Igboland
|
Igboland Àl'ịgbò (Igbo) Southeastern Nigeria |
|
|---|---|
| Cultural region | |
| Àlà na ḿbà ṇ́dị́ Ìgbò | |
Nkanu West, Enugu
|
|
| Nickname(s): Biafra, The East | |
 |
|
| Part of |
 Nigeria
|
| - Founding of Nri | c. 900 |
| - British Colony | 1902 |
| - Nigeria | 1914 |
| Founded by | Proto-Igbo |
| Regional capital | Enugu |
| Composed of |
|
| Government | |
| • Type | Autonomous communities |
| Area | |
| • Total | 40,000 km2 (16,000 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,000 m (3,300 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2015 estimate) | |
| • Total | ~ 40 million |
| • Density | 400/km2 (1,000/sq mi) |
| The population of Igboland stated here is an accumulation of the 5 main states Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo only | |
| Demographics | |
| • Language |
Igbo English |
| • Religion |
Syncretic Christianity (+90%) Odinani (5-10%) |
| Time zone | WAT (UTC+1) |
| God | Chukwu |
| Alusi | Ala |
| Website | Pictures from igboland |
– in Africa (green & dark grey)
– in Nigeria (green)
Igboland (Standard Igbo: Àlà Ị̀gbò), also known as Southeastern Nigeria, is the indigenous homeland of the Igbo people. It is a non-governmental cultural and common linguistic region in southern Nigeria. Geographically, it is divided by the lower Niger River into two unequal sections – an eastern (which is the larger of the two) and a western section. It is characterised by the diverse Igbo culture and the equally diverse Igbo language.
Politically, Igboland is divided into several southern Nigerian states. Culturally, it is divided into several subgroupings, including the Anioma, Ngwa, Edda Egbebu, Ezaa, Ibeku, Ohuhu, Omuma and the Ekpeye. William Balfour Baikie remarked that "in Igbo[land] each person hails, as a sailor would say, from the particular district where he was born, but when away from home all are Igbos. And yet considerable differences exist between different parts of this extensive country, and the dialects spoken also vary greatly."
Igboland is surrounded on all sides by a host of large rivers, and other southern and central Nigeria indigenous tribes namely Bini, Itsekiri, Ijaw, Ogoni, Igala, Tiv, Yako, Idoma and Ibibio. In the words of William B. Baikie, "Igbo homeland, extends east and west, from the Old Kalabar river to the banks of the Kwora, Niger River, and possesses also some territory at Aboh, an Igbo clan, to the west-ward of the latter stream. On the north it borders on Igara, Igala and A'kpoto, and it is separated from the sea only by petty tribes, all of which trace their origin to this great race".
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Wikipedia