Four of the major coastal tribes of Western Africa: the Yoruba, Igbo, Akan and the Gaa-Adangbe are dissimilar at a glance and evidently geographic neighbours, but very closely related, if examined in detail at the genetic level.

Several studies have been employed over the years, with findings bringing up linkages of genetic similarity between differing regional ethnic groups. One in particular, conducted by Adebowale Adeyemo, Guanjie Chen, Yuanxiu Chen, the National Human Genome Centre and Howard University, and Charles Rotimi of the University of Ibadan provided results indicating the genetic similarities between the four major West African ethnic groups.
Their findings further indicated surprising genetic variance within groups, but almost none across groups, similar to the closeness of human genetics across races, showing more range within than without.

According to this landmark study there was 99.9 percent within-population variance, the between-population variance was less than 0.1 percent. This means that Yorubas, Igbos, Gaa and Akan are 99.9 percent similar, while within each of the groups there are variations/differences between individuals as high as 99 percent i.e. One Igbo may be 99 percent genetically different from another Igbo, or one Yoruba person to another.

It is important to remember that these groups were not initially split by national borders; prior to the European division of the continent, these ethnic peoples traded, migrated and wedded as the times permitted, allowing apparent regional and national mixtures that remain evident in modern day genetic analyses of some Yoruba and Igbo individuals.

Race and ethnicity are considered to be related concepts. Ethnicity is often assumed to be somewhat more of a cultural identity of a group, often based on shared ancestry, language and cultural tradition, while race is assumed to be strictly a biological classification, based on genetic materials and bone structure. Ethnicity is often used synonymously with ambiguous terms such as nation or people, depending on which source of group identity is emphasized to define membership, the following types of (often mutually overlapping) groups are:

Ethno-linguistic, emphasizing shared language, dialect or script — example: Hausa.
Ethno-national, emphasizing a shared polity or sense of national identity — example: Nigerian.
Ethno-racial, emphasizing shared physical appearance based on genetic origins — example: African-American.
Ethno-regional, emphasizing a distinct local sense of belonging stemming from relative geographic isolation — example: South Islanders.
Ethno-religious, emphasizing shared affiliation with a particular religion, denomination or sect — example: Christians.

Also worthy of note is the shared Volta-Niger root languages, Yoruba and Igbo languages belong to the same family (YEAI branch), showing the common start of the diverse languages spoken by these ethnicities.

Consequently, barring the inclusion of culture, tribal affiliation and nationality, it could be said that the the Yorubas, the Igbos, the Akans and the Gaa-Adangbes are but a people spread over a wide area with different ways of life. Thus discrediting any claim of a unique Yoruba “race” or a genetically insured Igbo ethnicity often employed by politicians and traditional rulers in rhetorics and propaganda messages.

The reality, however, is the hampered economic strength of a not truly united front, with success delayed continually by the lack of pan-African sentiments on the part of the leadership, and poor economic decisions taken in an imperialist system.This is not to revile the revered skin deep differences in each group’s cultural development, but serves to indicate and rejoice in the underlying sameness of what appears ‘not’ to be.
A body does not fight itself. These kinds of research serve as a balm to the much divided heart of the ethnically-concerned West African, and to the African at large: one root, many branches; united by blood if not spirit.

www.herald.ng/yoruba-genetically-99-9-percent-igbo-study-reveals/?utm_source=nnd&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=nnd

I always knew we are brothers

I rebuke it in Jesus name am a Yoruba nd I don't have anything in common with Igbo. For christ sake there is a difference between sophistication and fraud. Abeg o

now yoloba want to attach themselves by force to Igbos

until they put on red cap and swear to Amadioha, mgbati mgbati they are!

..

White, Black, Hispanic, Negro, Asia, IGBO, YORUBA, HAUSA ATI TAPA to mention few we are all descendant of ADAM and EVE.

We are all ONE.

Hahahaha. Wetin we no go hear? Hell no we ain't! We are as different as night is from day, and that's why Yoruba people heads ain't FLAT like the Yee.bos -- na Baba God flatten dia heads to distinguish them from us right from the womb.

..

..

GOD FORBID BAD THING. WE NO DEY CARRY DRUGS NA, WE ARE NOT DEVELOPERS TOO, WE DONT HAVE FLAT HEADS . SO, MAKE EVERYBODY ANSWER HIN PAPA NAME

Scientifically there really isn't such a thing as race, we are all humans, we all came from Africa and share common ancestry, we each more alike than we are different..

..

Misleading (sensational) headline.

Watch how shallow-minded ethnic bashers would come and mas2bate all over this thread.

Nigerian ethnic groups and senseless rivalry...


www.nairaland.com/attachments/3883260_zuma_jpeg2b1a6f4ae132cd6683adb4edad2d2518

We Igbo have nothing absolutely nothing in common with the Yoruba apart from we are in the same country



That's all

johnydon22:
Scientifically there really isn't such a thing as race, we are all humans, we all came from Africa and share common ancestry, we each more alike than we are different..

But there is such a thing as dna and some ethnicities share more similarities dna wise. I have always maintained yorubas and igbos are the same people, this isnt the first study that supports that. Phenotypic differences I believe happened recently due to the different weathers in their respective settlements (Adaptation). Mind you I am neither yoruba nor igbo, just my neutral unbiased opinion.

VomeSchakleton:


But there is such a thing as dna and some ethnicities share more similarities dna wise. I have always maintained yorubas and igbos are the same people, this isnt the first study that supports that. Phenotypic differences I believe happened recently due to the different weathers in their respective settlements (Adaptation). Mind you I am neither yoruba nor igbo, just my neutral unbiased opinion.

I share you sentiments too, Efiks are the closest Igbo relatives but i also think the inhabitants of the lower Niger, Efiks, Igbos, yorubas even up to the Ashanti's of Ghana share a common ancestry or history.

Too long that it has been so severed

Almost certainly same people distanced by distinct choice of settlement over very long periods of time slowly evolving varying lingual expressions and cultures that must had a common root.

It's a pity that Nigerians have been engulfed by tribalism and deep seated resentment. A close study of Igbo language/culture and Yoruba language/culture will show you that both descended from a common source or were heavily mixed before they began to seperate and adopt distinct phenotypes,language and lifestyle.
This is not the first time this research has been conducted though. Politically and otherwise,igbos and yorubas should be their strongest supporters but Igbophobia wouldn't let that happen.

Wow, reading this thread is like reading about Victorian phrenologists measuring skulls and making moral and intellectual judgements of people based on those.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWS_hJfUzgI

topeayan:
I rebuke it in Jesus name am a Yoruba nd I don't have anything in common with Igbo. For christ sake there is a difference between sophistication and fraud. Abeg o

are you really a christian?