IGBO ORIGIN REVISITED
By
HRH EZE MICHAEL A.UCHEGBU B.SC (Hons) ACA AMNIM LLB (Hans)
BL. EZE NDI IGBO OF B:ADAGRY LGA, LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA. P.O.
Box 10218, LASU, Post Office, Ojo, Lagos.
Tel: (234) 08056325531, 08134757451
E-mail: michaeluchegbu@yahoo.com Info@ niichaeluchegbu.com
Website: www.michaeluchegbu.com
Igbo palace, behind S1. Mark's Catholic Church, Age Mowo,
Badagry LGA, Lagos State.
4th August, 2012.
A good way to start the search for Igbo origin, for events that happened more
than four thousand years ago is to. review the work of archeologists and
artifacts recovered during archaeological excavations in Igbo land. Professor
D.D Hartle resumed duty as head of the department of Archeology at the
University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1963. Over the next four years, Professor
D.D Hartle located four hundred sites for possible archeological excavation
which include ancient forts, iron smelters, caves, shrines, war trenches, rock
shelters and abandoned villages.
At the agricultural farm site of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the
excavation yielded ancient clay pots and clay vessels radio carbon dated
between 2555 BC and 1460 BC. The Excavation Professor D.D Hartle
carried out at Nwankor site in Bende Division of Abia State yielded clay
pots, metal bells and a long iron spearhead all dated over 1000 years old.
In Ezira .in A wka Division of Anambra State the grave of a chief was
excavated and items which the chief was buried with were recovered.
These items include bronze anklets, rings, bells and other wellmanufactured ceremonial objects. The radiocarbon date on the Ezira
Awka artifacts is 1495 AD. Professor D.D Hartle excavated Ukpa rock
shelter or cave near Afikpo, Ebonyi State. The items recovered from the
Ukpa Rock shelter were mostly clay pots radio carbon dated between
1935 BC and l5AD.
There is a decorated clay pot with drawings of python and chameleon dated
800AD recovered in 1974 from Igbo-Ukwu and kept at the National
Museum, Enugu.
To understand better Igbo past, Igbo Empire and Igbo civilization, it is
necessary to review archeological excavation at Igbo (renamed Igbo Ukwu
in 1930) and the numerous artifacts recovered from the excavated site. In
1939 Isaiah Anozie was digging a toilet when many ancient artifacts were
uncovered. In 1959, Professor Thurstan Shaw - a professor of Archeology at
the University of lbadan excavated the sites. The compound of Isaiah Anozie
was found to be a storehouse of royal regalia dating 800AD. The compound
of Jonah Anozie was an ancient refuse disposal pit dating 800AD while the
compound of Richard Anozie was a royal burial chamber dated 800AD. The
following items were covered from the excavated sites - the famous Igbo
Ukwu bronze roped pot, bronze altar stand, bronze objects, swords,
ornaments, two ornate scabbards, bells, chains, necklace, pendants, anklets,
staff heads, altar and wristlets. Others include copper pectoral plate, a copper
fan holder, a copper crown, copper anklets, wristlets and beaded armlets,
copper pointed rods, and 150,000 glass beads. There were many bronze pots
and iron blades. These items are all carbon dated to 800AD. The corpse of
the great king was also found as well as five servants buried with the king.
These items were made by very skilled artisans using the lost wax method
of casting. They worked on metals including copper, tin, lead and iron
through hammering, bending, twisting and incising. The copper and bronze
works at Igbo Ukwu predate the bronze works
ofIfe, Benin and other parts of West and Central Africa by hundreds of years.
Only a vast Igbo Empire which had great wealth could have yielded the
artworks recovered from Igbo Ukwu. These artworks are today housed
at British Museum in London. I hereby called on the Government of
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Britain to immediately return the
Igbo Ukwu artifacts back to Nigeria. These archeological excavations
were made by European Archeology Professor D.D Hartle and Professor
Thursan Shaw. We are yet to see the contributions of Igbo archeologists on
this issue. Of the 400 sites identified by Professor D.D Hartle, only 14 have
been excavated. The Ogbunike cave in Anambra State which is one of the
largest caves in Africa needs to be excavated by archeologists. Also the
Uhuagu Awgu cave in Awgu Enugu State which housed General Emeka
Odumegwu Ojukwu, Biafran head of State during the Biafra- Nigeria war
should also be excavated by archeologists. Apart from poor Igbo
performance in Archeology, more disturbing is the abandonment of history
as a subject in secondary schools in Nigeria. History is no more taught
in many secondary schools. A stanza in our school song at King's
College, Lagos says "past, present and future form one mighty whole."
If we don't know where the rain started to beat us, we are not likely to
find appropriate solutions to our present day problems and challenges.
Olaudah Eguiano (1745 AD to 1797 AD) and native of Isseke in Ihiala Local
Government Area of Anambra State in his auto-biography published in
London in 1789 titled "INTERESTING NARRATIVES OF OLAUAH
EQUIANO OR GUSTAVUS V ASSA THE AFRICAN" floated for the first
time the theory that Igbos are the descendants of the ancient Israelites. This
was followed by Anglican Archbishop G.T. Basden who about 1900AD
publi,shed his book AMONG THE IBOS OF NIGERIA.
These two authors based their theory on the fair complexion of the Igbo,
similarity between Igbo and Hebrew languages, and Igbo and Hebrew
customs such as circumcision of the male child on the eight day after birth
and celebration of a feast at the end of harvest called New Yam Festival.
Since then other authors such as Chief Eric C.N Okam with his book titled
"THE IGBOS AS DESCENDANTS OF JACOB (ISRAEL).THE ORIGIN OF
THE IGBOS" 2004 and Professor Uche Ikeanyibe's book titled "BIBLICAL
EVIDENCE CONFIRMING THE HEBREW ORIGIN OF THE IGBO
PEOPLE 2008" have published their books. There have been countless
articles written and published on the Igbo - Israel relationship including that
of Remy Ilona (2003) and Rabbi Yehudah Ben Shomeyr.
The theory states that the Hebrew ancestors of Igbos left the harshness of
Pharaohs rule in ancient Egypt also called KEMET at periods which various
authors put at 1900BC to 1300 BC passed through Sudan, passed through
Kogi State to settle in Igboland. It was stated that the leader of the Hebrews
who left ancient Egypt for Igboland about 1900BC to 1300 BC was Eri who
was the Son of Gad and grandson of Jacob (Israel).
Ancient Egypt was ruled by Pharaoh and his ministers. Pharaoh built palaces,
temples and pyramids and lived in luxury at the expenses of
the masses that were overtaxed. A wall painted in Thebes, Egypt dated
1500BC shows the commoners in ancient Egypt making bricks. Papyrus
documents dated 2000BC also confirms the servitude of the commoners in
ancient Egypt being daily forced to make bricks for Pharaoh's use. (The
watchtower January, 1, 2012) Archeologists have discovered a temple built
in Saleb, Sudan dated 1370BC by Pharaoh Amenhotep III. On the walls of
this temple is drawn wandering Jews as well as the name Yahweh written in
Hebrew. (The Watchtower May 1,2010). The assertion that Hebrews left
Egypt about 1900BC to 1300BC passed through Sudan, present day Kogi
State and arrived Igboland is supported by the archaeological evidence.
Professor D.D Hartle's archaeological excavation on the agricultural farm of
the University of Nigeria, Nsukka unearthed clay pots dated 2555BC. The
father of the Hebrews Abraham was born in 2018BC at UR in present day
Iraq. It is therefore clear that people have lived in Igboland for more than 500
years before. Abraham was born in 2018BC. The Hebrews who left Egypt
around 1900BC to 1300BC and arrived Igboland through Sudan must have
met some people on ground. The arriving Hebrews interacted and
intermarried with the aboriginal black peoples on ground. The product of this
intennarriage and interaction is Igbo which is biologically and genetically a
mixed race, partly white and partly black. Still Hebrew customs, language
and religion persisted and worship and prayers were offered to Chukwu
Abiama- the God of Abraham.
To increase our understanding of Igbo as a mixed race, it is necessary to
review three documented cases of where black couples gave birth to white
children. White, I mean here is not albino but a white child with hair eyes and
everything like any other white 'child born to an European family. If a black
woman is impregnated by a white man the child is mixed race not white.
American President Barrack Obama whose mother is white while his father is
black is a mixed race and is classified in America as a black. I am talking of
three cases where black couples gave birth to white race children.
In April, 2005 in England, Kylie Hodgson and her boyfriend Remi Horder
gave birth to twin girls. One girl was black race while the other girl was
white race. Scientists accounted for the event genetically because the fathers
of the couple were blacks while their mothers were whites.
Kerry Richardson and her husband gave birth to twin boys in England in
2006. One twin boy was black race while the other twin boy was white race.
Scientists accounted for this event genetically because themother of Kerry
Richardson is a white woman while her father is a black Nigerian.
Scientifically the law is that where a black couple have a white race
child, one or more of their parents or ancestors are whites.
Mr. Ben Ihegboro, an Igboman and Mrs. Angela Ihegboro an Igbo
woman both live in London. The world was shocked when in July,
2010 Mrs. Angela Ihegboro delivered a white race girl called Nmachi at
Queen Mary Hospital in Sidcup, South East London. Medical doctors
and scientists immediately went to work on tliis shocking puzzle - a
black Igbo couple giving birth to a white race girl with blonde hair just
like any other white child. One of the scientists studying this matter is
Professor Bryan Sykes, head'ofHuman Genetics at the University of
Oxford, England. Professor Bryan Sykes is of the view that the
ancestors of this Igbo couple are whites. This event confirms the theory
that Igbo are descendants of the ancient Israelites.
The influx of Hebrews into Igbo land was continuous apart from the initial
entry of 1900BC to 1300BC. Kings Sotomon about 1000BC had naval ships
that traded in West Africa and every three years brought to
King Solomon gold, Silver, ivory, black slaves and peacocks. See 1Kings
10:22. There were large Jewish communities in Africa at Egypt,
Sudan, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Morocco, Timbuktu, and the old West African
empires of Ghana, Mali, Songhai and Kanem Bomu. Hebrews were
prominent in the trade caravans that traversed North and West Africa.
Hebrew movement was caused by either the need to flee from persecution or
search for trade, better economic opportunities, profits and greener pastures.
Continually Hebrews streamed into Igbo land during ancient times.
The rebellion against Pharaoh and migration out of Egypt through Sudan to
Igboland about 1900BC to 1300BC reflects in Igbo character up till date.
There was refusal to submit to the authority of Pharaoh and a rebellion
against the Pharaoh rule. In Saint Domingue slaves who were mostly Igbos
revolted against French slave owners in 1791 AD, drove out the French slave
colonists and declared the Republic of Haiti on 1 st January, 1804
becoming the first free black nation. Haiti was one of the four countries
that recognized the Republic of Biafra. Food, medicines and military
equipment sent to Biafra by Haiti was very helpful during the civil war.
Other countries that recognized the Republic of Biafra are Tanzania, Cote
D'lvoire and Gabon.
King Jaja of Opobo (1821 - 1891) a native of Umuduruoha in Amaigbo, lmo
State was sold as a slave to the Opobo people. But since the Igboman is not
somebody you can enslave, King Jaja ended up a first class businessman
and the first King Amanyanabo of Opobo. On 6th August, 2011, I
presented my paper titled "Igbo Empire 600AD to 11 OOAD". This paper
can be printed out at www.michaeluchegbu.com/articles The Igbo Empire
covered Nigeria, Cameroons, Equatorial Guineau, Central African Republic,
Congo, Gabon and Uganda and flourished between. 600AD to 11 OOAD.
The capital of the Igbo Empire was at Igbo (renamed Igbo Ukwu in 1930).
It was from this capital city that Igbo tribe and Igbo Language got the name
of Igbo. Many Igbo migrated from this capital city to other parts of Igbo land.
Chief Sir C.E.S Okoye who holds the chieftaincy title of Akunne ofNri in his
paper dated 8th October 2011 stated that the first Eze Nri - Eze Nri
Ufukuanim reigned between 1043A to 1090AD. He also listed fifteen other
Eze Nri ending with the present Eze Nri Enwelana who was installed in
1988AD. Another author Chambers put the date of installation of,the first Eze
Nri Ufukuanim at 1225AD. It is noted that while the Eze at Igbo (renamed
Igbo Ukwu in 1930) ruled over a vast Igbo Empire 600AD to 1100AD, the
Eze Nri is the Eze of Nri Town. Nri Kingdom, Oyo Empire and Benin
Empire emerged after the collapse of the Igbo Empire around 1100AD.
Israeli Prime minister Yitzhak Rabin in October 1995 and Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent delegates to Igbo land in search of Eri and
other lost Israeli Igbos. These Israeli visited Aguleri's Eze A.E.
Chukwuemeka - Eri atObu- Gad in Aguleri. There the Israelis saw the ancient
stone throne or memorial onyx stone of Gad with the word GAD written in
Hebrew. Unfortunately this stone has not been subjected to radio carbon
dating to determine its age.
The Israeli Ambassador to Eze Nri on 28th March 1996 and acknowledged
that that the Igbos are among the lost tribes of Israel. The Israeli Ambassador
gave Eze Nri a gift of Olive oil which is a gift that is only given to Israeli
Kings. On 23rd October, 1997, an American Jew Yitzhak David who is also
the Director of King Solomon Shephardic Federation paid homage to Igwe
Kenneth Orizu III of Nnewi. Personally I have been in Assemblies of God
Church, Mowo, Badagry when an American came searching for the Igbo
Israelis in 2009. I was also in Dominion Church, Iyana Iba, Lagos in 2011
when Israelis came searching for the Igbo Israelis.
The search by Israelis for Igbos is intense and extensive - more or less a
daily affair. This is to fulfill the prophecy of Jeremiah 16: 14-16 where the
Prophet Jeremiah said "14 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord,
that it shall no more be said, the Lord liveth, that brought up the children of
Israel out of the land of Egypt".
15" But the Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land
of the north, and from all the lands whether He had driven them; and I will
bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers"
16" Behold, I will send for many fishers, said the Lord, and they shall fish
them~ and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt
them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of rocks"
The legal status of Igbos as descendants of the ancient Israelites has raised
many legal issues which have been argued and canvassed in courts in the
Republic of Israel by lawyers.
Does an Igbo require VISA to enter the Republic of Israel? Can an Igbo be
deported or forced to leave the Republic of Israel even if he has no VISA,
expired VISA or fake travel documents?
These legal questions have been thrashed out in hundreds of court cases in
the Republic of Israel where applications. were brought to court to deport
Igbos who had no valid VISAS, work permits or genuine travel documents to
stay in Israel. After many years of contested court cases, the law has been
settled that an Igbo cannot be deported from or forced to leave the Republic
of Israel.
By
HRH EZE MICHAEL A. UCHEGBU B.SC (Hons) ACA A:MNIM LLB (Hons)
BL. EZE NDI IGBO OF BADAGRY LGA, LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA. P.O. Box
10218, LASU, Post Office, Ojo, Lagos.
Tel: (234) 08056325531, 08134757451
E-mail: michaeluchegbu@yahoo.com Info@ michaeluchegbu.com
Website: www.michaeluchegbu.com
Igbo Palace, behind 81. Mark's Catholic Church, Age Mowo,
Badagry LGA, Lagos State.