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20 Fascinating Facts About the Igbo People

With numerous distinct tribes merged into one, Nigeria is the giant of Africa and one of the most distinctive countries in the world. Nigerians are stunning individuals, and the numerous vivid tribes all have fascinating cultures that help them to remain distinct and colorful. The Ndi Igbo, sometimes known as the Igbo, are an ethnic group that originated in what is now south-central and southeast Nigeria.

As it is unclear how the Igbo people came to be, there has been much speculation regarding their history. They have a lengthy, dynamic, and interesting history. containing more than 40 million people. The Igbo are well known for their robust cultural legacy, innovative spirit, and important accomplishments. Let’s examine the 20 amazing details regarding the

1. Igbo people are hardworking and industrious

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The Igbo people are one of Nigeria’s hardest-working tribes. They are resilient individuals that try their hardest to work hard and earn a solid living for themselves. The Igbo people take great pride in their work ethic and love to find creative ways to support themselves. Also, they possess an entrepreneurial spirit that drives them and helps them succeed in their efforts.

2. They are very religious

The Igbo people are a profoundly religious ethnic group since, even before Christianity was given to them, they held a strong belief in God and the existence of a heavenly entity they called Chineke. Amadioha, Igwekala, Ala, Ikenga, Anyanwu, Idemmili, anwu, and Ogbanabali are some of the more significant ones they worship. Ala is the female deity in Odinala who represents the soil, fertility, creativity, and morality. She is also referred to by the names ani, ana, and ale in other dialects. She is the most admired and significant person in Igbo culture.

3. Igbos are believed to have strong love for money

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The Igbos are among the hardest-working tribes in all of Africa because they have an unrivaled desire for money and material possessions. Many good Igbo people earn their living legally, and they strongly disapprove of criminal methods of earning a living. Those who have succeeded and made money are frequently admired for their wealth and opulence in the Igbo traditional culture and are typically given Chieftain titles.

4. They value and have regard for extended family

While the Igbo people typically have big, extended families who get together to rejoice during celebrations, they don’t play with their extended family. The typical Igbo returns to his hometown with his immediate family at the end of the year to celebrate with his extended families. The extended family is known as Umunna in Igbo culture.

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5. The Igbo tribe are travelers

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Igbos are renowned for moving to other countries. Igbo people travel from place to place in pursuit of greener pastures with a spirit of hard work. There isn’t a place on earth where an Igbo person doesn’t live as a resident.

6. Igbo’s have a calendar system peculiar to them

The Igbo people of modern-day Nigeria use the Igbo calendar as their traditional calendar. The calendar has a year of 13 months, 7 weeks, 4 Traditional market days per week, and an additional day in the last month of the year. These months’ names were revealed by Onwuejeogwu. The four market days on this calendar are Eke, Afor, Nkwo, and Orie.

7. Igbo people are very intelligent

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Igbo people are among the most clever and brilliant tribes in the world, and as evidenced by a number of successful igbo people, they continue to hold this position. Igbo people can be found in almost every profession, demonstrating their adaptability as a people.

8. They invented a way of saving called Isusu.

The Igbos have a “savings and loans” system they call “Isusu,” which translates to “little small,” which they continue do today. On the Caribbean island known as “Susu,” this invention was and still is used.

9. Igbos export their culture to wherever they travel to

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Since they have chiefs and leaders in every place they inhabit, the Igbo people as a whole appreciate the spirit of culture and carry it with them wherever they go. The Igbo people are proud of their cultural history despite modern influences. They make sure that future generations carry the Igbo culture torch by continuing to celebrate and pass along their customs through annual festivals, cultural groups, and community activities.

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10. They have several rites of passage

A male gets circumcised roughly eight days after his birth. The umbilical cord is now buried beneath a tree that the mother of the child has chosen. The name-giving ceremony is a ceremonial celebration that includes food and drink. There is a huge range of names available. The name may be determined by a variety of factors, such as the child’s birthmarks or the diviner’s or seer’s perception.

It takes a long, involved process to wed a young Igbo woman. Rarely does it take less than a year, and more often than not, it takes several years. Four steps make up the procedure: requesting the young woman’s assent, engaging in negotiations through an intermediary, vetting the bride’s morals, and providing the bride with wealth as a sort of dowry.

11. Igbo people wear traditional attires sometimes

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Urbanites wear similar everyday attire to people from the West. In rural regions and on special occasions in cities, traditional dress is still worn. Men typically dress in a cotton robe (wrap), a shirt, and sandals. At formal events, they dress in a dressy wrap, dressy shoes, and a cap over a long shirt that is frequently tucked in and embellished.

Both casual and formal settings call for women to wear wraps. The common wrapper is composed of inexpensive cotton that has been regionally colored. The fabric used for formal clothing is often imported and either woven or batik dyed.

12. Yam is their staple food

The Igbo’s main diet is the yam. The yam was traditionally the dish of choice at ceremonial gatherings. Rice now serves as its replacement. Plantains, maize, taro root, and cassava are some additional starchy foods. A typical meal consists of a starch and a soup or stew made with vegetables and bits of meat such as fish, chicken, cattle, or goat. Several varieties of jollof rice are popular throughout Nigeria. The Igbo who reside close to waterways frequently make it with shrimp.

13. Their main economic activity traditionally is farming

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The production of root crops is essential to the traditional Igbo economy. The three main root crops are taro, cassava, and yams. Work is divided into gendered categories. With the assistance of the women and kids, the men remove the bush and plant the yams. Plots are assigned to the women separately after the yam planting. Each lady also plants additional crops on the sides of hills and in the areas between the yams.

Among the Igbo, trading has a long history. The market has grown to be a significant source of income. Igbo people are now employed in wage labor in greater numbers. Many work opportunities are being created by rising road development, urbanization, emerging industries, and oil exploration.

14. The Mbari art tradition

The Mbari art tradition, an indigenous style of building and sculpture, is well-known among the Igbo. Mbari houses are decorated with beautiful designs and sculptures created from mud, wood, and clay and are constructed to commemorate gods and ancestors.

15. The Igbo people have several dialects 

The Niger-Congo language family includes the Igbo language, also called “Igbo.” It is a tonal language with numerous dialects, such as the Owerri, Onitsha, and Enuani dialects, which have a little bit of a difference in vocabulary and pronunciation.

16. They have vibrant cultural festivals

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The Igbo people enjoy a variety of vibrant festivals all year long. The New Yam Festival (Igbo: “Iwa Ji”), which honors the harvest season and presents Igbo culture via music, dance, and traditional dress, is the most well-known of them.

17. A number of impactful literature have been written by Igbo people 

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The Igbo have a long history of literature. Igbo literature has had a significant influence on the literary landscapes of Africa and the world, from the writings of modern authors like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie to the works of Chinua Achebe, one of Africa’s most renowned authors and the author of “Things Fall Apart.”

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18. Many Igbo people have made great Nollywood contributions

The Igbo people have been essential to the development of Nigeria’s thriving Nollywood film industry. Igbo actors, directors, and producers have made significant contributions to the development and success of Nollywood both domestically and abroad.

19. The Igbo people have a number of indigenous musical instruments

Many wind and stringed musical instruments are used by the Igbo. The ugene is a circular, roughly billiard ball-sized whistle made of baked clay. The ubaw-akwala, a type of guitar, is arguably the most intriguing of the Igbo musical instruments. Three pieces of soft wood were joined to make its triangle body. Evenings feature wandering singers who perform it. The lyrics are expertly matched to the song’s rhythm and tune by Igbo vocalists as they improvise during the song.

20. There are several notable Igbo icons

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The Igbo people can be proud of a long list of distinguished people who have made noteworthy achievements in many different professions. Igbo idols have made an enduring impression on everyone from notable politicians like Nigeria’s first president Nnamdi Azikiwe to world-famous artists like Oliver De Coque.

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The Igbo people are a fascinating ethnic group with a considerable global influence thanks to their rich cultural legacy, enterprising zeal, and important contributions to numerous sectors. The Igbo have left a lasting impression on Nigeria and the rest of the globe thanks to their ancient origins and enduring cultural traditions.