Comments About Igbo Culture From The YouTube Discussion Thread For Jidenna - "Chief Don't Run"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series on Nigerian American rapper Jideena's song/video "Chief Don't Run". Part II showcases the official video of "Chief Don't Run".

Part II also provides some information about Igbos and presents some of the comments from that video's discussion thread which refer to Igbo (Nigerian) culture or are from Igbo people or are from other people from the continent of Africa.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/06/jidenna-chief-dont-run-information.html for Part I of this series. Part I provides information about Jideena and showcases the official YouTube video of his 2016 song "Chief Don't Run". The lyrics for that track are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Jideena for his musical legacy. Thanks to all those who are associated with this showcase video and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
-snip-
WARNING: Some scenes from Jideena's official 2016 video "Chief Don't Run" show Jideena and another Black man being arrested by the police. These scenes are very similar to the tragic deaths of Eric Garner and George Floyd. Consequently, these scenes may trigger some viewers.

RIP to Eric Garner, George Floyd, Breoona Taylor, and all others who have dead as a result of police brutality.

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SOME INFORMATION ABOUT IGBOS
Excerpt #1
"The Igbo people ... also spelled Ibo[7][8] and formerly also Iboe, Ebo, Eboe,[9] Eboans,[10] Heebo;[11] natively Ṇ́dị́ Ìgbò [ìɡ͡bò]... are an ethnic group native to the present-day south-central and southeastern Nigeria...[12] Geographically, the Igbo homeland is divided into two unequal sections by the Niger River – an eastern (which is the larger of the two) and a western section.[13][14] The Igbo people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa.[15]

[...]

Before British colonial rule in the 20th century, the Igbo were a politically fragmented group, with a number of centralized chiefdoms such as Nri, Aro Confederacy, Agbor and Onitsha.[19] Frederick Lugard introduced the Eze system of "Warrant Chiefs".[20] Unaffected by the Fulani War and the resulting spread of Islam in Nigeria in the 19th century, they became overwhelmingly Christian under colonization. In the wake of decolonisation, the Igbo developed a strong sense of ethnic identity.[18] During the Nigerian Civil War of 1967–1970 the Igbo territories seceded as the short-lived Republic of Biafra.[21] MASSOB, a sectarian organization formed in 1999, continues a non-violent struggle for an independent Igbo state.[22]

Large ethnic Igbo populations are found in Cameroon[23] Gabon and Equatorial Guinea,[24] as well as outside Africa."...

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Excerpt #2
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igbo_culture
"Igbo culture ([1]Igbo: Ọmenala ndị Igbo) are the customs, practices and traditions of the Igbo people[1] of southeastern[2] Nigeria. It comprises archaic practices as well as new concepts added into the Igbo culture either by cultural evolution or by outside influence. These customs and traditions include the Igbo people's visual art, music and dance forms, as well as their attire, cuisine and language dialects.[3] Because of their various subgroups, the variety of their culture is heightened further.

[...]

Yam
The yam is very important to the Igbo as it is their staple crop. There are celebrations such as the New yam festival (Igbo: Iri Ji) which are held for the harvesting of the yam.[12]

The New Yam festival (Igbo: Iri ji) is celebrated annually to secure a good harvest of the staple crop. The festival is practiced primarily in Nigeria and other countries in West Africa.[13]

[...]

Chieftaincy Title
Main article: Nze na Ozo

An Igbo man with Ichi marks, a sign of rank as an Ozo[17]
Highly accomplished men and women are admitted into their noble orders for people of title such as Ndi Ozo or Ndi Nze. These people receive insignia to show their stature. Membership is highly exclusive, and to qualify an individual need to be highly regarded and well-spoken of in the community."...

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Jidenna - Chief Don't Run



Jideena, Aug 18, 2016

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
(with numbers added for referencing purposes only. I've added some brief quotes and/or explanatory notes for some of these comments. Notice that the screen names of some of these commenters have changed.

2016
1. Ngeri Nnachi
"Wow, this is so artistically fruitful. The imagery and narratives are incredibly insightful. I love this movement. Thank you for this contribution to our collective identity Jidenna! Thank you for repping us well well. #Naijaproud #IgboAmaka"

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2. Elizabeth osondu
"he still represents the Igbo tribe he never withholds where he came from Nigerian American"

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3. Nayy Barbiee
"Love that he embraces his African culture"

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REPLY
4. The Elite, 2017
"Yeah respect to him, I hate how some American African people (especially most rappers) disregard their African roots and culture and made their culture of gangs, drugs and guns. You don't see American East Asian, American South Asian, American Hispanic, etc disregard their roots and culture. I'm glad African British people embrace their African roots and culture compared to African Americans"

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REPLY
5. Widg3t's Widgets
"Naomi Amu what the actual f--king f—k* are you talking about? dude is straight American. nothing but."
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

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REPLY
6. Nayy Barbiee
"He's Nigerian too so do your research before you come in here with some nonsense."

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REPLY
7. Tas D. Amour
"His daddy is Nigerian!!! He spent years in Nigeria! Check it out!!!"

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REPLY
8. Kaneng Botsha
"Naomi Amu he is not just embracing his African culture ...he is mixing the two cultures...he is more than one personality"

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REPLY
9. Giulia's Mode, 2017
"I love that embraces both sides of his existence, in reference to depicting his mother as caucasian and also representing his African culture. I appreciate it more when people recognize both sides of who they are....its true to the self. Amen to that !"

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10. Simz
"Song should be called Igwe dont run"

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REPLY
11. doe nil
"u ryt bro"

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REPLY
12. OCHI VICTOR
"lol"

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REPLY
13. Fed up
"Igbo Kwenu"
-snip-
From http://www.bookdrum.com/books/things-fall-apart/1657/bookmark/184718.html by brpsaplit
"The Ibo people have a culture to which community, solidarity, and unity are important. Their phrase “Igbo kwenu” most literally means, “We the Ibo people stand together in agreement and collective will.” It is also a shortened form of a longer phrase, “Igbo kwere na ihe ha kwuru” which means roughly, “The Igbo believe in what they have agreed upon to think, say, and do."
-snip-
Click in http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/10/excerpts-of-articles-that-explain-what.html for more information about and examples of the saying "Igbo Kwenu".

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REPLY
14. JAY HAWT!!
"exactly nwanne!"
-snip-
Google translate from Igbo to English- "nwanne" = "brother"

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REPLY
15. Daniel Bergin
"Igwe don't run cause he's just there 😂

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REPLY
16. Lisa Scott
"Doreen Selly Igwe is King in Igbo language....that's why."

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REPLY
17. coldlightning14, 2017
"very few people will get this"

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REPLY
18. Emmanuella Engee, 2017
"in Igbo culture, the Igwe answers to his Chiefs. The Chiefs are the Kingmakers."

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19. Vision
"good stuff jiddena making Igbo Nigerians all over proud"

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20. *ThinkFarther*
"The chief thing is not just an Igbo custom Ifeanyi. In Cameroon we also have chiefs and even friends I have from Kenya and other countries have chief systems established in their villages."

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REPLY
21. OCHI VICTOR
"+ThinkFarther you're right. I guess he is just being specific here."

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REPLY
22. Dual Purpose
"@*ThinkFarther* I know but I'm being specific as us igbos wear the red hate you've seen Jidenna wear along with having the cane"

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REPLY
23. TheSupineSmokey13
"And I know your aware the Yoruba refer to them as Oloye"

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REPLY
24. Dual Purpose
"@TheSupinesmokey13 I know Yorouba people gave chiefs too...I just didn't know the name lol"

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REPLY
25. Dual Purpose
"@AIRG01 I know about the moors you just lack the knowledge of igbos culture. Bro I'm from Nigeria and I've lived there. He's definitely doing that as Igbo himself. The moors had a few with a tassel smh. Why do dudes assume you don't know what you talking bout when they clearly have no clue what they ate talking about themselves"
-snip-
This comment appears to be in response to one comparing the Igbo fitted cap to a fez. However, that comment doesn't appear to be available anymore.

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REPLY
26. OCHI VICTOR
"@Ifeanyi Morka Do they know that you also an Igbo man just like Jidenna? Hey Ify, my middle name is also Ifeanyichukwu. Great to meet brothers here. African cultures are similar but not the same."

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27. Azizi Powell, 2020
"@Dual Purpose, three years later, but here's so information that explains your comment about Igbos and red hats.
From https://newafrikan77.wordpress.com/2018/02/07/the-truth-behind-the-igbo-red-cap-red-ozo-ichie-okpu-ogbuefis-opu-meaning-and-sacred-tradition/ "The Truth Behind The Igbo Red Cap ( Red Ozo , Ichie Okpu, Ogbuefis, Opu ) Meaning And Sacred Tradition" Posted by Newafrikan77Feb 2018
"In Igboland the red is for chiefs, while ordinary person can wear black, brown, green or white.” It is often called the Red Ozo or Ichie Okpu….

The ‘red cap’ worn by chiefs in Igboland symbolizes authority, tradition, and culture; and it also represents the entire institution of leadership, authority, and power in Igbo culture….

Putting on the red cap is not an all-comers affair in Igboland as there are always a select number of individuals who are entitled to wear this special cap (especially with eagle feather which in its own right signifies prominence)."

I quoted in this in a post in my cultural blog https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/11/fila-red-ozos-kufis-and-some-other.html/

That quote doesn't mention carrying a cane, but that was/is also an Igbo custom signifying status if not authority. Carrying a cane was probably a custom that was lifted from White people, but the red cap wasn't.

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28. Aderinsola Adesida
"Sooo Jidenna when are you bringing the palm wine to my father's house?"

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REPLY
29. Oluwaseun Adeniyi
"Hahhahahaha. And the Yams right????"

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REPLY
30. britt harmony
"Lol :)"

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REPLY
31. t33mc
"Chei!! The thirst is real in these streets tho. lol"

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REPLY
32. Aderinsola Adesida
"@t33mc Abeg leave me. I'm schooling in Missouri; I can't find my Naija boys here😭"

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REPLY
33. t33mc
"Naija boys are overrated, oyinbo is the way to go, better yet a mix of both... oh wow, I think I just went full circle and recommended Jidena, lol"

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REPLY
34. Aderinsola Adesida
"@t33mc 😅. You can't get away from that Naija chocolate, eh? 😋😉"

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REPLY
35. t33mc
"I am a guy oh, so as long as the Naija chocolate is packaged in a dress (minus Jenna and his/her ppl) I am down to sample. But yes, ain't nothing like a Naija girl."

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REPLY
36. Aderinsola Adesida
"@t33mc No worries, I feel you."

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REPLY
37. gilo
"Rofl... palm wine ffs, bring some gardening work"

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REPLY
38. Claris Besong
"Chaaaa only Palm wine?? What about the goats, fufu, and yam?"

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REPLY
39. gilo
"Fried plantin, rum and coke, a great girl and some gardening work.... Paradise- for a bit"

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REPLY
40. Loreen Gwion
"When he brings the palm wine give me some oo..I beg"

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REPLY
41. Aderinsola Adesida
"@Reen N I know right? Palm wine is life 😍"

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2017
42. TOCHUKWU Mboma
"Mehnnn..
This dude is so cultural..

He reps Igbo , Nigeria and the Entire Africa..

I don't believe an igbo could go back to roots. Wowww!

Thank God it's Amazing!!!
⭐️"

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43. elle marie
"Omg the african tribute almost made me cry yassss jidenna"

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44. Onyii Ilo
"He knows who he is. He is an Igbo chief.
The title of this song in Igbo:
"Ichie adighi agba oso" "

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REPLY
45. Iloh chifomma
"Gbam!!"
-snip-
Google translate from Igbo to English is "mine!", but I'm guessing that "gbam" has another colloquial meaning.

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2018
46. Chiamaka E
"Jidenna my baby keep representing 🇳🇬 Nigeria. Igbo kwenu!! Long live the Chief!
P.S abu m lolo gi. Nani m😘"

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47. Drumminz22
"igbo man reppin... been dat deal since he came out #salute"

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49. Ebizzill
"when the african ancestors are coming back about to tack full force. Ge ready y'all."

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2019
50. ashley peek
"When I was in Ethiopia they would play this song like 25 times a day on tv."

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2020
51, Oduwa Richard
"I salute you my high chief.. 9ja is proud of u"

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This concludes Part II of this two part pancocojams series.

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