Igbo Language

Communication Is Existential For Culture To Survive:

The origin of Igbo language does not pose any challenge because language expresses age, feeling, thought, reason, experience and passage of time. Where or from whom did the Igbos learn to speak Igbo; who else speaks Igbo and where else is Igbo spoken? Thus, a better understanding of Igbo language will unveil hidden writing e.g., why Ezechishiridike (Melchizedek) must not be lost in Igbo Custom.

Israel has Melek for King and has no Ch or Chi in its alphabets; thus, however protected in the Bible, Melchizedek is not Israeli. Igbo language has 35 alphabets of which 8 are vowels, 18 are single consonants, 5 are double consonants and 4 are heavy consonants (see Igbo Word-Bank). These give Igbo language such enrichment never found in any other language. The consistency of a language is its expressible meaning. If what Chineke said to our ancestors still have meaning to-date, the language subsists.

Other languages struggle like wind-in-motion to keep pace but Igbo has been most consistent. The greatest challenge Igbo language faces is Igbo, who pretends foreign to it, yet, when the tricks of foreign languages surface, they are nowhere. It is as saying that Igbo is everywhere; yes because they are unable to develop their home. It is the earthworm nature of Igbo that is frustrating Igbo and turning her wrongly at every roundabout. We can organise and build to the sky and one person can wish to occupy the space for fifty persons but lack of harmony ends disgracefully making us best mourners of death without working to prevent the next one. Were our ancestors destitute; why did our parents send us to school if our education ends in food, bickering and crumbly walls? The beauty of education is Communal interest as mmiri anaghi ebu ogwe achi n'ike and igwe bu ike makes heavy load lighter.

Igbo language exists in the other ancient communities namely Egypt, Ethiopia and Assyria until overtaking by Arabic cultures. The impact of foreign religions tried to veil some basic developments but Ogori luo di abuo, ya horo nke ka ya nma; ma onye ga atufu ishi-obi nna ya, ya ghodekwe aka n' ihe ka ubi nma. If everyone treasures and retains his language, only a fool would lose his and become like football to be kicked about? It is a bad learning culture to lose what one already knows while learning something new. There was nothing presented in the Bible that has no Igbo root: calling on the name of the Lord, Ikushi nwanyi (levirate) igba-ndu, Ikwa-oriko (covenant), idu-ishi (oath), ife-Chiukwu (things of God), ime-ihe-ojuo, (evil) ime-ruo-ala (abomination), igbu-osu (murder), etc. Those things which when said in foreign language undermine what one already knows must be considered or how did our ancestors treasure and preserve Igbo and we fail in spite of our higher education and experiences?

Religion and Education :

Recently (AD 1800s) and suddenly, the people became hyper-sensitive to religion than to God. Their practices constitute flocking to the place of worship and demonstrating it against each other; it is not worship of God but kiths and kin in greedy struggles. Is there any Igbo person who does not know Eke, Orie, Afor and Nkwo purposes? Who else shares these market days with Igbo? One voice! One voice, do we cut off our mouths to it or agree that Eke is Eke and Orie is Orie? Our ancestors did not attend Universities but sent us to see beyond them, what did we see? With their approaches they developed Igbo made up of at least twenty districts in 19081; how did we retain, maintain or sustain their views of Igbo? The environment is chaotic like in the days Prophet Jeremiah was telling Israel of God's refusal to listen to their prayer because their state of affairs was unacceptable to God. Can anyone impose himself on God? Are the Igbos truly religious with Eucharist and not with the sanctity of the kola nut? Where did the bickering kin and kiths leave trust and confidence in Igbo? Previously, when situation squares badly, our ancestors will search themselves, identify cause and covenant or put sanctions to check developments; is Jesus less Igbo in his covenant with bread and wine? Whatsoever, whosoever and anything that turned the Igbos into hybrids is cancelled.

Our ancestors climbed high trees from the root, which enabled them to measure length worked but our top-down promotes abject greed and grief; a change is necessary. True worshippers of God should tell but the most measurable covenantal style seems undermined because of in-fighting among kin and kiths. There is only one outstanding issue with religion and that is what various Christians and Moslems can produce alone or in combination in Nigeria. Nigeria is very religiously tensed and this sets fire in any minute. The problem bounces back to check the type of training provided to the parties to know and appreciate each other first before God they pretend to but living together with the usual human prejudices easily turns out the unexpected chaos. For reasons beyond doubt, it is not at NYSC level but earlier that the youths of the nation should interchange to learn and know their countries earlier as to incorporate their knowledge into further education of suggesting improvement in system and developments of untapped resources. The uneasy lies the head did not prevent the 2011 killings of the NYSC in the North. People, who worship God and fight over it, have not allowed God to judge. Christianity is personally empowering and Islam meaning: I live to serve living Allah and man are all challenging in output of which blood is never expected. As the Old order draws to a close and new Era begins, there is need for reconsideration of the best way to live together. Education could be useless if commonsense of purpose lacks. Is the current Eze the answer or one upon whom public confidence and works are based?