(Identifying Igbo Variants During the Era of the Slave Trade)

By
Ishaq D. Al-Sulaimani
Vernon (Alufiel) Grier, Ed.D
INTRODUCTION

It is universally recognized that Igbo is the correct spelling of the tribe that currently comprises the majority of the inhabitants of south-eastern Nigeria and of whom are readily associated with the Biafran revolution, however during the time of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade the”Igbo Nation “ was divided into a number of sub-tribe variant
identities which were most commonly expressed in the Egbo,Egba Ebo and Ibo forms.

The purpose of this writing is to promote the understanding that the majority of the captives taken from Africa for enslavement in the Americas were of Igbo origins by identifying the role of the sub-tribe variants during the slave trade and their recognized status as being part of a once greater and more inclusive Igbo identity. Continue reading →