“Umuarama has also been linked to the indigenous Language in Brazil , but could not be traced in Tupi Guarani till date “ – Carlos Andrade / UFPR
Catherine Acholonu , an Igbo writer , once described the Igbo race as the oldest , she said: “ Igbos lived before Adams , and the whole world once spoke in Igbo language “
The Trans-Atlantic slave trade did not only transport ethnic groups from Africa to the Americas but also instilled lasting impacts in several of the Latin American cities
A lot of people are quite befuddled about a city in Brazil which has an igbo name , many have tried to unravel the mystery behind Umuarama , a city in the State of Parana , Brazil
Umarama , according to researchers , is connected with the Igbo ethnic group from Nígeria , it is historically a settlement of the descendants of “Arama” , a reversed word of “ Amara” which means “Grace” or “Abundant free will” .
In 1924, technicians in agriculture and reforestation of the England Montagu Commission, Lord Lovat and a group of Nigerians Igbos came to Brazil on duties, they arrived in the North of Paraná to extend agricultural duties , they could not easily realize the mission as lack of roads prevented them from going beyond the 25 km of the primitive railroad that existed.
In order to clear that immense forest more than 350 km to the banks of the Paraná River, Lovat organized Brasil Plantations, a company that acquired two farms in eastern Paraná and started cotton plantations. As the result was not what was expected, in 1937 this company was absorbed by a larger group, Paraná Plantations Ltd, founded in London in 1925. At the same time that the absorption took place in London, a subsidiary company was established in Brazil, with a central office located in São Paulo, which started its activities with capital of a thousand contos. It was the Northern Paraná Land Company
According to historians, the first inhabitants who came to this region were adventurers attracted by the new region to be explored. They stayed in small villages on the banks of rivers. These adventurers came from the most diverse states, northeast, Minas Gerais, Bahia, etc., they had different habits and customs, they slept anywhere, they came without families to work in the endeavor to cut down the forest, some of them came with their families, did the felling. giving way to the plantation of coffee and cereals in general, these were difficult times, especially when it rained, making access difficult in search of resources. The settlers who first settled there were from São Paulo, Santa Catarina, Gauchos, Minas Gerais , they joined the African technicians trained in London to establish the city of Parana named Umarama
Attending to Ancestral News’ Adeyinka Olaiya, a Brazilian Anthropologist , Prof . Edmundo Rodrigues said : “ Africa did not just impact a region in Brazil , but several regions in the Latin America , the name Umurama has been traced to African origin , precisely from the Igbos . However, other research institutes insists Umurama is a mixed of African and the indigenous Guarani “ the Anthropologist explained.
The city of Umuarama is a High and sunny place. The translation of the indigenous word that gives its name to the city of Parana , and according to indigenous researchers , shows a little of its personality. Umuarama is with more than 110 thousand inhabitants, many squares, wide and well-signposted avenues, it is famous for its receptivity and the affection with which it welcomes visitors, consumers in the region and investors. The tropical climate makes the city a great place to live . It is among the 100 best places to invest in Brazil (Revista Exame). Umuarama is driven by agriculture, livestock, furniture and food industry, strong commerce and a vast list of services, the city moves the regional economy and is a record holder in terms of job creation. It has a university center with several institutions and dozens of courses including Medicine . Umuarama also stands out in the health area with five large hospitals, several clinics, dozens of pharmacies and a well-structured public health.
Umuarama city , though having Igbo name and history , could still not be traced to the Nigerian Igbos . The indigenous Brazilians have also attached the name to several meanings in Tupi Guarani , they have claimed the meaning but could not trace the exact meaning in any of the Indigenous languages spoken in Brazil and the Latin America .
