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 language
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
Information on Covid-19 in Local Languages
This is Umukwu, Amune Ovim in Isuikwuato. An uncle sent this video to me yesterday. I’m happy to see this happen. Now that information about the virus is spread through local languages, I expect to see some change in attitude and willingness to observe social distancing. The video is in Igbo language. I think the… Continue reading Information on Covid-19 in Local Languages
An African song
“Na da oo, O Na da oo! Kuje kusanar!” Bring the cymbals, bring also the gongs Let’s make an African song… Before you hit the cymbal Remember the tune to the Tribal, Twist your palm a bit to the left But hold your strike, yes hold it For I must blow the whistle And introduce… Continue reading An African song
I’m coming home, with Deborah Nnagbo
1. Dn I’m coming home,dear forgotten land. For I’ve wandered so far away in the dungeon of life, So far away I journeyed into the rusted past. I picked pebbles of zeal and sealed my fears, I traveled far from home searching for hope Beside the faded branches of loss and pain I was blinded… Continue reading I’m coming home, with Deborah Nnagbo
Bulie dikem!
Eze ndi eze niile
Chukwu nnam
Aka m di n’elu,
Chi oma m
Onye ike niile di n’aka
Unu kporo ya isi n’ala
Nani gi bu chi di ndu
Kedu ihe madu bu
Ma o buru na, ime ghi ya otu?
Anam enya gi ekele
Ndi Igbo kwenu, kelenu Chineke
N’ihi rue mgbe ebighebi, ka ebere ya di
Chukwu nnam ke amamihe
A gam eto gi, n’olu di iche iche
O ruru gi Eze eluigwe
Obi n’atom nini nini
O dighi onye di ka Chukwu
Onu m juru n’ekele
O gaghi ejum onu ikele gi
Gi mere ka ndu fodurum
Imeela
Commentary:
I have written this in Igbo language and below is the translation.
Title: Arise my Warrior: Psalms of Praise from Oke’ Iroegbu
Arise my warrior!
The king of Kings
God my father
My hands are up for You
My good God
The One who holds all power in His hands
Let the world bow before You
Only You are the Living God
What can a man be
If You didn’t make him so?
I give You the glory
Igbo people I salute you, Praise Jehovah
For His mercies endureth forever
God my father, the ever knowing
I worship You in different languages
You deserve it, King of Heaven
My heart rejoice, happily
No one like God
My mouth is full of praises
I can never be full of praising You
You that made me have life
Thank You
Sharing is caring!
l feel your warmth Jehovah
The peace and comfort You gave
Now the sun shine thru my curtain
Strings of beautiful colors I see
Oh Jehovah, You are Awesome
The sky blue clouds stand at ease
You stand out, You are Handsome!
The love I feel, undescribable
The life I have, gracefully blessed
He loved me to love others
My voice, my warrior, my power
My strength, my icon, my Lord
My dream, my leader, my master
God my Supreme, Almighty God
For in You I see the beauty
Of all Your Creations
You are my dream and salvation
My inspiration, I am Abrahams seed
I am led to address You in African way
For people call me The Lords blessed
Ara na azu nwa, Chukwu di ebube
What if I had no color in my eyes,
What if I had no feet for my shoes?
What if… There are so many of them
But You, wouldn’t let me go that far
Your love made me absolute
And none can Your intentions mar
Your ways are mighty and astute
Good lands, valleys and hills
The rivers, skies and peoples
You cause me to behold;
I am forever grateful for Your love,
For the scentful flower and the bee,
For the morning dew with his suave,
And for a long but blessed week
Commentary.
Ara na azu nwa: Igbo language for ‘the breast that feeds a child’
Chukwu di ebube: My God is Glorious
Sharing is caring!
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
Sharing is caring!
When the palm wine tapper
Goes visiting his palm trees
He is very, very happy
And when he climbs a tree
He leans on his strong ropes
“Kpom Chiki! Kpom chiki!!”
He is very, very happy
Commentary:
The Palm wine is a natural beer derived from the Palm raffia trees. The beer is whitish in color and when mixed with water foams. I remember drinking a cupful. The tapper is normally depicted as a man on a straw hat with pants stretched down to his knees and perhaps on bare clothing such as a singlet.
I learnt the Igbo language when I was growing. I could recall those lyrics describing a palm wine tapper who is happy doing his work. I have penned down those wordings sang during the primary school days, and I find it funny recalling the moments we were asked to demonstrate.
“Kpom chiki…” Onomatopoiea, describes the sound of the tappers cutlass as it lands on the Raffia palm tree branches.
The Igbo folk song:
Mgbe oku ngwo gara n’ude
Obi na ato ya uto
Mgbe origoro na ngwo ya
O dabere na-ekete ya
Kpom chiki! Kpom chiki!!
Obi na ato ya uto
