Magazine created by Igbo Cultural and Support Network
April 2021
#WORLDHEALTHDAY2021 is on the 7th April and we’re showing love to
Healthcare Professionals Next GHM Live: The Food of Our Ancestors - 11th April 2021
KWENU JOBS BOARD HELPING ICSN MEMBERS FIND NEW WORK OPPORTUNITIES
CHECKING IN WITH..... KELECHI
HELP UNCLE OBINNA SOLVE THESE RELATIONSHIP DILEMMAS
April 2021
Who are we? Ndewo! The Igbo Cultural and Support Network (ICSN) was founded in 1998 and is the UK’s largest networking group for young adults of Nigerian Igbo descent. We are passionate about sharing our great Igbo history, celebrating our magnificent culture, enhancing awareness of our culture amongst Ndi-Igbo, building professional and social relationships and really connecting Igbo people aged 18-40 in the UK. ICSN is growing and making progress and we’ve successfully been able to build this network that also reaches an audience in Nigeria, Italy, USA and more!
STAY CONNECTED WITH US:
Our tagline is “Igwebike, Udo na Oganiru” which when translated into English, means “Unity is Strength, Peace and Progression”. Kwenu is our exciting blog and in-house digital magazine covering different topics and isn’t like your typical publication. To submit content for features, click here. To find out more about advertising on Kwenu - email: kwenu@icsn.co.uk
CULTURE SUPPORT NETWORK
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ICSN! Are you aware of our values? Help us to continue to serve as a hub that brings together the Igbo community and shares knowledge of Igbo culture!
TIME TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP? CLICK HERE
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April 2021
An Igbo In The Diaspora: An Experience (Part 2) by Nnenna Ngwu @NemoSupreme23 So, some of us made moves to belong elsewhere. The fiercely Igbo names suddenly became very truncated or Anglicised (e.g. Chukwuemeka becoming Chuks, Amara becoming Mary), completely losing most of its original meaning; the everyday vernacular became very ‘yardie’ in its origin; the desire to connect with our true heritage diminishing day by day.
Let us know your thoughts! Screenshot and send us a DM on Instagram
Growing up in a predominantly white society also played a HUGE role in this detachment too; with the endless subconscious conditioning throughout the years to see ourselves as lesser than be it our beauty or intelligence. This fractured identity is an experience often felt by those of us who grew up in the diaspora. However, this all being said, I do firmly believe that past a certain age, it should be on us to make active steps to reconnect with the culture. Once I moved down to London following my masters degree, finding out about organisations such as Igbo Cultural and Support Network (ICSN) helped me personally learn more of the Igbo language, food, music and history as well as connect with my fellow Igbos. Growing up outside of London in the Midlands, I would very often feel like the ‘only Igbo in the village’ but still had a desire to know more about my culture, especially from people my age who may have similar experiences to me growing up in the diaspora. Growing up in the diaspora means that we as a people are more spread out and less likely to frequently meet ourselves compared to our kin living back home. This was the case for me growing up outside of the big multicultural bubble of London with its large enclaves of Nigerians living together. Growing up in the West unfortunately means we may be less likely to marry within the culture and more likely to lose even more of our cultural identity if we don’t make conscious efforts to return to and maintain our cultural roots. We as diasporans often complain about the current situation of Nigeria, from our cold, expensive confines of places like Britain or USA or Canada. Many of our parents’ generation would dream of going back home after making success in the diaspora to work towards a better future in Igboland. It would be a great disservice to them if we don’t have hopes of doing the same, and maintaining that same link with our rich cultural heritage.
IGBO KWENU!
Are you on Clubhouse? Click here to follow the ICSN Clubhouse account (and no, this app is not available on Android and no, this was not our decision).
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April 2021
Have you heard about our directory for Igbo businesses? Check it out on IG: The Igbo Business Directory UK
A luxury streetwear Brand that fuses African inspired prints with a London street style.
The name ‘Twigbo’ was formed as a combination of Ghanaian language ‘Twi’ and Nigerian language ‘Igbo’, to reflect the CEO’s (Venetia) dual heritage. Find out more and shop online: http://bit.ly/TwigboADkwenu {Ad}
Uncle Obinna! Kedu? Greetings from Italy! I’ve been with my GF for almost 6 years and she always tells me that she loves me and I don’t say it back. I am not in love but I really really like her. And I’m not ready to get married yet but the pressure ODIKWA too much. So many women want me so should I stay or go?
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Uncle! How far? Me, am tiyaddd. Á chorom kí nyérém àkà. My Husband is Yoruba and I’m Igbo and every time I disagree with something he says or I refuse to do something, he always says “But a Yoruba wife would do that!” I’ve just been biting my tongue,; what do I do now?
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Help Uncle Obinna solve these dilemmas - post your solutions on Twitter or Instagram and tag us #DearUncleObinna We’ll be posting some of your solutions in our May issue of Kwenu
Click here to submit content to be featured in Kwenu magazine/blog
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April 2021 #WorldHealthDay2021 is on the 7th April and we asked our Instagram community to tell us about some Igbo Healthcare Professionals that we can show some love to, in this month’s issue of Kwenu. Click on the 6 amazing Igbo men and women below! #IgboExcellence
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Onyinyechi London, UK Regional Pharmacist Manager
Dr Kelechi Okoroha, MD Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA Orthopedic Surgeon
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Dr Chukwudubem Anibueze London, UK Trauma and Orthopaedics Registrar
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Dr Chiamaka Maduanusi London, UK Doctor
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Dr Uchenna Nwosu, MD Washington DC, USA Vascular Interventional Radiologist
Ify Yvonne Ohio, USA Pharmacist
#GetFitWithICSN is our 31 days fitness challenge, getting you ready for Gyms re-opening on the 12th April (in the UK) - It’s not too late to post your progress photos and videos, don’t forget to tag us!
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April 2021
Kwenu Jobs Board We hope you find this feature in our Digital mag useful; Kwenu Executive, Ezinwannem, has posted various job openings below, for positions in London. Any work opportunity posted below, may be the next step someone is looking for, to make the next move in their career. ICSN have no affiliation with these Companies, so please contact them directly to enquire further. Looking for a role in a particular sector? Send Ezinwannem an email: kwenu@icsn.co.uk
Administrative Officer HM Courts and Tribunals Service Salary: £22,677+ Apply here: http://bit.ly/Kwenujb1
Internal Audit Manager British Business Bank Salary: Up to £50,000 Apply here: http://bit.ly/Kwenujb2
UX/UI Designer Burns Sheehan (Recruitment Agency) Salary: £55,000+ Apply here: http://bit.ly/Kwenujb3
Executive Assistant Echobox Salary: up to £30,000 Apply here: http://bit.ly/Kwenujb4
Payroll and HR Co-Ordinator Brook Street (Recruitment Agency) Salary: £26,000 Apply here: http://bit.ly/Kwenujb5
Social Media Executive Estee Lauder Salary: Not provided Apply here: http://bit.ly/Kwenujb6
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April 2021
In each issue, we’ll be Checking in with….. A special individual, to get a little insight into what it’s like being them, their love for Igbo culture and just a quick general chit chat!
Kelechi is Founder and Owner of Eyewear Brand Le Chi Eyewear and he tells us more about the Brand’s story - Listen to the full audio via our IGTV here “Growing up in the optical industry, I always wondered why glasses never seemed to fit particularly well on my face. Fast forward some years, at a vision show, I noticed that there were very few people who looked like me actually designing the glasses. It clicked: glasses don’t fit my face because they were not designed to fit faces like mine. And at that moment, I decided that the only way to resolve this issue was to start an eyewear brand specifically for our faces.” Visit the website and support Le Chi Eyewear: http://bit.ly/LeChiINKwenu
Love for Igbo Culture
Accomplishments in the last 12 months
Travel wish list
Advertise your Brand, Music or Event in Kwenu magazine or Kwenu blog - email kwenu@icsn.co.uk
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April 2021
GHM Live Have you registered for this month’s GHM Live? We’re exploring the food items revered by our ancestors. We have two guest speakers including TheMedicineShell and yes, this is virtual, so join us on Zoom on Sunday 11th April at 7pm (BST).
Click here to register before it’s too late!
Join us on Clubhouse Have you been enjoying our recent Clubhouse topics? We’re turning things up a notch to encourage our Twitter community to get more involved in these topics and conversations. Follow and tweet us with your suggestions for future topics - @ICSN_UK
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April 2021
The Outro
Bia! Have you heard? Owerri prison break
“Youths, don’t take back seat in politics”
Improving healthcare delivery system in Abia state
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