This is to respond to your requests for a clearer, easy to read Igbo Alphabet, and we’ve come up with this, which we believe is simplified. It’s important to take your attention to the alphabet structure because it’s the key to unlock your understanding of this beautiful language. Twenty-seven distinct letters are contained in this… Continue reading Igbo Language Alphabet
Tag: Igbo
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Things Fall Apart is a novel written by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. Published in 1958, its story chronicles pre-colonial life in the south-eastern part of Nigeria and the arrival of the Europeans during the late nineteenth century. It is seen as the archetypal modern African novel in English, one of the first to receive global… Continue reading Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Folktale: The Hen and Her Neighbors
It is breezy here and I have a tale for the evening. Gather around, sit with me under this mango tree, warm yourself by the fire and enjoy this poetale… Ifochakpi! Waa!! Once in the animal kingdom There lived a Hen and a Cock and Their neighbors, the Rat and the Lizard One day the… Continue reading Folktale: The Hen and Her Neighbors
There is more to life by Miracle Kelechi
I stumbled on this and think it is worth sharing. Thank you Miracle Kelechi for the reminder that there is more to life than worries.
African Proverbs 2
Here’s a Guinean Proverb: Knowledge of leadership is not plucked from the air, one is born with it. Explanation: Selflessness, honesty, compassion and every other qualities of Leadership are groomed from good home training, personal decisions to live upright and treat others right.
Happy Teacher’s Day, 2019 and Thoughts on Growing Up
Ututu oma, ach, that’s good morning in English. It’s a bright and sunny morning and I wish I was in Kenya, watching wildlife. World Teacher’s Day. Today is Teacher’s Day! I celebrate all who share their knowledge with others, cheers and thanks for being a teacher. To parents, guardians, school tutors, clergymen, imams and everyone… Continue reading Happy Teacher’s Day, 2019 and Thoughts on Growing Up
The Hamlets’ songs
Tonight I write of a beautiful countryside Nested in the forests, at the foot of hills in the East, A quiet place that taught me the songs of Nature And fed me with fruits fresh from all blooming trees! * In the morning, fine birds gather to build nests Their strong choral concert disturb the… Continue reading The Hamlets’ songs
Ina murna (I’m excited)
The snaky road twisted, here and there Passing pockets of forests tucked away, And when it ended at the foot of Ugwu Uwaoma I saw the palm trees lead a welcome song At the foot of the hill a banner hung Bearing Mama’s poster and details… *** Now I stand before thee, oh great hill… Continue reading Ina murna (I’m excited)
”I feel a power other than mine
I feel a strenght greater than me”
The strongest winds and storms
Tell of a might,
The beauty of His love
A testimony of grace!
He gave me a yam, alright!
Haha, he gave me a knife also
He gave me a fine dream
I worship His Majesty, – Kabiyesi!
I call Him, O gburu uzo n’ozara
The one who made roads on dunes
He made all with spoken words
He makes water storms in dry deserts
And men stare mouth ajar!
Wonder, wonder, holy, holy
I must say praise to You, Nissi!
Oh how awesome, how wonderful!
The day, the nights, you made hopeful
Ebube Dike, Dike na Dimkpa
Eze ndi Eze, the Lion of Judea!
I am so obsessed, what can I say
To You that cuts oceans into highways?
Awesome Jehovah- my song
You gave me a sweet hymn
One holy, of Trinity and solemn
My pride, my power- Chimbuikem
I command the rains, haha!
For you made me a commander!
He gave victory to a strengthless me
And I march to the gates of the enemy!
El-Shaddai I am forever grateful
Odum ebo Judae, Abum ihe mbu!
Only You are God
You got the whole world
In Your merciful hands,
Only You must reign
Commentary:
I am a christian, a methodist and a child of God. I am thankful to Jesus Christ for His undying love. This poetry is my lyrics for Him Who makes this poetry possible in me. The language used in the piece safe from English is Igbo and Yoruba. And below are the translations.
Translations:
Kabiyesi: The Yoruba word for praising or hailing a King
O gburu uzo n’ozara: Igbo for The One that made settlements on desert dunes or wastelands
Ebube Dike, Dike na Dimkpa: Igbo for The powerful One, The most powerful!
Eze ndi Eze: Igbo for King of Kings
Chimbuikem: Igbo for God is my strenght!
Odum ebo Judae, Abum ihe mbu: Igbo language for Lion of Judae, I am that I am
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Nneoma, nwayi oma m ji eme onu
Obidiya,
Anam ede akwukwo a
N’ihi gi, n’ihi ihunanya gi
Iru gi di ka mmiri no n’iyi
Ochi gi na-eme m obi uto
Enweghi ihe m ga eji tunyere ya
Lee kwa mgbe akwa n’egbum
I kpom si
“Bia, kam bie gi oma
Tinye aka gi n’akam
Biko kwusi ibe akwa”
Lee kwasim anya na anya
Nwayi mara mma
Mara udiri udo na anuri
Di na obim tata
Mgbe ubosi na adada
I na eche m nche
Mgbe oke oyi na atu
I nye akwa gi
Mgbe agu di n’obodo
I nyem ihe oriri gi
Mara nke a, nwayi oma
Mara na m huru gi n’anya
Commentary.
There is a translation after this commentary. Here goes my first native poem in Igbo language! The Igbo is a south east Nigerian nation. I can’t say why this poem came today or why it hasn’t come before now. I have looked forward to writing more in African languages with appropriate translation in English. I dedicate this poem to all my loved ones, to friends and well wishers, to you my beloved readers and finally to all mothers.
Title: Sweet Mother
Sweet mother, my pride!
The husbands heart beat
I write this piece
Cos of you, cos of your love
Your face glitter like the waters of the stream
Your laughter gives me joy
Nothing compares to it!
Even when I cry before you,
You call to me, saying
“Come to me dear
Give me your hands
Please, stop crying”
Now look at my eyes
Beautiful and good woman
And know the kind of joy
That brews in my heart!
When night comes upon us
You shield me
When the cold is terrible
You give your warmth
Even when famine comes
You give me your food
And please know this dear mother
I am so in love with you
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Africa is a budding cocoon
A shy, fragile and cute butterfly
With shaky wings meant to fly
Living, in a desperate world
Africa is the gigantic tree
That grows by the side of the river
Shielding the lengths of the forests
And feeding the lifes around it
Africa is a mountain highly peaked
With white snows melting gracefully
And herds of Wildebeest grazing
Quietly down the grassy green plains
Africa is a mild song
That plays when the sunshine
At the beach down, down the road
With brown and white sand mixed
Africa is a dream
Waiting to happen
Hope of the generation
A scenic beauty of land and nature
Africa is my home
The hills of serene Ovim*
And the wild catfishes
That move about kingly and fearless
Africa is love
Community and family
Desires and joyful times
And the moonlight tales of the town
The Victoria Waterfalls is Africa
…The Veldt, the Savannah
…The Lake Chad and the River Niger
…The Lions and the Cheetah
…The Crocodiles and the Hippo
…The Elephants and the Rhino
…The Baobab and the Iroko
…The Zulu tribe and Igbo
…The Guinea and the Sahara
…The Oil Palm and the Shea
…The Orange and Nile River
…The Ashante and the Boer
…The Yankari reserve and the Serengeti
…The bushmens’ home and the Kalahari
…The amazing wine called mqobothi
…The Zebra and the Ostrich
Africa plays my fancy
And in such sweetness
I love my motherland
Commentary:
Ovim is in Nigeria and the poet hails from there.
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It is a very cold morning
As dew descend upon this land
From those ancient hills
Standing like medieval knights
Protecting, shielding and guiding the hamlet
Quiet, queer and strange
But full of amazing life
When you feel the cold
Touched by the tip of a grass leave
On your way to the stream
Or on your way to the farm
Tucked away somewhere
Through windy pathways
Hidden in the green forest
The trick of Nature comes to you
The streams are very cold
Icing cold, it takes a huge heart
To plunge a fist in the waters
The shivering cold feasts on the flesh
Turning the skin to white colorings
Driving dry airs through the nose
And up the hills, one could hear sounds;
The cutting of palm fronds
The call of the wild
The wind brings sweet scents
Of wild sunflowers and marigold
And the cooking of my people
Though the cold be so a tyrant
It revives memories never to be lost
To a wild and country-loving boy
Umukwu is a hamlet located in Ovim, Isuikwuato in Nigeria. My mother is from here and I have spent some time living here. It is a very quiet place, save from the birds twittering and the buzzing of insects in the mornings. The hamlets is almost cut off by breath taking hills surrounding it, cold streams with big catfishes and crabs which are not to be killed; very fanciful tradition you might say. The people are homely, welcoming and very friendly; a typical feature of the Igbo ethnic group.
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I am Igbo
Not because I am fair
Not because I am tall
…Or short
I am Igbo
Not because I travel a lot
Not because I live in hamlets
… And towns
I am Igbo
Not because I live in Africa
Not because I sell for profits
… Or for loss
I am Igbo
Not because I say so
Not because I am hated
… Or loved
I am Igbo
Because I am a culture
A tradition, not just a tribe
But a people,
A great people of God
A poet and a farmer
A technician and a scholar
Hope of the African race
Born through thick and thin
Fearing no man
But God who made all
I am tradition
A masquerade
In the village square
I am a stream
Flowing in peace
Washing mens nakedness
I am a hunter
Who dares wild beasts
And strikes with no fear
I am hope
Accompanied with faith
With the fear of God
I am a fisherman
Trailing my traps
Tucked away in creeks
I am a farmer
The one who feeds the clan
Eze-ji, king of yams!
I am the dibia, the physician
The one who heals
Throught the help of the Almighty
I am a rainmaker
A descendant
Of the shadows of men
Striving to be free
I am just a man
Who live quietly
Fearing no man or deity
But the One True God
I am Igbo!
Igbo Kwenu!
Note:
The Igbo is a Southern tribe in Nigeria, renowned for their industry, entreprise and daring attitude. Basically the poet seems to link his tribes culture to religion. The Igbos are predominantly Christians and can be seen in every profession the world can offer.
Dibia: Locally called the medicine man or the herbalist feared and reverred in ancient times to possess powers beyond human comprehension.
Eze ji: The King of Yams.
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Breaking the Kola
God our tryst makerOur lover and He who knows allChineke m, ke bi nigwe!Maker of the UniverseHe whom fetches water with a basketTo disgrace the bucketHe who whips us with one handAnd consoles us with the otherHe who stills a raging seaHe who made the Kola nutThe King of all foods!We break the Kola nutThe… Continue reading Breaking the Kola
