I was in port-hacourt recently and spent about 2 weeks there and there's something i noticed. There's this Ikwerre woman that i heard sending an Ikwerre boy on an errand and i heard virtually everything she said and when i asked her ifit was Ikwerre she was speaking, she said YES. What i heard her speak was basically Igbo. Then i heard another Ikwerre guy talking with someone and i could barely hear 60% of what was been said.

So, i ask, are there different types of Ikwerre?

Abagworo Hopeathand

I don't think so..

Ikwerre dialects are very divergent na. Kay Williamson says that Ikwerre has more divergence in it than all of Igbo put together. She may have exaggerated, but the divergence in Ikwerre is indeed big. It is possible the woman in the first scenario was speaking a dialect from its Northern axis. Me, I have heard Obio-Akpor dialects and sh*t was practically undecipherable. And I was told it gets worse the further south you go.

RedboneSmith:
Ikwerre dialects are very divergent na. Kay Williamson says that Ikwerre has more divergence in it than all of Igbo put together. She may have exaggerated, but the divergence in Ikwerre is indeed big. It is possible the woman in the first scenario was speaking a dialect from its Northern axis. Me, I have heard Obio-Akpor dialects and sh*t was practically undecipherable. And I was told it gets worse the further south you go.

Interesting

One thing you should know is that some women you see as Ikwerre mothers were actually Igbo women from the South East who got married to Ikwerre men. Most of them actually diluted the conc. Ikwerre dialect with the hinterland Igbo dialect. For example, "bring it here" in Ikwerre is "gwia n'owa" or "gwia nu nha" but you'll here some Ikwerre people using the word "wetaa n'owa". Weta is not in the Ikwerre diction but it has become rampant due to that Central Igbo influence. The Ikwerre language have several variance and the more you go eastward from Emohua, the plainer it becomes to the understanding of the South Easterner.

the similarities in the language and the presence of a large number of igbos in ikwerre towns and villages makes it easy and seamless to insert igbo words and sentences instead of ikwerre words

EzePromoe:
One thing you should know is that some women you see as Ikwerre mothers were actually Igbo women from the South East who got married to Ikwerre men. Most of them actually diluted the conc. Ikwerre dialect with the hinterland Igbo dialect. For example, "bring it here" in Ikwerre is "gwia n'owa" or "gwia nu nha" but you'll here some Ikwerre people using the word "wetaa n'owa". Weta is not in the Ikwerre diction but it has become rampant due to that Central Igbo influence. The Ikwerre language have several variance and the more you go eastward from Emohua, the plainer it becomes to the understanding of the South Easterner.

Interesting that the Ikwerres say, 'weta n'owa'. Some Enugu state people also use 'owa'/'onwa' for 'here' also.

Afam4eva:
I was in port-hacourt recently and spent about 2 weeks there and there's something i noticed. There's this Ikwerre woman that i heard sending an Ikwerre boy on an errand and i heard virtually everything she said and when i asked her ifit was Ikwerre she was speaking, she said YES. What i heard her speak was basically Igbo. Then i heard another Ikwerre guy talking with someone and i could barely hear 60% of what was been said.

So, i ask, are there different types of Ikwerre?

Abagworo Hopeathand

Yes there are differences. Dialects spoken around Northern Ikwerre land are more 'central' or understandable to the average Igbo and those spoken in the south tend to be more 'concentrated'. Generally, the type of Ikwerre spoken in PH metropolis is more centralized and understandable. But as you move into the interior of Ikwerre land, it becomes more concentrated.

bigfrancis21:


Yes there are differences. Dialects spoken around Northern Ikwerre land are more 'central' or understandable to the average Igbo and those spoken in the south tend to be more 'concentrated'. Generally, the type of Ikwerre spoken in PH metropolis is more centralized and understandable. But as you move into the interior of Ikwerre land, it becomes more concentrated.

By this rate not all Ikwerre people would be able to understand the various forms of Ikwerre. Northern Ikwerre could be as divergent from the southern ones as any other Igbo dialects. So when "WE-THE-SOUTH-SOUTH" claims that Ikwerre is not Igbo, maybe they could be reminded that Ikwerre is not Ikwerre!

There ought to be a department of ikwerre language in any of the universities in Rivers State.

EzePromoe:
One thing you should know is that some women you see as Ikwerre mothers were actually Igbo women from the South East who got married to Ikwerre men. Most of them actually diluted the conc. Ikwerre dialect with the hinterland Igbo dialect. For example, "bring it here" in Ikwerre is "gwia n'owa" or "gwia nu nha" but you'll here some Ikwerre people using the word "wetaa n'owa". Weta is not in the Ikwerre diction but it has become rampant due to that Central Igbo influence. The Ikwerre language have several variance and the more you go eastward from Emohua, the plainer it becomes to the understanding of the South Easterner.

Ikwerre has varied difference with Igbo depending on the part of Igbo or Ikwerre you come from. Most Imo indigenes from Obinze, Mgbirichi, Awarra, Umuagwo, Ikwerrede etc. have very little to no difference with Ikwerre spoken in Ikwerre LGA of Rivers State. However there are some deeper Ikwerre dialects like Ogbakiri difficult for even a deep rooted fellow Ikwerre to understand.

Afam4eva:
I was in port-hacourt recently and spent about 2 weeks there and there's something i noticed. There's this Ikwerre woman that i heard sending an Ikwerre boy on an errand and i heard virtually everything she said and when i asked her ifit was Ikwerre she was speaking, she said YES. What i heard her speak was basically Igbo. Then i heard another Ikwerre guy talking with someone and i could barely hear 60% of what was been said.

So, i ask, are there different types of Ikwerre?

Abagworo Hopeathand

Are you still in Port Harcourt ?

Abagworo:


Are you still in Port Harcourt ?

No, I left. Why do you ask?

Afam4eva:
I was in port-hacourt recently and spent about 2 weeks there and there's something i noticed. There's this Ikwerre woman that i heard sending an Ikwerre boy on an errand and i heard virtually everything she said and when i asked her ifit was Ikwerre she was speaking, she said YES. What i heard her speak was basically Igbo. Then i heard another Ikwerre guy talking with someone and i could barely hear 60% of what was been said.

So, i ask, are there different types of Ikwerre?

Abagworo Hopeathand

My brother ikwerre language is a bit different,as you move around the ikwerre tribes of Rivers state. The only similarity In the ikwerre language is the word "Meka" and the answer "Diali". Even in same local government area ikwerre language is still different, u see the language of a Rumuokwurusi man different in some words with that of a Rupokwu person, despite being in the same local government,same thing with a rupokwu language been different from a choba person, but its is same local government.

Afam4eva:
I was in port-hacourt recently and spent about 2 weeks there and there's something i noticed. There's this Ikwerre woman that i heard sending an Ikwerre boy on an errand and i heard virtually everything she said and when i asked her ifit was Ikwerre she was speaking, she said YES. What i heard her speak was basically Igbo. Then i heard another Ikwerre guy talking with someone and i could barely hear 60% of what was been said.

So, i ask, are there different types of Ikwerre?

Abagworo

I missed this thread but I'll still chip in a few.

The Ikwerres have no central language spoken by all but every clan has a language unique to it. In as much as you speak the basics, someone from another clan can grasp what you mean.

Like someone posted, people can be in the same LGA and speak slightly differing variations but variations on a large scale usually occurs between clans in different LGAs.

For example, a man from Ogbunabali in PHALGA will have a hard time flowing with people from Rumuekpe in Emohua LGA. Certainly the further the distance, the more divergence.

Igbos will most likely grasp some sentences from the Ikwerre spoken in IKWERRE LGA, especially the communities close to Imo state, and it becomes more difficult or unintelligible downwards into Port Harcourt.

Any Igbo who understands the Ikwerre language spoken in the clans of Emohua LGA probably grew up in Emohua.

Ikwerre is Igbo. Saying otherwise is a matter of sentiment not fact.

Ikengawo:
Ikwerre is Igbo. Saying otherwise is a matter of sentiment not fact.

If you can explain to a clearly discernable degree, maybe, just maybe, I can agree with you.


First, allow me to remind you that Ikwerres being distinct from Igbos is a matter of ancestry and not because of divergence in language or culture.

Granted, Ikwerre and Igbo have some shared words and also share some customs but that alone shouldn't be the reason to arrive at your conclusion.

Mr. Ikengawo, i believe you believe you are the son of your father and your father's father's. You should have your genealogy, even if not documented, atleast the oral version. If you migrate to Sokoto and birth your kids there, after even 10 generations, they Shud still be able to identify themselves as Igbos. So if Hausas try to claim them as theirs, they can point their ancestry as the reason why they can be hausas.

Now for the record, IKWERRES are descendants of IWHRONHA, the son of Akalaka, a prince in Benin during the dynasty of Oba Ewuare.

There we go again.

HopeAtHand:


If you can explain to a clearly discernable degree, maybe, just maybe, I can agree with you.


First, allow me to remind you that Ikwerres being distinct from Igbos is a matter of ancestry and not because of divergence in language or culture.

Granted, Ikwerre and Igbo have some shared words and also share some customs but that alone shouldn't be the reason to arrive at your conclusion.

Mr. Ikengawo, i believe you believe you are the son of your father and your father's father's. You should have your genealogy, even if not documented, atleast the oral version. If you migrate to Sokoto and birth your kids there, after even 10 generations, they Shud still be able to identify themselves as Igbos. So if Hausas try to claim them as theirs, they can point their ancestry as the reason why they can be hausas.

Now for the record, IKWERRES are descendants of IWHRONHA, the son of Akalaka, a prince in Benin during the dynasty of Oba Ewuare.

As for me i don't care about Ikwerre People. but stop attaching Ikwerre with Benin people Oba of Benin have said it so many times that their is no such record that Ikwerre people are from benin. so stop forcing Ikwerre on benin people

Lajet:


As for me i don't care about Ikwerre People. but stop attaching Ikwerre with Benin people Oba of Benin have make said it so many times that their no such record that Ikwerre people are from benin. so stop forcing Ikwerre on benin people

Where are you from??

HopeAtHand:


Where are you from??

Where I'm from does not matter what i told you is the truth you can do research about it.

HopeAtHand:


If you can explain to a clearly discernable degree, maybe, just maybe, I can agree with you.


First, allow me to remind you that Ikwerres being distinct from Igbos is a matter of ancestry and not because of divergence in language or culture.

Granted, Ikwerre and Igbo have some shared words and also share some customs but that alone shouldn't be the reason to arrive at your conclusion.

Mr. Ikengawo, i believe you believe you are the son of your father and your father's father's. You should have your genealogy, even if not documented, atleast the oral version. If you migrate to Sokoto and birth your kids there, after even 10 generations, they Shud still be able to identify themselves as Igbos. So if Hausas try to claim them as theirs, they can point their ancestry as the reason why they can be hausas.

Now for the record, IKWERRES are descendants of IWHRONHA, the son of Akalaka, a prince in Benin during the dynasty of Oba Ewuare.

The reason Ikwerre is not Igbo is because they do not want to be. Simple. This ancestry argument is weak and even a little annoying. Reason being that a significant chunk of southeast Igbos also have non-Igbo ancestry if we follow their history, be it Igala, Benin, or Akwa-Cross. Being Igbo has never been about ancestry, but about linguistic ties.

Just say that Ikwerre people are not interested in a pan-Igbo identity and be done with it. The ancestry argument has never been a good one.

HopeAtHand:


Where are you from??

As i said in my first post i don't care about Ikwerre people what they called themselves .But let us tell ourselves the truth no Benin social organization will ever allow Ikwerre person to be a member of any of their Organization because Benin people knows very well their is no relationship between Between Ikwerre and Benin that is the sad truth. but their are many Ikwerre people in Igbo Organization world wide. Majority of Ikwerre people once the leave River state and live in another state the only join Igbo Organization.

RedboneSmith:


[s]
The reason Ikwerre is not Igbo is because they do not want to be. Simple. This ancestry argument is weak and even a little annoying. Reason being that a significant chunk of southeast Igbos also have non-Igbo ancestry if we follow their history, be it Igala, Benin, or Akwa-Cross. Being Igbo has never been about ancestry, but about linguistic ties.

Just say that Ikwerre people are not interested in a pan-Igbo identity and be done with it. The ancestry argument has never been a good one. [/s]

Go find a job and marry a wife. Stop lingering in childhood perpetually

We have passed that propaganda.

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

Ikengawo:


Go find a job and marry a wife. Stop lingering in childhood perpetually

We have passed that propaganda.

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

What propaganda? Do you even understand my position on this and why I made the comment I made, or is your blood just 'hotting' you this evening?

Ikengawo:


Go find a job and marry a wife. Stop lingering in childhood perpetually

We have passed that propaganda.

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

Aren't both of you essentially saying the same thing?

are the Ikwerre actually descendants of Akalaka? how many places were founded by Akalaka? I think Akalaka founded Ekpeye while people from Ekpeye founded Ogba and Ekpeye and Ogba contributed in founding Ikwerre. so they may be right in claiming Akalaka but I don't think he actually founded these places directly.

HopeAtHand:


Where are you from??

is your brother..
Seriously the Ancestry ish is weak. I need more evidence but don't forget before the coming of strange tribe; people were there and that's why I don't believe in Eri as origin of igbo cos he met the native who welcome him likewise akalaka.

HopeAtHand:


If you can explain to a clearly discernable degree, maybe, just maybe, I can agree with you.


First, allow me to remind you that Ikwerres being distinct from Igbos is a matter of ancestry and not because of divergence in language or culture.

Granted, Ikwerre and Igbo have some shared words and also share some customs but that alone shouldn't be the reason to arrive at your conclusion.

Mr. Ikengawo, i believe you believe you are the son of your father and your father's father's. You should have your genealogy, even if not documented, atleast the oral version. If you migrate to Sokoto and birth your kids there, after even 10 generations, they Shud still be able to identify themselves as Igbos. So if Hausas try to claim them as theirs, they can point their ancestry as the reason why they can be hausas.

Now for the record, IKWERRES are descendants of IWHRONHA, the son of Akalaka, a prince in Benin during the dynasty of Oba Ewuare.

So why don't you have Benin names

The best way to know a people is there names... People would never change their names for anything no matter the influence and also the names of the villages

Anioma had far more Benin influence but still retend their names.... No matter how close they were to Benin

Lagos was a Benin land and they names can show that


I don't care what ever the ikwerris want to claim.... But if you do a DNA test and find out they way more relationships to benins than igbos I owe the person one million

As an mbaise man... I think I have better hope of hearing epeye even than a core nsukkka or abakalaka man

mrvitalis:

So why don't you have Benin names

The environment we found ourseelves and our interaction with the people there are responsible for it.

Andoni people are Ijaws but why do their language sound like Ibibio?

HopeAtHand:


The environment we found ourseelves and our interaction with the people there are responsible for it.

Andoni people are Ijaws but why do their language sound like Ibibio?

Nothing makes a man changes the name of their place and their name

Andoni are still have ijaw written over them and they are in no way similar to ibibio please