Researched Solutions

Fundamental research is what we pride ourself with here at the institute. And our domain or main area of research is the Igbo race. We will refresh the world with certain hidden details associated with the origins of the Igbos. This we believe will provide a path to a healthy and dependable Nigeria. The Institute will research and publish outcomes, hold conferences and symposia and use this platform (website) from time to time to raise and discuss incidental issues uncovered by our research. Everyone holds a view and we want them to aggregate the agenda in this forum. The Institute is a home for learning and as such is openned to all and sundry. We undertake research project ranging from students' college reports, universities' dissertations to NGOs' and governments' funded projects. Below you will find synopsis of our current research activities

1. Igbo Origin
2. Why Interest In History
3. Igbo
4. Written Evidence
5. Oral Evidence
6. The Jews Of Africa
7. Archaeological Evidence
8. Customs
9. Eden
10. Igbo Traditions
11. Kola Nut
12. Community
13. Customary Principles
14. Customary Institutions
15. The Shrine

Igbo Origin:
The expressed desire to know Igbo origin may be curious but history does not accept speculation of it without proof. It is either factually known or it is not known. When anyone contemplates a search of an unknown subject, he must set out his scheme because wherever fact is required, nothing else suffices. Were we to diligently looc for evidence, our doubt will be reduced. History traces letters, words, dates, names, ideas, customs, events and references which help a reader to cross-check to ensure that what he is reading is correct. History is the clearest of subjects because it grows with evidence. For doubt to increase means that it does not exist but to reduce means that we traced discreetly. One slippery path any historian must care for and get right is date because archaeologists speculate it but historians trace it. For instance, to state date in 10,000 BC calls for inquiry because the world of man from Adam to-date (2010) is 6,200 years. If any reporting of Igbo origin liens on events of another nation, it will be examined thoroughly to know the history of such nation. What will be traced is origin and not hybrid. Further, we must identify stow-away that joined the existing communities. The Bible is incontestable in time and contents and for common stand, we useKing James Revised because it is scholarly and in the public domain.

Why Interest in History:
History is a transparent stored knowledge that gives mirror image of the past. While the earth and other creatures sustain their roots and nature, history treasures the changing motion of man because man easily allows his need to change his nature. How the angelic Igbo before AD 1441changed to devilish monkey in 2011 calls for serious investigation. How was Igbo preserved, exposed and wasted? For people who for long lived happily on roasted yam, corn and traditional delicacies, it is a stage play to discover and add to its stocks so that at any time the history of such development heralds ijechi. What a sad ijechi for a primitive Igbo to wish to enjoy foreign modernity without landing root of it to enable adoption and ownership of it? The choking repercussions are greed and grieve unto pillars of graves but that a community buried their dead is honourable of the life lived.

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Igbo:
Anyone who made the youths to read a false account shall pay for it. History is first made orally.Written history started later and documented accounts came recently. Thus, a researcher must know his sources and remits of his facts. Customarily, the mother must name the father of her child before the father can name the child. The name Igbo developed in this manner. Igbo is name of a person, people, place & custom. A name is a universal culture and once named, it retains its universal quality and identity. There have been many write ups on Igbo and some look guesswork or speculation. Some look at it from part (Nri, Igbo-ukwu, Aro-Chiukwu, Okigwe (the hollow of Chineke) or whole; fair and well, they provide the milk and honey to chew the nuts.

When a subject becomes persuasive, its evidence broadens without bias to cover the remits of learning. The Igbo man who said: "Igbo came from nowhere" should be supported or contradicted. Progressive education is never static but a like of kite flying. As Jesus overflew Moses and the Prophets to launch the New Testament, no learner will do well as a conformist. We are not learning stoicism but finding basic root of when the dredging rain started to beat us. The basic rule is: whoever wakes up to a new day joins in addressing the problems of the day. Thus, we agree where facts are congruence and disagree where more facts are required. it is a healthy development of thought, reason and discovery. We become critical to learn and learn to become critical. History requires intellectual honesty and dubious characters do not fit. The worst to happen is to hang issues falsely in the air and expect aliens to supply the evidence. A historian must provide as much as he knows and anchor it as viper coils in its head waiting for others to move it. This is what challenges scholars and not mere copying to pass examination or quote rhetorically. If a scholar wants to take a topic further, he is challenging the existing scholars in that topic and like the predecessors, he must offer his work for others to agree and criticise. An unlearning world takes everything for granted. A true historian must attribute his sources.

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Written evidence:
Written means documented and retrievably stored independently. It also means literary display of skills used in written investigation. Literary means that one can read and write. It has nothing to do with degree because according to Chief Inyang, one gifted with knowledge or writing needs only know how to read and write to treasure and display his skills. One appreciates this in the case of Jesus, who marvelled the Law Lords with provable wisdom to the extent they said: where did he gain his knowledge, being not matriculated in any University. A degree holder is an evidence of literacy but what he did after gaining a degree is what Jesus said: let what I do speak for me. Written evidence is a learned tool to advance learning. At this point we have hit the main way, which should aggregate, elevate, challenge or confirm all the other evidence because one has learned to investigate and judge evidence. Written evidence is anything in writing and because it moves like motion; when it gets to any interested person, he can take it as it is or investigate further to be sure that what he is reading is correct. My dad traced his root to twenty jenerations and the titles they held. He became a Christian in early 1900s and read the Bible; thus, the Bible is our first port in searching or scrutinising written evidence. It is older than anyone reading it today; it is more authoritative than any other archaeological evidence. Above, it was said that history could pick letters, words, dates, ideas, customs, events, times, etc, these only serve in corroborating or rebutting evidence. In the Bible, we found such letters as ch, gb, sh, ny, which are in Igbo alphabets. Igbo has no c, q and x. The Igbo alphabets help us to survey what was written in the Bible. The latter was written in a language and translated to other languages at various stages; thus, subjecting the writers, translators and readers to serious scrutiny. This is more tenuous if the languages that translated the Bible lack the alphabets found in it; e.g., Greek, Latin and English languages do not have ch, gb, sh, ny; how did they play when they came across any name or word containing them?

It was said that history can pick a place, name or event. Jenesisi (Genesis) said that Chineke created all things in Eden. It went further to define the position or location of Eden, Ethiopia, Egypt and Assyria and the flow of life, light and water. It is unfair to trace Egypt, Ethiopia and Assyria and then ignore Eden, what is the reason for this? Soon we learnt that Adam and Ada begot a son by the help of Chineke and called him Kaine which means Ikechiukwu in Igbo. From the lineage of Kaine, we found the sixth jeneration as Lamech and Ada. Pause, Greek has no ch and the name Lamech has no meaning but for wrong translation of which Lemechi is right and complements Ada. This is the beginning of ijechi Igbo. This could be verified because the name of the wives of Esau is Ada; thus, Ada is in use. Further, for the location of Kaine in east Eden, Lemechi and Adam, which have meaning in Igbo, the origin of Igbo starts its journey, which will be examined under custom; e.g., covenant, sanction, oath; Aka ji Ofo; or enyi anaghi agata nwa, which deprived Abraham of Ishmael; who else practises these customs to-date?.

Above, it was said that life flew from Eden to Ethiopia, Egypt and Assyria and seemingly so irrespective of religious imperialism, Egypt pours libation to ani and customs still exist in Mesopotamia till date. Remarkably, some people in these areas do not know the meaning of ani; hence, egbu saa kparankpa achilara onye nwe ohia (all said and done trace their root). There should only be contest if there are conflicting accounts but the Bible is one.

When Igbo started circumcision was not known but written account mentioned Abraham for it and identified Abraham as a Hebrew. The written account defined Hebrew as anglicised Igbo or anagram of Heebo. As Chineke reminded Moses of certain histories e.g., misinheritance, whether he reminded Abraham of circumcision or started it newly was not known but the Igbo circumcise. Let us pause a while and consider another oral account, which relates Igbo to the Jews. In this, we must clear the air of what is meant by Jews? Jacob was one of the grandsons of Abraham, the Hebrew and his descendants were known as the Israelites. Who were the Jews? They came from Babylon, so we need more facts. If two people relate, we have to find their connectivity. Firstly, if Abraham was a Hebrew and Igbo was anglicised Heebo/Hebrew, Is Igbo Jew? After going to Haran (Mesopotamia) for twenty-years, Jacob returned to Mamre, where he stayed a while before going to Egypt, where they lived for 430 years. They left Egypt in 2648 years of the time of man on earth.

They spent forty years in the wilderness to be re-cultured. They lived about 740 years in the Promised Land before taken captives by Assyria, which removed Israel and brought the Jews. At this point any person cautious of history will pause. Take the life from Eden that flew eastwards; take the fact that after Kaine and Abel, Kaine begot six generations before Adam begot Seth; thus, Kaine has his own community. Take the subsequent evolution which identified Abraham as Hebrew; take Israel's experiences until captivity in 722 BC when the Jews began to occupy Samaria, can you make out a thorough history from these for Igbo? As traced, there was no historical account of life moving southward. We shall trace the customary issues under appropriate heading below. Oral evidence of the Jewish link with Nri or Umueri calls for more inquiry; whatever, AD900 Nri is doubtful of Igbo origin. In Igbo, the head does not drum it but do the duties. What is glaring at us is complacency and failure of intellectual honesty. Okigwe claims to be the hollow or crib of Creation and Nri & Igbo-ukwu claim originality from Jews, does it take so long to cultivate unity of facts?

What of the seniority contributions to forge Igbo collectivism? Meanwhile, from Adam, Ikechiukwu (Kaine), Lemechi and Ada when kola nut custom started and Abraham, who was Hebrew to remind of Igbo custom: enyi anaghi agata nwa, I uphold the Igbo elder's verdict that Igbo came from nowhere and anyone who said that Igbo (Negro) came from non-negro-Jews is a liar. We shall see more facts in African connections particularly, the protagonistic evolutions of Igbo and Edo. If we chase the world in vain, we seek a world we can account, no one will do it for us.

Oral Evidence:
History must originally exist orally; held and discussed by people it has meaning. The wonders of nature are in its appreciation, observation and acceptance; is nature meticulous without appreciation? When our ancestors first talked of land, they did not aim possession but sustainability because man feeds from land. Land possession came later after maintaining existence, reproduced and multiplied beyond to cause scarcity and movement. Land became poisonous when man gained the sense of permanent settlement, which former wanderers bothered not.

Settling in land and occupying land gave man a base to work out his formula to deal with nature and his passing life. The Igbo elder said: "Igbo came from nowhere and anyone who says that they came from somewhere is a lair". Since then, there have been some oral evidence; for instance, the ones that address Igbo as the Jews of Africa. Yet other oral evidence said that Igbo came from Egypt, Ethiopia or South Africa. Our subject is Igbo and these suggestions are invitation for investigations. Also oral evidence includes Igbo numerical system to be considered in addition. All combine to constitute what a true Igbo should be concerned with to avoid psychedelic education. During farming (1960/70s), we cut and break bamboos for raising yam shoot in the farm. Then, my dad told me that nnu is 400; at least, his time cared to know but when we reviewed this in 1992 with evidence, he smiled and said well done for such contribution. In 2001, a native man demanded N20, 000 naira bride price for his daughter and when asked to say that amount in Igbo, he looked to the ceiling.

Today, Igbo can count and say trillion in Igbo language (Igbo Numerical System). Did it come from people, who did not know or speak it today? Igbo alphabets have existed but where or who else speaks Igbo? Below, we shall see the Umueri and Nri having contacts with Israel, what language did they speak originally or even when they met? Did they speak Igbo, how did Nri teach my ancestors at Okigwe Igbo? Did they bring it? What language did Israel speak before exile and after Exodus, captivity and emancipation? By AD 900, the Jews as they were then called were on Diaspora that started in AD 70?

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The Jews of Afrika, who are they?
Provoking but not disturbing, who are the Jews? This question is asked in order to address the issue. Abraham is a Hebrew. The Children of Jacob are called the Israelites, who are the Jews? The Jews were brought from Babylon to Samaria in 722 BC after the Israelis of Northern Kingdom (capital: Samaria) were taken captive. Why must it be Jews of Africa and not the original Hebrew that flew eastward to Egypt, Ethiopia and Assyria? Notice the two evolutions (Jenesisi 4 and 5). While Jenesisi5 peaked in the deluge and survivals is embarked in Assyria, the other evolution grew and produced Terah, who moved from Chaldea to Ur to Haran and Abraham to Cana to take the land of Cana. There were the Falashas or Bête Israel in Ethiopia, which might have developed from Queen Sheba's visit to King Solomon as following the Queen home or in tracing Terah's route to Haran. or the Ethiopian wife of Moses, who returned home to Ethiopia with her offspring after Aaron and Miriam critics Moses of her. The mere fact that history followed one direction (Abraham) and left many developments unexplored does not mean complete abandonment but a loftiest saving for time to come and the time has come. Did Black Negroes hail from russet Asians or non-negro Jews? Like Darwin's Ape theory, did man hail from Ape and abandoned Ape culture completely? Did the Jews make Igbo and abandoned Igbo language completely, where else is Igbo spoken? It cannot also be subsumed that while Moses took the Israelites out of Egypt that some escaped to Africa to answer Igbo. Before Moses, the Israelites had forgotten Abraham and his customs hence 40 years in the wilderness to reculture. Till date, Israel or Jews do not practise 'enyi anaghi agata nwa'. They are matrilineal instead of patrilineal and do not have kola nut custom associated with Igbo filosophical principles. Prior, while Igbo primitively abandoned twins and certain births, Isaac accepted twins, so the gap is natural and not to be filled artificially.

Even though some sections of Igbo namely: Umueri and Igbo-Ukwu have had contacts with Israel treating themselves as "Lost Tribes" of Israel, such connection need not be held firmly as the origin of Igbo because that unique connection was held by Umueri and Nri alone, who are also negroes. But other sections of Igbo without such connection hold other characteristics. The protagonists of Umueri and Nri have their evidence traced to 744-740 BC but there was nothing in Israel at that time to necessitate move. Already, people have lived in Igboland and even conducted dumb trade with foreigners. The so-called Lost Tribe of Israel was not cogently proved. The 12 tribes of Israel were carried as a load in a manner that even when it is off-loaded, people still assumed the load still exist. Of the 12 tribes, 2.5 settled in the West Bank approved by Moses leaving 9.5 tribes. Levi was distributed amongst the rest and never counted then, so it was 8.5. Prophet Ahijah (1 Kings 11:30-31) carried the 12 tribes reminiscently. When Israel divided in 931 BC, it was 6.5 tribes to the North and 2 tribes to Judah. In 722BC, the 6.5 tribes of Israel were taken and scattered in Babylon. When set free in 444BC, they refused to return to Samaria; did any of the captives travel farther? If there were travellers from this group, it can not be the origin of Igbo. Who said that the tribes of Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher went to Nigeria of 1914 is fabricating lies; did they go to Igbo, Edo or Hausa? Moreover, to mention Nigeria of 1914 for this type account is patronising but will veil history unduly. Similarly, a mention of Qaysi-Arab or Yamani-Arab Umayyads of Syria (744BC) is a guess work because the Arabs have not been identified then and were pro-Edom Turkey. Caliph Mohammed Came later during the restoration of Israel (437 BC) raised opposition to the temple, which gave rise to religious renegade and Islam was not an issue until AD 630 and respected Igbo customs in 1838 as Igbo respected Islam.

Provided we know that life flew from Eden through the vent to Ethiopia, Egypt & Babylon; further traces of Jews after 722BC to Africa is not about origin. If Abraham left Africa in 1848 years of the time of man on earth for Hara and Cana, could his grand children be the origin of Africa? Does a son beget a son before his father? How many years have Igbo-Ukwu maintained contact with the Jews, what are the contributions to Igbo or even specifically to Igbo-Ukwu conurbation? Blow the horns of the rams opi nkpi (Ephod in Israel), we shall answer. We learnt of the cases of Bête Israel in Ethiopia, why incubating the Igbo-Ukwu-Jews link as an unfertilised egg? In the absence or in furthering learning, Igbo must move on and learn community wise. For instance, Britain comprised: Celts, Welsh, Dannan, Irish, Picts, Scots, Jutes, Angles, Saxons, Norwegians, Danes, Swedes and Normans. Remarkably, all related to Sakson or Saxons, Germanic, Sachsen or Scythia by Greeks in 650BC as further migration from Greek state of 753BC; if these admixtures settled to live together, other people can adjust to cultivate common interests to live together as division will marginalise them to mock their existence. Roads, waterworks, drainage, electricity, health and industries are elements of community wise; this is what faces Igbo because without them Igbos live outside. Discussing, negotiating and envisaging making life bearable for all. As we asked Nri and Igbo-Ukwu contributions, we ask similarly of every other part. Good governance is art of identifying and solving problems; thus, if we want to keep the prostitutes and thieves off the street, we must find good alternative (jobs) for them. Thou shall not steal, kill, etc, are good laws in theories but what makes them effective are the infrastructures to ensure that the conditions people live are supportive. Live and let live is equitable but live and let die creates commotion.

It was not that the tribes taken to Assyrian captivity were lost sine dine but like earthworm, they refused to return to Israel when freed as many Jews did not return to Israel after 1948. It is possible that some individuals sought further pasture from thence. This is believed to be the root of many nations in Europe from 650BC. However, it should be remembered from where Terah and Abraham started their journeys that life has existed in Igbo/Africa before 722BC. You see, history maces use of any tools or elements available to it. If the Europeans traced to Saksons meaning sons of Isaac, of Abraham, the Igbo origin of Hebrew traces from Eden (Jenesisi 1).
An account by Equiano (1789) mentioning the Jews was most confusing because by then, the Jews were a part of the Liverpool traders association, who worked under the Royal Niger Company for slaves along the Oil River, later Niger Coast. We are tracing origin.

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Archaeological evidence:
It is difficult to write history without archaeological evidence but facts must correlate in order to become admissible evidence. For people who started with oral evidence, archaeology is limited to customs, which is verifiable. Some archaeologists refer to bones, metallic objects, earthenware, pottery or carbon Isotopes, these are inadmissible evidence in Igbo history because our ancestors did not treasure but discarded old and useless pots. Igbo did not provide any storage, archives or warehouse where such items could be stored. Our ancestors were great ecologists. They bury the dead and plant Ogurishi tree on his grave. When the Ogurishi root reached the remains; it stopped growing and once the remains transform to earth, the Ogurishi dies off; signalling that farm work may continue over the grave area. Cemetery, the yard of the dead is a recent development. Our ancestors tamed animals of various kinds of significance. Some, lice the sacred or wild cows are buried when they die; it is wrong to find a piece of bone and start to rate it under cladogenesis or anagenesis without prior knowledge. You will remember in the post-scientific age (1935), forensic maces heightened use of DNA and geology uses carbon isotopes, we shall come to these below bearing in mind that life began from one source and reproduced from a man and a woman; thus, DNA alone is not enough, it must corroborate with other evidence in order to become admissible. Before we move further, it should be recalled that culture e.g., religion can start at any point but custom is root tracing and we seec it in time, name, time, event, etc.

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Custom:
However seen, it is forewarned that custom is not religion. The difference is evidence. Custom is rare but susceptible to proof. If fiction is subjected to proof, most likely nothing will arise but if you subject non-fiction to proof, something will arise. This is covenant point and we undertake covenant, sanction and oath to settle our doubt. Religion can speculate God including Trinitarianism, which debased monotheism. Custom (omenala) is the carpet Chineke used to cover the earth to reduce its slipperiness. There is Chineke which the ancestor propounded from their experience given rise to monotheism, certain system of nomenclature and in practice they refused twins and certain deformities because they believed that the image of Chineke should not double or be susceptible to doubt. The chief characteristic of custom is covenant, sanction or oath, which outcomes based on equitable remedies help to strengthen faith in Chineke. The latter covenanted with Adam, Kaine, Noah, Abraham and Moses. Jesus covenanted with his followers1, the outcome was what convinced the first jeneration of Igbo Christians to accept it because it worked lice Igbo covenant and sanction. The history of covenant began in Igbo after Kaine and Lemechi killed and fear started within their community. The ancestors covenanted with cola nut, alligator pepper and palm wine against who shall reason, act, hire or support killing and indeed killing stopped and was never heard openly even in the Bible until the killing of Hamor and Shechem by Simon and Levi. Killing restarted in Igbo from AD 1441 with the struggles for slave trade which lasted till 1901 in the Oil River Protectorate. Igbo does not talc but do custom, so the earlier they start to sanction and covenant the better their future.

Based on the above, let us consider comparatively who else shares Igbo customs. It is custom that gives values to land and life. Did the Israel/Jews share Igbo Customs? Since the second evolution petered out in deluge, Moses must have spied the other to be able to write Genesis. Originally, Adam disobeyed Chineke and Kaine (Ikechiukwu) killed but Chineke Marked him as his untouchable and Igbo learnt not to cill offenders but banished or dedicated to the local shrine until repentance, reconciliation and purification. This was where Igbo reached in AD1441 and the prevailing culture (Christianity) did not reconcile but left some problems for Igbos to research into for better solution. We cannot be divided and united or live with our faults. What we have done with education is abrasive because we have not penetrated, tackled or resolved any of our endemic issues. We cannot run with our allergies and call them nothing or take it out on ourselves. We have read and researched Europe, etc, now we have look inward to find what is dividing us. Where there is fault, we must find its root and not postpone it heaven; no all problems created on earth must be solved on earth, there is no room in heaven for earthly matter.

Men started to call on the name of the Lord, what did they call? We found this in Jenesisi 4:18, Greece, Latin or English did not have ch in their alphabets and the spelling of Lamech is wrong unlike Lemechi, which picked Ada immediately. There was a covenant between Chineke and Noah. Abraham and Chineke mentioned circumcision for the first time and Igbo observe this custom. Abraham was deprived of Ishmael because he did not marry his mother; hence, 'enyi anaghi agata nwa' and Ohuabuisi. The mere fact that Jacob kept concubines unlike Abraham means that Jacob8 did not lead customary life. Igbos had shrines for sacrifices and oath taking and Abraham had shrine. Igbo respects rules of inheritance in which the first son is left with Ishi-obi and Ofo. The Igbo marry and not divorce. At worst, they marry another but Moses allowed divorce by writ4. Igbo alphabets e.g., ch, gb, gh, sh, ny are in the Bible but Israel or Jews hasn't these letters. Igbo say Eze for king while Israel says Melek; immediately, you know that Melchizedek is a hybrid because Mel- did not bond Chi, which does not exist in Israel's alphabets. Moreover, Melchizedek's titles are birthrights which did not exist in Israel as the right of birth was deprived in Isaac's house.

The world as a whole (Greek & Rome) did not call God until AD 325, when Chi was translated to God. Surely, the name Ezekiel in the Bible was a hybrid. It is Ezekireh, which means Remedy. Igbo say Zamunnah but Israel say: Zalmunnah. Finally, Malachi (know-God) reconciles originality and Jesus conducted covenant in the most traditional manner (Matt 26:24). The only gap in the above is written and oral; had the first generation of educated Igbos internalised their interest in Igbo and its affairs, they would have gathered more direct evidence from the ancestors. When we wake up in the 21st century to be searching for ancient treasures will task us a lot but not as day-dreamers, enemies of truth or hasty climbers. Who was saved to serve God cannot give excuse. After the war (1967-1970) among natural neighbours, greed is not the answer but acknowledgement and appreciation of truth. Igbo cannot vacate for anyone vice versa but must prove its reason and purpose for its being through respect and impartial relationship because equity is watching. Our ancestors covenanted against killing and evil customarily and Jesus covenanted against evil; thus, cursed be he directly and/or indirectly reason or act evilly. If it is only roasted corn, we must make it go round for a bounty day for all we eat that end in sand is nothing but the memory we live and eat with sustains itself.

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Eden:
Then, we come to Eden, which its location was described in the Bible. In his researches, Herodotus (438BC) described the Great River as the Mother of Water and linked it with River Nile. The Colonialists called this river Gir or today River Benue. The Bible further said that Kaine after all lived in East Eden. This evidence implies that there were west and North Eden made by the river. These are still core historical fact to be exhaustively searched before seeking outside. Remarkably, some Igbos frowned being associated with Kaine the first Killer but many characteristics tell e.g., of fugitive Kaine, Igbos are still wanderers and are everywhere; of temper, many Igbos are; Chineke marked and preserved Kaine against harm and whoever harms any Igbo faces direct judgment from God and this is the core purpose of Igbo. Till-date, all who directly or indirectly took part in fighting Igbo (1967-1970) without justification are still paying the price. Woe betides any Igbo, who take part in any killing while God is avenging for him. Chineke marked Kaine and did not cill him; since then, Igbos banish or dedicate to the shrine and do not kill offenders. Nevertheless, the consolation at the turnabout of history after 6,200 years is that Kaine killed in struggle for the only daughter of Adam but the evolution of Seth struggled similarly; killed and manufactured in advance to kill. The current situation is very necessitous, in which a lesser evil is better. It was said above that non-fiction (reality) can be covenanted upon. Thus, I bet handsomely, if sorrow, wandering and grieve came to us from killing, if we stopped killing and convince Chineke of this, we shall not labour to feed or wander beyond. When one hears of the Collapse of the Church; it is a point of new direction. What came to us by way of foreign religion did not prove us instead infected us. With our learning, if we sanction and conduct covenants to end evil including killing as 2,000 Igbo clans did and lived peacefully without Army and Police. If we do, soon the original nature and value of Eden will resurface. This is what learning is about, until we try, we live in suspended creed. As you can see Igbo has lesser burden to stop killing than those who manufactured and stocked armouries to kill. Does it take much to repent; to whom evil is hard to abhor, what joy exists? Anyone who hates his neighbour because of his assets shall suffer the anguish of hatred and will not acquire his neighbour's assets because only the meek inherits the earth. After our experiences, what could be better than sharing reliable relationship with one's neighbours if everyone's life-days are numbered?

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Igbo traditions (customary heritage):
When confronted with allied terminologies, the scholar must discern and choose applicable terms. Tradition and custom are such mixture. They are what is, was and will be. Their consistency means that any age can test and give its verdict. In this section we shall use custom, which was said to be the carpet Chineke used to cover or reduce the slipperiness of the earth. Custom is omenala. Instantly, whether test or retribution, when the earth becomes too slippery is time to audit how one has honoured omenala. A successful audit will identify what to do to remedy the situation. A sample of custom includes: thou shall not kill; thou shall steal; thou shall not take a man's daughter to wife without performing customary rites; thou shall not climb another man's wife; thou shall defile another man's farm by stealing yam from his farm; thou not defile your land with foreign gods; etc. They yield to trust and confidence that are covenanted upon.

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Kola nut:
Oral history had it that after Kaine and Lemechi killed fear developed and our ancestors covenanted with kola nuts, alligator peppers and palm wine against who shall act, hire, aid, abate or support killing. This enhanced the trust and confidence to live together such that 2000 clans in Igbo lived in peace customarily without Police or army until AD 1441. A covenant promotes or prohibits something; like oath, its outcome strengthens confidence. It worked thus: if Aba goes to Umuahia and eats kola nut freely, Aba is inter-locked in trust with Umuahia in the custom. If Aba does the same with Ahuoda, Kalaba, Ibibio; and Umuahia does similarly with Okigwe, Orlu, Afikpo, Awgu, Enugwu, Nsukka, Onitsha, Igbouzo, etc, they are all inter-locked by equity, which judges per personam. The doctrine is unique; if two or more people eat and drink together, they are bound by the goodwill of it. It is an abomination: (ime ruo ala or aru) for anyone in this chain to reason or do evilly in it. This was the safest entrance of Igbo to Christianity because its pioneer covenanted against evil (Matt 26:24). The test is simple, if a piece of custom or task lasts overnight those waking to it the next day must join in solving or promoting it. Thus, covenant with your neighbours and measure the outcomes. Our ancestors said that one's neighbour is his brethren; to roam about without covenant has affected many relationships. A differing relationship is best treaded with a long spoon.

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Community:
A community is never taken for granted; their power of combination matters. Recently, the Social Scientists have defined a Community as having at least 70 per cent combining power; without, it is a life style of one against another. A community must covenant to be each other's keeper and this easily produces miracles. For instance, if a person mistakes custom and is under pain of it, the wiser members of the community will inquire, search and identify the omen. They then conduct remedy search and apply it to the victim; if it is truly done,within four days, he is fit again. A community that watches its sicc (warning) suffer and die is falsely engendered. There are sicknesses that conventional medicines do not cure. Remember, it was said that when one takes all the medications prescribed for an ailment without remedy, the next is to set inquest on his conscience. To enquire is to find, which could lead to remedy. Recently, some elders in London worried of why Igbo girls married outsiders but what do you think is responsible? Igbos do no form or constitute communal or supportive entity. They bicker a lot and jealous grievously and these traits block the usual enquiries Igbo marriage rely upon. The most embarrassing thing is that on Sundays, they troop to churches but to Covenant with Igbo kola nut, alligator pepper and wine, they say, it is heathen. This is evidence of how our cramming books (education) without critical review made us aghast of the true knowledge. If Jesus covenanted with bread and wine to end evil, can a true Christian do without covenant?

If one does not know why he is living, he could throw his life as football to be kicked anyhow. As for the Igbos, they rocked themselves by chasing the wind. Someone who was saved as a symbol to serve God cannot give excuse. The relic purpose of Igbo is a defence that man was created otherwise G. Buffon and C Darwin will overreach creation with secondary evolution from Ape. Is to defence creation a less task? When Israel failed and broke God's heart, they suffered for it; if Igbo repeats Israel's mistakes, they will suffer. Don't forget, purpose is life. Modecai or Madukah and Esther raised Jewish interests in Babylon, if the Igbos are so unworthy as not to produce just men and women to save Igbo, who will save Igbo? As money chases property it destroys moral prudence but love and charity harmonise faith. The history of Israel depicted lost of property during exile, captivity and Diaspora but faith in God reinvented Israel, were we not better with faith in God than amassing wealth that the vibrating earth might sink? God never paid good faith with evil before; so, we have a choice of proclivity.

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Customary Principle:
It is bad for the head to become the tail. If Kaine had died in life for life after killing Abel, Seth would have been heir but God sentenced Kaine into fugitive and wandering, which made Igbo to be everywhere but he marked and preserved him against harm; thus, cursed be he who harms whom God preserved. 'Preserved Kaine' means that he retains his birth right (position) as heir and if Adam had any staff or dale (ishi-obi), it will transfer to Kaine. Watch, an attempt by Seth to run after Adam ended in deluge. What staff did Adam leave? It was Ofo, which Moses imitated into 'Arc of Covenant' but imitation without real knowledge did not aid Israel. Ofo is an embodiment of equitable principles. It has no friend or enemy and at times it develops two heads called equity and justice or Ofo n' Ogu. This means that if a man dishonours, equity shall find him and teach him a lesson. If a man stole his neighbour's sheep and sold it in an early morning market and goes home to pretend that nothing happened, equity will indict him to disgorge his ill-gotten money from the sheep. Now, you see that Igbo which contributed 80 per cent2 of the slaves in West Indies, New Foundland, Florida, Caroline, Pennsylvania, New York and Canada cannot keep the slave money, abandon them and pretend that nothing happened. Mistake under undue influence is possible but remedies must be sought. Igbo communities are many, about 2,000 clans of differing dialects but bound by customs; thus, our main interest is custom. If God saves Igbo to defend creation, Igbo cannot give excuse. No one can serve his community without sharing from Jesus as except Prophet Ezekireh, only Jesus concentrated on the lost sheep of Israel. Thus, whether Igbo is in America, Europe, and Far East; without concern for Igbo, he is not a good Christian of Christ-like because good and impartial Charity remembers home. If Igbos are confused, wicked, foolish, thieves, etc, who will treat and improve them? If your education ends in empty portfolio, it is just a start to reinvent with better knowledge or what is it to climb so high and end up in nothing? After learning and experiences, Socrates said: practice is important.


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Customary Institution:
Igbo had it but it was mentioned in Israel as Ephod and tabernacle. The Igbos had Ihuchi, ubinukpabi, Amadioha; Ezebika but the name Chineke is supreme of their belief. They had shrines but their manifestations are signs, which are ecologically called theodicy. The latter meaning God-in-nature means that nature can use anything to manifest its desire, will or detest. In the Bible, there were the Burning bush, lion case, as day light rabbit or toad; scorpion, giant millipede, black and red stripped snake signify something in Igbo custom. The Jews asked signs from Jesus and he did not pretend that it does not exist. The current religious institutions are most modern but the results or outcomes and expressions of custom as religion may differ. When people carry cola nuts, alligator pepper and palm wine to express directly to God is different from indirect expression of religion. It appears after religious worship, people still have to perform covenant on terms and conditions to live together. Taking religion on its face value could undermine what its pioneer did. He taught faith, law, peace and love; and covenanted to secure it firmly. Where in any Christian community, there are conflicts of interests, doubts; fear, evil and disharmony signal that covenant is imperative to secure trust and confidence to living together. Every institution is for problem solving and to end evil, envy and wickedness is the beginning of new Igbo.


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The Shrine:
Having already covenanted against killing, the guilty one knows his fate. The ancestors learnt from Chineke, who preserved Kaine but marked him an untouchable of God; did the Igbos learn from God? This was the purpose the shrines served. If one breached fundamental custom, he can run for safety or be banished or dedicated to the shrine. In addition to safety, he will serve in the shrine until he repents and then under goes a process of cleansing and purification. The Aka ji Ofo leads in this by setting up inquiries to Chineke of what the remedy should be. If it is murder, it may be the case of cola nuts, alligator pepper, palm wine, goats, sheep, cows, which are sieved and some became wild after purification, reconciliation and outcasting the goat, sheep or cow. Remarkably, if the person remains in the shrine and dies, his off-spring retains his status. If he runs away, whenever he comes back, he faces judgment e.g., if he stole yam from another's farm, when he comes back, he is purified against theft and reconciled by replacing the yam in any fold determined by the Aka ji Ofo and his Council of Nze. There is no problem without solution but when solutions are swift, they miss the soothing edge. For instance, the way Christianity swept aside Igbo customs left some unresolved problems which are not susceptible to Christian altar. Both Bishop Aidan and Pope John Paul 11 condemned that fast track. If we were to compare with the youthful Israel, it does not know the sanctity or holiness of shrine. For instance both Adonijah and Joab were killed in the altar.

Chineke left ample customs for our ancestors. Later, the foreigners came in and condemned our shrines as fetish and termed our ancestors pagans but imagine the fates of those, who received direct from God and from religion. Yet, what was condemned of our ancestors reincarnated into the temples as carven, picture and images of Saints. Does the European use of pictures since AD 787 to materialise their religion not pose challenge to the form, shape and nature of the unseen God?

We still come back to the covenant conducted by Jesus against evil. He covenanted with bread and wine, otherwise cola nut, alligator pepper and palm wine or even salted water if commonly available and agreed. His covenant point was: woe betides whom evil shall be done, it were better that he was not born. This is covenant point. Who was evilly in this? It was Judas Iscariot and equity dealt with him summarily before the one he betrayed. Check the Bible, throughout Moses and Prophets, there was no mention of bread and wine. In the Bible, we noticed Melchizedek offering bread and wine and straightaway, Christianity ranked Jesus with Melchizedek but what does Melchizedek mean? Those who wrote the Bible determined it. Israeli king is known as Melek and this was reflected in Melchizedek but Israel had no integrated system where a person can be king and priest at the same time; E.G., Moses and Aaron, Samuel and Saul. Notwithstanding, etymologically, Mel and chi did not bond. In Igbo, the name is Ezechishiri. It is a birthright and Israel (Jacob) has no birthright. This brief is given to avoid the head becoming the tail. After 2,000 years of Christianity, the time has come for review because running with the herds without cogent evidence is not the true answer of what one should know. That Jesus covenanted as Igbo gives Igbo a great opportunity to champion new Christianity. Jesus covenanted against evil and Judas paid the price, did he die because he ate and drank with the Lord or because he committed evil? Prophet Ezekireh said: the soul that sinned shall die; pronto, no death for the innocent. People whose days are shared with many burials have a choice.

Does Igbo make a community, what does it stand for? Being raid and deranged mentally with and for money, one should ask: where will it lead if the author of money Caesar abandoned it? When communalism disappears because a brother forsakes his brother for the sake of inheriting asset, land or attending a different church, what come clear are anguish, grief and wishful death. Woe betides anyone who forsakes his neighbour for the sake of property, let the earth open and swallow him alive; so that others may learn equity. This is third millennium AD, we are no longer babes or mules without understanding; otherwise, the enemies will climb our mothers with the offers of sweet. It is testing time; we shall get it right after our learning and experiences. Genesis 3 said that man has known what is good or evil; to know grants right to choose between good and evil. Who knows what is good is charged with it and who knows what is bad and retains it, let it be his daily bread in anguish and grief.

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