
better to go by her full name for posterity as against the referenced name.
About five years later Agu-Ukwu changed her name to Nri due to family
squabble as to who the rightful heir of Nri is between the three sons. Also
Enugu-Agidi sometimes also cajoled as Osu na Nkpo Nkpo was never Osu na
Agidi as a name. It was a nick name given to them as a Mean Name Calling.
Its not necessary to go into why the nick name was given to them at this
point. Enugwu-Ukwu, Agu-Ukwu, a.k.a. Nri, Enugwu-Agidi, (all males) and
Nawfia a girl are all related. Just thought I correct that
mis-representation of the facts for the future.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ike Oguocha [SMTP:Ikechukwu...@mackenzie.usask.ca]
> Sent: Friday, September 25, 1998 8:35 PM
> To: Maurice O Ene
> Cc: igbo...@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu
> Subject: Re: Of Titles & Impersonation -- MAAZI & MAZI
>
> On Fri, 25 Sep 1998, Maurice O Ene wrote:
>
> : behavioral traits.] So, when these people arrived from Bini, the brought
> : some linguistic "ife-di-iche." With Catholicism, we took many of their
> : term. "Azi" is one: you remember it from "Umuazi Jeso" -- the disciples
> of
> : Jesus, but "umuazi" on its own means "children"; literally
>
> MOE, I think disciples should read "umuazu". A disciple (the mental
> picture
> Ndiigbo dere Bible Igbo had then and, probably, now) is supposed to be
> following the Teacher/Master. That's, he/she walks behind the
> front-leading
> teacher/leader. Moreover, since Jesus' first 12 disciples/apostles were
> probably within his age bracket, our translators would not have called
> them the more "disrespectful" "umuazi". In fact, that's why the Umuazu
> villagers in Nise would like to lecture any person who cares to ask that
> their ancestors came from one of Christ's disciples. Go and prove them
> wrong at your own distress.
>
> Of course, "Umuazu" are the children of Azu, the last son of Nise. Ehen,
> go and figure it out if there's any difference between Nise and Nibo or if
> there is any town or village called Nibo-Nise. It's even annoying when
> Obosais (Obosi people) and their Idemmili neighbors still call Mbaukwu
> town
> "Nankpu". Or, does it still matter if the people of Igbo Nkwo chose to
> answer Igbo Ukwu thereby precipitating the radical changes and renaming
> that took place in those modernization (anglicization/emancipation)
> period.
> And we gave birth to Enugu Ukwu (from Enugu Awka), Enugu Agidi (from Osu
> na
> Agidi) and so on and so forth. The last time I told my Ekwuluobia friend
> that we used to call them Eke Igbo/Igbo Eke people, I was left half dead.
> I did not rise up on the 3rd day, but I rose from the dead. And that
> took my memory back to the days of Jandim, the legendry and ever green
> Ekwulobia philosopher (although many considered him a mad man then). Now,
> MOE, you can recite to netters the wise sayings of Jamdim. I'm outa this
> one before I'm choked to death again.
>
>
> : needless to add: "Nwamaazi" is an equivalent of "master." Apropos, while
> we
> : are on titles that is, "Odz." [from "Odoziaku."] is sailing on as
> "Mrs."
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Nwoke m, odi ka ijere uka Odozi Obodo rinne. Otherwise, how did you come
> up with Odz? How di tin dey sound for Igbo sef? Umu agbogho anyi, unu
> anokwia? Nekwenu MOE ka ona echi unu ozo Odozi Obodo na ama JK!
>
> : What a waste ot time and efforts!
>
> But who is this Ik Ochia wey dey hide inside Hotmail.com? He/she sounds
> like someone I know with another name. Anyway, ka odiba. Ubochi nta, ka
> anyi chua nya na owele nchi. Ka ma, ijua mu, aga mu ashi ka anyi rafu
> ivbe edelu na moto ba moto. Let's sign the petition first and fight
> titles later.
>
> Udo dili unu o. Onye obula welu nke ana etu ya.
>
> Oguocha [hiding inside Ojukwu Bunker]
> -------
ALEXANDER E. J. UKOH, M.D.,F.A.C.S.
Thanks for this enlightening piece of history.
Mazi Ukoh.
-----Original Message-----
From: Ayika, Chris I <chris....@nspco.com>
To: 'Ikechukwu...@mackenzie.usask.ca'
<Ikechukwu...@mackenzie.usask.ca>; Maurice O Ene <enem...@shu.edu>
Cc: igbo...@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu <igbo...@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu>
Maurice O Ene
Kedu?
Thanks for yours. Very illuminating. Since we are all here to learn, please
permit me to point out some general misconceptions.
You wrote :
>Awka was added to Enugwu-Ukwu to differentiate it from Enugu-Ngwo which
the colonial masters selected as the capital of Igbo land.
No, they did not "select" a capital of Igbo, politically or culturally...
strictly speaking, that is. What came near to being selected as the
political capital of Eastern Region was Udi. Yes, it even has its own
airfield and all. It was on The Hill too (which some cretin baptized
"milliken"]. Everything was set to go until coal was discovered in the
valley... "ofu ani" --or what we today call "uwani." And there was Coal
Camp. And there were the "Egbu Eti" [Laborer, toro toro... A DAY!]
workers--and you have Ogbete! The rest is history.
>Prior to current practice of calling Enugwu-Ukwu by its full name, she
went by her hyphenated name Enugwu just like we currently call Enugwu-Ngwo
Enugu.
I have always known of Enugwu-Ukwu, but then who said I was Methuselah :))
So, you are right on that score, as far as I am concerned. However, I must
inform us that ENUGWU NGWO is NOT called "Enugu" -- it is still Enugwu
Ngwo, a clan of the bigger community called Ngwo, which extends from the
present Enugu to Ninth Mile Corner, bordering Nsude, Abor, Eke, some Nkanu
clans, etc. Actually, the people of Enugu Ngwo are more recent immigrants
to the area, and have a common ancestry with a village or two in Awka than
with villages in the area, but today they form part and parcel of the
bigger, old Udi Divison. That's another story.
The name "Enugu" is the biggest boo boo in modern nomenclature: coined
from Enu ugwu [Hill top] -- which is where the aforementioned Ngwo village
is situated, it is actually WHOLLY situated on a valley. Uwani comes close
to being the true name, but then there were communities living in that
valley: Ndi Ogwu(gwu) Iyi. Yes, we now call it OGUI! There are other
smaller communities, for example: Obiagu, and Nike [don't ask me the
meaning until you put back all the vowels]. The Coal City has now extended
to include Emene [onye na-eme?] and some Okunaano [Awkunanaw] and Akagbe
communities, most notably Amaechi. [ie. more of Amaechina, not
Onyemaechi.]
My point: the "extension" has NOT included Enugwu Ngwo; no, the community
is still a part and parcel of Udi LGA. In fact, the settlement areas on the
hills overlooking UNTH, Military Cemetery/Aria Market are still in Udi LGA.
You will know some of them as Ugwu Aaron and Ugwu Obed. Of course, the Agu
Abor Quarters, off Iva Valley by the Enugu-Onitsha
Expressway/Umuahia-Aba-PH Semi-Beltway Express is in Enugu, but not of
Enugu North LGA.
Ndeewo nu.
MOE
Emmanuel Uttah
Thanks for this educating piece.
Nwa Uttah
> ----------
> From: Ayika, Chris I[SMTP:chris....@nspco.com]
> Sent: 29. september 1998 14:32
> To: 'Ikechukwu...@mackenzie.usask.ca'; Maurice O Ene
> Cc: igbo...@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu
> Subject: RE: Of Titles & Impersonation -- MAAZI & MAZI
>
> Mazi Oguocha. Thanks for the tid-bits history you gave regarding Maazi
> and
> Umuazu below. I cannot contribute to your piece with MOE, since I
> don't know
> much about either. However, I have a correction to make in the example
> you
> used in the posting. There was no Baptism of the today Enugwu-Ukwu
> from
> Enugwu Awka. Enugwu-Ukwu has never been Enugwu-Awka by name except
> for
> reference. Awka was added to Enugwu-Ukwu to differentiate it from
> Enugu-Ngwo
> which the colonial masters selected as the capital of Igbo land.
> Prior to
> current practice of calling Enugwu-Ukwu by its full name, she went by
> her
> hyphenated name Enugwu just like we currently call Enugwu-Ngwo Enugu.
> Due to
> the confusion of calling both Enugwu, Awka was added to Enugwu-Ukwu
ALEXANDER E. J. UKOH, M.D.,F.A.C.S.
Once again a beautiful piece of history for the archives.
Mazi Ukoh.
-----Original Message-----
From: Maurice O Ene <enem...@shu.edu>
To: chris....@nspco.com <chris....@nspco.com>
Cc: 'Ikechukwu...@mackenzie.usask.ca'
<Ikechukwu...@mackenzie.usask.ca>; igbo...@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu
<igbo...@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu>
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 1998 9:29 AM
Subject: RE: Of Titles & Impersonation -- MAAZI & MAZI
>Chris:
>
>Kedu?
>
>Thanks for yours. Very illuminating. Since we are all here to learn, please
>permit me to point out some general misconceptions.
>
>You wrote :
>>Awka was added to Enugwu-Ukwu to differentiate it from Enugu-Ngwo which
>the colonial masters selected as the capital of Igbo land.
>
>No, they did not "select" a capital of Igbo, politically or culturally...
>strictly speaking, that is. What came near to being selected as the
>political capital of Eastern Region was Udi. Yes, it even has its own
>airfield and all.. It was on The Hill too (which some cretin baptized
>"milliken"]. Everything was set to go until coal was discovered in the
>valley... "ofu ani" --or what we today call "uwani." And there was Coal
>Camp. And there were the "Egbu Eti" [Laborer, toro toro... A DAY!]
>workers--and you have Ogbete! The rest is history.
>
>
>>Prior to current practice of calling Enugwu-Ukwu by its full name, she
>went by her hyphenated name Enugwu just like we currently call Enugwu-Ngwo
>Enugu.
>
>
Ike Oguocha
: Mazi Oguocha. Thanks for the tid-bits history you gave regarding Maazi and
: Umuazu below. I cannot contribute to your piece with MOE, since I don't know
: much about either. However, I have a correction to make in the example you
: used in the posting. There was no Baptism of the today Enugwu-Ukwu from
: Enugwu Awka. Enugwu-Ukwu has never been Enugwu-Awka by name except for
: reference. Awka was added to Enugwu-Ukwu to differentiate it from Enugu-Ngwo
: which the colonial masters selected as the capital of Igbo land. Prior to
: current practice of calling Enugwu-Ukwu by its full name, she went by her
: hyphenated name Enugwu just like we currently call Enugwu-Ngwo Enugu. Due to
: the confusion of calling both Enugwu, Awka was added to Enugwu-Ukwu for
: clarification. In early sixty the Enugwu-Ukwu town council decided that its
: better to go by her full name for posterity as against the referenced name.
: About five years later Agu-Ukwu changed her name to Nri due to family
: squabble as to who the rightful heir of Nri is between the three sons. Also
: Enugu-Agidi sometimes also cajoled as Osu na Nkpo Nkpo was never Osu na
: Agidi as a name. It was a nick name given to them as a Mean Name Calling.
: Its not necessary to go into why the nick name was given to them at this
: point. Enugwu-Ukwu, Agu-Ukwu, a.k.a. Nri, Enugwu-Agidi, (all males) and
: Nawfia a girl are all related. Just thought I correct that
: mis-representation of the facts for the future.
:
Mazi Chris:
Thanks a lot for your response and corrections. I can relate to
where you were coming from. If you permit me, let me add that
I threw in the Enugwu-Agidi spanner to wake up the umu-Nri on
the network. I did not not want to call Enugwu-Agidi by that
"Osu na Nkpo Nkpo" name because of what you and I probably know.
They just don't want to be called that under normal circumstances.
I can tell you that "Osu na Agidi" was kind of "invented" to
reduce the tension that usually arises when Enugwu-Agidis are
called "Osu na Nkpo Nkpo". Let me say that I did not invent
"Osu na Agidi". I grew up hearing all the versions in my neck
of wood (copyright MOE). At least, when my mother's dance group
brought their Enugwu-Agidi counterparts to teach them dance, we
had every damn opportunity to read the hearts of Enugwu-Agidis.
Or, can ever forget the "Opoto" (sp?) festival of those good
days.
Enugwu-Ukwu and Enugwu-Awka. We know that Chief Agwuna did a
lot to turn things around and preserve history/culture in
Enugwu-Ukwu. I'm greatly marvelled at his foresight. Let's
look back into the historical aspect of the whole thing. The
white got to Awka first before heading to Udi and later to Ngwo/
Enugwu Ngwo (Enugu). If the white man did not find coal in Enugwu
Ngwo, Udi would probably have been the capital of eastern Nigeria.
B/c, the white man settled first there before discovering coal
in what Chief C. C. Ono called his "mother's pepper farms". Ehen,
MOE go vex and come after my head.
Coming back to Awka and Enugwu-Ukwu, everyone who knows the territory
well would agree with the fact that the present Enugwu Ukwu stands
on one of the highest peaks around Awka. Therefore, whether it was
for reference sake or otherwise, the name Enugwu-Awka fits. We know
that the present Agulu was once Agulu-Awka. Even Nise which resides
in mostly a valley, used to be called Nise-Awka. Forget about those
who have chosen to band Nise and Nibo together to give Nibo-Nise. Blame
it on those who founded the legendry St. Mark's college. The only
true story about it all is that Nise and Nibo are two brothers. When
the whiteman wanted to build another teachers college to reduce the
load on St. Pauls college, Awka, Nibo and Nise agreed to give land
to him (with Nise donating the greater portion of the land). Suddenly,
Nise literally died and rose on the third day with a new name, Nibo-Nise.
For reasons no one has been able to explain, Nibo was able to retain
almost 95% its identity. That's, there are lesser people today calling
Nibo Nibo-Nise than there are those still calling Nise Nibo-Nise. This is
what one gets for giving a whiteman an allow.
Yes, we know that umu-Nri are different from those Awka peoples. That
was why it was never a problem when the old Awka division was broken
into Awka and Njikoka divisions/LGAs by the Prof. Odenigwe commission.
Well, MOE can argue that Prof. Odenigwe did well by giving the old Anambra
north a lion share or carving Ugwuoba into Oji LGA. We nearly lost
Amansea too, but that's another story for another day. As I was saying
before MOE's anticipated reactions entered into my head, later, umu-Nri
got what they have been waiting for. Chief Agwuna got his petitions
answred in his life time. Thanks to Lt. Col. Akanobi. Ono's won't forget
Akanobi. And so, Chris was very correct in trying to untie the burdensome
Awka appendage from umu Enugwu. To differentiate between Enugwu Ngwo
(Enugu) and the original umu Enugwu, the "Ukwu" tag was added. To the
best of my knowledge, it (Ukwu) was not there before though.
Chris nwanna, you should not blame those who grew up when Enugwu Ukwu
used to be called Enugwu-Awka too much. There are many indicators in
our history to show that your line of argument may not be totally
correct although it sounds more reasonable. Let me recite this lullaby
for you and you would see where I'm coming from. I don't know if you ever
had to send your siblings to sleep in those good days with Igbo lullabies.
Ana b'anyi Enugwu Awka
Ana b'anyi amara ere nwa.
Nye nu mu ivbe okuku nwa, doo
Inyeli mu ivbe okuku nwa, doo
Anaba mu be nna mu
Nna mu odezulu igbo
Inukwalu ka ona ede
This was a popular lullaby in those days around old Awka division. It was
not my invention. I was born into and I drank it like water. It's still one
of my best Igbo lullabies that I have not forgotten. Imgaine a child who
grew up listening to this music and who knew the Enugwu Awka in the
lullaby. Imagine that this child later witnessed when umu Enugwu got
together and changed the name Enugwu Awka to Enugwu Ukwu. What would that
child's version of the history be? And here, we are talking about more than
one generation. Also, the Nkwo market is populary known as Nkwo Enugwu
and not Nkwo Enugwu Ukwu in my neck of wood (see me copying MOE again).
My argument is that Enugwu is the original name. Awka was added after
probably the whiteman arrived (as you rightly argued). The addition of
Ukwu is a more recent history. As I have said before, I don't have any
problems with the transition. Afterall, my inlaws in Enugwu Nanka would
have changed from Enugwu to Enugwu Nanka to give room for only one Enugwu,
the present Enugu (in MOE's neck of wood). Within Nanka, they may still
be called Enugwu.
Now, let me touch on the Agu Ukwu and Nri history you raised up. I
think there's something very vital missing. Nri has been there since
time immemorial. It was not invented in the '60s. The main problem
was that between Agu Ukwu and Aka Nkpisi. The problem has not even died
unto this day although outsiders don't or don't want to hear about it any
more. If you want to get to the roots, go and confront the radical Chief
Onyeso and his disciples. They would tell you why "Ofo Nri" should be with
them and not with the Tabansis. The Aka Nkpisi people still feel one kind
about the whole thing. The summary of my intrusion is that Nri = Agu Ukwu +
Aka Nkpisi. The name Nri as well as its location has been in existence
before the whiteman came. It's as old as the history of the northern Igbo.
Thanks for your contributions. It's been a learning exposition. I don't
know why MOE would always want to send us all back to school.
Udo diri unu nile.
Oguocha [still sleeping in Ojukwu bunker at Umuahia]
Don't wake me up please
----------------------------------------------------
REGGIE IYIZOBA
Your analysis of Enugu and it's environs is very correct. As a person "
bread and buttered " in Enugu, I have been through all those places from
Ugbo chime to Mmili ani Ogui urban jungle setting traps for asha as a kid.
from Uwani southern extension to achara layout and Akagbe ugwu. And of
course Coal camp where
all the fake tough guys use to live. Well as you know, the Enugu we grew up
in have changed considerably.
But to me it is still the best place to live in the whole of Nigeria ask
anybody that grew up there and they will
tell you so.
Cheers,
Reggie.
-----Original Message-----
From: Maurice O Ene <enem...@shu.edu>
To: chris....@nspco.com <chris....@nspco.com>
Cc: 'Ikechukwu...@mackenzie.usask.ca'
<Ikechukwu...@mackenzie.usask.ca>; igbo...@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu
<igbo...@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu>
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 1998 12:28 PM
Subject: RE: Of Titles & Impersonation -- MAAZI & MAZI
>Chris:
>
>Kedu?
>
>Thanks for yours. Very illuminating. Since we are all here to learn, please
>permit me to point out some general misconceptions.
>
>You wrote :
>>Awka was added to Enugwu-Ukwu to differentiate it from Enugu-Ngwo which
>the colonial masters selected as the capital of Igbo land.
>
>No, they did not "select" a capital of Igbo, politically or culturally...
>strictly speaking, that is. What came near to being selected as the
>political capital of Eastern Region was Udi. Yes, it even has its own
>airfield and all. It was on The Hill too (which some cretin baptized
>"milliken"]. Everything was set to go until coal was discovered in the
>valley... "ofu ani" --or what we today call "uwani." And there was Coal
>Camp. And there were the "Egbu Eti" [Laborer, toro toro... A DAY!]
>workers--and you have Ogbete! The rest is history.
>
>
>>Prior to current practice of calling Enugwu-Ukwu by its full name, she
>went by her hyphenated name Enugwu just like we currently call Enugwu-Ngwo
>Enugu.
>
>
Ayika, Chris I
getting interesting. I am sure MOE may at this time say de ja vous or lets
go to the archives. Regardless, below is a short version of the story, which
I had written on before at this ama.
Your posting has all the necessary ingredients but still deviate from the
truth. I will like you to check it out if you want. Enugwu-Ukwu has been
nothing but Enugwu-Ukwu Nri all the time and Agu-Ukwu has been Agu-Ukwu Nri,
just like your name and mine too, Ik is still Ikechukwu. Regardless that
mostly we are called IK. Enugwu-Ukwu Nri was abbreviated to Enugwuu for
language convenience. When Enugwu-Ngwo became the chief of Enugwus and
claimed Enugwu (Enugu) to herself Enugwu-Ukwu Nri realized that its better
not to continue to answer Enugwu-Awka, but rather to revert to its original
name. The Ukwu was not an after thought. I hesitate to go back to names of
towns around the area including Awka, that are no more in use. Awka was not
always called only Awka. But you would not argue that whatever the nick name
was it has always been that.
About Nise and Akamkpisi being Nri, you are wrong again. That assertion came
about when Enugwu-Ukwu insisted that as the first son of Nri, he holds the
ofor, regardless that he sojourned before the death of Nri. Agu-Ukwu at
first agreed, but sated that, since Enugwu-Ukwu was gone and Nri handed the
ofor to her before dying, it stays with her. When she found out that people
may support Enugwu-Ukwu due to the right of first sons all around Igboland
it changed. I will attempt to publish the titles of some books from both
sides that you can read. There is no village in Nri called Agu-Ukwu,
however, there is one called Akamkpisi, Obeagu etc. Agu-ukwu also argued
that she has been performing priestly right without Enugwu-Ukwu claiming the
first sons right for years. The attempt by Enugwu-Ukwu to separate priestly
right and elderly right was refuted by Agu-Ukwu. It was during these fight
that Agu-Ukwu decided to drop Agu-Ukwu and go only with their last name Nri.
Onyeso is fighting an internal fight in the chieftancy right of Agu-Ukwu
Nri. The Umunri clan has always been Enugwu-Ukwu, Agu-Ukwu, Enugwu-Agidi and
Nawfia. I will stop because the two sides have been fighting over this and
has not agreed for years.
For the little I know you seem to be right about Nise and Nibo. For me I had
always known the two to be separate towns until I join this ama. And may the
fun continue!!!!
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ike Oguocha [SMTP:Ikechukwu...@mackenzie.usask.ca]
> Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 1998 2:31 PM
> To: Ayika, Chris I
> Cc: Maurice O Ene; igbo...@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu
> Subject: RE: Of Titles & Impersonation -- MAAZI & MAZI
>
> On Tue, 29 Sep 1998, Ayika, Chris I wrote:
>
> : Mazi Oguocha. Thanks for the tid-bits history you gave regarding Maazi
> and
> : Umuazu below. I cannot contribute to your piece with MOE, since I don't
> know
> : much about either.. However, I have a correction to make in the example
> you
> : used in the posting. There was no Baptism of the today Enugwu-Ukwu from
> : Enugwu Awka. Enugwu-Ukwu has never been Enugwu-Awka by name except for
> : reference. Awka was added to Enugwu-Ukwu to differentiate it from
> Enugu-Ngwo
> : which the colonial masters selected as the capital of Igbo land. Prior
> to
> : current practice of calling Enugwu-Ukwu by its full name, she went by
> her
> : hyphenated name Enugwu just like we currently call Enugwu-Ngwo Enugu.
Magnus I. Ekwueme
Good history lesson. I always knew something was up at your "agbenu"
neck of the woods. I also noticed that your inlaws are from Nanka, my
neck of the woods. My father swore that he could get the best palmwine
out of that small afo market at Nanka (just at the boundary between
Nanka and Oko) that if you were looking for him on afo days, you knew
where he would be. We, of the land of plenty and bounded by all sorts
of rivers, are glad to provide ndi agbenu with beautiful wives. Ubochi
anyi huru, i mere ogo ihe a na-emere ya.
Ndewo,
Magnus
Maurice O Ene
you know, the Enugu we grew up
in have changed considerably.<
Reggie:
You 'badmouth' my Coal Camp and we shall occupy one leg in that bongo
trousers you used to wear around Tinker.... you know when you come looking
for spare parts! Anyway, let me spare you today, because it is the "omugwo"
feast that caused such a big slip. You know what we say: "ife na-adi
nwaanyi di ime mma, na adikwa onye......"
But, BTW, ka m jukwaa nu: when will guys start telling us before they
"ligoo"; is it only when the woman "lidaa" that we are told? Do I smell
some sexism in the air :) Yes, that's a touch of Coal City!
Have a blessed day and don't take no day off -- anyi ga-akpata ihe a ga-eji
zuo umu Bill Clinton n'ala a, biko.
MOE
Fra...@aol.com
Just read yours of 9/25 - (I'm 5 days behind in reading of e-mail). Your
treatises on various aspects of Igbo language are fascinating. They help in
understanding, something like the way it helps to trace English back to Latin
and/or Greek roots.
Since my dictionary gives "azi" with a dot under the "i," I would like to know
if you are assuming a dot under the "i" in "maazi." The definition I have is:
"azi -- present generation; young people (of present); the younger
generation." This seems to go along with what you had to say about the
derivation of "maazi."
Please do keep on sharing with us your knowledge and theories about these
matters. You inspire me to keep plugging away in my own Igbo studies.
Regards,
Nkiru
REGGIE IYIZOBA
I know I will get you with that. You guys that grew up in Coal camp use to
harass those of us that lived
in Uwani, it is later that we the Uwani guys realized that it was all hot
air or what they call "amansi"
Too bad we found out too late. That is why I now call those tough wannabe's
fake.
Happy Independer,
Reggie
-----Original Message-----
From: Maurice O Ene <enem...@shu.edu>
Maurice O Ene
Ekenekwe m gi. Kedu? I na-amalikwa enu? Deeme!
I thank for reading.... and the compliments. Take it easy with the reading;
one day I will give you the "cure" to high volume of mails. It is so
effective you will thank me for developing this "cure"! Meanwhile, just
hang in there.
You wrote:
>Since my dictionary gives "azi" with a dot under the "i," I would like to
know if you are assuming a dot under the "i" in "maazi."<
You are absolutely right. With "a," "o*" and "u,*" the is no way "i" can be
associated without the dot below.... or with umlaut (if you have bought
into Professor Echeruo's NSO). It is against Igbo vowel harmony not to so
do. Yes there are some exceptions, but they are exactly that -- EXCEPTIONS
to the rule. It is like saying "afele" or "afe"; that's semi-illiteracy....
in Igbo, that is. [And no one should give us "it's a dialect" excuse.] "A"
and "e" don't go together in simple words. Concatenation is an entirely
different matter. So, "azi" does not make sense in mainstream Igbo; "azi*"
does.
Of exceptions, you know of "akpo" -- which is the roof of the mouth; and
avuke --which is a rasta chicken used in Odinani religious sacrifices.
There are a few others that reside in some dialects, many of which can
easily be harmonized. More on this when we get back to class, which won't
be too long from the look of things in staff quarters.... "i* ma ihe m
na-ekwu" [you know what I mean]?
The definition you have ("azi -- present generation; young people (of
present); the younger generation") is excellent. yes, you can say that
"U*MU*AZI* means "(de)generation X," "children of today" and of course,
bambinos! There is also another meaning from my neck of the Igbo woods
(yes, I am flooding it!) It means "meal"!
"Nna a, i gbago azi*!" [Mind the disharmony in "gbago" -- it is
dialectical or a forced/fossilized concatenation from "gbaa" as in "Gbaa
azi" and "go" --a conjugational suffix from so-called "Onicha Igbo." You
will see it in "i jego"? (Have you gone....") To conform to the rule, you
use the "Owere Igbo" version: "I* gbaala azi*"; but I doubt the Owere use
"azi*" for meals."
In many instances, the "azi*" is understood to mean breakfast, lunch.... it
is rarely used at night; I wonder why. Some say: I gbago azi u*tu*tu*" to
specify breakfast. "U*chu*" is also used for breakfast. Otherwise, if
someone poses the question at work, he surely means "lunch."
"Azi*" is also used to "curse" someone ..... lightly, I may add. "Azi*
gbakwa gi"! This is followed by snapping two fingers and towards the
unfortunate receiver. If it is to a third party or an abominable event, you
snap the fingers away from the second party, and use "Azi* gbakwa!"
Incidentally, "u*chu*" is similarly used: "U*chu* gbakwa ndiotimkpu" for
example.
"Azi*" also means a heaven wooden support used in mud houses, but this is
very localized to .... yes, you guessed right: my neck of the Igbo woods. I
guess this is why the slang "azi*" for "meals came from: a sort of
"foundation laying" meal, a snack. So, an "awayi*" [fafu] should make a
good "azi*" :)
Much more later. Have a blessed weekend, my friend. I hope this will
provide enough topic for discussion in our presidential city.
Ndeewo.
MOE