Igbo literature encompasses both oral and written works of fiction and nonfiction created by the Igbo people in the Igbo language. This literary tradition reflects the cultural heritage, history, and linguistic diversity of the Igbo community. The roots of Igbo literature trace back to ancient oral traditions that included chants, folk songs, narrative poetry, and storytelling. These oral narratives were frequently recited during rituals, childbirth ceremonies, and gatherings. Proverbs and riddles were also used to convey wisdom and entertain children.
The emergence of written Igbo literature can be dated to the late 19th century, coinciding with the arrival of Christian missionaries who published Igbo religious journals and books, contributing to the development of modern Igbo literature. Early works in the Igbo language include History of the Mission of the Evangelical Brothers in the Caribbean (1777) and The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano (1789), which incorporated Igbo terms and aspects of Igbo life. Christian missionary societies, such as the Church Missionary Society, played a role in the transition from oral to written literature in Igbo land. Missionaries like Edwin Norris and John Clarke translated and published Igbo vocabularies and grammatical elements.
The "Isuama period," characterised by the use of the Isuama dialect, gave way to the Union Igbo period, which utilised the dialects of Owerri and Umuahia for translations. Notable translations, including the New and Old Testaments, expanded the written Igbo literary canon. Traditional Igbo theatre, often associated with communal festivals and masquerade dramas, presented a unique form of "total theatre." With the colonial era came adaptations of these traditions, incorporating socio-political themes. Contemporary written Igbo theatre and poetry began to flourish after the Nigerian Civil War, serving as a means of political expression and resistance. Writers like Anthony Uchenna Ubesie, Okeke Chika Jerry and Julie Onwuchekwa played roles in the development of modern Igbo literary works.
Igboliterature encompasses both oral and written works of fiction and nonfiction created by the Igbo people in the Igbo language. This literary tradition...
Igbo Landing (also called Ibo Landing, Ebo Landing, or Ebos Landing) is a historic site at Dunbar Creek on St. Simons Island, Glynn County, Georgia. It...
The Igbo people (English: /ˈiːboʊ/ EE-boh, US also /ˈɪɡboʊ/ IG-boh; also spelled Ibo and historically also Iboe, Ebo, Eboe, Eboans, Heebo; natively Ṇ́dị́...
Igbo (English: /ˈiːboʊ/ EE-boh, US also /ˈɪɡboʊ/ IG-boh; Standard Igbo: Ásụ̀sụ́ Ìgbò [ásʊ̀sʊ̀ ìɡ͡bò] ) is the principal native language cluster of the...
Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa. Nigerian literature is predominantly English-language. Literature in the national languages Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa plays...
Igbo Jews are members of the Igbo people of Nigeria who practice Judaism. Jews have been documented in parts of Nigeria since the precolonial period,...
(Standard Igbo: Àlà Ị̀gbò), also known as Southeastern Nigeria (but extends into South-Southern Nigeria), is the indigenous homeland of the Igbo people....
English, American literature, and Germanic linguistics in 1974, from where she post-graduated in 1977. In 1982, she obtained her PhD in Igbo Studies, thus...
Igbo Americans, or Americans of Igbo ancestry, or Igbo Black Americans (Igbo: Ṇ́dị́ Ígbò n'Emerịkà) are residents of the United States who identify as...
African literature", although he vigorously rejected the characterization. Born in Ogidi, Colonial Nigeria, Achebe's childhood was influenced by both Igbo traditional...
analyses of modern Yoruba novels. Oríkì Hausa literatureIgboliterature Efik literature Edo literature List of Nigerian writers Third Generation of Nigerian...
Igboliterature. Ubesie was born in Achị in Enugu state on 22 February 1950. He studied Linguistics and Nigerian Languages specializing in the Igbo language...
and has since created a standard dialect for Igbo. Gikandi, Simon (2003). Encyclopedia of African literature. Taylor & Francis. p. 328. ISBN 0-415-23019-5...
Central Africa. The Fulani and the Hausa are almost entirely Muslim, while the Igbo are almost completely Christian and so are the Bini and the Ibibio. The Yoruba...
Igbo art (Igbo: Ǹkà Igbo) is any piece of visual art originating from the Igbo people. The Igbo produce a wide variety of art including traditional figures...
novel follows the life of Okonkwo, an influential leader of the fictional Igbo ("Ibo" in the novel) clan of Umuofia. Among other things, he is a feared...
the Hausa-language novel Shaihu Umar. Yoruba literature Efik literatureIgboliterature Edo literature Furniss, Graham (1996). Poetry, prose and popular...
Igbo people in Jamaica were trafficked by Europeans onto the island between the 18th and 19th centuries as enslaved labour on plantations. Igbo people...
"Emeka" Odumegwu Ojukwu. Biafra represented the nationalist aspirations of the Igbo ethnic group, whose leadership felt they could no longer coexist with the...
"IgboLiterature: Omenuko, Ije Odumodu, Mbediogu na akwụkwọ Igbo ndị ọzọ ị gaghị echefu echefu maka mwelite ha welitere asụsụ Igbo". BBC Igbo (in Igbo)...
Southern Nigerian Igbo community and its experience with Western colonialism. Chikwenye Okonjo Ogunyemi criticises Nigerian literature for its exclusion...
taking place in the Nigerian film industry, be it in English, Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Itsekiri, Edo, Efik, Ijaw, Urhobo, Ibibio, Annang or any other of the over...
The Ngwa people (natively: Nde Ṅgwà IPA: [ŋɡʷa]) are an Igbo group living in the southern part of Igboland. The Ngwa people are found predominantly in...
Onitsha Market Literature refers to a number of pamphlets, books and other publications sold at the Onitsha Market in Nigeria in the 1950s and 1960s. Much...
music, Were music, Ogene, Fuji, Jùjú, Afrobeat, Afrobeats, Igbo highlife, Afro-juju, Waka, Igbo rap, Gospel, and Yo-pop. Styles of folk music are related...
literature is the literature by people from formerly colonized countries, originating from all continents except Antarctica. Postcolonial literature often...
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