Earlier this week Nkpa in bende LGA of Abia state where i come from was listed as one of the 10 most expensive cultures to marry 4rm, while we where arguing i found out that i have so many brothers and sisters here on Nairaland, but goggling the history of bende was no where to be found,that was y i had 2 come up with this piece of our history and people enjoy

Today am writing about Bende LGA of Abia State Nigeria, but before i go on i need to tell you alittle about my state in which Bende is located.

Abia State was carved out of the former Imo State in 1991.The name "Abia" is an abbreviation of four of the state's densely populated regions Aba, Bende, Isuikwuato, and Afikpo of which Afikpo later waz carved out to form the present day Ebonyi State.

The present day Bende LGA was formally caled Old Bende which administrative and geo-political area stretched At that time,from Arochukwu to Umuahia and included such towns as Ututu, Ihechiowa, Ohafia, Abiriba, Nkporo, Abam, Umuhu, Bende, Igbere, Item,Alayi,Ozu-item, Isiukwu-ato, Uzuakoli, Nkpa, Umuahia, and Ikwuano with a population of 3 million people.

Citizens from the Old Bende LGA area are simply referred to as "Bende People".The term Bende is in honor of a town called "Bende" which was the seat of Local Government under the Old Bende LGA era of governance. Even today, the Bende town is still the administrative seat of Bende in the present day Abia state local government areas structure.

BACK TO BENDE LOCAL GOVT AREA.

According to my source BENDE today has many towns namely; Nkpa, Nkpokpa, Amaohoro, Eluama, Agbaiyi, Umuede, Umuewu, Ugwu, Obilaji, Okpobia , Alayi, Item ,Okporoenyi, Ugwueke , Eziukwu, Igbere and Odua with the toatal population of about 128.227 based on 2006 population census. Bende is predominantly farmers and local traders.

Bende is blessed with so many natural resources like Salt, Gold, Phosphate, Laterite Gravel and Lime Stone.It is also one of the three agricultural backbone of Abia state.The people cultivate yam, cassava, coco yam and harvest Large Palm oil plantation for commercial and personal consumption which waz formerly the heavy earner for the people in the LGA before the Oil boom and has now been neglected.

Bende people are known for their bravery and self-reliance.They showed a lot of these great traits in the wars of survival during the Nigeria Bifran War. so also in those days and still being practiced total in some selected towns Victories over enemies were copiously celebrated with our trademark and famous Bende War Dance which is very unique and very popular, The War Dance is a constant staple in our cultural diet. Through their bravery, Bende people were able to survive during the era when Might was Power.

Bende today despite producing top men like ace actor, Mr. James Iroha, aka Giringory Akabuogu of new Masquerade cast, Chinedu Ikedieze A.K.A Aki,Okechukwu Edward Ukeje also known as Mr. Raw, DR Orji Uzor Kalu former govnor of Abia state 1999/2006 plus other top Educationalist, intellectual clans and heavy weights of Abia politic,is still suffering from mismanagement.

Please when next you visit Abia state try pay a visit to bende,kindly forget the bad roads that paint the town red and blue and tap into the hospitality of our good people,so also the abundant but neglected resources most especially the Oil Palm plantation within "money dey dier ooh " .

You are all welcome.
Bende kwenu ,Nigeria kwenu oo
Thanks.



This post is writen by me Ifeanyi I. Chinonyerem of @iichinonyerem with help from http://www.abiastate.gov.ng/state-profile/history-of-abia-state/

Beesluv:
Mr Akin looks cool

Radoillo:
When you said Bende has a population of 3 million, I'm sure you meant the entire population of Abia State. Right?

Abiagirl777:
You have tried but your research is half baked.
1. To start with the new bende LGA comprises of villages lyk Alayi,item,bende,nkpa,okporoenyi,ugwueke ,eziukwu,igbere and some more not the communities in your nkpa u listed which i've never heard or came across.
2.They are not 3million in no.
3. God will punish the incumbent Governor,tell him.
Btw,iam frm Alayi by birth,but marriage no.

Abiagirl777:
You have tried but your research is half baked.
1. To start with the new bende LGA comprises of villages lyk Alayi,item,bende,nkpa,okporoenyi,ugwueke ,eziukwu,igbere and some more not the communities in your nkpa u listed which i've never heard or came across.
2.They are not 3million in no.
3. God will punish the incumbent Governor,tell him.
Btw,iam frm Alayi by birth,but marriage no.

ICHINONYE:
My felow Bende pple I great oo

Redoil:
you dey mind them.
That was how a clown claim that igbo people are the largest ethnic group in nigeria

Ihuomadinihu:

Is igbo not the largest ethnic group?

Abiagirl777:
You have tried but your research is half baked.
1. To start with the new bende LGA comprises of villages lyk Alayi,item,bende,nkpa,okporoenyi,ugwueke ,eziukwu,igbere and some more not the communities in your nkpa u listed which i've never heard or came across.
2.They are not 3million in no.
3. God will punish the incumbent Governor,tell him.
Btw,iam frm Alayi by birth,but marriage no.

ICHINONYE:
Earlier this week Nkpa in bende LGA of Abia state where i come from was listed as one of the 10 most expensive cultures to marry 4rm, while we where arguing i found out that i have so many brothers and sisters here on Nairaland, but goggling the history of bende was no where to be found,that was y i had 2 come up with this piece of our history and people enjoy

Eke40seven:


Recently during service, I met a female Corper from Nkpa and we relished our "shared ancestry". I however thought the dialect would be similar to what is obtainable in Umunnato (Alayi, Igbere and Item) but I was shocked that what she spoke was closer to what is obtainable in lets say Umuahia while ours is closer to what is spoken in Abiriba and Nkporo (I don't think they are both in Bende LGA). I thought, she couldn't really speak the dialect until I went further to ask my parents questions about this hidden Nkpa community.
That event really exposed how so little I know about my place.

Ihuomadinihu:

Because Nkpa and some other surronding villages migrated from Isuikwuato. Their dialects would be close to what is spoken in Isuikwuato and Umuahia communities.

Eke40seven:


Sister, I'm from Alayi too, Amankalu...

Danrizzle:
Am from Lodu.... that's opposite lohum(which is directly after uzuakoli), Nkpa, alkoli, are side neighbours. The aforementioned clans I believe, are closely and historically related.... including some clans in isuikwuato LGA like ahaba, ovim, ezere. I think an 'Imenyi' factor is the connection. Other bende peoples are those from Item, alayi, bende, igbere, etc.

Eke40seven:

Hmmmm! Guess I knew too little after all. Isuikwuato is bordered by Alayi too. The dialect differs too. I think the dialects from Alayi to Ohafia to Arochukwu have the Ibibio/Efik language influences from the way they sound.

Ihuomadinihu:

Yeah,technically most communities south of Umuahia lie within the Cross River igbo culture while Alayi down to Arochukwu are linguistically connected to Cross river igbo dialect.

Eke40seven:
It seems you are from this region.

Ihuomadinihu:

Not really,just interested in all Igbo people.

Abiagirl777:


jokwa nwanne!,Amautazi Amankalu to be precise.
You are blessed,Igboji son.

Eke40seven:

Then that interest must be really deep. Its high time though these local governments started stacking the libraries with good history books one can go and inform oneself.

Eke40seven:


Recently during service, I met a female Corper from Nkpa and we relished our "shared ancestry". I however thought the dialect would be similar to what is obtainable in Umunnato (Alayi, Igbere and Item) but I was shocked that what she spoke was closer to what is obtainable in lets say Umuahia while ours is closer to what is spoken in Abiriba and Nkporo (I don't think they are both in Bende LGA). I thought, she couldn't really speak the dialect until I went further to ask my parents questions about this hidden Nkpa community.
That event really exposed how so little I know about my place.

Guitarlife:


Brother sorry to bug you but I sincerely plead that you give me a digit I can call you on . I need some good advice from you.

Or you could pls beep me on this whatsap : 07032035317

looking forward to hearing from you.

Regards.