Editor’s note: In this opinion piece, writer, Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, traces the origin of the name ‘Biafra’ which he claimed has no origin in the Igbo language.
He claimed that pro-Biafra activist, Nnamdi Kanu, and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are ignorant about the Igbo origin.
When I say that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the Radio Biafra broadcaster and self acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and his followers are intellectually retarded, they will feel insulted and provoked. But their intellectual ignorance is a fact and not an insult.
The fact that a group of Igbos are barking like dogs and calling themselves a name that is not in the #Igbo dictionary and did not originate from Igbo tribe is a disgrace and a shame.
The name of Biafra is a foreign name, whereas the name of Nigeria originated from the River Niger.
From archeological discoveries and etymological studies, there is nothing linking Igbos to the Jews. The Jewish link is mere myth of fantasy without any evidence in the DNA mapping. The origin of the Igbos is clearly shown in the Igbo Ukwu Art of Ọ̀ràézè Ǹrì dating back to 948 CE.
Case closed.
9th century Igbo-Ukwu bronze ceremonial staff head. Photo credit: Wikipedia
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Origin of Biafra
The Bight of Biafra, or Mafra (named after the town Mafra in southern Portugal), between Capes Formosa and Lopez, is the most eastern part of the Gulf of Guinea; it contains the islands Fernando Po [Equitorial Guinea], Prince’s and St Thomas’s. The name Biafra – as indicating the country – fell into disuse in the later part of the 19th century.
A 1710 map indicates that the region known as “Biafar” (Biafra) was located in present day Cameroon.
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