This brief account will enable the reader to appreciate the publications on Isuikwuato Proverbs, coming very soon on this Platform. It helps to create a strong link between the reader, the proverbs and the prevailing circumstances in and around Isuikwuato that gave rise to the proverbs.
Isuikwuato from the ages past has always been blessed with men and women of high IQ, and for this reason Ndi-Isuikwuato or the people of Isuikwuato, is known by the other parts of Igbo land as people who will never speak unintelligently.
Your attention, dear esteemed reader, is drawn quickly to the fact that in the olden days, recordkeeping and documentation, in the western way were not only alien but totally strange to the locals, Ndi-Isuikwuato inclusive. Recordkeeping and documentation of events, good or bad, in particular the intangible heritage of the people were done through oral literature, such as: wise sayings, folklores, dance and songs, myths, legends, idioms and proverbs, which occupied very prominent place and position in the society. They served the purpose of preservation and transmission of stored messages: events, from person to person and from generation to generation.
Similar to the above, is the names that Ndi-Isuikwuato
bear, and gave to friends and loved ones. In most cases, the names are tied to or
reflect events, situations and circumstances that occurred in around the family
or close relations and friends. Permit me therefore to say that proverbs constitute
one of the means or methods that the people of old, Ndi-Isuikwuato inclusive, adopt
for their recordkeeping and documentation of events, encounters and other situations
of interest and concern to the people.
Isuikwuato, was formally a district in Isuikwuato/Okigwe
Local Government Area of the old Imo State. However, Isuikwuato is presently one
of the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Abia State. Abia state and
Isuikwuato LGA were created in 1991. Isuikwuato is about 80 Kilometers South of
Enugu, and about the same distance (80 Kilometers) North from Aba. One will not
be wrong therefore, to situate that Isuikwuato is at the heart of Igbo Land. It
is most probably, in view of the location of Isuikwuato that many people believe
that it is not uncommon that Ndi-Isuikwuato should come in contact with various
Igbo people and their traditions and cultures; and her traditions influenced.
This appears to be the origin of the insinuation and often held notion in some
quarters, that the culture of Isuikwuato is more or less an admixture of
cultures and traditions of various Igbo people.
Taking cognizance of the above, considering also the
topic of discussion and marrying both together, it is becoming clearer and easier
for the reader to see the link that is created as to why Isuikwuato is very rich
with proverbs, but more with historical proverbs that refer to various parts of
Igbo land and their people. Some people, not Isuikwuato sons and daughters
(indigenes) anyway, claim that the proverbs of Isuikwuato, more often than not
refer to other people. These claimants easily refer to the Proverbs of
Isuikwuato that point to the Aros or Arochukwu people to justify their claim. Those
who do not concede to this line of thinking, argue that the proximity of
Isuikwuato, to that historical town (Aro) is responsible for the reference to
the Aros by Ndi-Isuikwuato in their proverb. Another argument raised is the
dominance of the Aros in trade, politics and religion in the Niger Delta area
in the 19th century.
The
whole thing is becoming more interesting, I guess. Keep reading
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