Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube video of a contemporary Igbo (Nigeria) traditional dance group: Ofu Obi Cultural Group.
This post also highlights selected comments about homosexuality and comments about other perceptions of contemporary Igbo culture from that at video's discussion thread.
The Addendum to this post documents comments about adding Western musical instruments and dance steps to traditional Igbo music.
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The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to this showcased group, thanks to all those who are quoted in this post, and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
-snip-
UPDATE: June 22, 2018 11:04 PM- I added the label "race and racism" to this and other pancocojams posts about Trump's policy of separating immigrant children from their parents/caretakers. I've done so to highlight that I and many others believe that these children's race/ethnicity is one of the significant factors of this policy.
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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
As a reminder, I consider certain comments from online discussion threads to be worthy of archiving and sharing because they document some of the opinions, attitudes, perceptions, and/or customs of a particular society or population.
This compilation isn't meant to imply that these comments are widespread in that society. Also, these comments aren't meant to represent my opinions, attitudes, and/or perceptions about this subject.
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SHOWCASE VIDEO: TOP 10 IGBO CULTURAL DANCE. (OFUOBI CULTURAL DANCE GROUP UDI 2)
UGWUMBA TV, Published on Jun 29, 2017
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SELECTED COMMENTS (with numbers added for referencing purposes only)
1. Ebi Opuengu, 2017
"Are you sure these men are not gay?"
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REPLY
2. Agus, 2017
"So what? Most importantly they are humans."
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REPLY
3. John O, 2017
"Ebi Opuengu don't mind them, our Igbo people always want to copy other cultures. I hate obama for bringing this gay sh&t* to Africa"
-snip-
This word is fully spelled out in this comment.
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REPLY
4. chidi micheal, 2017
"what's ur business whom they are? enemies of good things. leave them and their lives. are u God? Mr. judge"
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REPLY
5. Uche, 2017
"John O sorry? What? Obama brought homosexuality to Africa? Biko come and go...homosexuality was is Africa long before Obama was even born. And you will proudly sit there and say that America has so much influence that their former president affected a whole entire continent. Bye"
-snip-
"Obama" here undoubtedly refers to former United States President Barack Obama.
According to http://naijalingo.com/words/b/alphabet "biko" is an Igbo word meaning "please".
My guess is that "Biko come and go" is a Nigerian (Igbo?) saying that means something like "Things that were once standard/acceptable change over time." [Corrections are welcome.]
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REPLY
6. John O, 2017
"Uche but it’s true that if not for Obama you will not support homosexuality. It’s true."
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REPLY
7. John O, 2017
"Uche please don't copy white people in everything please, they are savages."
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REPLY
Uche, 2017
"John O that is the dumbest thing I've heard all day. Like honestly, you should really try to get out more and not base all your facts from facebook posts"
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REPLY
8. John O, 2017
"Uche I don't have Facebook nne"
-snip-
"nne"= Igbo word meaning "sister"
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9. John O, 2017
"Uche homosexuality is not in our culture nne."
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REPLY
10. olamide orelesi, 2017
"John O my friend please... you’re not thinking straight because homosexuality was in Africa way before Obama even was born. You’re a bad representation of Igbo. You’re making your people look as if they don’t know anything. Obama hasn’t preached anything to Igbo people . He was the president of AMERICA not Nigeria. Focus on the corruption that’s going on there now. You’re worrying about a FORMER president like is it by force ? Come on.. you’re supposed to be a Christian and yet you’re saying death to people who have done nothing to you ? Where did you get the information that England will be Islamic? And even so is that ur wahala ? Come on... this is sad you’re not representing us well at all
-snip-
from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wahala_(Yoruba)
"Wahala" pronounced (wa-ha-la) is the meaning of (Trouble) or (problem) used by the Yoruba tribe and commonly used throughout Nigeria.
Etymology : A word common in the Yoruba Language of Nigeria."
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REPLY
11. John O, 2017
"olamide orelesi are you even igbo? If you are can you tell me the word for homosexuality in igbo? How can homosexuality be igbo culture when there is no word for it. There is even a word for it in hausa but not igbo. Why do my people like copying white people soo much? Especially our women. That's why you ladies marry outside ethnicity more that us men. We got to preserve what our ancestors gave us we loosing our language too. I bet you don't speak igbo. Igbo women self with that all your beauties you don't know how to preserve a culture."
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REPLY
12. Uche, 2017
"John O it's EVERYWHERE! Please stop making igbo people look bad and uneducated on social media. Don't believe me? Look it up.. homosexuality was in Africa way before the USA was factor"
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REPLY
13. olamide orelesi, 2017
"John O okay I am half Igbo please don’t let my name confuse you. And I didn’t say homosexuality was in the IGBO CULTURE I said it’s in AFRICA . And the funny thing you don’t even know if they’re gay. Like at all. They might just be really sassy or into it. So now you’re just assuming things because someone said something. As a Christian we shouldn’t judge."
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REPLY
14. Uche, 2017
"Anyways, you don't even know if these guys are even gay sef"
-snip-
From http://www.ngex.com/personalities/babawilly/dictionary/pidgins.htm Nigerian Pidgin English Dictionary
"Sef: 1. In particular e.g. You sef. 2. Placed at end of question when irritated or impatient e.g. Wetin sef?"
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REPLY
15. John O, 2017
"Uche tell me the one word for homosexuality in igbo. There is none. The best you get to literal translation is "men sleeping with men". Why are you attacking me go ask our elders if we practiced this nonsense back in the day. You igbo women get is in trouble especially when yall marry outside our ethnic group."
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REPLY
16. John O, 2017
"olamide orelesi just leave the protection, security, and preservation of our culture, homeland, and people to us igbo men. Your role is to be our good wives have our babies help us to build igboland and not betray us. Simple
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REPLY
17. John O, 2017
"Uche i bet you've never been to igboland."
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REPLY
18. Uche, 2017
"John O of course I have. Have you been out of Nigeria? Anyways, may God bless you and deliver you from stupidity IJN. AMEN."
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19. olamide orelesi, 2017
"John O lmao you’re a fool honestly. I was not made to make babies for a man. I’m made for greatness. My purpose is to serve a man. You’re so stuck in ur ways you’re not even thinking correct like come on. I am going to be a pediatric surgeon by the grace of God so please understand that only a weak man looks for a submissive woman . You can’t handle a real woman who can think for herself. Please go read some books. Simple"
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REPLY
20. John O, 2017
"Uche I live in Texas and I know that we are loosing our culture and language we don't need to add degenerate things to it nne Biko."
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REPLY
21. John O, 2017
"olamide orelesi yes you are going to be a pediatric surgeon in jesus amen. But you will be a wife for a igbo man and you will have kids for him and you will be submissive to him. And he will love you. How hard is that? Why do people choose to make live so complicated. Igbo culture is patriarchy."
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REPLY
22. olamide orelesi, 2017
"John O if it is God’s will for me to marry an Igbo man than so be it but we will work together and have a good marriage . You’re probably one of those men who will beat their wife 🤦🏾♀️"
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REPLY
23. John O
"olamide orelesi i have 2 sisters and a mom. I will never do that to women."
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REPLY
24. nwa mama, 2017
"Patriarchy is detrimental to the Igbo race. Matriarchy is better all around. Africa use to be matriarchal before Islam and Christianity came to ruin it. Patriarchy comes with rape, pillage, subjugation, psychological problems etc."
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REPLY
25. John O, 2017
"nwa mama give me prove of this or go back to the kitchen. Igbos was never Islamic. Our culture is patriarchy"
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REPLY
26. Blvck Pantheress, 2017
"HOMOSEXUALITY is a learned behaviour and a choice. It has never existed in Africa, as you can see there is no native word for homosexuality."
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REPLY
27. Kik LeBraVo HOOZY, 2018
"😂😂😂😂:
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REPLY
28. Ikukundu, 2018
"Ebi Opuengu never say such in igbo land. Our men are perfectionists in everything they do that's why you think theyre gay because they do it so well. No theyre not . Thats western"
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REPLY
29. Grace Thames, 2018
"You seem to be replying a Yoruba woman. OLAMIDE is Yorubaa"
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REPLY
30. John O, 2018
"Grace Thames yea, why are yorubas in every Igbo videos?"
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REPLY
31. Jensenbaby, 2018
"Ebi Opuengu stupid irrational comment. It is a particular kind of dance, hence the costume and dance. It has nothing to do with sexuality. Your mind is perverted."
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32. John O, 2017
"why do some of them look gay I do t lime that."
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REPLY
33. Agus, 2017
"Look, act, are, so what? They are humans like you and me."
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REPLY
34. nnennem, 2017
"They can look however they want thanks. Keep on stepping, you must be gay too, it takes one to know one."
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REPLY
35. chidi micheal
"+John O
I love their dance. it is not easy"
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REPLY
36. chidi micheal
"John John O, does it mean there is no gay in Africa or precise Nigeria? Jesus Christ came for the sinners not the righteous.
What those guys displaying is part of female dance and u can't dance it without twisting ur West like female. sometimes males can dance it better than females. But, professional females dance it best.
in Igbo land Imo, Abia, Rivers, Anambra, Ebony, etc have different ways of cultural dance. In IMO, each village have different ways of dancing too. such as Bungo, Atiluokwu, etc. i can't point hands on them if they are gay or not. even if they are. is not my business. gay exist everywhere. is a choice or life style people found themselves. allow God to judge. in the God's site, they may be better than u. learn how to accommodate people, no human is perfect. we all pray to God to lead urs and have Marcy on us regardless of our ups and downs. I love their Igbo dance. Igbos are unique in all ramifications. even they are been marginalized, humiliated and suppressed. But one thing some people don't understand is that u can't hide light. that is why Igbos need independent to show the world what they have. I believe God it shall come to pass someday. all hail Biafra. I love Biafrans. John is an English name and o stand for what? are u really an Igbo Guy? than display ur really name. if u are, then who made a judge over ur people. a real man doesn't cast a stone in his family. God forbid, I can't castigate my real Biafrans (Igbo) brothers and sisters in a public. it is a taboo. examine urself john"
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REPLY
37. Jessy Amazing, 2017
"John O please guys stop this I know this group dancers they from my village they are not gal they are just dancers"
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REPLY
38. luke god, 2018
"john 0. how do you look ? does their look affects their career? you are a dream killer if you dont like the dancers and their music."
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REPLY
39. luke god, 2018
"even if they are gay is no one business cos i know they never ask anyone for gay sex"
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REPLY
40. luke god, 2018
"whats your business with gays answer me?"
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REPLY
41. John O, 2018
"luke god bia nwokem calm down. Igbo remains Igbo no matter what you say."
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42. coco sandy, 2017
"In simple English can someone tell me y this men look like women?"
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REPLY
43. Jessy Amazing, 2017
"coco sandy because there are dancers"
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REPLY
44. John O, 2018
"coco sandy exactly"
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REPLY
45. Eli Ash, 2018
"Because the dance is supposed to make them look like girls, but dance like men"
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REPLY
46. Yaa Moremi Queen, 2018
"coco sandy how"
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REPLY
47. Lord of Lords, 2018
"coco sandy , because, you have to be beautiful in order to attract people while you dance skillfully like a man which you are."
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48. SylviasWorld, 2017
"I enjoyed this but I've noticed a lot of Igbo male dancers are quite feminine or 'camp' and these ones especially the first of the ones in blue (30.25)even have lipstick on. Why is this? I'm Igbo myself but I've recently noticed this."
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REPLY
49. nnennem, 2017
"SylviasWorld then you don't know your culture at all. I ma igbo asu, ka m jugodi ajuju"
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50. SylviasWorld, 2017
"nnennem what is cultural about men in Igboland wearing lipstick or being effeminate? Since you claim I don't know my culture then you can explain. Its a handful of effeminate guys here, the rest are not and all the same it's a great dance.The only time I am aware of Igbo men purposely presenting as women us with Adamma masquerade."
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REPLY
51. simplyuneeke, 2018
"Thats because you are viewing it from an European aspect. Dance is art, there is no masculine or feminine in the igbo dance steps or attire. When we decided to dance this way we didnt say this makes you feminine so dance this way no, every igbo man or woman dance with their whole body including waist and dress same if not similar when dancing."
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REPLY
52. Eva Odum, 2018
"Since I was a kid seeing effeminate men as well a masculine men dancing beautifully has always been a cultural thing."
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53. ifeoma okonkwo, 2018
"Wait why are dey on lipstick and eyeshadow"
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54. kizzylegend michael, 2018
"i love our space teeth nd smiling when danceing
maybe dats y people says dat der are gay"
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55. kizzylegend michael, 2018
"igbo boys re too cute even without makeups"
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56. luke god, 2018
"so much energy on this boys love the dance so much for those that complain about lips stick or feminine do not watch them if you dont like them they do what they know how to do so keep your comments if you dont know what to say thanks very much UDI cultural dance."
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ADDENDUM
I also found the comments about the inclusion of Western musical instruments and/or dance steps in this performance to be interesting.
Here are all of the comments [as of this date] about those subjects from that same discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes)
1. Douglas Nosike Ibekeme, 2017
"I hate it when typical igbo songs are played with piano or guitar. It irritates me to the highest. Let's keep it raw like it used to be.
I love our culture."
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REPLY
2. ifeoma okonkwo, 2018
"Douglas Nosike Ibekeme me too, it's takes away the originality"
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3. sodiari ubani, 2017
"14:14 When you mix modern dance into your cultural one ( Guy with the blue head band to the left)"
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4. rotawo, 2018
"well his a dancer, thats his job, he probably does hiphop on the side"
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REPLY
5. sodiari ubani, 2018
"yep, and that's why he is lit.
-snip-
“lit” = African American Vernacular English word meaning "very good"
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E O, 2018, 2018
"Lol the piano sounds so bad with the music"
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3Ebere Eze, 2018
"If the igbo people can produce ngelenge which is from a tree found in igbo land, all igbo children will be happy. Stop using gitar, IT is not part of igbo culture."
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