Learn Igbo: Question Words (Who onye, what gini…etc)
VOCABULARY
Anyị ga-asụ asụsu Igbo – We’re going to speak Igbo
Aha m wụ/bụ Ugonna – My name is Ugonna
Read More »Learn Igbo: Question Words (Who onye, what gini…etc)
VOCABULARY
Anyị ga-asụ asụsu Igbo – We’re going to speak Igbo
Aha m wụ/bụ Ugonna – My name is Ugonna
Read More »Learn Igbo: Question Words (Who onye, what gini…etc)
The ubo-aka is a “thumb piano” of the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. This instrument features a wood-burnt hardwood soundboard (with cut-out handholds) mounted on an incised, woodburnt gourd resonator. Instead of the traditional metal cuffs around each key, a metal chain is stretched across the key. One other distinctive fact about this remarkable instrument being that it was by definition, the oldest existing musical instrument in Nigeria, there being no evidence of any older specimens anywhere else in the country. (Sources: nairaland.com + musicinafrica.net)
The IGBA (Cylinder-drum) is a piece of hollow wood covered at one end with animal hide held down tight with fasteners. The artist carries it over his shoulder with the help of a shoulder strap. The artist produces the sound by beating on the animal hide with his fingers or combination of one set of fingers and a special stick. The cylinder-drum accompanies dances, songs, religious and secular ceremonies, and its tunes have been known to gave special signals for good news as well as bad news. These drums often accompany many other instruments. Traditionally, the deeper shelled Igba are played with the hand, while the shorter drums are played with a curved stick. In an ensemble these drums often lead, and are used to “talk” by the talking drummers. To tune the drum, the player will use a strong object to whack the pegs around the drum in order to restore its best tone. (Source: nairaland.com)
Great for kids and those who have a basic basis in in Igbo.
A slower paced cartoon with special attention to learning Igbo.
IGBO AMAKA ON YOUTUBE: –
Read More »Learn Igbo: Where to watch Igbo Cartoons/Shows Online
“When a person is given a name, his gods accept.” – Igbo proverb
Traditions like the naming ceremony demonstrate the importance of names within Igbo society. In Igbo, the ceremony is referred to as “Igu Afa”.
In contemporary Igbo culture, the custom is usually performed on the eighth day after the child is born. Two names are usually given to the child by each side of the family. However, only one name is retained for later life.
Within the diaspora and those in Nigeria who live outside of Igboland. The tradition and context of names can become a lost part of a person’s heritage.
Many of us living abroad bear surnames that feel alien to us, relics from a culture that has often not been explained or elaborated to us.
In the modern globalised world, names can be a unique glimpse into a person’s history and origin. With surnames, in particular, being important indicators that map the collective journey of a family or clan.
At Okwu ID we are drafting a register archiving Igbo surnames and their meanings.
If you know of/have an Igbo surname, or if you have ever wondered what the meaning and context of your surname is. Message us on okwuidteam@gmail.com
We will do our best to try to find out what it means.
See the current list below:
Some names have not yet been defined/speculative (?) If you know the meaning let us know.
NAME (AHA) |
BREAKDOWN |
MEANING |
Abara | Spirit | |
Achebe | ||
Acholonu | ||
Adichie | ||
Agughalam | Do not side-line/marginalise me | |
Aguta | Countless/To have many | |
Agwuegbo | The hardship is over | |
Aku | Wealth | |
Alaneme | Ala (land)+ neme (is doing something) | The land is active – may have other interpretations |
Ama | Compound | |
Amadi | Ama + di | The compound remains |
Amaike | Ama + ike | The compound is strong |
Aniefuna | Ani/Ala + efuna | My land is not lost |
Anokwuru | Ano + Kwuru | Four talk |
Anosike | Ano + si + ike | Four is strong |
Anuoru | Anu + oru | To stay well? |
Asiegbu | A + si + egbu | |
Asika | Asi + ka | Asi (lie) = to lie a lot?? |
Asinobi | A + si + na + obi | From the heart |
Atuche | Atu + uche | To think / to plan something in the mind |
Atuegbu | Atu + Egbu | Speculation will not kill me |
Atusiemobi | Take heart (my condolences) ? | |
Awachie | ? | He has come to replace ? |
Awujo | A wu ujo | To be quiet ? |
Azuka | Azu + Ka | “The back is above.” m. Azu ordinarily means “the back” but it likewise refers to “the backer.” The family was poor, but since it had wealthy relatives, it was assured of social status. This fact is expressed in the name. |
IGBO |
ENGLISH | |
Nyé m ākā gi. | Give me your hand | |
Gwà m áhà (/áfà) gí. | Tell me your name | |
Gbá yā nkịtị. | Pay him/her no attention | (Ignore him/her) |
Kwé m n’ākā. | Shake my hand | |
Sí ébé à. | Go/come this way. | |
Hụ (/Fụ) nà íhé(/ife) níīlē (/níīnē) gàrà nkè ọmá. | See to it that everything goes well | |