₦airaland Forum

Akwete Weavers

The Gate of Umuahia

Abia Tower

Ojukwu's Bunker

National War Museum

Umuahia is the capital city of Abia State in southeastern Nigeria. Umuahia is located along the rail road that lies between Port Harcourt to Umuahia's south and Enugu city to its north. Umuahia is well known as being an agricultural market center. It is also a railway collection point for crops such as yams, cassava, corn (maize), taro, citrus fruits, and palm oil and kernels. Umuahia has a rich post colonial history embedded in the civil war. It was once declared the second capital of the short-lived nation of the Republic of Biafra on 28 September 1967 after the first capital, Enugu was captured by Nigerian troops. On June 28, 1968 Umuahia was captured by Nigerian troops during Operation OAU but was re-captured by Biafran troops on July 23 that same year. On April 22, 1969 Umuahia was occupied and nearly taken by Nigerian troops but they were forced to retreat due to a stiff offensive by Biafran Maj. E.A. Eutuk. It was finally captured on the 24th of December 1969. Umuahia might appear to be boring to an outsider but with a bit of luck and insider information it promises to be a hugely rewarding experience for any visitor.

1.National War Museum

The National War Museum has the highest collection of the Nigerian civil war weapons that are no longer in used. The weapons are from both the Nigerian military and the defunct Republic of Biafra. It is a very popular place in Umuahia so it will be easy to find. The museum was commissioned in 1985 on a large expanse of land. It has three galleries that cover traditional warfare, the armed forces and the Nigerian Civil War weapon galleries. War relics housed in the museum include weapons used during the pre-colonial civil disturbances, warfare materials used during communal and inter-tribal wars and those of the Nigerian Civil War. The museum’s location was chosen because it was where the bunker housing the famous shortwave radio “the Voice of Biafra”was transmitted from. Voice of Biafra was the mouth-piece for Biafra during the war. One of the best museums in the country.

2.Ojukwu's Bunker.

Ojukwu Bunker is part of the National War Museum and its annex at Okpara Avenue, Umuahia, Abia State. The bunker, constructed during the civil war after the fall of Enugu, was the subterranean office for the Biafran government. The premises belonged to Late Dr. Michael I. Okpara, the second Premier of Eastern Nigeria from December 17, 1959 to January 15, 1966. The bunker measures 26.9 feet deep, about 8 meters. It was done under 90 days, between April to June 1968. All the people involved in the construction of the bunker were less than 40 years old. A marvel of architecture and engineering.

3.Abia Tower

A grand work of architecture in the heart of the city of Umuahia. Abia Tower is graced with a pleasant arrangement of flowers. Always a perfect site for your picture perfect moments.

4.The Gate of Umuahia

So you must be wondering, what's so fantastic about a gate that anyone would want to see it. Perhaps it's the craftsmanship involved in its construction. Or maybe it's the legend behind it? Nope. The gate of Umuahia is actually not a gate. It's just what they call the grand market located at the center of the city. Along with being a market, it's also a stop for various commuters travelling to and fro various places in the southeast. A great place to have an experience of the Umuahia.

5.Drive through The City.

With its superb road network and low population density, there's rarely ever a traffic jam or delay. A great city to go for a cruise.

6.D'Place

One of the best restaurants in the city , it's a great place to have anything from a local delicacy like Nkwobi to various continental dishes. It also serves as a art gallery, so you can feast your eyes on indigenous artworks while you await your sumptuous meal.

7.Kwa Ibo River

The Kwa Ibo River (also Quaibo River ) is a river that rises near Umuahia in Abia State, Nigeria, the river feeds a zone of mangrove swamps linked by creeks and lagoons that is separated from the sea by a low and narrow ridge of sand. Ibeno, on the eastern side of the Kwa Ibo River about 3 kilometres from the river mouth, is one of the largest fishing settlements on the Nigerian coast.

8. Visit the Akwete Weavers.

Just a few kilometres from Umuahia we have the town of Akwete. Akwete cloth is a unique hand woven textile produced in the town of Akwete. The traditional Igbo weaving as demonstrated in Akwete processes sisal-hemp, raffia and spun cotton into finished products. While the coarse raffia materials are used by masquerades and in the past as head gear for warriors among other uses, the hemp material was used to weave towels, ropes and handbags. The more comfortable and colorful spun cotton is used to weave cloth for everyday wearing. The weaving of the cloth is usually done by the women, and the ability to weave is seen as a gift. As soon as the girls of the town are old enough to handle a loom, they're taught the art of weaving. Many other towns in the east produce a similar product but none comes close to that of Akwete.

9.Ekpe Festival

In the month of January, the resident spirits and masquerades of Umuahia come out to play. The masquerade festivals are always a sight to see. Watch out for the war dance of the masquerades.

10.New Yam Festival

A very important event in any igbo community. The New Yam Festival is especially enjoyable in Umuahia because it's a large producer of oil palm. The festival takes place at the end of the rainy season. Usually in early August.

The biennial celebration of Ekpe festival has just been successfully held by the people of Umuode community in Nsulu north LGA, Abia State.
The procession for the festival started off at Jaja’s compound where the Ekpe suddenly emerged from the ant holes, lead by its polic. She was directed safely to the village square (a large area of land all cleaned up for the special event). Here, the climax of the event, which is also the point at which everyone can now say that the event was successful or was even done at all, took place.
At the squar, we witnessed the elegant cutting of the goat head with one strike of the cutlass by the Ekpe. As the people cheered for the success of this act, a woman carried about the goat's head on her own head, moving around, showing everyone the symbolism of a good year to come for the community and its people, both those home and those abroad bathed by the blood washing her from the goat’s head to her head down to her bosom.
While this is done, the Ekpe guarded swiftly by its police to the king’s compound where another goat met its brutal death. This act continus in every other house which has had the chance of someone from the family wear the female mask over the past years as far as could be remembered. Each of the houses reach quickly and produce a goat while the people cheer the Ekpe who dashed away the goats head in one strike, which did not matter now.
The Umuode community is one of the few communities that still celebrate this long existing ritual. As other communities have stopped due to the influx of the Christian faith which preaches vehemently against it. While we still thank God that the young can still see this feast celebrated. We have also noticed the downfall in the colorful nature and attendance to the festival.
I remember vividly my secondary school principal late Mr. Nwamkpa, a literary artist say, “it is only lack of knowledge that makes people drop such useful cultures and traditions in the name of church” and then he goes ahead to explain to us the origin of Ekpe as told to him by his grandfather , giving us reasons why it should be celebrated. One thing he said for sure was that there was no spiritual under tone as it was just a show of strength, beauty and creativity.
If the Ekpe has spiritual under tone or not, I know not but I still maintain the stand that such a feast should not be thrown way in the name of Church. We are Africans and while the blacks abroad who can no longer trace back their roots remain with their faith, we that still remain here should not forget what makes us African.
Written by
King Ugonna Ibekwe

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Thank you sir

Please who has any information on the location of the national art gallery/ theatre Lagos.
1 location ( and must likely how do I get to it from onipan)
2 what dose it cost to enter
Thank you for your replays

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pls I'm still new to snail farming help me with answers yo this
1 I notice empty shells in my pen and then the eggs are not hatching what do you think could be wrong.
2 I am moving to Nsukka were snails are not eaten based on custom do you think I can develop a farm in this area considering that the custom of the people is anti- snail .
thank you for your advice in advance

Hello farmers and non Nigerian lazy youths
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looking at the recent trend and motivations on nairaland and the rest of news in general
I have been studying all about snail farming for 2 weeks now and have realized that its not only flexible but easy to manage and cost effective but my only problem is that I live in Nsukka Enugu state and in this area due to cultural reasons they don't eat snail . what do you think should I still go ahead ahead to establish one considering market and the cultural reasons. thank you.

I have been studying all about snail farming for 2 weeks now and have realized that its not only flexible but easy to manage and cost effective but my only problem is that I live in Nsukka Enugu state and in this area due to cultural reasons they don't eat snail . what do you think should I still go ahead ahead to establish one considering market and the cultural reasons. thank you.

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I thought they say that chocolate weaknens the male system

There is no way a direct digital camera could have done this with out editing.

There are 7 stages of love. Which one are you on?



#1 Stage 1 - Crush

This is one of the most incredible stages of love and it marks the beginning of your relationship. Here, you find yourself attracted to another person and your thoughts are completely filled with their idea. You look for that one moment when you can make contact and plan your strategies. It is one of the sweetest and craziest periods where you just don't feel like doing anything apart from thinking about your crush. Hint: If your friends are teasing you with someone and you are blushing, this is where you stand.



#2 Stage 2 - First contact

This is the part where you work up the courage to finally talk to your crush. And this is also the stage where your planning goes down the drain. You find yourself confused, awkward, and desperately trying to impress your crush in the most adorable way. First impressions matter and sometimes this stage can be really crucial for your long-term relationship to be founded on.



#3 Stage 3 - Getting to know each other

This is the stage where you go out on your first stage which turns into further dates. At this point, you are still slightly awkward but are interested in knowing everything about each other. You want to know your partner's daily routines, their quirks, their likes, their dislikes and basically everything that comes to your head.



#4 Stage 4 - Expression of love

This is the stage when you finally understand that you are perfect for each other and you cannot even imagine a life without each other. You feel intensely attracted to each other and there's not a moment you would spend apart. You understand that your feelings are genuine and finally say the 3 magical words: 'I love you' (just in case you were wondering).



#5 Stage 5 - Planning a future together

After you have expressed your love for each other, you are already committed in a way. Now that you know that both of you are comfortable with each other, you start looking towards the future together. You start discussing a life which you'll build together, talk about compromises, if any, and what you expect from each other in life. This is the serious part of love but one of the most important ones.



#6 Stage 6 - Marriage/committed for life

This stage is where you cement your relationship. You propose to each other, you say that you do and find yourself happily standing facing each other, in front of the world. You are now one with each other, both legally and spiritually. This is a transition as well as a stage which signifies that both of you have accepted each other completely (good, bad, and ugly) and are ready to stand by each other through life's thick and thin.



#7 Stage 7 - Companionship

This is when things get real. Life happens! Once you are married and start living together, other responsibilities start taking over but the best couples are those who find it in themselves to fight the odds together. Living a life together means that you are both in the same boat and what affect one affects the other.

As Abians prepare to met with the president and his vice, all major roads in the state capital have been blocked by the Nigerian security forces and movement from Aba to Umuahia are short down as at the time of this report filling No commercial buses are allowed to cross from aba to umuahia.
While well meaning Abians have gathered at the stadium in umuahia awaiting the presidents arrival.

The hand of the first man by the right looks like stick. If Nigerians were wise they would never has elected someone we was a military officer at president expecting him to hear their Crys

By 3am

You people have started agin this night.
Abeg allow us make we sleep

Many of us dress on our best cloths every Sunday morning and head down to church with different purposes, such as 1 enjoy the company,
2 dance to the music
3 So we do not get a call on why we were not in church
4 because that was the way we were brought up
The major and most important reason why every Christian should go to church is to hear the word of God, but due to other human conditions we tend at the end of the day not to get this as most of us sleep or are outside during preaching times.
So the big question before you go to bed is
What did the preacher , teach or preach today most likely with bible reference so we can learn.
Have a great night rest.