The Origin and Characteristics of Igbo People

The Igbo people is a group of people that have similar culture and live in the Eastern part of Nigeria. Igbo is a tribe in the Federal Republic of Nigeria whose way of life is unique. Some people use the word "Ibo" instead of "Igbo" to refer to the same group of people. But an "original" Igbo man or woman will tell you that he is an "Igbo" and not "Ibo" as some call them. But many believe that the word "Ibo" is the English version of the locally and the originally known word "Igbo"

There are many stories and views on the origin of "ndi Igbo” (Igbo people). A story line said that Igbo people originated from Nri in Anambra state. The Nri kingdom is a kingdom within the Igbo area of Nigeria. Nri and Aguleri, where the Umueri-Igbo creation myth originates, are in the territory of the Umu-Eri clan, who trace their lineages back to the patriarchal king-figure, Eri (Isichei 1976). Eri, the god-like founder of Nri, is believed to have settled the region around 948 with other related Igbo cultures following after in the 13th century.

The Nigerian Civil War is not complete without mentioning the name of Late Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was a Nigerian military officer and politician who served as the military governor of the Eastern Region of Nigeria in 1966 and the leader of the breakaway Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970. He led the Igbo people during the Civil War though they lost at the end.
In the fight for the Igbo people to live freely on their own as an independent country, the Nigeria Civil War broke out. This is known as the Biafran war to the Igbos. They want to be known as the Biafrans and not part of the country called Nigeria. They want their own independent country to be called Biafra.
The Biafran war took place from July 6 1967 to 15 January 1970. Because the Igbos want to be on their own without being in the same country with the other tribes, the war started. Igbo people lost many people in the Civil War. This is because the Britain supported the Hausa people who in conjunction with Yoruba people and other tribes do not want the Igbo people to be independent. Nigeria as a country is made up of three major tribes: Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba.

These are three major tribes with different cultures and traditions entirely. Because of the colonization by the British people, they joined these three people together to oversee their affairs and govern them as one. After Nigerian independence from the Britain in 1960, the Igbo people decided to breakout from the unit and become their own single country but the Hausas and the British people are not in support of that.

Because of this, the British people sponsored the Hausas with more sophisticated weapons to fight the Igbo people during the Biafran war. The Nigerians were using standard weapons to fight the Igbos during the war including aircrafts and bombs, while the Igbos used locally made weapons. During the war, between 500,000 and 2 million Biafran civilians died of starvation.
The experience that the Igbo people got during the war still pain the people till date. Because the Igbo lost in the war, they rejoin Nigeria and are still part of Nigeria. Many Igbos till date are not happy to hear themselves being called Nigerians.

Irrespective of the challenges and the pains that Igbo people passed through over the years, they are outstanding tribe in Nigeria. They are remarkable in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Their achievement are not just local but have gone global. The Igbos are the most successful tribe in Nigeria.

People do say that any place you go and do not meet an Igbo person there that you should know that that very location is dead. Irrespective of the bad experience they had in the past, they still go to places. Igbo people are found in every continent of the world. They are in countries in Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe and Australia.

They travel a lot. They are not tired of doing that. Even in a timid village where you think people may not like to visit, you can find Igbo men doing good businesses there. They want to make money and succeed in what they do. They are like dispersing liquid that can spread and cover many areas.

The question is usually "will this business bring good money?" If the answer is a genuine yes, then do not be bothered on how a real Igbo person will handle it. His target is usually to make profit out of it. In as much as such stands, he will sort it out. He will do everything within his capacity to get the job done.

In all cities in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Igbo people are the pillars behind the businesses that go on there. They are in love with buying and selling. If you enter any street of the city where people do business, 65% and more are the Igbos. Not that they are just doing those businesses but they are successful in them. They know what they do for a living.

Sometimes they start small and you may think that they will not make it. Just give them about one year and come back and check. You will be marveled at the level of development you will see in that business that started small. They know how to manage themselves in their businesses to succeed.

They do not need much theories before they understand and practice their businesses. Everything they do in their businesses is 90% practical. They do not have the time to fill themselves with so many theories obtained from formal education before they can do their business. The Igbos learn their business practically and get good result at the end.

A man who have been into business can go to his village and pick a boy to come and learn how to do business. This boy can learn this business practically for over five years. This is practical learning and that is the best way to learn. At the end of his service when he has grown, the man who brought him settles the boy with some money to start his own business. With the much experience gained by the young graduate in practical business learning he will excel. He has already learned all the tricks and basic ideas needed for business success.

The Igbo people can discomfort themselves to make it in their businesses. They can stay in a half-built apartments just because they do not want to spend much on accommodation due to their passion to maintain the businesses. They want to survive in their businesses and because of that prefer to put the money they suppose to use to rent standard accommodations into their businesses. They believe that will make their business grow and make more money in return.

Someone once said that "if he is lazy he is not an Igbo" That stands and it is the truth. An average Igbo person is not lazy at all. He always fights for his survival and do what he suppose to do and do them well. He is not dull at all. That is the spirit of Igbo people that drives every original Igbo person.
In the recent years, many young people do not want to go into farming any longer. They prefer to be fully involved in white collar jobs. But in Igbo communities, we still see young Igbo men and women that are fully involved in farming. The want to make living and because of that keep themselves busy with doing something that will add value to them.

They are hard working set of people that are passionate in succeeding in what they do. Ladies and men from other tribes of the country hope to marry people from Igbo land. One of the reasons is because they are hard working. Some women from other tribes believe that they cannot marry Igbo men and go hungry.

Yes as stated before, the tribe of Igbo is the richest in Nigeria. They work for their money without looking at anyone's face. They can even carry dirty items and look dirty all because they want to make money and be rich. Other people from the other tribes in Nigeria can dress to look rich but the Igbos are the real rich people. They may not dress to look rich like other tribes like the Yorubas and Urhobo's do but they are the real rich people in the country.

Igbo people are considered to be the richest people in the whole Nigeria. Some of them are the most popular people in Nigeria. Linda Ikeji and almost 70% of Nollywood are Igbos. Most Igbo people prefer to own their own businesses instead of working for somebody (George Ibenegbu 2018).

According to Legit Media of Nigeria, some of the richest Igbo people in Nigeria are:

• Orji Uzor Kalu
• Cosmas Maduka
• Pascal Dozie
• Chief Cletus Ibeto
• Tony Ezenna
• Leo Stan Ekeh
• Chief Arthur
• Ifeanyi Ubah
• Tony Elumelu

• Isichei E. A (1976), A history of the Igbo, published by Macmillan, New York, United States
• "ICE Case Studies: The Biafran War". American University: ICE Case Studies. American University. 1997. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
• George Ibenegbu (2018), Which tribe in Nigeria is the richest?, published by Legit, Nigeria