Premiere Issue of "Igbo Kwenu" Magazine

[Onyiiboy]

Igbo Kwenu! E-Zine Rediscovery Issue November 2007 In this issue :: The Spilling Effect :: News :: History :: Commentary by Madarocka Igbo Kwenu!   is an organization aimed to bridge the increasing cultural divide between Igbo people in Nigeria and Igbo people in the African Diasopra by addressing these issues through a monthly publication, a creative cultural exchange program, presentations and research projects.
The Spilling Effect By Chioma "Journey Woman" Oruh I am: Igbo blood flowing round my heart...giving it life. I was: Unloaded onto the United States of America. Spilled into Washington, DC (Chocolate City Baby!): Brown bodies moving to the beat of metropolitan rhythm mistaken for long forgotten drum sounds that called ancestors on full moon celebrations past.  Ok...a stretch - another dash into the long hallyway of poetic explanations of post-slavery black America.  I knock on the dead bolted doors of youthful ears to share my arrival as a benefit and not a threat to the favorite position in old massah's eyes. To read the full piece, follow the link: The Spilling Effect Nigeria hit by new oil pipeline attack 15 Nov 2007 12:29:07 GMT Source: Reuters ABUJA, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Unknown attackers blew up a Nigerian crude oil pipeline on Thursday, extending a month-old resurgence of violence against Africa's top oil producer and dashing hopes for a government peace drive. The pipeline attack at Royal Dutch Shell's (RDS) Forcados oil terminal was a setback to the company's efforts to restore output from the Niger Delta crippled by an earlier wave of militancy in 2006. This article was complied by Chika Ezeanyi To read the complete article, follow this link: Oil Pipeline Attack Also, in this issue: Hundreds of Nigerian Robbers Shot	Igbo History By Akobundu Anyiwo and Onyemobi Anyiwo Early history Though not a lot has been written about the history of the Igbo people, it is in fact very rich. The Igbo people have lived in Southeastern Nigeria for thousands of years. According to Igbo mythology, Chukwu, the high God of the Igbos, sent down the Igbo grand ancestor, Eri, and his wife Nnmaku in the area now known as Nri, where most Igbos claim ancestry from. Similar myths of creation can be found amongst both the Bini and Yoruba people who are neighbors of the Igbos. While most Igbos do not believe in this story literally, a significant portion do believe that a man named Eri existed and that he is the father of the core Igbo that inhabit the area surrounding Nri of Northern Igboland today. Traces of ancient Igbo civilization have been found at the location known as Igbo-Ukwu the center of Nri influence. The area, which is one of the most famous archeological sites in Africa, includes artifacts (including famous bronze castings) that date back to roughly 900 A.D, which was the start of the Nri kingdom making it the oldest kingdom of Nigeria. The bronze castings even predate Ife by roughly 300-400 years and the ones in Benin by about 700 years yet you may not have heard of the Nri kingdom and Igbo Ukwu. The Nri kingdom was a center of spirituality, learning, and commerce. They were agents of peace and harmony whose influence stretched beyond Igboland and their neighbors (especially Igalaland and Benin kingdom). Since they did not own slaves and were against slavery, their downturn was at slave trade's rise in Igboland. Another significant Northern Igbo town is Agbaja between Awka and Enugu, which is known for their ironwork, pyramids, etc. To read the complete article, follow this link: Igbo History Commentary by Madarocka Truth through the eyese of the Afrikan Queen of Hip Hop There is an old adage that states "One needs to know where he is from to know where he is headed." As I apply that saying to my own life as an Igbo American, I must thank God now that I KNOW where I am from. However as a child growing up in America I did not always feel that way. That's thanks to society. I can literally say my parents "took the village" to America. So, I guess it's just as true about the village what is said about the hood. "You can take a child out the"...well we know the rest. I am number seven in a large family of ten of whom my parents migrated here in the sixties. Along came my Dad, then several of his siblings and their family and my Mom and most of her entire clan as well. I never remembered a time being without family, plus the Igbo community who also migrated to the DC Metropolitan area in search of new opportunity. I rather remember being in an American church half filled with our Igbo community, going to and participating in festivals like Nwannedinamba, often summer weddings, celebration and thanksgiving parties and the likes. However, with this taking place we practically lived in a bubble. It was not until I went to school at age five that I began my exposure to American society... To read the complete article visit: Commentary by Madarocka
Thank your taking the time to read through the first Igbo Kwenu! e-zine.  We would appreciate any and all feedback to know what you think of this endeavor.  Also, if you are interested in writing for Igbo Kwenu!  please contact Chioma Oruh at chioma@journeywomanchi.com.   In solidarity,   Chioma Editor-in-chief