Delta Ibo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Delta-Ibo (sometimes spelt Delta-Igbo) refers to a group of languages related to the Igbo language and spoken in Nigeria.

They are mostly confined to Delta State (hence the name) but some of them (like Ukwuani) are spoken close to the borders of neighboring states like Rivers.

Languages that fall into this group include Ukwani, Agbor and Aboh.

Most Delta Ibo inhabit an area known as Anioma in Delta State.

1 History
2 Pre-Colonial life and culture
3 Today
- 3.1 Post-colonial identity
4 External links
5 References
6 See also

[edit] History

The origins of the Delta Ibo, the largest group of inhabitants of Anioma, can be traced to their eastern neighbors across the Niger River: the Igbos. The Igbos, known for their high achievement historically, lived in high density areas. Around the 10th century AD, the potential for spare land across the Niger most likely prodded a wave of migrant Igbos looking for land and avenues to farm for consumption. The Delta Ibos today are unique as one of the major groups in Nigeria that trace their roots to nearby communities and not a faraway land like Mecca, Baghdad, or Egypt.

[edit] Pre-Colonial life and culture

The Delta Ibos' social structure was dominated by the use of lineages. The lineages were based loosely on the concept of uno, umunna, and idumu, which are major blood lineages; while ogbe and obodo were open and much more political. Uno was a small family unit comprising husband, wife, and children. The next lineage was Umunna, which includes the primary or nuclear family, the daughter or son in law, and the grandparents and the grandchildren. The Ogbe is a large structure which allowed non-blood relatives; it comprises the Idumu and some outsiders and it is best classified as a quarter in terms of demographics. The maximal concept is one that looks like a small town; this is the Obodo.

[edit] Today

[edit] Post-colonial identity

After the independence of Nigeria, A few Nigerian groups desired their own identity separate from forced colonial political and social institutions. The Delta Ibo were no exception. As a wave of demand for state creation in the 1970s permeated the Nigerian political landscape, included in this movement was the yearning for Ndi-Anioma, land of the Aniomas as a separate political state for the Delta Ibos.