ISUIKWUATO: PROMOTION OF TOURISM THROUGH ORAL LITERATURE: The Proverb

 

Mbo: Isuikwuato name for tortoise 

Mbo su la yomaaru loogu German obialu yokwaru okpu igwo loogo:

(Isuikwuato Dialect)

Mbe si naya mara n’ogu German ga-alu yakwara okpu igwe no’ge:

(General Igbo translation)

The Tortise said that he envisaged the German war and got equipped with steel helmet:

(English translation)

Explanation of the Proverb

With the exception of punitive expeditions organized by the British Colonial administration on some dissidents and uncompromising tribal groups during their advent in Nigeria, Isuikwuato people: Ndi-Isuikwuato or the Nwanneukwus, knew very little about war organized and fought in such a massive scale as the World War II.

The World War II till date is often referred to by the Nwanneukwus as the “Hitler or German War”.

History (as told mostly by the locals) has it that during the period of the War (World War II), many Nigerians and indeed several Igbos, and in particular Ndi Isuikwuato were recruited to fight on the side of the allies, under the aegis of the British Colonial government.

The referenced proverb: Mbo su la yomaaru loogu German obialu yokwaru okpu igwo loogo serves as reminder to Ndi Isuikwuato, the Nwanneukwus, of the exigencies of that War.

The major issue is the introduction of sophisticated weapons like:

• Tanks,
• Armoured cars,
• Bombs
• Machine guns and
• Automatic rifles

The weapons as introduced in this narrative is to draw attention or rather provide a direct clue or illustration that signals not only the importance but equally the purpose of the referenced steel or iron helmet (Okpu igwo) used in the proverb.

The purpose of the steel or iron helmet (Okpu igwo), was to protect the soldiers from the bullet piercing through their head.

Nnabugwu Chizoba