In every Igbo home, there is a hand you use — and a hand you never use. In this episode, we follow Chidimma — 29, born in Owerri, now living in Nairobi — as she serves ofe nsala to her Kikuyu mother-in-law and discovers that the Igbo word biko carries more weight than any translation can hold. 

We explore Igbo politeness, the cultural significance of the right hand, and why asking for help is not weakness — it is belonging.

Key Concepts: Igbo politeness as communal exchange, the right hand (aka nri) as a gesture of respect in public etiquette, biko as posture not just word, cross-cultural marriage in the African diaspora

Scholar: Ogbonnaya G. Nwoye — Linguistic Politeness and Socio-cultural Variations of the Notion of Face (1992)

Proverb: Aka nri kwọ aka èkpè, aka èkpè akwọ aka nri — The right hand washes the left, and the left washes the right.

Today's 3 Sentences:
Biko, nyere m aka — Please, help me
Daalụ rinne — Thank you very much
Biko, iwe ewena gị — Please, excuse me / don't be angry

Blessing: Ka ọ dị gị mma n'aka nri gị — May goodness be in your right hand.

This has been Igbo Daily Drops with Yvonne Mbanefo.

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