| The arbitrary change of the name of the | | | | One must not also lose sight of the fact that it is |
| community lying across the West of the Bank of | | | | also an outrage to the people who have since |
| the River Niger by the British without consulting | | | | been made to bear a name that means nothing in |
| the people to determine their fate is one of the | | | | any language. The name “Ibusa” is thus |
| wrongs done on the collective social will of the | | | | like a nickname because the people have since |
| people of the community. It is for this reason that | | | | unofficially reverted to the generally known native |
| researchers are today working round the clock to | | | | name of the town. In any gathering requiring |
| factually determine what name the town bore | | | | greeting the people collectively and traditionally, |
| before it was anglicized because the British lacked | | | | what is often heard is “Igbuzo Igwe Nu |
| the ability to pronounce the name of the town. It | | | | O” “Igbuzo Igwe, Igwe Nu” but never |
| is hoped that researchers will successfully | | | | “Ibusa” Igwe Nu O. Not even |
| conclude this and determine the true native name | | | | “Ibuzo” Igwe Nu. So Igbuzo may be |
| of the town. | | | | closer to being the actual name of the community |
| | | | | before Anglicization took place though a much |
| The history of the undue dominance of the | | | | more thorough research needs to be done to |
| Anioma land lying in today’s Delta State, | | | | confirm this. |
| south-South of Nigeria shows the arbitrariness of | | | | |
| the former colonial masters of the country in | | | | The name “Igbuzo” is more recognized in |
| dealing with the communities of the Anioma | | | | the native dialect of the people and has been in |
| region. The same British missionaries and traders | | | | frequent usage. Critics of the name |
| who advised that such names be changed never | | | | “Igbuzo” harangue that it was a name |
| made efforts to do proper documentations of the | | | | foisted on the people by its Igbo neighbours on |
| native names borne by these people thus leaving | | | | the other side of the River Niger for historical |
| room for troubling social controversies to set in. | | | | identity instead of Ibuzo which reflectively |
| Ahaba was anglicized to Asaba and interestingly it | | | | denotes the history of the settlement of the |
| was the “h” in the name of the town that | | | | people. Still, a handful of historians hold that |
| constituted the difficulty in the pronunciation of | | | | “Ibuzo” was nicknamed on the settlers by |
| the name by the British missionaries and traders. | | | | the other Anioma communities and made popular |
| Isei-Ukwu,became officially twisted to sound as | | | | by the people of Asaba, Ogwashi-Uku, Okpanam |
| Issele-Uku. Ogwa-Nshi-Ukwu was transformed to | | | | and Oko. Both “Ibuzo” and |
| Ogwashi-Uku, Isei-Mkpitime resulted in | | | | “Igbuzo” may have been truly foisted on |
| Issele-Mkpitime. Okpam became Okpanam, Alaa, | | | | the people by their neighbours. If this is true then |
| Ilah. Igbuzo (or maybe Ibuzo) suddenly became | | | | all the names by which the people are known |
| Ibusa. | | | | have been foisted on them by the different |
| | | | | communities including the more officially |
| The Anglicization of Igbuzo caused it to terribly | | | | recognized “Ibusa” now generally |
| lose its actual native name as well as history of | | | | pronounced as “Igbu-zor” foisted by the |
| origin of settlement. Igbuzo or/and Ibuzo are | | | | British. |
| more precise and meaningful and clearly declares | | | | |
| the history of the settlement of the people rather | | | | |
| than the “Ibusa” foisted on the people by | | | | The people of the town will do well to officially |
| those who could not even speak the language of | | | | reverse to the native name of the town before |
| the people. Historians of the town believe it | | | | the said Anglicization occurred and the name |
| constitutes another major impediment studying | | | | “Igbuzo” is by far a better suggestion |
| the history of the people as a proper study of a | | | | since the indigenes and teeming inhabitants of the |
| people must begin with place of name in their | | | | community have already known the town by this |
| history. | | | | name. “Igbuzo” should therefore be it. |
| | | | | |