Igbo people have been wrongly described by the unformed non-Igbos simply out of ignorance and jealousy of the great success achieved by Igbo sons and daughter all over the world in different fields of endeavours. Before you call an Igbo man or woman ritualist, please find below, the traits that defines an Igbo man:
He is that man who leaves Alaigbo to a foreign, sleeps rough, wear slippers, start a business with nothing (igba oso ahia), uses Nokia torch phones, and build his wealth through hard work. Because he believes in “ebe onye bi ka ona awachi”, he establishes himself where he resides and builds his own house and eventually turns natives peacefully into his tenants over time.
He is so enterprising that he sees business opportunity where others see nothing. Where others see an evil forest, the Igbo see real estate: where other sees shit, he sees manure. This is based on the notion of “ileru anya ala”. He does not miss business with pleasure or better still, he puts business before pleasure. He prefers a customer to a girlfriend and is prepared to walk away from any girlfriend to attend to a customer. He wakes up with money and success in his mind and that's why when say "Good morning" to him, he hears , interprets and respond "Money nwannem"
He is the man that keeps going when others turn back and/or when the going gets tough. He is a positive and calculative risk taker who ventures and survives in lands or countries where others failed. No wonder it is said that if arrives in land and does not find an Igbo man, then there is something definitely not right about such land. The notion of Igbo man’s survival is “adighi aso mgbagbu aga ogu”
He is humble and may even be riding ladies machine but the figures in his bank account is enough to write off a community debt. He spends his money on things that matters and when the need arises maka "Ego n'ebi okwu".
He is that man that return back to his village after achieving success to pick up young men and women and train them in business and settles them afterwards (Igbo apprentice), the these boys and girls become rich, they do the same based on the notion of “igwe bu ike” and “onye aghla nwanne ya”. It's not magic or ritual.
He believes in educating and training his children with good morals and wants them to have a better life than he did. He nurtures them to stand up for themselves, knowing he would not be there forever. This is based on the notion of “nwa ga aka nna ya”. He is great husband who will go any length to support, defend and take of his wife.
He loves healthy jests (Njakili') and communal interaction irrespective their wealth. So an average Igbo man is sharp mouthed and cannot be intimidated by words or become a subject of laughter amongst their peers or in a circle.
He identifies with his own but at home and in the Diaspora (Uto Nwanne) and believes in solidarity (Igwebuike) at good and bad times maka na “ihe nwoke mere ibe ya bu nara jide”. He does not forget his roots and believes in going back home (Iru uno). That is why the Igbo man will always take his family home from time to times
How else would you describe an Igbo. Send your comment and suggestions
