Category: Learn

5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE BIAFRA-NIGERIA WAR

By on • ( Leave a comment )

FACTS (1)-1 

5 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE BIAFRA-NIGERIA WAR

FACTS (1)-2

60s Rock-Legend Jimi Hendrix at the height of his career in 1968 performed at a Biafra war benefit show in Manhattan along with 60s folk singer Joan Baez. Both artists performed free of charge in order to raise money for refugees of the Biafra-Nigeria Civil war. Photo Joan Baez and Jimi Hendrix chat between acts at a Biafran Relief Benefit. https://www.theguardian.com

FACTS (1)-3

The Biafran side largely engineered and manufactured their own weaponry. They received only non-political Joint Church Aid assistance. Nigeria, on the other hand was aided by both Russia (then the Soviet Union), and the North-Atlantic Alliance (particularly Nigeria’s former colonial master, Britain)—as well as by much of Muslim North Africa, with Egyptian pilots flying Russian-made MIGs against the breakaway enclave which had no air force of its own.
https://www.jstor.org/

FACTS (2)-1

During the war between 500,000 3,000,000 refugees fled the county.

Continue reading “5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE BIAFRA-NIGERIA WAR”

WHAT ARE “THE ALUSI”?

By on • ( Leave a comment )

1

WHAT ARE "THE ALUSI"?

Alusi are all manifestations of Chukwu (the supreme god), which is also responsible for assigning them their different tasks.
The deities act as forces for blessings or destruction, depending on the circumstances, they enforce punishments on “wrongdoers”.
Alusi may be represented as wooden figures and placed in shrines where they are incorporated into weekly and annual rituals.

They are assisted by diviners and priests whose jobs it is to interpret the wishes of the alusi and to perform rituals unto them.
There are different types of alusi and they all have different functions. Some of the major ones includes:

Ala (The Earth goddess)
Anyanwu (The Sun goddess)
Amadioha (The god of Thunder)
Ekwensu (The trickster god)
Ogbanabali (The god of death)

Ala Final11.png

ALA by Okwu ID

REF: https://www.theguardian.com

Where to Learn Igbo, Twi, Yoruba and Swahili In London

By on • ( Leave a comment ) 
WHERE TO LEARN AFRICAN LANGUAGES IN LONDON

It’s often said that “Language is the road map of a culture”.
When you learn a language, you learn the essence of a people. Tonal languages in particular (which many African languages are) require you to have a nuanced and astute approach to receiving and sharing sounds.

As the world continues to globalise, in the coming decades many of the over 6000 languages currently spoken will be rendered extinct. As a language enthusiast and a lover of cultures I find this terrifying. Language is not only a person’s tool to communicate, it’s the code to a long history of a people’s experiences, emotions and understandings, which holds in it an abundance of knowledge and a unique interpretation of the world.

With that said, below is a short directory of establishments that offer different African language courses in London.

IGBO SCHOOLS:

For free online Igbo lessons by Okwu ID click here

LEARN IGBO IN LONDON

See our Article

OKWU ID directory: https://okwuid.com/2017/10/23/where-to-learn-igbo-in-london/

YORUBA SCHOOLS:

LEARN YORUBA IN LONDON:

Classes Hosted by Next Generation Naijas

41329444_279786892635595_7430659353293619200_n

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/next-generation-naijas-17676190219 (Eventbrite page)

https://www.facebook.com/nextgennaijas/

Courses on Meet UP: https://www.meetup.com/Yoruba-Lesons/

Continue reading “Where to Learn Igbo, Twi, Yoruba and Swahili In London”