Thread by @Ifechideere

I went through some colonial documents a years back and discovered that the 'Onye Wa Wa' stereotype was started by the British.

I'll explain.

Wa Wa literally means 'No No' in Nkanu Igbo language.

For context, the Nkanu people had a 'special love' for land and farming.

The Brit said it was difficult to convince them to give out their lands to build schools, churches, courts or whatever.

They could lease to their Igbo neighbours, but they never sold lands.

When the Brits brought papers to sign or made propositions, all they said was 'Wa Wa'

in anger. Meaning No.

Maxim guns made them to succumb later.

Then when schools were built, they didn't sent their kids because of farming.
The Brits forced them again.

It was recorded that they took yams to bribe the teachers to allow their children to come to the farm during

break and less busy school hours.

The Brits colonists in their usual called them derogatory names, taunted them with 'Wa Wa', a simple tag they used to resist the colonist for want of the English language

The name stuck as a derogatory term

The best way to kill silly

and stereotypes is to own up to it. Make the tag popular while doing the opposite of that people expect.

The more you get angry at stereotypes, the more the aim is achieved.

a few years*