WHO ARE YOU?

"If you fail at being yourself, you live the rest of your life trying to be everything that isn't who you are" -Osuchukwu Mark Anthony

The day I knew this matter had gone out of hand was the day my own mother was arguing that we all are from Isreal. My mother is a funny person but this wasn't one of her jokes. The church I used to go to has members who believe they are from Isreal and what is funny is that these people hardly go to their vilagges. These people do not attend umunna meetings. These people see their relatives in the village as Devils.

These people do not know who they are. They have failed in being igbo people. They are now pursuing another ancestry. Very funny.

Being igbo isn't by saying it. Isn't by wearing Ankara prints and ishiagu. It is beyond that. It isn't by being a member of igboist group or igbo rant group.

Being igbo is more spiritual that physical.

I see people who cannot speak their language claiming they are from Isreal. People who do not know the spirituality of their people. People who do not know any igbo adage, people who do not know the four market days in Igbo Land. People who do not know what market is in their villages. People who do not know their ancestors names. People who cannot pray with oji. People who do not know about Obi ndi ichie. People who do not know who is carrying their umunna's offor. People who do not even know their village folklore but they are very sure they are from isreal!

You people shock me everyday!

I was asking my friends what knowledge of our culture they have to pass down to their kids. The room was quiet. I asked them the customs of their own people that they are familiar with and the room was more silent. How many of you know the names of your igwe?

Igbo culture is going on extinct before our eyes and you people are saying you're from isreal. Tueh!

Do you know that when our generation becomes parents it will be heartbreaking because you people are not even asking your parents any questions. Some parents are ignorant about their towns but you can ask other people. Your kids are going to be more inquisitive than you are. They will ask you questions that you have no answers to and you are the cause of that void in them. What you don't know concerning your place, your children will suffer to know it because ideally you should pass down the knowledge you have to them.

Imagine how we have gone from not knowing our roots and culture to practically amputating ourselves to fit into the Isreali narrative!

It is low self esteem and there is no true igbo man with his Ikenga, ofo and obu that will ever believe that he is from Gad.

You people are always making several attempts to help the white man's opinion of us be true. We don't need to be affiliated with any body!

This story is flying because of the emotional role it plays in the minds of Christians. They have imbibed the Jewish folklore for generations and having a connection with isreal looks like the will of God to them.

Igbo people are igbo people. Ndi gboo.

If you believe you're from the loins of Gad, ngwanu enjoy your hebrewic moment and go and learn their language. Stop using the language of your igbo ancestors to say that you come from somewhere else.