The Umuoji people, who occupy this present place known as Umuoji town, in the present Idemili North Local Government of Anambra State, Southeast
Nigeria , an Igbo speaking ethnic group , naturally fall among the people whose early history is much affected by lack of or non existence of a written record. Umuoji is bounded in the northwest by
Ogidi, in the southwest by Ojoto , southeast by Uke , in the northeast by Abatete and in the west by
Nkpor.

Two possible sources about Umuoji origin have been postulated. Both apparently are derived from oral tradition . The first, more widely held, is that Umuoji people originated from a man called Okodu, who was a descendant of a man called Nri. Another is that one Okoli Oti from Arochukwu was the ancestor of Umuoji.

In those early days only people of Arochukwu (Umuchukwu meaning Children of Supreme God) and Nri who were also regarded as sacred people or mediators between men and the gods were free to travel about and they were the two sets of people who were known throughout the then Igbo nation. Arochukwu people, the Aros, migrated from outside Nigeria, probably Egypt and that made them to be on the go always. They were also great warriors with sophisticated weapons that gave them privilege over the other inhabitants of the Igbo nation. Consequently, one great warrior, Okoli Oti from Arochukwu set was out in company of his followers to visit the famous Eze Nri (the great king of Nri). His intention was not that friendly but on reaching the Nri town, he changed his mind as a result of what he heard and saw about the Nri people. Okoli later decided to settle near the kingdom of his host and thereby found his own kingdom. He settled in the present area inhabited by Abatete people. Okoli later married a woman from Nri town. Some of his men never went back to their places of origin. They also raised up families later known as Isiuzo, Azu, Owa, Akwa, Oraofia and Mputu.

Okoli Oti brought with him three deities named Ezeigwe, Oji and Ogwugwu. He begat three sons and some daughters. The sons were Ezeogu, Ora and Idike. Ezeogu was the father of the Abatete people, otherwise known as Abatete Ezeogu. Ora the second son was the father of the Umuoji people, while Idike was the father of the Nkpor people. Ora Okoli had a son named Okodu and some daughters whose names were not known as nobody bothered to trace the lineage of women in Igboland then. Okodu is the father of Oji; he named him after his father's deity which he(Okodu) later inherited. Oji in turn begat Ora II whom he named after his grandfather.

From mythology, Ora II had two wives from each of whom he got two sons. The sons were Ezi, Ifite, Echem and Akala. Ezi and Echem were of the same mother, while Ifite and Akala were of the same mother. These made up the four Quarters of Umuoji and the villages therein.

From the various accounts on the origin of the three towns, the name of Okolie Otie, an itinerant trader from Arochukwu, appears a common denominator in the origin legends of the people. What appears to be significantly but regrettably missing from the various accounts, seems to be the name of the mother of the progenitors of the three communities.

Few observations are however pertinent to these accounts. One is that as far as the Arochukwu connection is concerned, striking flaws are apparent which calls for further investigation and reassessment. As noted by Ekpunobi (1998), “the story is an attempt by local historians to link Umuoji with the once famous Arochukwu trading expedition”. This position is borne out by the fact that as present, there is not yet any evidence of Aro-Abatete-Umuoji-Nkpor connection either in their usages, customs, or traditions. On the other hand, the story linking these communities to Nri appears to enjoy more acceptability. As noted by Ekpunobi (1988) and strongly supported by Nwosu (2013) “before the advent of the Europeans, Nkpor-Umuoji-Abatete went to Eze Nri to pay their Nru (annual homage)”. Tradition affirms that the tribute were paid in recognition of the “fatherly role Nri was playing towards the three communities” and in recognition of the fact that Nri was their original home.

To further lend credence to this evidence on Nri origin of the three communities, Onwuejeogwu (1972) observed that in the past, the power and authority of Eze Nri were based on the belief of many Igbo settlements that Eze Nri had spiritual authority over them. Ilozue (1966), in his work-Umuoji Cultural Heritage-wrote equally that "the chief of Nri is the only person who can announce or denounce the sacredness of anything in Umuoji".

The analyses of the study of the three communities doubtless have shown that they share a common putative progenitor, upon which the need to institute a common meeting ground for the three communities for identification. In this respect, a consideration may be made by the leadership of the three communities on the re-enactment and celebration of the almost moribund feast called the OMA-NNE.

LEADERSHIP

The quarters and villages in Umuoji in order of seniority are as follows; Eziora (Aboh, Umuobia(Ukpabia), Ire, Amoji, Ekwulu and Urueze), Ifiteora (Ifite, Uruedeke, Umuoli and Umuazu), Dimechem (Agumaelum, Umuoma, Uruaneke, Dimboko, Umuechem, Urumkpu, Dianaokwu and Ideoma); Akala (Uruegbe, Akalaetiti, Aguma, Anogu and Abidi). Formerly, Umuoji had twenty five villages until Umunzulu merged with Amoji while Umuokezi joined Ideoma. Due to the number of Oji's children and grandchildren, Umuoji was referred to as Igwulube Okodu (Igwulube means locust).

Before now, the Umuoji kingship rotated among the five villages of Eziora quarter, being the first son that inherits the father's Obi in Igbo tradition and custom. Umuoji's kingship involves both a traditional Eze and an Igwe. [1] The current Eze of Umuoji is Eze Dr. Joseph Ifeanyichukwu Obadike (Ezedim II), from Abor. [2] He is a retired engineer and businessman who lived in America. He was preceded by Eze Dr. Gilbert Odikpo Obadike, a surgeon and medical director from Abor. [3] The present King (Igwe of Umuoji), HRH Dr Cyril Enweze(Ebubedike I), a renowned Economist who retired from the IMF as Director Of Operations IFAD and Vice President of ADB, is from Ifite in the Ifiteora quarter having succeeded Igwe Akum Micheal A. Nweze(Anumili I) who came from Ire in the Eziora quarter.
Each village is headed by an Ichie and the council of Ndi Ichie form the Igwe's Cabinet, and the political leadership of the village is headed by the chairman of the village Uka-Oye, which is the supreme administrative body of the village. Other traditional institutions in Umuoji are the Nze-na-Ozo, Age Grades, Umuofia, Umuokpu and Umuada etc. There is also the Umuoji Improvement Union which sees to the day-to-day governance of the town and the Umuoji Women Association and branches of the town Union.

CULTURE



There are three major festivals among others celebrated by the Umuoji people.
The most important is the Uzoiyi Festival , usually celebrated in March, kicks off the farming season. It ends with a spectacle of colorful and monumental masquerades for entertainment, each presented by one of the villages in Umuoji are AKWUNECHENYI (Aboh village), EGBENU OBA (Anogu village), NYAKWULU (Aguma village), AGU (Agumaelum village), ENYI (Abidi village), ZEBRA (Dimboko village), UGO and AJA AGBA AGU MGBA (Urumkpu village), IGADA (Uruegbe village), IBUBO (Ekwulu village), OBAMILI (Umuoli village), NKENEKWU (Ire village), AGABA (Uruaneke village), ENE(Urueze village), ODUM (Urudeke village), OCHAMILI (Ideoma village), IJELE (Umuobia village), ATU (Amoji village), AGUIYI (Umuoma village), OMA MBALA (Akala-Etiti village), AKWA UGO (Ifite village), AKUM GBAWALU UGBO (Dianokwu village), ANA ELI AKU (Umuechem village), INYINYA (Umuazu village). The Mbajekwe festival ushers in the Ili Ji Ofuu(New Yam Festival), is celebrated in August–September.
There are other feasts in between that are celebrated by villages that make up Umuoji town. The majority of the people had historically been subsistence farmers but now are in all fields of human endeavour.
Notable places in Umuoji include the Iba Oji in Ifite village, the Amangwu and Udume shrines in Aboh village, the Ideakpulu stream located in Umuoma/Ideoma Villages, the Ezi Ebenebe shrine in Akalaetiti village, Iba Aroli in Umuobia village. The early Catholic Christian missionaries to Umuoji established the popular Mater Amabilis Secondary School for girls, Our Lady's Catholic Church and St Francis Catholic Church/primary School. Umuoji has nine public primary schools and two Secondary schools (including the Boys High School, established in 1975) which is now renamed to community secondary school, Umuoji. And as well several private schools.

Another culture of the umuoji ( igwulube okodu) people is to honour the Python, popularly known as eke which is dedicated to Idemili. It is considered a sacrilege for one or a visitor in that town to kill a python and any perpetrator of such act is under cultural right to bury the python with the full funeral rites normally reserved for a human being to show their atonement for such act.

cheesmooth:
The Umuoji people, who occupy this present place known as Umuoji town, in the present Idemili North Local Government of Anambra State, Southeast
Nigeria , an Igbo speaking ethnic group , naturally fall among the people whose early history is much affected by lack of or non existence of a written record. Umuoji is bounded in the northwest by
Ogidi, in the southwest by Ojoto , southeast by Uke , in the northeast by Abatete and in the west by
Nkpor.

Two possible sources about Umuoji origin have been postulated. Both apparently are derived from oral tradition . The first, more widely held, is that Umuoji people originated from a man called Okodu, who was a descendant of a man called Nri. Another is that one Okoli Oti from Arochukwu was the ancestor of Umuoji.

In those early days only people of Arochukwu (Umuchukwu meaning Children of Supreme God) and Nri who were also regarded as sacred people or mediators between men and the gods were free to travel about and they were the two sets of people who were known throughout the then Igbo nation. Arochukwu people, the Aros, migrated from outside Nigeria, probably Egypt and that made them to be on the go always. They were also great warriors with sophisticated weapons that gave them privilege over the other inhabitants of the Igbo nation. Consequently, one great warrior, Okoli Oti from Arochukwu set was out in company of his followers to visit the famous Eze Nri (the great king of Nri). His intention was not that friendly but on reaching the Nri town, he changed his mind as a result of what he heard and saw about the Nri people. Okoli later decided to settle near the kingdom of his host and thereby found his own kingdom. He settled in the present area inhabited by Abatete people. Okoli later married a woman from Nri town. Some of his men never went back to their places of origin. They also raised up families later known as Isiuzo, Azu, Owa, Akwa, Oraofia and Mputu.

Okoli Oti brought with him three deities named Ezeigwe, Oji and Ogwugwu. He begat three sons and some daughters. The sons were Ezeogu, Ora and Idike. Ezeogu was the father of the Abatete people, otherwise known as Abatete Ezeogu. Ora the second son was the father of the Umuoji people, while Idike was the father of the Nkpor people. Ora Okoli had a son named Okodu and some daughters whose names were not known as nobody bothered to trace the lineage of women in Igboland then. Okodu is the father of Oji; he named him after his father's deity which he(Okodu) later inherited. Oji in turn begat Ora II whom he named after his grandfather.

From mythology, Ora II had two wives from each of whom he got two sons. The sons were Ezi, Ifite, Echem and Akala. Ezi and Echem were of the same mother, while Ifite and Akala were of the same mother. These made up the four Quarters of Umuoji and the villages therein.

From the various accounts on the origin of the three towns, the name of Okolie Otie, an itinerant trader from Arochukwu, appears a common denominator in the origin legends of the people. What appears to be significantly but regrettably missing from the various accounts, seems to be the name of the mother of the progenitors of the three communities.

Few observations are however pertinent to these accounts. One is that as far as the Arochukwu connection is concerned, striking flaws are apparent which calls for further investigation and reassessment. As noted by Ekpunobi (1998), “the story is an attempt by local historians to link Umuoji with the once famous Arochukwu trading expedition”. This position is borne out by the fact that as present, there is not yet any evidence of Aro-Abatete-Umuoji-Nkpor connection either in their usages, customs, or traditions. On the other hand, the story linking these communities to Nri appears to enjoy more acceptability. As noted by Ekpunobi (1988) and strongly supported by Nwosu (2013) “before the advent of the Europeans, Nkpor-Umuoji-Abatete went to Eze Nri to pay their Nru (annual homage)”. Tradition affirms that the tribute were paid in recognition of the “fatherly role Nri was playing towards the three communities” and in recognition of the fact that Nri was their original home.

To further lend credence to this evidence on Nri origin of the three communities, Onwuejeogwu (1972) observed that in the past, the power and authority of Eze Nri were based on the belief of many Igbo settlements that Eze Nri had spiritual authority over them. Ilozue (1966), in his work-Umuoji Cultural Heritage-wrote equally that "the chief of Nri is the only person who can announce or denounce the sacredness of anything in Umuoji".

The analyses of the study of the three communities doubtless have shown that they share a common putative progenitor, upon which the need to institute a common meeting ground for the three communities for identification. In this respect, a consideration may be made by the leadership of the three communities on the re-enactment and celebration of the almost moribund feast called the OMA-NNE.

All this are benin names, and they all have a different meaning in benin. lie is when you tell me
Obi
Igue
Eza
mean same thing in the same language

goalernestman:



All this are benin names, and they all have a different meaning in benin. lie is when you tell me
Obi
Igue
Eza
mean same thing in the same language

Eze means King.

Obi and Igwe are titles borne by an Eze.

Obi means kindred and also visitors place in a man's house.

The Obi represents the Obi (Kindred) and his Obi (visitors quarters) serve as the palace and a place of gathering for all the members of the community.
So, an Eze bears Obi as a title.

Igwe means sky. The king is believed to have derived his powers to govern the people from the sky(divine right to rulership), so he goes by the title Igwe.


In summary, Eze is the only Igbo word for the English word King.
Obi and Igwe are Igbo titles for an Eze. Only an Eze can bear those titles.

There is nothing Bini about Eze, Igwe and Obi. They are all Igbo words and deeply rooted in Igbo world view.

goalernestman:



All this are benin names, and they all have a different meaning in benin. lie is when you tell me
Obi
Igue
Eza
mean same thing in the same language

This is coming from people who tell us both Oba and Ogie are authentic Bini words?

pazienza:


Eze means King.

Obi and Igwe are titles borne by an Eze.

Obi means kindred and also visitors place in a man's house.

The Obi represents the Obi (Kindred) and his Obi (visitors quarters) serve as the palace and a place of gathering for all the members of the community.
So, an Eze bears Obi as a title.

Igwe means sky. The king is believed to have derived his powers to govern the people from the sky(divine right to rulership), so he goes by the title Igwe.


In summary, Eze is the only Igbo word for the English word King.
Obi and Igwe are Igbo titles for an Eze. Only an Eze can bear those titles.

There is nothing Bini about Eze, Igwe and Obi. They are all Igbo words and deeply rooted in Igbo world view.

You should have be ashamed for lying to yourself.

Only igwe I found correct in what you wrote.

OK let me ask you this:
What is kindred, visitor place in a man's house, in igbo language.

And Eze is a name of the man who found igbo land in igbo history the name do not mean king at all

pazienza:


Eze means King.

Obi and Igwe are titles borne by an Eze.

Obi means kindred and also visitors place in a man's house.

The Obi represents the Obi (Kindred) and his Obi (visitors quarters) serve as the palace and a place of gathering for all the members of the community.
So, an Eze bears Obi as a title.

Igwe means sky. The king is believed to have derived his powers to govern the people from the sky(divine right to rulership), so he goes by the title Igwe.


In summary, Eze is the only Igbo word for the English word King.
Obi and Igwe are Igbo titles for an Eze. Only an Eze can bear those titles.

There is nothing Bini about Eze, Igwe and Obi. They are all Igbo words and deeply rooted in Igbo world view.

Obi or Ovbi is a Benin word for child. In ishan it called Ovbie in ijaw isoko most place in delata it called Ovbi in the east it called Obi. In Benin it Ovbi also which mean "child" a child of Oba, Ovbi Oba is a title give to all prince of Benin ruling other place.


All king bearing Obi or Ovbi are all prince of Benin kingdom from igbo to delta if you don't know this fact meaning you don't know history you can go to the palace of any one you doubt to confirm this fact.

goalernestman:



Obi or Ovbi is a Benin word for child. In ishan it called Ovbie in ijaw isoko most place in delata it called Ovbi in the east it called Obi. In Benin it Ovbi also which mean "child" a child of Oba, Ovbi Oba is a title give to all prince of Benin ruling other place.


All king bearing Obi or Ovbi are all prince of Benin kingdom from igbo to delta if you don't know this fact meaning you don't know history you can go to the palace of any one you doubt to confirm this fact.

There is nothing like Ovbi in Igboland. Stop embarrassing yourself.
Every Obi in SE and Anioma are all called Eze as well. There are Many Obis In SE with no connection to Bini.
The current Eze Agbor is not even bearing Obi title. His title is Dein, a name of a former Eze Agbor in the past.

No Bini prince founded any Igbo speaking towns, such Bini princes would have to be imbecilic or retarded to lose their Bini language for Igbo one.

pazienza:


There is nothing like Ovbi in Igboland. Stop embarrassing yourself.
Every Obi in SE and Anioma are all called Eze as well. There are Many Obis In SE with no connection to Bini.
The current Eze Agbor is not even bearing Obi title. His title is Dein, a name of a former Eze Agbor in the past.

No Bini prince founded any Igbo speaking towns, such Bini princes would have to be imbecilic or retarded to lose their Bini language for Igbo one.

Why not go to the kings palace to confirm this fact instead of you to be brainwashing urself. After all the south kings pay homage to Oba of Benin dein included I heard that the dein of agbor u are talking about says then later his people should not promote any igbo culture before their ancestors gods strik them.

Am not saying it just for saying sake it a fact. All this kings are the ones even saying it not me if u so much doubt go to their palace.dien is also a Benin word.

goalernestman:



Why not go to the kings palace to confirm this fact instead of you to be brainwashing urself. After all the south kings pay homage to Oba of Benin dein included I heard that the dein of agbor u are talking about says then later said they should not promote any igbo culture before their ancestors gods strik them.

Am not saying it just for saying sake it a fact. All this kings are the ones even saying it not me if u so much doubt go to their palace.dien is also a Benin word

What fact? That Bini princes were too imbecilic and slow to lose their Bini language and replace them with Igbo ones?
Nope. I don't need to consult anyone to smell a bullshit when I see one.
Obi is an Igbo word. Every right thinking person out there know this. Mikel Obi, Peter Obi, etc. There are thousands of Obi in Igboland and non in Bini. Child in Bini is Omo and not Ovbi or whatever nonsense you are concocting. That's why your Oba is Omo n'Oba and not Ovbi n'Oba .

pazienza:


What fact? That Bini princes were too imbecilic and slow to lose their Bini language and replace them with Igbo ones?
Nope. I don't need to consult anyone to smell a bullshit when I see one.

Now u know but u just wonder how their language change. Yes time changes everything u can see how Latin change to Italiano, English

goalernestman:


Now u know but u just wonder how their language change. Yes time changes everything u can see how Latin change to Italiano, English

Italiano is still a Romance language. It's related to Latin.
For comparison. Isoko and Urhobo evolved new languages from Bini, yet the language remains Edoid, proving in deed, that the people are Bini related.

Even in far away Bayelsa in Epie, the people have history of Bini origin, and this is proved by the fact that they indeed speak an Edoid language.

No time will make a people who migrated from Bini to change their Edoid language entirely for Igboid ones. It's obvious the history is a denatured one.

pazienza:


Italiano is still a Romance language. It's related to Latin.
For comparison. Isoko and Urhobo evolved new languages from Bini, yet the language remains Edoid, proving in deed, that the people are Bini related.

Even in far away Bayelsa in Epie, the people have history of Bini origin, and this is proved by the fact that they indeed speak an Edoid language.

No time will make a people who migrated from Bini to change their Edoid language entirely for Igboid ones. It's obvious the history is a denatured one.

But aka language is also Benin and igbo and most king in there are obi.

Tell me any obi who do not have history with Benin.

goalernestman:


But aka language is also Benin and igbo and most king in there are obi.

Tell me any obi who do not have history with Benin.

The Obis in Nnewi, Obi of Ozubulu, Obi of Nkpolokwu, Obi of Nnobi, etc.

Ika language is not Bini, it's Igboid. Every single linguist out there that had studied Ika language, classified it as Igboid and not Edoid.

Every Obi in Ikaland is also known as Eze and not Oba or Ogie/Ojie/Ovie, as found amongst the Edoid people.

So Binis want to claim Umuoji also?

The Palace of Eze Eri is known as Obu (Obi) Gad. Eri is believed to be the son of Gad, the son of Jacob.

Kingdom of Eri is far older than Bini Kingdom. So stop deceiving yourself.

I lived with one Umoji man in Aba in the mid ninety's.He is the owner of Nicol shoe industries.His name is Peter Nwachukwu

pazienza:


The Obis in Nnewi, Obi of Ozubulu, Obi of Nkpolokwu, Obi of Nnobi, etc.

Ika language is not Bini, it's Igboid. Every single linguist out there that had studied Ika language, classified it as Igboid and not Edoid.

Every Obi in Ikaland is also known as Eze and not Oba or Ogie/Ojie/Ovie, as found amongst the Edoid people.

Who is Eza is it that man that came from the Bible, so if the Bible did not get to Africa igbo would have no history

ChristianNorth:
So Binis want to claim Umuoji also?

The Palace of Eze Eri is known as Obu (Obi) Gad. Eri is believed to be the son of Gad, the son of Jacob.

Kingdom of Eri is far older than Bini Kingdom. So stop deceiving yourself.

Eri who you people says he came from the Bible lol. Ika people have rejected know this man in their history

ChristianNorth:
So Binis want to claim Umuoji also?

The Palace of Eze Eri is known as Obu (Obi) Gad. Eri is believed to be the son of Gad, the son of Jacob.

Kingdom of Eri is far older than Bini Kingdom. So stop deceiving yourself.

Obi of anitcha obi of agbor of asaba and the rest ika places have always said they never live in an umbrella under eri or Eza in anytime in history, they where always under Benin under one rul of oba. Igbo people just like telling fake story I fear una.


Eri Eza nri kingdom is faked as hell this never exist

Why are you people discussing an intellectual subject like history with someone whose English shows him up as undereducated?

goalernestman:


Obi of anitcha obi of agbor of asaba and the rest ika places have always said they never live in an umbrella under eri or Eza in anytime in history, they where always under Benin under one rul of oba. Igbo people just like telling fake story I fear una.


Eri Eza nri kingdom is faked as hell this never exist

I won't respond to your delusion. Eze Eri and Eze Nri are both alive with functional kingdoms.

ChristianNorth:

I won't respond to your delusion. Eze Eri and Eze Nri are both alive with functional kingdoms.

bring the nri kingdom map for me to see. liars even Nigeria first president igbo man claim this is lie and there is noting like Eri nri Eze Eri was a corrupted name from the south by igbo to brainwash their follows

goalernestman:


bring the nri kingdom map for me to see. liars even Nigeria first president igbo man claim this is lie and there is noting like Eri nri Eze Eri was a corrupted name from the south by igbo to brainwash their follows

Nnamdi Azikiwe say a diffrent story and after the civil war igbos started re rewriting their history just for them to gain ammunition from Israel.

changing and re writing their formal history, even till now no original king will agree to it that Eri nri once existed, if it existed why not show me the map of it and the year it last. all this fact are what missing in the story of nri kingdom

goalernestman:


bring the nri kingdom map for me to see. liars even Nigeria first president igbo man claim this is lie and there is noting like Eri nri Eze Eri was a corrupted name from the south by igbo to brainwash their follows

Lol.

The current Eze Nri is Eze Onyesoh while the current Eze Eri (the Igwe Ndi Igbo and Aka ji Ofo Igbo) is Eze Chukwuemeka Eri.

Eze Chukwuemeka Eri is the direct descendant of Eri, the acclaimed progenitor of Ndi Igbo and his palace is known as the Obu Gad (Obi Gad).

Eze Nri are crowned by Eze Eri and he is the priest-king, the spiritual head of the realm.

Eze Eri presides over an annual festival that commemorates the coming of Gad (Son of Jacob) to Nri.

ChristianNorth:

Lol.

The current Eze Nri is Eze Onyesoh while the current Eze Eri (the Igwe Ndi Igbo and Aka ji Ofo Igbo) is Eze Chukwuemeka Eri.

Eze Chukwuemeka Eri is the direct descendant of Eri, the acclaimed progenitor of Ndi Igbo and his palace is known as the Obu Gad (Obi Gad).

Eze Nri are crowned by Eze Eri and he is the priest-king, the spiritual head of the realm.

Eze Eri presides over an annual festival that commemorates the coming of Gad (Son of Jacob) to Nri.

They tend to be called Obi because they don't remember any time they were in nri kingdom and under or related to anything as Eze. So they can't be called Eze.

Nri kingdom was brought in 19th century by political party of igbo.

Umuoji is far older than Arocukwu. This Aro story is both embarrassing and shameful..smh