Igbo,+Nigeria,+Ethnic+Groups+&+Geography

IGBO

Igbo art is impossible to generalize due to a huge diversity amongst the Igbo people. The art characteristically represents numerous geographical regions and includes masks but their functions vary amongst the villages. The earliest surviving art forms are from around 900AD. The fine quality of copper alloy castings suggest that they had already attained a technological level to rival that of the European's. Igbo people are famous for Mbari architecture.

It is believed that these people originated from an area about 100 miles north of their current location at the confluence of the Niger and Benue Rivers. their linguistics were once the same as the Bini, Yoruba, and Idoma, but the language was split by them at an estimated 5,000-6,000 years ago. They re-located to their current location around 5,000-4,000 years ago.

Many Igbo people are farmers. Their staple crop is yam and its harvest time is enthusiastically celebrated. Igbo people grow so much yam, they even export it to their neighbors. They harvest palm tree fruit and process it to make palm oil and export it to Europe in large wuantities, making it a decently profitable cash crop.

The Igbo are divided up into many different branches. These divisions are the consequence of geographic differences.

There is no organized chieftaincy, hereditary, aristocracy, nor kingship customs, as can be found among their neighbors. Moreover, the village councils are who are traditionally in charge of leadership, and hold the responsibility of the village.

Before the Christian/European influence, the majority of Igbo practiced ancestor worship, which basically stated that to live a successful life, dead souls must be humored. One particular method of respecting the dead was involvement in the secret men's society, a name existing mainly in the northern region of the Igbo land.

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//NIGERIA//



Nigeria's history is very eventful. The history involving the northern cities of Kano and Katsina date way back to 1,000 A.D. In subsequent centuries, the Hausa kingdoms and Bornu Empire became significant terminals of North/South trade between North African Berbers, and the forest people. Some items exchanged during this process were ivory and other products. Not to mention slaves were also traded.

On October 1st, independence was acquired by the Federation of Nigeria, which was previously a constitutional monarchy. The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was adopted on October 1st 1963, while at the same time, Nigeria became a member of the common wealth.

On January 15th, 1966, a group of officers overthrew the government, and in May of 1967, Lt. Col. Emeka Ojukwu, the military governor, deemed the independence of the Eastern Region as the "Republic of Biafra."

Igbo art Other Ethnic Groups: Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani