INTRODUCTION TO THE IGBO
LANGUAGE
by
Ònyémà Nwázùé
(ónye
ńkụzị)
Welcome to Ìgbo World (Ụwa Ńdi Ìgbo)! We will begin our study of the language with
a brief introduction.
As you probably
know already, Ìgbo is one of the major African languages. Although it is spoken predominantly in Biafra (former Eastern Nigeria), it is widely
spoken in almost all the countries of this world by the Ìgbo Diaspora. If you are an Ìgbo, it is important that you
learn to speak, read, and write Ìgbo because the language of a people is their
most important heritage on which the survival of their culture and their
continued existence on earth as a people largely depend. If you are a foreigner (a tourist, a friend
of the Ìgbo Nation, etc.), we thank you sincerely for your interest in our
language, our culture, and our people.
A knowledge of the Ìgbo Language will, amongst other things, give
you the key to the heart of the Ìgbo people (Ńdị Ìgbo). In fact, it will enable you to understand why
the Igbos are unique in Africa, why they are hated and admired by their
erstwhile colonial masters and detractors, and, above all, why they are wanted
and unwanted in the Nigeria they call their country. That said, let us begin our study of the
language with a look at the writing or orthographic system.
ÓKWU IGBO:
We invite you to join Igbo
Language Forum and the Language Laboratory also at the Igbo Language
Forum to participate in discussions about these lessons and other issues
related to the Igbo Language.