Why is it that the Igbos in delta state are always keen to let everyone know that they are unique in their Igboness. And they chose to do this by always changing their name whenever the name of their state changes, before they used to be called "bendel Igbos" and now it's "Delta igbos". Does it mean if the name of their state is changed to "Hausa" they'll become "Hausa Igbos"?

It isn't about uniqueness. They just feel more synonymous with those in their state than they do with those across the Niger.

But tey make it look as if they are different from other Igbos.

Midwest Igbo, Bendel Igbo and now Delta Igbo means Igbo who live in those regions. There are non Igbo people in those regions or states as well but this is the only way you will know the difference. Had it been there are Urhobo's in the east, probably, they would have been called Eastern Urhobos.
It does not matter, the basic fact is, they are NdiIgbo.

afam4eva:

But tey make it look as if they are different from other Igbos.

That's the meaning of non-synonymy. The Igbo to the west of the Niger generally see their identity as non-synonymous with the Igbo to the east of the Niger. You make it sound as if it is something bad/wrong/incorrect.

Politically and geographically, they are not in the east. It is the same with Yorubas in Benin Republic. They do not look up to Western Nigeria in political matters. Yet they are Yorubas.

Please, let's not create an issue here. 'Delta' igbos, whatever that means, don't have an identity problem. They are igbo and proudly so. They seem to be my favourite of the igbo subgroups. I'll give you an example. I once had an Anioma (delta igbo)woman as a neighbour. One day she joking told me: 'buy something come for ur sister, u no say na d same road we dey pass.' I reply that i'm igbo, but she's anioma. She was completely p!ssed off. Since then i had a couple of them as friends and i realized they don't have identity issues like some of the others.

What identity problem?

ChinenyeN:

What identity problem?

Some, perhaps 15-20% of the ones from Ndokwa/IkaIgbo axis has identity problem. A very confused one once told me that when his father died, they buried him facing Bini, so he does not know if he is Igbo or not. So many moonlight stories abound there. Pray we do not go into that in this thread.

Lol @ they buried facing Bini. Roflmao!!! Bini don become their Mecca. Foolish man. U for ask if that changed the price of garri.

ChinenyeN:

What identity problem?

Being confused about whether they are igbo, bini, or ijaw.

/mistake. my bad!

Quite frankly, I'm not even sure why people think they have an identity problem. They don't seem confused to me, because, maybe it's just me, but they seem very sure of their identity. . . if anything I'd say that these care cases of misunderstanding, because "confusion" doesn't sound like the proper word for it. At least, not to me.

I once stumbled on a Thread on Facebook wherein these our supposed Delta Igbo brethren were responding to a question "How do you react when someone calls you an Igbo person?" Their responses were really embarrassing and disgraceful, to say the least. Only two guys amongst the lot claimed Igbo, others rather choose to be associated historically with the Binis, Igalas, Ijaws etc. Having succeeded in distorting the historical origin of the Asaba people, it is now the turn of of the Ibusas (Igbo-bi-na-uzo). I read a write up by one Emeka Esogbue, who claims that not all Ibusas migrate from Igboland; some are from bini, etc, according to him. Delta Igbos are often quick to tell you about their patriarch, who was previously known as Ezechima, but now Izechime (Note, the distortion is designed to execute the propaganda).

I think this whole denial started after the Nigerian civil war. There is a popular belief among them that they suffered more casualties than the South-Eastern Igbos, yet they do not enjoy equal rights and privileges with them in nominations, appointments, selections, elections etc into Federal positions. This argument might sound sensible but they must not forget that they belong to a difference Geographical/Geo-political Zone (previously Mid-West and now South-South), which is the determining factor.

The South-Eastern Igbos should stop bothering about what they call themselves. They can be Binis, Yorubas or even Hausas, for all I care. They are doing themselves a great disservice, if not, why are they backward in Delta State politics despite their large population? Uhrobo/Isoko has produced governors, Ishekiri also, perhaps Ijaw will be next on line. When will it be the turn of the Delta Igbos? Your guess is as good as mine.

@mortiple: Those who deny their Igboness are in the minority. They come mostly from Kwale/Agbor area. But I maintain, just a minority.

Why exactly does this bother some so?

ChinenyeN:

Why exactly does this bother some so?

They require help.

Why?

To eliminate inferiority complex.

Which Inferiority Complex? and Whose Inferiority Complex?

ChinenyeN:

Which Inferiority Complex? and Whose Inferiority Complex?

Oya, Igbo denials answer him?. One of them has remembered you today and has made it clearly known to you in a different thread.

How does their case exemplify an inferiority complex, though? That's really what I meant, and I'm directing that question to the Igbo and not those who deny Igbo identity.

Hahahaha. . .did sb say because his grandady was buried facing bini he was not sure if he was igbo. . Lol. . NL and funny comments. . Me am Imo Igbo! . . Lol. . Rubbish. . You re not igbo yet you bear igbo names. . Clear case of identity crisis.

Well, Delta Igbos and the other Igbos from the east have different origins, hence the need to differentiate themselves. People tend to generalise them but there are a lot of differences even in culture and conduct. I am Delta Igbo myself and believe me, there are people from my tribe that would rather have their children marry from the Yoruba tribe than from the Igbo tribe. They do not see themselves as one and the same with the general Igbos and I tend to agree with them. We are very different in many ways and I do not fancy the idea of being placed in the general Igbo category, not that there is anything wrong with them, afterall, all tribes have their vices.But, we are proud of ourselves even though we are a minority and we like to be recognised in our unique identity

bestestgal:

Well, Delta Igbos and the other Igbos from the east have different origins, hence the need to differentiate themselves.

Like how, what do you mean? Where do the people of Akwukwu Igbo  and Umunede originate?

bestestgal:

People tend to generalise them but there are a lot of differences even in culture and conduct.

Can you please list some difference apart from language as this is different within all nations. What will you start with, kingship? No, "Delta Igbo" 'kings' are referred to as Obi. Mannerisms? No, "Delta Igbo" serve orji on an okwa and eat yam as a staple among other things. Religion? No, "Delta Igbo" believed in Ani, Ikenga, Alusi, etc. Names? No, the Obi or "Dein" of Agbor's traditional name is Ikechuku, so please list some significant differences that cant be found in the same extremity between other Igbo groups.

bestestgal:

I am Delta Igbo myself and believe me, there are people from my tribe that would rather have their children marry from the Yoruba tribe than from the Igbo tribe.

Personally, even if this was true I'd be too embarrassed to own up  to the fact. Secondly Igbo is not a "tribe". Thirdly, may I ask if the Yoruba can tell an Ijaw from an Igbo talk less of a "Delta Igbo" from an Igbo. Last but not least, what is the name of your "tribe"?

bestestgal:

They do not see themselves as one and the same with the general Igbos and I tend to agree with them.

Who is "them"? What cultural group do they belong to, what festivals do they celebrate, what is their origin, what is their ethnic makeup if they are not one group?

bestestgal:

We are very different in many ways

In what ways? Name the ways.

bestestgal:

I do not fancy the idea of being placed in the general Igbo category

If another person from your "tribe" fancies being in the "Igbo category", what would you think of that?

bestestgal:

not that there is anything wrong with them, afterall, all tribes have their vices.

But you'd rather be Bini.

bestestgal:

But, we are proud of ourselves

Who? And how are you proud of yourselves when you'd rather associate with people who strafed your "Delta Igbo" town?

bestestgal:

we are a minority and we like to be recognised in our unique identity

Again, who is we and how many of you want your identity to be recognised as unique (unique as in an unrelated group to the Igbo)?

Bestestgal,
Ur comment wreaks of inferiority complex. Do you want to be
Yoruba? If yes kindly relocate to Ore and quit boring us with ur write up. Every Igbo enclave is a minority on its own so what general Igbo are u talking about? Why is ignorance so high among some of y'all in that region? U fail to realize that the same stuff that makes you think u are unique among ur so called general Igbo populacw exists among the Ngwa, Abiriba, Aro, Enugwu-Ukwu, Ezza, yet they are not losing sleep trying to prove there are differences coz guess what in the eyes of the Bini, Yoruba, Hausa u are nothing but regardless of all the tails by moonlight stories u want to give em about our specific origins. They don't care to know and never did and never will hence they wasted no time wiping u out at Asaba. Grow up. I have no problem with the term Delta Igbo, Edo Igbo or Rivers Igbo as long as its been used in the right context but honestly when I meet an igbo from the South-south I prefer to hear him say I am Anioma or Ndoni, Ikwerre afterall we all from somewhere like Nnewi, Oka, Igbo-ukwu, etc. As long as we all identify ourselves as Igbo when we congregate like we do at our meetings and its been working well for us.

*amaa osnu* socio-cultural synonymy does not equal socio-political synonymy.

Bestest
You not only have complex problem, you lack knowledge of your ancestral history. Speak for yourself when you talk about not wanting to be placed in the general igbo group, if you ve a problem with that, first learn to not speak igbo as your language, then change you igbo name and re-write your own family ancestral history as you please. You can be very certain that no igbo person will lose sleep over what you choose to identify with. Unfortunately for you, you can't twist history and fact, besides, your views are not even reflective of the igbos outside of the SE. My best friend Chukwudi Mordi is from Delta state, he can barely speak igbo or any of the local dialects in Delta state but he speaks yoruba and English fluently yet you dare not call him sth else. Besides, to a yoruba man you are omo igbo or omo nna, not when you bear a name like chukwudi. I find it funny when I see all these funny categorizations, delta igbo, rivers igbo and so on, yet you ve a problem with being called igbo or identified as igbo. Whether you choose to marry yoruba, or identify with yoruba, that is your own choice, igbos will not stop being igbos, that is a fact.

When someone is 90% black and tries as much as possible to prove himself white,it would be a waste of useful time.Because one bini refugee was assimilated and accepted by Igbos in an Igbo town and introduced kingship does not automatically change their identity to bini.All parts of igboland have migrants and cultural influences from various non-igbo areas.That is why we have so much dialects.Delta Igbo(Ika apart) is one of the easiest version of Igbo language.

@Bestestgal: Your post is exquisitely boring. Delta Igbo is different from Eastern Igbo yet your imbecilic brain prevented you to provide evidence. Whether you marry Yorubas or not, who cares. You are a bloody proof of that inferiority complex that has been much talked about here.
Why does that your claimed difference not stopped Hausa/Fulani cum islamist from slaughtering your brothers and sisters in their region?.
My advice to you is that you continue to be a spectator as you have always been since you registered in nairaland. We joined nairaland about the same time last year and you have only 3 post so far. So continue to read through and do not go to that section that says 'reply (click once, then wait. You do not only lack ideas but the mental capability to engange in any Igbo thread.
Once again continue to be a SPECTATOR. Should I type that in Igbo for easier comprehension?.

Andre Uweh:

@Bestestgal: Your post is exquisitely boring. Delta Igbo is different from Eastern Igbo yet your imbecilic brain prevented you to provide evidence. Whether you marry Yorubas or not, who cares. You are a bloody proof of that inferiority complex that has been much talked about here.

Please, enumerate on the bolded, if you don't mind.

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People, people, first of all, stop attacking the gal. Secondly, let me ask this question, is this motivation from Igbo, east of the Niger, culturally based, or politically based?

Inferiority Complex because she fears that she might not be able to prove her igboness before other igbo due to her lack of knowledge of her history hence the easy escape route of claiming to be a different igbo or non-igbo to cover up her lack. If you say you are not igbo, then give us the historical antecedent rather than bandy ordinary words not based on history.