The Eri creation myths of the Igbos holds that Chukwu-Okike sent down Eri and his wife Nnamaku down a ladder from the sky. He landed near the current town of Agulu Eri. From them came the sacred ancestors who founded the Igbos, Edos, Igalas, Yorubas, Junkuns, Hausas, and the rest of humanity.
According to other schools of thought, the origin of the Igbo begins with the story of the eponymous ancestor, Eri. By archeological account, in around 2345 BC in Ancient Egypt, a certain “M-Eru-ka (or Eru/Eri)” became a high priest to Pharaoh Teti.
Subsequently, as a result of dynastic tensions, M-Eru-ka let Kemit with many of his family and followers and set forth towards the south-west, where the great sea of southern Ethiopia washed the shores of Palm-tree lined beaches.
Eri as he was later called entered into the territory that was to become later day modern Nigeria. He set up many lodges across the land, wherein Kemitian Muur Sciences were studied and practised. Some elements of those sciences and wisdom still survive in mutilated forms in Nigeria of today.
In a similar vein, it has been pointed out that during the Exodus, which marked the beginning of the mass movement of the tribes of Israel, the tribe of Eri was amongst the tribe that left Egypt following the injunction from Jehova to his devotees, the Israelites (see Deuteronomy chapter 28 verses 58 – 68).
It has also been argued that some of these ancient Kemitian tribes founded settlements in the southern part of Sudan, where they established the “Nok” culture, which is similar to that of other (sun Cult) culture, like Nri, the Jukuns, and the Onaja Oboli dynasty of the Igalas, in the Northern part of Nigeria.
The main Eri group continued until the confluence of Rivers Niger and Anambara known as “Ezu-na-Omambala” and where it settled and founded the Agulu-Eri community.
Indeed, due to the calibre of its earliest founders and the sciences they set up, the network of nationalities that make up the country Nigeria, is a veritable invisible Muurish Empire about to manifest on the face of the earth.
Due to the influence of Eri and his civilization, many distinct aspects of Kemitian culture and science are found among the Igbos of Nigeria. For example, the Igbos were famous giant mound builders, constructing many structures similar to the Kemitian and Kushitic pyramides, like those that used to be at Nsude.
The religious pantheon of the Igbos and the ancient Kemitians share many similar ancestors and ancestresses many of them bearing identical names.
They shared the sun-god worship of Ra, Chukwu Ra; Kemitians were similarly fetishitic about circumcision, and menstrual periods like the Igbos. Similar hair styles, similar martial arts and self defense schools, similar social structures.
But for now, we will focus on some observed ligusitic similarities that exist between ancient Kemtian language and present day Igbo language, for many Kemitic Egyptian words yet survive in the Igbo language today. This is a current topical area of research in linguistics and history.
A small list of Ancient Egyptian words which survive in the Igbo language are as follows:
EGYPTIAN | IGBO (Onitsha and Uburu dialects used) KAKA(God) | Ka (greater, superior)
Khu (to kill, death) | Nwu/Gbu (die/to kill)
Em (smell) | Imi/Emi (nose, associated with smell)
Bi (to become) | Bu (to become)
un (living being) | Ndu (life)
Feh (to go away) | Feh (to fly away)
Budo (dwelling place) | Obodo/ubudo (country, dwelling place)
Dudu (black image of Osiris) | Mmadu (person)
Un (living person) | Ulo/Uno (living area, house)
Beka (pray/confess) | Biko/Beko (to plead, please)
Aru (mouth) | Onu (mouth) & kooh/Kwue (to speak)
Dor (settlement) | Dor-Nor (sit down, settle)
Ra -Shu (light after darkness) | La -Shu (sleep)
Aru (rise) | Anu/Kulie (up, rise)
Wu (rise) | KWu-ni/Kunie (rise)
In- n (negation) nh-n (negation)
Ma (to know) | Ma, Ma-li (to know)
Se (to create) | Ke (to create) & Se (to draw)
Hoo (rejoice) | Goo, ta-Goo (dance, rejoice)
Omijener (deep water) | Ime-me (deep inside)
Nen (the primeval water mother) | Nem (mother)
Ro (talk) | Kwo (to talk)
Penka (divide) Panje (break it)
Ala (Land of) | Ala (Land of, ground, boundary)
Amu (children) | Umu (children)
Ani (ground land below) | Ani (ground land below)
Ka (higher) | Ka (greater, higher, stronger, above)
Pa (open) | Meghee (open)
Isi (leader) | Isi (leader, head (body part), female name as in igbo: “Isioma”)
Oni (AE City) | Oni-tsha (Igbo City)
Ikhenaten (name of a Pharaoh) | Ikh-em (Igbo name for a male representing high power)
Au-nu (Crocodile) | Anu/Anu-Ma-nu (animal, beast)
Miri (water) | Miri (water)
Nahasu (other Blacks) | Ahasi/Ani-hasi (Evening, night)
Ak (man) | Ok-a (man)
Ehn/Hen (yes, nod head) | Eh (yes, nod head)
Paa/Faa (fly) | Feeh/Faa (fly)
Utcha (dawn) | Uchi-chi/Utchi-chi(night)
MM (among) | Imme (inside, among)
W (they) | Uwe (they, them)
Truly nonsense.
The Igbo have nothing to do with the rest of Nigeria, except for geographical lumping together by the British colonizers.
Don’t make readers laugh!
As an Igbo I must comment even though I rarely do.
Your comment is actually pure nonsense. The work to unearth the lost connection between proto african tribes such as the igbos, yorubas, and other west african groups will happen. Igbos have everything to do with the rest of nigeria, it is only your neo-colonial, brainwashed, PTSD mind from the Biafran war that inspires this divisive rhetoric you spew. We have to admit the british and other caucasoid groups have not only seperated us Igbos and Yorubas, and Hausas based on language and minor differences in culture; BUT they have also helped wipe out our history. We were living in harmony as people called “KWA”. This consisted of Igbos, Ibibios, Yorubas, Hausa, Fulani, etc. In ancient times we were greater as a unified people. We built the great city of Benin, mirroring the great city of Atlantis in structure and design. We had the Songhai empire, although “muslim” and most popularly associated with the Northerners in Nigeria, was also connected with South Nigeria. Trading, exchanging of information, and many more happened between the many ethinic groups.
This article is attempted to highlight the clear affinity Igbos and other “Kwa” people of Nigeria have with each other. It is an important task needed for our salvation from spiritual ignorance, cultural despair, and historical amnesia which has confused igbo people today. So confused Igbos are today that we associate ourselves with Judaism and call ourselves Israelites claiming to have genetic relation with a Jewish people who are more pale than a polar bear. Yet we cannot see the clear genetic connection we have our Hausa, Yoruba, and other african family members, shown in our facial characteristics, phenotype, language, and culture. We cannot see that because we are blinded by the hatred in our hearts, passes down from our ignorant parents who fought in the Biafran war. You don’t learn much from elders who are too scarred to give you truth!
Igbos will claim to be Jews before being related to Kemites because they have no knowledge of true African history. Any intelligent learned man of history knows the word “Jew” did not exist in ancient time, so the question that arises is, “What is a Jew?” It is a new word, only existing for less than a thousand years. The more appropriate word to call the ancient “jew” is Hebrew. The Christian igbo today who is familiar with the bible clings onto the “Igbo-Israelite theory” thinking it gives the some level of superiority over other groups. It strokes the weak ego of modern igbos, but they are slapping their profound ancestors in the face at the same time. The modern igbo seems to read the bible and not understand the bible at the same time. The word “Jew” doesn’t exist in an original biblical text. The etymological root for Hebrew studied today in scholarly comparative linguistics, have found the African links to the word origin. It is in Kemet also know as,”Egypt”.
Alice Linsley states:
“In the ancient Egyptian and Ugaritic languages the word “piru” meant house, shrine or temple. The O’piru were Sun temples. The Sun was the emblem of the Creator among the servants of the Sun temples, and these servants were called ha’piru, ‘apiru or ha’biru (Hebrew).”
The Ha’piru were priest, merchants, medicine men, farmers, masons, and warriors who worshipped the Sun god Horus, called by the Kemetic name Heru by the Africans. Make no mistake anything associated with the proto-Hebrews must be linked to the Kushitic-Kemites who raised, taught, fed, and housed them. There is no great distinction from the two groups, therefore if my Igbo brethren claims to be a descendant of Hebrews you must claim ancient Egypt as well. You must also disconnect yourselves from the Johnny come Lately European-Khazarian “Jew” who converted into Judaism in the 8th century for political reasons, and truly follow the teachings of the Talmud not the Torah. They are who Jesus described as the Pharisees in the scripture; a very violent, savage group who go about seeking to conquer and destory earth and all of her native spiritual children. DNA studies recorded in the 90’s have revealed there are no connections with the Jewish population today with any ancient Hebrew of the past. So Igbo people, be careful.
Anon, your comment drips of undiluted ignorance matched with the hubris of the clueless. Do you know Igbo history? If so, let’s hear your version scholar… go ahead we are waiting…
Jahdey
I don’t know where Anon is from but I agree with you on his ignorance. I am Igbo (from Ohafia) and I know enough of my oral history as passed on to me from my ancestral lineage via my biological father. Everything my father told me agrees with Annu’s second school of thought.
The Igbos are historically Jews, we share no similiarities with the Egypt. Africa is a continent occupied by many ethnic groups that fled from the outbreak of the desertification of the Sahara. The Igbos are Jews who fled from present day Isreal to mordern day Nigeria to settle. That is why we circumsize on the 8 day even before christianity came to our shore
Annu
I will try to find similarities for the others but for now see below:
Bi (to become) | Bu (to become) (OBE – to be or become in GANDA) & (UBE – to be or become in ZULU)
Feh (to go away) | Feh (to fly away) FA in GANDA meaning to die or implies the spirit/soul fly away to heaven.
Beka (pray/confess) | Biko/Beko (to plead, please) (BEKI-SA – to explain in a pleading manner in ZULU)
Ra -Shu (light after darkness) | La -Shu (sleep) (SU-LA – Sleep in GANDA)
Aru (rise) | Anu/Kulie (up, rise) (KULA – to grow /rise in height in GANDA & ZULU)
In- n (negation) nh-n (negation) (GAA-NA – negation or refuse in GANDA
Ma (to know) | Ma, Ma-li (to know) (MA-NYA – to know in GANDA)
Hoo (rejoice) | Goo, ta-Goo (dance, rejoice) (OOH- Sound made when showing happiness to see someone or to receive a gift in GANDA e.g. “ooh…. ndabira wa” when one receives a gift.
Ani (ground land below) | Ani (ground land below) (W-ANSI- ground land below in GANDA & ( P-ANSI – in Zulu)
Ka (higher) | Ka (greater, higher, stronger, above) KA-TONDA another name for God in GANDA meaning Creator also the KA can be seen in The Ganda King’s Title i.e. KA-BAKA Mutebi
Miri (water) | Miri (water) In Bantu langauges the word for water begins with M and ends with I e.g MMAZI, AMAADI, AMANZI, AMANTI etc
Ehn/Hen (yes, nod head) | Eh (yes, nod head) (EEE /YEE – yes in Ganda & Botswana)
Utcha (dawn) | Uchi-chi/Utchi-chi(night) (ENCHA – dawn/morning in GANDA) & (E-CHI-RO – Night in Ganda
MM (among) | Imme (inside, among) (MU – inside/within/among in GANDA)
W (they) | Uwe (they, them) (GWE –You in Ganda) (IWE – You in NKOLE)
Muwanga
Your contribution to this thread is outstanding. Keep up the networked research as we all, Annu, yourself, myself and the others here on Rasta Livewire, together re-tie and retell the true history, linguistics and sociology of (African) Muurish people.
We are telling our story, ourselves!
More fire, more power!
Jahdey
Amandla jadey
I would like to correct i.e. water
Mmazi , Maadi, Manti, Manzi, Metsi,Maji etc.
Cheers
I can Confirm the Bantu tribes using M to begin the word water. The Basaa in Cameroon for example use the word “Malep” or “Malip” to mean water. Other Sawa groups in Cameroon do same e.g. Manyep (Bayangi – Cameroon) or Madiba (Douala – Cameroon).
Interesting though how in West Africa it changes to Nsio (Akan – Ghana), Ayep (Ejagham – Cameroon), Echi (Ewe – Togo, Ghana, Benin)
Please define Muurish and why you call people from Egypt/Khemet Muurish.. thanks.
this sounds more like yoruba. maybe they left Egypt more recently.