1. PROTOCOL
2. INTRODUCTION
a)
My great people
of Ishiagu (Echiele) who are resident here or around here, but present in this
auspicious gathering. I humbly stand before you with love and
Christmas greetings from all of us at Abakaliki branch
– where I belong and home branch where I visit almost on weekly basis.
b)
When, a couple of
weeks I got a phone call from my ebullient architect and human motivator, Moses
Ajah, informing me of this event and requested me to present this paper I was
happy; yes it is a great honour. But I was equally perturbed because - given
the caliber of people you are, I doubt if I could make out anything to write
home about in this regard.
c)
Before the end of
the telephone conversation, I got a reprieve from Moses to the effect that I
could vary the initial topic of ‘’Echiele in Diaspora’’ simplister, to any
other topic so far it reflects on us. This is why I chose to caption it ‘’Echiele
in Diaspora; our culture, our pride’’. This of course, is to enable me take a
very little aspect of this great people and discuss.
My great people – echiele murum; nde nwom la ndem Nwo2 – permit me to anchore my
talk on the topic as posited supra.
d)
Echiele is the
original name of the people who founded and consequently took possession of a
geopolitical entity presently and more popularly called Ishiagu.
Ishiagu is a town located in the South East Nigeria in
the then Federal Republic of Biafra, now defunct. More precisely, Ishiagu is in
Ebonyi State of Nigeria having experienced several relocations occasioned by
state creations.
e)
How the name’
echiele’ came to be is legendary and beyond the scope of this micro paper, same
as the name Ishiagu. But what is factual about the people and their name is
that they are very resilient; hence; after being located ab initio in the
then East central state, they were relocated to Imo
State, then to Abia State and now, Ebonyi State – Echiele survived it all. For
this singular reason, it’s only in Ebonyi State, precisely in Ivo Local Government
Area that you can find this great
people called Echiele.
3.
THE SCOPE OF THIS PAPER
Quite
frankly, centering this paper on the totality of Ishiagu or claiming that this
can capture everything about this great people is a wishful thinking, hence my choice
of dwelling only on the culture.
f)
Even in the
chosen area of mine, I do only lay foundation for a more robust discuss.
4. THE
CULTURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF ECHIELE PEOPLE
The
people of Echiele have a very rich culture and amiable characteristic that
includes but not limited to dialect, religion, industry, social activities,
hospitality, friendliness, bravery, pride, etc.
g)
In the Igbo
customotology, their language is unique and catholic. Every Igbo man speaks and
understands the Igbo language which is generally referred to as the central Igbo
language and which is the language employed by some of the great authors of
Igbo race such as Professors: F. C. Ogbalu, Tony Ubesie, etc in their books for
the teaching and propagation of the Igbo language and culture among the younger
ones.
h)
For the reason
that Igbo race has so many other components among which is Ishiagu, such
components ave their own dialects peculiar to the particular people,
though not absolutely strange to others but in some cases,
not understandable to others.3; but they are all Igbo in every sense of it.
i)
The Ishiagu
people have a dialect that is very clear and understood by every Igbo man; at
least to about 90%. Towns like Okpanku, Mpu, Ndiabor all in Enugu State speak the
same dialect. Isiukwuato, Isuochi all in Abia State share the same dialect
except for about 2% variation.
j)
The knowledge of
a language is a key to the bone of formal discussion, but the knowledge of a
dialect is a master key to the marrow of robust and intimate discussion. This therefore
underscores the importance of language and dialect in every human endeavour.
Every race has a language and every component of that race
also has dialects. In Ishiagu dialect, a child wakes up in the morning and
greats an elder nnanyi nna wo, or nneanyi
nna wo, and the elder replies, nnanwam,
itetewo I dukwa ma ee4 That was before the tsunami in our
culture.
k)
To a stranger, an
Ishiagu man will tell him Ibiao, Ochedukwa,
biko nnodu odu5 thereafter, he rallies round to offer
kola nut before even asking of your mission.
This is a demonstration of our hospitality
A
man is considered complete if he can properly situate himself among his historical
origin; he who cannot situate himself among his own people is a stranger in his
own home. Are you a stranger in Ishiagu
when you are supposed to be an Ishiagu man? Are you hiding your dialect out of
shame or stupidity? Are you teaching your children our dialect? Please it’s
important you do.
It
is certainly of very paramount importance to me at this period to observe that
there is a decline in the family morals-not only on our people but – it does
appear that it is a general malady. Of course, there are talks and debates in
this regard. Some attribute it to impact of the internet; others heap it on the
nolly-wood while another sizeable group attributes it to economic factors-from joblessness
to inadequate pay-from constant Asuu strike, to other kinds of situations that
create idleness – all these, no doubt subjects various families to increasing pressure.
This
pressure in turn robs off on our family system and diminishes our family
values.
In
a situation of this nature, our popular culture (like that of the United States
of America) feeds the alarm, with tales of women consigned to permanent single
hood, men unwilling to make lasting commitments, and teens engaged in endless
sexual escapades.6
This
is basically contrary to the past where and when things had a better shape.
When men were men and chieftaincy titles were given to chiefs and not thieves;
when people control their money and not vice versa. I therefore urge parents to
take out more time to check the activities of their wards-as this will go
a long way to assist us reclaim our near lost family values.
Although
achieving this may not be possible in the nearest future, but we, as a people
should be able to draw inspiration from our hope to struggle.
Let
this struggle and determination motivate and move us. Lets continue to keep our
culture of self resilience, a relentless optimism in the face of hardship that
is – everywhere in the country now. That should be the best of an Ishiaguan
spirit.
l)
For those who
hide the Ishiagu identity, culture and dialect, I want to say without fear of contradiction
that it is out of unparallel stupidity. Otherwise why would you not be proud to
share the same identity, culture and dialect with the great son of Echiele, Anyim
Pius Anyim GCON 7 and his great brothers from the neighbouring towns
that share the same dialect 8 Senator Anyim, Amb. Mathias Oji
Okafor,9 Professors, B Anyata, E. Onyeleke, Donatus Onu, Patience
Onu, Pius Kalu, etc are very proficient in English language but . . . . ha la
eri okwu echiele ga ji 10. What
could be more gratifying than sharing historical affinity with these sages of
our time.
m)
If these great
men and women of Ishiagu, despite their interaction with the western culture
still pride in our culture and speak our dialect, why not you. Well for me and
my family we are proud of Ishiagu culture and dialect and will remain so for
ever in Jesus name.
n)
The fact that you
maintain your culture and speak your dialect does not make you a fetish person.
Naturally, the Ishiagu man is very religious having had contact with the early
missionaries in the early 18th century. This of course, led to the
establishment of religions and educational institutions such as: Saints: Anthony’s,
James, John, Peters, Gerald, etc
Catholic Churches as well as those established by the other orthodox and
unorthodox churches in Ishiagu.
o)
This early
contact with the early missionaries of course, does not mean that presently,
Ishiagu do not have traditional cultures and festivals. In every Igbo land
there are cultures and traditions that must be observed.
In Ishiagu we have such. For instance, you do not for
any reason (s) harass or wound; talkless of killing the aka11 Ishiagu. Again you do not harvest your yam until
Ikeji12 ceremony is performed by the umunjoku 13
p)
There are several
other festivals like nzu, gbudugbu, iri omume,
obuegu,14 etc.
An Ishiagu man is a very industrious person, exploring
every nook and cranny of the world to eke a living. The essence of this paper
is not to discourage such but to remind you of your identity and the need- to
at all times and place, think of what brings you and your family closer to your
people than what distances you from your home in any of the17 communities
that made up Ishiagu Town.
This is because we have no half, quarter, adaa Ivo or adaa Ikwo Ishiagu, but one
great indivisible Ishiagu of Seven -teen communities for now. Lets believe in
each other and celebrate each other, and above all, keep our hopes alive.
Echiele
kwonu! Kwonu!! Kwozue nu!!!
q)
There is this
felling in some quarters that every Ishiagu person is proud and stubborn. Well
for whatever the proponents of this mean, they are entitled to it. The unrebutable
fact is that anybody who knows his onion must be proud of himself. An Ishiagu man
is hard working, truthful, respectful and God fearing. If he exhibits all these
traits and refuses to be over cowed and dehumanized, he becomes proud and stubborn.
We are not here to join issues with the proponents of that view. We are proud
and stubborn Ishiaguans, if asking for what is right means pride and stubbornness.
No apology for insisting on what is right at all times, because it is not right
and therefore cannot be accepted until it is right15
In the olden days, Ishiagu is known for her bravery
and conquering spirit. No wonder our forefathers were able to acquire a massive
portion of land and equity demands that we must protect it for our generation
to come even if the modern trend does not allow us to extend the conquest.
It is against this backdrop that I consider unity and
peace among us very vital and a sinequa
non.
Through peace and in peace we can sustain and maintain
the natural wealth bequeathed on us by our forefathers and the political light
already given to us by our great son, His Excellency Senator Anyim Pius Anyim,
through whom and in him we are being counted in the comity of towns in Nigeria.
4. CONCLUSION
In
my attempt to conclude this presentation, may I humbly call on all of us here
and everywhere to please imbibe the spirit of friendliness and genuine forgiveness?
If you cannot aspire to better the lot of your brother, do not aspire to worsen
it.
This
appeal finds greater relevance in the submission of Blaise Pascal when he said
‘’let us always remember that if all men knew what others say of them, there
would not be four friends in the world 16
Let
us endeavour at all times to practice the real forgiveness that is
pragmatically found in Christianity; and not the theoretical type that adorns
the lips of men while their hearts nurse vernom; probably based on unverified
rumour.
This
has to be, because most of us here are young and pray with hope to be old; and
for that reason we need wealth and health. We certainly need this wealth now
that we are young so that we can use it to find health when we are old.
I
urge each and every one of us to be his brother’s keeper because when the chips
are down, it’s the society that bears the brunt. . . . .
Ola
wu ozu sie isi, enyi ka nwanne alaa.
Echiele
mma mma nu, rie nu, muo nu, zuo nu udo diri unu.
1. A
paper presented by Bar Ray Akanwa at the ICDU Abuja branch end of the year
ceremony on 8th December 2013.
2. Echiele
that gave me birth, those who own me and those that I own.
3. The
Igbo dialects of the people of Ikwerre in Rivers State, the Ogwuashi -Ukwu, Asaba in Delta State the Izzi, Izza, Ntezi,
Kori in Ebonyi State may not be very
clearly understood by every Igbo man
4. This
is morning greeting and response.
5. Well
come, there is seat please sit down.
6. Credit
to Barack Obama in his book, the audacity of hope.
7. Anyim
Pius Anyim was the senate president, FRN and now the SGF
8. Mpu,
the home of our big brother senator Ike Ekweremadu, the deputy senate
president, etc.
9. Nigeria
ambassador to Vietnam.
10. They eat and speak the Echiele dialect
like yam.
11. aka Ishiagu is a particular specie
of green snake reverened by the people. If you kill it, you will bury it like a
human being
12. Ikeji is the new yam festival in
Ishiagu
13. Umunjoku
are the people that perform a mandatory Ikeji ceremony before you can harvest
your yam.
14. These
are some traditional festivals in Ishiagu.
15.
Credit to Chief Martin Elechi CON, the governor of Ebonyi State.
16. From
dictionary of quotations, Childs Play Books Ltd.
This is a guest post/article written by:
Ray Akanwa Esq.
Abakaliki Chambers