afam4eva:

So many African Americans are embracing their root e.g Forest Whitaker, Danny Glover, Wesley Snipes etc. It's just a matter of time.

ChinenyeN:

I guess its just me who doesn't share this sentiment. . .

A.D.M.:

I agree with your sentiment, EzeUche, but I'm sure Igbos were sent to other European colonies in the Western Hemisphere besides British North America, now called United States. What about African descendants in South America and the Caribbean? I'm sure some of them are of Igbo descent.

I am simply creating this thread to stress the need for African-Americans to go back to their Igbo roots.

Thirst4Lif:

How do you propose African Americans do this? Are you saying they should go to Africa?

EzeUche:

Africa is such a large continent, let us be more specific. I propose they travel to Igboland, and that Igbo culture and language should be taught in schools where African Americans attend. Now that is going back to your roots. I don't understand why some schools teach Kiswahili, even though East Africa has nothing to do with the Atlantic Slave Trade.

EzeUche:

My [b]IGBO [/b]brother

EzeUche:

why do you not share this sentiment. I await you insight into the matter.

EzeUche:

Africa is such a large continent, let us be more specific. I propose they travel to Igboland, and that Igbo culture and language should be taught in schools where African Americans attend. Now that is going back to your roots. I don't understand why some schools teach Kiswahili, even though East Africa has nothing to do with the Atlantic Slave Trade.

Africa is such a large continent, let us be more specific. I propose they travel to Igboland, and that Igbo culture and language should be taught in schools where African Americans attend. Now that is going back to your roots. I don't understand why some schools teach Kiswahili, even though East Africa has nothing to do with the Atlantic Slave Trade.

1. The Igbo people are too reserved and have deliberately failed to promote their culture like that of other cultures African Americans run to when looking to Africa.

2. African Americans are looking for cultures that created empires and that are legitimised by European historians (where they get Africa's history) because their systems were similar to Europe's in that stage. If you say the Igbo did not have an empire, they will be turned off because they have nothing to rub in the face of the descendants of those who oppressed them. This is why African Americans focus on Ghana and other select parts of Africa, European stories.

3. Because of the reason above, the Igbo culture was not included in the 1970's African cultural revival, where cultures like the Akan, Yoruba, Mandinka and Kiswahili language and sometimes Kongo culture were focused on. The African Americans were looking for images of black power, and what better than an African emperor? Mansa Musa, Queen Nzinga, Ya Asantewa, etc.

ezeagu:

1. The Igbo people are too reserved and have deliberately failed to promote their culture like that of other cultures African Americans run to when looking to Africa.

2. African Americans are looking for cultures that created empires and that are legitimised by European historians (where they get Africa's history) because their systems were similar to Europe's in that stage. If you say the Igbo did not have an empire, they will be turned off because they have nothing to rub in the face of the descendants of those who oppressed them. This is why African Americans focus on Ghana and other select parts of Africa, European stories.

3. Because of the reason above, the Igbo culture was not included in the 1970's African cultural revival, where cultures like the Akan, Yoruba, Mandinka and Kiswahili language and sometimes Kongo culture were focused on. The African Americans were looking for images of black power, and what better than an African emperor? Mansa Musa, Queen Nzinga, Ya Asantewa, etc.

Thirst4Lif:

I understand, thank you for your response. The only problem is how would African American's determine whether
they are descendants from Igbo or any other tribe. I won't try to speak for all African Americans, but I'll say a
great many only consider the continent of Africa itself, not it's make up. But as you stated that lack of
knowledge only reflects a lack of teaching. Or a lack of caring on the African American's part.

EzeUche:

How are you my brother? I am glad you wrote this post. As the previous poster above me said, this is very insightful.

However, it is not like many African Americans do not know that they are descendants of the Ndigbo. Many historians in the the United States, Europe and Africa believe the majority of African Americans are descendants of Igbos. Remember that we do have an Igbo Village in Virginia.

It might be a slow process, but hopefully, Igbos will be able to reunite with our long lost brothers across the Atlantic. We need to do this. Many African Americans are searching for their roots, and we Igbos should welcome them with open arms. Slavery was a horrible event that has stained our continent. My people bear the burden for this travesty, and I would hope that we in some way can make amends for what our ancestors have done.

Let us export our culture to African Americans. Yes, we may not have had empires or large kingdoms compared to the Ashanti, Yoruba, Woloof or Mandinka, but we have a very rich cultural heritage.

SOME of us are of Nigerian descent NOT MOST. there were 7 plus 'present day' countries the contributed to the slave trade, not just one. BTW I really appreciate what you said in the complaints thread. Thank you .

MzDarkSkin:

SOME of us are of Nigerian descent NOT MOST. there were 7 plus 'present day' countries the contributed to the slave trade, not just one. BTW I really appreciate what you said in the complaints thread.  Thank you  .

EzeUche:

What I am tired of seeing is that African Americans always go to Ghana to trace their roots. Why not come to Nigeria? The Bight of Biafra was the major source of slaves for the English colonies. Why not come to the Bight of Biafra, which is in Eastern Nigeria?

EzeUche:

My [b]IGBO [/b]brother, why do you not share this sentiment. I await you insight into the matter.

paris10:

@Ezeuche, I see you're a typical traditionalist, and a tone of being a tribalist appears virtually in all your posts. I also notice that whenever someone posted something without mentioning IGBO, you immediately add the word in your next post.

No one is arguing with your sentiment or passion, but trade softly. You might even end up hating other tribes without you knowing it. And as long as these people (AA) are not identifying with your sentiment, there's little you can do. Being an AA who descends from your acclaimed tribe is not a big deal, and identifying oneself with the IGBO tribe is the same thing as identifying with slavery.

To burst your bubble, AA are the most crime prone people on the planet. Saying they should start retracing their root to the IGBO land and not Nigeria is actually a good thing to the rest of other tribes in Nigeria. This will mean more homicide and crime related activity in IGBO land and less worry for Nigerians.

@Ezeuche, I see you're a typical traditionalist, and a tone of being a tribalist appears virtually in all your posts. I also notice that whenever someone posted something without mentioning IGBO, you immediately add the word in your next post.

No one is arguing with your sentiment or passion, but trade softly. You might even end up hating other tribes without you knowing it. And as long as these people (AA) are not identifying with your sentiment, there's little you can do. Being an AA who descends from your acclaimed tribe is not a big deal, and identifying oneself with the IGBO tribe is the same thing as identifying with slavery.

To burst your bubble, AA are the most crime prone people on the planet. Saying they should start retracing their root to the IGBO land and not Nigeria is actually a good thing to the rest of other tribes in Nigeria. This will mean more homicide and crime related activity in IGBO land and less worry for Nigerians.

Sincere08:

As an African American I really appreciate your concern and warmth. It is nice to see that people really do understand that we are of African descent. I am saddened that more African Americans aren't concerned about embracing african culture. I have had friends that have said to me, " i'm not African American i'm Black American. I don't know anything about Africa and being American is fine with me." Such ignorance!

There are many African Americans who are interested though, and do not necessarily search for a connection to Ghana. Many African Americans would be happy to be apart of any country. Thanks again

amor4ce:

Carry out DNA Ancestry tests before coming out to make a general statement claiming all African Americans as Igbo descendants. [size=18pt]Why do you want to associate yourselves with the shameful episode of slavery instead of apologizing to them.[/size] Was Igbo land part of the slave coast? Have you forgotten that many slaves were taken from Yoruba states which was made easier by the intra-tribal warfares going on there at that time? Your people have the financial muscle to carry out unbiased genetic, linguistic and archeological research into your ancestry/origin/peculiarities and use same to reconnect with your "lost" kin rather than bathe in conjectures and fables. You have the resources, do it right and objectively.

EzeUche:

It has been estimated that 60% of African Americans are descendants of Igbos. If your ancestry can be traced to Virginia or Maryland, most likely you are of Igbo descent.

What I am tired of seeing is that African Americans always go to Ghana to trace their roots. Why not come to Nigeria? The Bight of Biafra was the major source of slaves for the English colonies. Why not come to the Bight of Biafra, which is in Eastern Nigeria?

And your welcome, I seen that he has been causing havoc with others, so I had to lend my support.

I am of African American and Jamaican descent. Both sides have a significant amount of Igbo roots however we cannot forget about Senegal, Ghana, the Kongo, Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Angola who have all contributed to the slave trade.  I have all of the above in my blood  or heritage.

You are right that Nigeria contributed the most however the reason we reach out to and invest in/move to Ghana is because they are the most inviting. Ghana, apart from the 'first world countries' and Panama/Costa Rica, has the highest number of Jamaican nationals/descendants who have settled abroad living outside of Jamaica there, Rita Marley being one of them. Even in Jamaica where we are CLEARLY a mix of Igbo (a little Yoruba), Ashanti and various Congolese tribes each contributing to the culture (Igbo and Akan/Ashanti being the two biggest influences) we still have more of a sense of connection with our Ghanaian roots. The way we are taught is like Nigeria was much more ruthless and cold in regards to sending us away so there is a lot of resentment as far as Nigeria goes despite the fact that most of our heritage began with a walk from the N. Delta to Badagry. There doesn't seem to be an interest in us when it comes to Nigerians which is why we avoid Nigeria on a larger scale.