Igbo language and system of communication existed for years before the advent of the colonial. That indigenous Igbo alphabets and graphically coded means of communication is known as NSIBIDI and was predominantly used in Akwa Ibom, ibibio, Abiriba, Ohafia, Abam and Arochukwu.
Nsibidi was invented by Ejagham and was a highly coded communication system for elites and the members of traditional Okonko, ekpe/ekpo and Mmanwu societies and groups. It was used in inscribing important and spiritual messages on the ground, caves and walls and only such members and groups can decode the messages. Contrary to the notion that Europeans taught Ndigbo the act of writing, the ancient Igbo nation and forebears had a very elaborate writing system (Nsibidi) with great and remarkable inscriptions on carved, doors, walls, and trees before Europeans arrived. Instead, colonialism marked the gradual loss of our unique ancient writing and communication system and led to the development of todays Igbo alphabets which were greatly influenced by westernisation.
The present day Igbo alphabets have gone through several generations of development. The first generation alphabets is known as the “Isuama Igbo” from 1766 to 1900 and was developed based on the local Igbo dialect of Isu, a town near Nkwerre ancient kingdom in todays Imo state. It was believed that the local Isu dialect was the dialect used by Olauda Equiano in teaching African slaves Igbo language in Pennsylvania, United Stated of American in the 18th century. There were 34 alphabets in Isuama Igbo as follows:
a b c d e f h I k l m n o p r s t u v w y z gb gh gw kp kw n nw ny o sh ds ts.
The 2nd generation alphabets is “Union Igbo” from 1900 – 1929 and was developed during the colonial era by Anglican Rev. Thomas J. Dennis of Dennis Memorial grammar School (DMGS), Onitsha based on the native dialects of Onitsha, Owerri, Uwani, Arochukwu, and Bonny in Rivers state in an attempt to have an Igbo alphabets that is meaningfull to all Igbos. These alphabets were used in translating the first Igbo Bible. There were 38 alphabetes in union igbo as follows:
a b ch d e f g gb gh h I j k l m n o o p kp r s sh t u v w y s sh t u v w z gw kw nw ny
A 3rd generation Igbo Alpabetes known as “Central Igbo” emerged from 1929 – 1961 by the Catholic Church who did not accept the Igbo union. These alphabets was promoted by Ida Ward and it created rivalry between Anglican and catholic scholars until 1961 when it was replaced by the 4th generation alphabets called “Onwu” alphabets which is still in use to date. The Onwu alphabets was the product of the committee of Igbo language scholars chaired by Maazi Onwu which resoved the conflict between the union Igbo alphabets and central Igbo alphabets. There 36 alphabetes in the onwu alpahbates as follows:
a b ch d e f g gb gh gw h i I j k kp kw l m n n nw ny o o p r s sh t u u v w y z
The question is, does today’s alphabets represent the true Igbo alphabets and communication system?. Thankfully, great efforts are being made globally to revive, teach and promote nsibidi writing and communication system as part of the campaign to rediscovering Igbo heritage.
