Igbo – The Sụpụ Project

Gee ntị, Ghọta!

I lived in Enugu for about 3 years as a child. This had a huge impact on my Igbo Language acquisition.

Kindergarten back in 1990 was daunting, I was nicknamed, ‘onye ọcha nna ya dị oji’ because of my presumed ‘oyiboness’, speaking a lot of English and coming from Lagos. Of course I was picked on.

Naturally I was made class varnacular prefect in a school where Igbo was predominantly spoken and o, what joy for my teacher having a ‘nwa bekee’ in her class. I cringe today at the thought of my ‘prefectship’ duties.

To fit in, I had to adjust….. ozigbo ozigbo! I could speak Igbo, but I needed to be more confident speaking it outside and to other kids.

University Primary School, Enugu in those days used to have the kids read the news in Igbo Language during Friday assembly. This meant a few children were picked every week to read snippets of Igbo news. As much as I dreaded being selected, I needed to be prepared. Bịa lee nụ m (come see me), listening to EBS news every evening to pick up new words. I could read Igbo from an early age, so I had to up my reading of Igbo newspapers as well.

The dreaded day came, when my name was selected…. ‘Ala kpughere’ (the ground opened) that day. However my weeks of listening to and reading Igbo news payed off.

I can vaguely remember reading something like:

‘N’ụbọchị Satọdee nke gara aga, ọ nwere otu nwoke a na-akpọ maazị Nduka bi n’okporo ụzọ Trans Ekulu. Ndị uwe ojii akpata la ya n’ihi na ọ were ogologo ntu kụọ nwa ya nwoke n’isi…. ‘

And the rest is history.

One can never unserestimate the power of LISTENING during language learning. It’s a skill that must be obtained to be successful in acquiring a new language. Might I say that there will always be the tendency to get thrown off by the speed of native speakers. To counter this shock, for Igbo Language learners, listen to Igbo on the radio, podcasts, listen in on intentional Igbo heavy conversations, watch ‘reasonable’ Igbo Language skits…..

Your listening skill is your power. Develop it, then engage.

Ngwa nụ…. Ka ọ dị mgbe ọzọ!

By The Supu project

2024-09-06 20:20:29

E ji Igbo Eme Gịnị?

Ndeewo!

The first time I heard the question, ‘e ji Igbo eme gịnị?’ (meaning “of what significance is learning Igbo?”), I was taken aback. I had started teaching Igbo Language as a hobby, doing it for free.

Months later, in order to compensate for the time and effort I spent developing materials and pouring my heart into it, I put a price on the hobby.

Naturally, many of my learners stopped attending the sessions. Many stayed with me and still remain. It was on one of those occasions, whilst trying to convince a parent to let their child continue, that the audacious question was spat out:

“E ji Igbo nwa eme gịnị?”

I learned Igbo as a child. I just did. I had no choice in the matter. I was two. My grandmother, mama nnukwu, spoke Igbo to me and I picked it up and chewed it, swallowed it and after digesting it, I spat it out with so much gusto that my English Language today is mingled with Igbo.

Igbo m ji awa anya… (Igbo with which I am clever)

Igbo m ji akpa nkata… (Igbo with which I converse)

Igbo m ji akpata ego… (Igbo with which I earn)

Igbo m ji azụ ụmụ m… (Igbo with which I train my kids)

Igbo m ji etu ọnụ… (Igbo with which I brag)

Igbo m ji ekesa ozi omenaala anyị… (Igbo with which I tell of our culture)

Igbo m ji bụrụ mmadụ! (Igbo with which I am a person of honor)

I cannot remember life without Igbo; it has become a part of me and me of it. So when a question like ‘e ji Igbo eme gịnị?’ is asked, I can only respond by saying — what significance is it not?

In my case, learning Igbo was a privilege I received from birth — it has become my identity. To the parent that asked the question, I answered:

“This is your child’s opportunity to develop a relationship with their culture — first through language. It’ll help them develop their confidence. If you allow them to master the intricacies of learning a second language, especially a tonal one like Igbo, what challenge can they not overcome?”

Chetakwa na ezigbo akaọlụ na oke amamihe ka eji mara ndi Igbo. (Remember the Igbos have a reputation for good work and wisdom.)

Need I say more?

E ji Igbo enweta onwe!