THE IGBO IS CENTURIES OLDER THAN BOTH IGALA AND BINI LANDS

Igboland is centuries older than both Igala and Bini lands going by both archeology of settlement and genetic analysis. The oldest arche topology of settlement in Benin or Igala land can not even match Igbo Ukwu talk more Opi, Lejja, Afikpo, or the Acheulean hand-axes found at Ngodo (Ugwuele uturu). Sometimes I wonder who told these stories that one Prince or hunter came and set up a settlement in Igboland, mostly these people come from Benin or Igala and they all bear Igbo names and language. How can someone migrate from Benin in the 15th century to go and discover a land in Nsukka that has been occupied since 2000 BC by Igbo ancestors who were already doing iron works there ??

What were those elders who told these stories thinking biko. Hear what one of our historian has to say …

By Maazị Ogbonnaya Okoro II

Smelting of iron in Igbo land began prehistorically. From the artefacts found in Leja in Nsụka, smelting of iron in that place was backdated 2000 BC. The first recorded iron smelting site in the world. This was even long before Europeans knew about iron smelting. Ndị Igbo ahụgo ụzọ. Will they boldly tell you about this? Mba… they’d rather hide and argue it.

Apart from Leja, other places known for iron smelting prehistorically include: Opi, Akụ, Obimo, Ọbụkpa, Owere Elu etc. These communities are in Nsụka. I know all.

Now, one drunken person will wake up and tell you that Nsụka people came from Ịgala. Ịgala of yesterday who met people already living in the land and merged with them after their sojourn from Wukari in the present day Taraba State. How can great grandchildren birth ancestors? Ọọ na ọ bụghị kaịkaị?

The historic nature of the Igbo wowed the western world in that they have to try everything possible to hide it. Archeologists have dug out various artifacts regarding the Igbo in various places and I see no reason to doubt those who say that ndị Igbo bụ ndị gboo.

Talk about Nsude pyramid in Udi that backdated the Egyptian pyramid.

Talk about blacksmithing of Nkwere and Ọka. Nkwere makes gun which earned them the motto and slogan: “Nkwere Ọpiegbe”. With blacksmith, Ọka produced gun known as “Awka made” by some persons. The Igbo used it for hunting not for killing. Is it pot making? Ishiagụ are known for pottery that’s why they are called Ishiagụ Ọkpụite. Is it the textile industry? The artefacts in Uturu will wow you to see that the Igbo etego. Are we talking about the Okpoto?

Nna, Igbo dị omimi.

Only an efulefu wouldn’t feel proud of his or her Igbo identity because he or she wants to look inferior to impress others whose ears cannot accommodate the word: “Igbo”.

There are unique and special things about ndị Igbo that the Igbo don’t even know about.

I paused.

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