Clarification and Definition of Terms

Fact = An event that actually happened. (Ivbe mel eme.)

History = Inquest and Narration of facts that actually happened
in the past. (Nnyoche na Nköwa, Akükö banyel ivbe mel eme
n’oge gagol aga.)
Historian = Narrator of facts that happened in the past. (Ökö-
Akükö banyel ivbe mel eme n’oge gagol aga.)
Spectacle = Ivbe nnene, ivbe nkili.
Spectator = Onye-Nnene, Onye-Nkili
Truth = The state of a fact such as it has existed (Ele ivbe mel eme
shi-mee)

There are Four principal Classes of Historians (Narrators, Ökö-

akükö), with different degrees of authority that belong to each:

1. Historians who have acted a part in the events they record.

(Ökö-akükö so wee mee ivbe ö na-akö makïa).
2. Historians who only have witnessed those events. (Ökö-akükö
ji sö anyïa vbü ivbe ö na-akö makïa; o soro wee mee, mana ö vbül
n’anya).
3. Historians who have received their information from witnesses.
(Ökö-akükö shi n’aka ndü vbül n’anya wee nwete akükö ö na-
akö; ö nül na ntï, mana övbürö n’anya).
4. Historians on hearsay or tradition. (Ökö-akükö shite na ashïlï,
shite na a shï, ö shï, ï shï, shite n’akükö iro).

Before crowning your favourite “Historian”, endeavour to find

out the class of Historians to which he/she belongs. We all should
appreciate the extreme difficulty of proving the real state of a fact
that happened in the past (its truth): Difficulty on the part of the
Spectator, of accurately observing it (Onye-Nnene, ö vbüchakwal
mma ivbe o nenel?); Difficulty on the part of the Narrator, of
accurately describing it (Onye-Nköwa, ö köwachakwal mma ivbe
ö nül, na ivbe ö vbül?). These are numerous causes of error,
originating in deception, prejudice, negligence, omission,
partiality, etc. Whence we preach examining-doubt or skepticism
with regard to all forms of history.

Cheers!

Nevbechi Nwoye Emma Anazövba (Ümübele Village, Öka)