The Igbo people are an ethnic group of southern Nigeria directly indigenous to East and West of the lower Niger River, with very significant population found in the eastern side of the river. Igbo people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa and the transatlantic slave trade, which took place between the 16th and late 19th centuries, had huge effects on the Igbo because so many young people were taken, and warfare increased for the taking of captives. In recent times, there have developed many misconceptions about the Igbo people that may not really be true and INFORMATION NIGERIA brings you 6 of the most popular ones…
Igbos Prefer Business to Education: There is a popular belief that Igbos don’t value education and mostly prefer business and money. The practise of sending young boys to big cities to go and learn a trade under a kinsman has heightened this belief.
Igbos don’t marry other tribes: There is the belief among many people that no matter how in-love an Igbo man/woman is with a person from another Nigerian tribe, he/she can not marry him/her and in very rare occasions when they do end up married, the marriage doesn’t last because the Igbo partner would eventually go ahead and marry someone else from his place.
Igbo people from Mbaise are naturally wicked: There are many negative notions people have concerning the Igbos from Mbaise in Imo state. A lot people believe everyone form Mbaise is wicked, selfish, tricky, corny and all sorts of evils .
Igbos love money: This one is the most common one. The first thing an average Nigerian can tell you about an Igbo person is that he loves money and most of them would do anything just to get rich.
Igbos are not generous: Some people are of the belief that most Igbos are tight fisted. That an Igbo man would rather die than give someone money. It is widely believed that an Igboman would rather starve than spend money on good food.
Igbo not Ibo: The language and people is ‘Igbo’ not Ibo, the pronounciation emerged because the Europeans had difficulty making the /ɡ͡b/ sound.
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