Isu people
Encyclopedia
The Isu people are a subgroup of the Igbo people
of southeast Nigeria
.
In the pre-colonial era, the Igbo people were protected from external invasion by the dense forests of the region, which also had the effect of encouraging diversity. Thus as warriors the neighboring Owerri people looked down on the Isu people, who were traders.
Isuama is the name given to the south-central part of Igboland
, which was a major source of slaves during the period of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
The name has been carried across the Atlantic, where it is found in the name of Cuban society Carabali Isuama.
This name pays homage to the group's ancestry in the Isuama area of Igboland
to the north of the Kalabari
Ijaw people.
At one time the Isuama language was spoken in Cuba, but eventually it and other Cross River
languages was displaced by the standard Abakua
language caled Brikamo.
An 1875 missionary report described Isuama as the leading dialect of the Igbo people.
As of September 2010 the traditional ruler of Amandugba
, in the north of Isu
Local Government Area of Imo State
was Eze Innocent Ikejiofor. That month he asked his kinsmen in the USA to support the reelection bid of Governor Ikedi Ohakim
in the elections due in April 2011.
Some of the Isu people live on the Nwangele
Local Government Area.
Their community holds the annual Igba-nta celebration, a tourist attraction.
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
of southeast Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
.
In the pre-colonial era, the Igbo people were protected from external invasion by the dense forests of the region, which also had the effect of encouraging diversity. Thus as warriors the neighboring Owerri people looked down on the Isu people, who were traders.
Isuama is the name given to the south-central part of Igboland
Igboland
Igboland, or Igbo land , also known as the Ibo, Ebo, and Heebo Country, is a cultural region in Nigeria that includes the indigenous territory and cultural reach of the Igbo people...
, which was a major source of slaves during the period of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
The name has been carried across the Atlantic, where it is found in the name of Cuban society Carabali Isuama.
This name pays homage to the group's ancestry in the Isuama area of Igboland
Igboland
Igboland, or Igbo land , also known as the Ibo, Ebo, and Heebo Country, is a cultural region in Nigeria that includes the indigenous territory and cultural reach of the Igbo people...
to the north of the Kalabari
Kalabari
The Kalabari are a tribe of the Ijaw people living in the western Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Originally, they were known as the Awome. The name Kalabari was derived from their ancestor PEREBO KALABARI who was a son of MEIN OWEI. Their original settlement was spelt as Calabar by the Portguese...
Ijaw people.
At one time the Isuama language was spoken in Cuba, but eventually it and other Cross River
Cross River (Nigeria)
Cross River is the main river in southeastern Nigeria and gives its name to Cross River State.It originates in Cameroon, where it takes the name of the Manyu River....
languages was displaced by the standard Abakua
Abakuá
Abakua or Abakuá is an Afro-Cuban men's initiatory fraternity, or secret society, which originated from fraternal associations in the Cross River region of southeastern Nigeria and southwestern Cameroon...
language caled Brikamo.
An 1875 missionary report described Isuama as the leading dialect of the Igbo people.
As of September 2010 the traditional ruler of Amandugba
Amandugba
Amandugba is a town in the Isu Local Government Area in Imo State, Nigeria.The community is inhabited by Isu people, a subgroup of the Igbo people.In Amauzari tradition, the town is named after Ndugba, child of Mbama Onyeukwu....
, in the north of Isu
Isu, Nigeria
Isu is a local government area in the Imo State of Nigeria.Its headquarters are in the town of Umundugba. Other communities are Amandugba, Ekwe, Isunjaba, Amurie Omanze, Ebenator Ekwe and Oboro Amurie....
Local Government Area of Imo State
Imo State
Imo State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria and lies to the south of Nigeria with Owerri as its capital and largest city.-History:Imo State came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad, having been...
was Eze Innocent Ikejiofor. That month he asked his kinsmen in the USA to support the reelection bid of Governor Ikedi Ohakim
Ikedi Ohakim
Ikedi Ohakim is a Nigerian businessman who became governor of Imo State in the Niger Delta region in May 2007, standing for the Progressive Peoples Alliance .He later switched to the People's Democratic Party .-Background:...
in the elections due in April 2011.
Some of the Isu people live on the Nwangele
Nwangele
Nwangele is a Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Amaigbo.It has an area of 63 km² and a population of 128,472 as of the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 471....
Local Government Area.
Their community holds the annual Igba-nta celebration, a tourist attraction.