World

Igbo people of Jamaica occupy a place of significance in the Caribbean country

Monday, October 28, 2019 at 2:04 PM by Joseph Omotayo

- There is huge community of the Igbos in Jamaica as a result of the Transatlantic Slave Trade

- As soon as the slave trade was abolished, they had already become an integral part of the Jamaican society

- The Igbo ways and norms also bear huge influences on the culture of the Jamaican people

The “red Ibo” or “red eboe” is a word used to refer to Igbo slaves in Jamaica basically because of their light skin complexion.

1. How they came into the country

It should be noted that between the 1790 and 1809 when the Slave Trade Act was abolished, the country witnessed a huge throng of Ibos.

2. The role of Jamaica as a place during slave trade

According to Wikipedia, the Igbos formed a huge proportion of enslaved people in Jamaica. A huge part of those that were taken from Nigeria landed first in Jamaica.

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3. Where they mostly are

Another thing that should be known is that the Igbos in the country are mostly in the northwestern section of the island.

4. Where the Ibos were taken from

The Igbos were taken from a place in Nigerian that was formerly known as the Bight of Biafra, where Bonny and Calabar formed the two main port town in Nigeria.

5. How they influenced the Jamaican culture

A huge part of the Jamaican culture has been influenced by the Igbo culture and some other African norms like Yoruba. A perfect example is the Igbo word “mba” which means “yam root” influenced the name of a type of yam in Jamaica called “himba”.

Other examples are:

Unu - You people

Ima osu (Jamaica) Imu oso (Igbo) - to hiss by sucki*g your teeth

Akara (Jamaica) Akàrà (Igbo/Yoruba) - bean cake

Soso (Jamaica) Sọsọ (Igbo) - only

The Igbo people taken from a place that was formerly known as the Bight of Biafra. Photo sources: Guardian/Wikipedia
Source: UGC

Igbo slaves are also known for committing suicides, a move they believe would take their spirits back to their homeland. With this, most slave owners keep away from trading them.