13/04/2025
Our Igbo ancestors that chose death over bo***ge.
In 1803, 75 Igbos chose to drown in the Ocean over being sold into slavery.
According to history, The Igbo slaves were said to be a rebellious breed.
They'll prefer to die free, than to be bond in chains.
They were stories of how they killed their masters and tried to escape.
So, in 1803, they were been transferred to another slave ship after their first master found out how rebellious they could be.
They were to be transported to a rice plantation which is renowned for brutal work and required strength.
But as the Igbos were crammed together under the deck, chained together.
The crew of the new slave ship got tired of them because they were too noisy.
They went in turns to force them to shut up.
But the Igbos wouldn't listen.
Soon, the crew discovered they were not just making a noise, rather they were chanting in unison.
The chant probably increased their morals and they were able to break loose from their chains.
They hijacked the ship.
At this juncture, one would think they intended to drive home,
But the smart Igbos knowing fully well that they are very far from home, decided to surrender their souls to the water spirit.
They all jumped into the water reciting the song;
" Orimiri Omambala bu anyi bia"
"Orimiri Omambala ka anyi ga ejina"
This translates to:
"The water spirit of Omambala brought us here, the water spirit of Omambala shall take us home"
Omambala is a river in Anambra.
Till date, there are claims that the souls of the revolted Igbo slaves still dwells in Dunbar Creek.
For in the quietness of the night, one could still hear their distant 'Orimiri' chants.
According to Pete Edochie in an interview, those souls calls for a befitting burial rites to be able to unite with their ancestors in their various hometowns.
