Origin Of Ubulu-Uku
||King Ezemu ||| Obi Ofulue | St Anthony's &
Anglican Colleges || Festival | |Origin Of Ubulu-Uku
| The Colonial Era| || Ubulu Uku Development
Union ||
Ezemu was a hunter of un-equalled
marksmanship, a herbalist who was known just in
ubulu-uku and its immediate environs but down
to every corner of the one time Benin Empire. He
was so famous as a herbalist that the Oba of
Benin during his time invited him to Benin to
prepare certain herbs for him. “Izo-Idayi”. This
helped to prolong the life of the Oba and so he
told his successor to invite Ezemu or his
descendants to prepare the same medicine for
him any time he came to the throne. Before
arriving at Ubulu –UKU however, Ezemu and his
brothers first settled at Ubulu-unor. It was from
Ubulu-Unor that Ezemu left for Ubulu-Uku.
“Ubulu” is the name of a huge tree which today
stands at the centre of Ubulu-uku. “UKU” means
big or huge. It was at the foot of this tree ( which
still exists today but which has experienced
severe burns) that Ezemu pitched tent. A deep
gulley was adjacent to the tree, and the presence
of water attracted the wandering normand.
From Afor To Ubulu-Unor
In fact Ubulu oral tradition states categorically
that the grand-parents of Ezemu migrated from
Israel and settled at Ife hence Ezemu was often
referred to as the king with long hairs – “Ezi Isi
Iyomiyo”. From Ife Ezemu and his relations
migrated to Afor a village in present day Ndokwa
Local Government Area of Delta State.
After a long stay in Afor, Ezemu’s parents
assembled five of their namely Obodo, Ezemu,
Alibo, Aniga and Ekelie and asked them to get
ready to migrate and found other settlements.
Before they left Afor, their parents gave them a
pot (Ududu) containing a mixture of some herbs
and instructed them to settle anywhere the pot
fell, each facing a different direction. While
wandering from place to place they came to
Ubulu-Unor, the pot fell and they settled there as
their parents had instructed them. It was from
Ubulu-Unor that Ezemu went to found Ubulu-Uku.
Ezemu Moves To Ubulu-Uku
When Ezemu made up his mind to settle in
ubulu-uku he went and pleaded with his sister
Obodo to come and join him. She refused told
Ezemu that since he, Ezemu had founded a new
and bigger Ubulu ( Ubulu-Uku) their first
settlement should be called a home (Ubulu-Unor).
There was also the strong argument that Obodo
was never the king of ubulu-unor because she
was a woman neither were her descendants kings
of ubulu-unor rather they have always been and
are the Okpalas of Umuata (the descendants of
obodo).
Ezemu had two children , one boy called Ijedinka-
Jezie and one girl called Ozim. Since Ijedinka-Jezie
was the only son, Ezemu hoped that he would
succeed him on the throne and so he was
grooming him with the role. He had the hope that
Ozim would be given out in marriage.
Introduction
Ubulu-uku is situated some thirty kilometres
(30kms) west of the River Niger in Aniocha South
Local Government Area of Delta State. Eastwards
it shares a boundary with Ogwashi-Uku,
westwards with Obior; northwards with Issele-Uku
and southwards with Ubulu-Unor.
Ubulu Uku is sited in an undulating environment
with its Enugu-Iyi and Abuedo end at the top of a
long stretch of hills, while its centre, fanning out
from the Ubulu tree, to Isho, Akwu, Ogbeofu,
Idumu-Osume etc are located in a valley.Rolling
down these hills are rivers which run through the
entire clan to the sea through other neighbouring
clans. Iyi Agor ( River Agor) stands out
prominently among these.
Ubulu-Uku is the largest and most populated
town in Aniocha Local Government Area.
Topograhically it is a hilly town that could be
easily compared to Agbor in Delta State, Auchi in
Edo State and Ibadan in Oyo State. This hilly
nature of the town accounts for the serious
problem of erosion which it faces. The Problem
has made some of the streets impassable
especially the street leading from the major road
to Ogbeofu.
On the other hand when one looks at the town
from any of the hilly spots especially at night, one
sees a beautiful scenery that could be said to be
one of the best that nature has bestowed on this
part of the earth. The town has one major stream
called Iyi-Agor which was the main source of
water supply before the advent of pipe-borne
water. A few other minor streams like Nkpitime-
Isho, Iyi-Nta, Iyi-Eko and Iyi-Ozala also serve
people in various parts of the town.
Three major roads run through the town . One
runs from Asaba via Ibusa to ogwashi-uku then
through Ubulu-uku to Obior and Umunede. The
second road branches out from Ubulu-uku to
umunede road at Idumu-Osume village via Akwu
village and then to Issele-Uku. The third road
branches out from Ubulu-Uku to Umunede road
at the post office junction and runs through
Akpama, Agbonta-Udogwu and Isho village to
Ubulu-Unor.
Occupationally Ubulu-Uku men are farmers,
weavers, hunters, and palm wine tappers. As for
Ubulu-uku women they are expert weavers. With
their hand looms they produce materials that are
highly treasured by both foreign and Nigerian
visitors to the town.
The Union that made up Ubulu-Uku
Ezemu meets Ekei One day while Ezemu was
under the “Ubulu” tree he sighted smoke at a
distance. He became curious and moved towards
the direction from where the smoke was rising to
find out its source. On getting to the spot called
Ani-Ekei which now forms part of Udo Village, he
met a man called Ekei, a black –smith. He was the
leader of a few settlers there.
Ezemu meets Anugwe Just as Ezemu discovered
Ekei and his people, he sighted some smoke
rising from a spot in the bush around the present
Abuedo village. Like the brave hunter that he
was, he moved to find out the source of the
smoke. On reaching the spot he saw a man called
Anugwe working in his large farm. The exchanged
greetings and introduced themselves.
Ezemu becomes the first king of Ubulu-uku
When Ezemu saw that he had surrounded himself
with enough settlers he went up to Ekei and told
him that it was necessary for the three groups of
settlers to come together and that one of the
three leaders should be made their king.
After listening to Ezemu, Ekei told him that he
was already getting old and was not interested in
being the king of Ubulu-Uku. Ezemu went up to
Anugwe and told him of his proposals. Anugwe
told Ezemu also that he was not interested in
being a king. He asked Ezemu to become the
king if he so wished. Thus Ezemu was accorded
recognition by all the settlers in Ubulu-uku.
Then Ezemu went to Ubulu-unor and told Obodo
that he was to be coronated formally. Obodo
congratulated him and shaved his bushy hair in
order to make him look neat on the coronation
day. When Ezemu returned to Ubulu-uku he was
crowned the king of ubulu-uku with a lot of pomp
and pageantry.
source : C.E.A Ikemefunah and Obi Anene
Thank you for visiting Ubulu- Uku Website .

Typing................

Nice one am from aniocha.

OREMUSSANCTUS:
Typing................

no offence but don't you have other things to do other than nairaland

drajjay:
no offence but don't you have other things to do other than nairaland

Thanks bro

drajjay:
no offence but don't you have other things to do other than nairaland

Am in a "planet" where internet access is free
What do u expect
In d comfort of ma toilet I browse
Datz to tell u how comfortable I am
Anyways, thanks for ur concern
May God bless u
#shalom

I have so much respect for ma town Ubulu-Ukwu, we are Unique people, Ojogwu.

isiomaella:
I have so much respect for ma town Ubulu-Ukwu, we are Unique people, Ojogwu.

correct babe!!!

Obi Chukwuka Noah Akaeze