Odinani or Odinala also known as Omenala, is the traditional cultural belief and practice of the Igbo people of south east Nigeria. These terms, as used here in the Igbo language, are synonymous with the traditional Igbo "religious system" which was not considered separate from the social norms of ancient or traditional Igbo societies. Theocratic in nature, spirituality played a huge role in their everyday lives. Although it has largely been supplanted by Christianity, the indigenous belief system remains in strong effect among the rural and village populations of the Igbo, where it has at times influenced the colonial religions. Odinani is a pantheistic and polytheistic faith, having a strong central deity at its head. All things spring from this deity. Although a pantheon of other gods and spirits, these being Ala, Amadiọha, Anyanwụ, Ekwensu, Ikenga, exists in the belief system, as it does in many other Traditional African religions, the lesser deities prevalent in Odinani serve as helpers or elements of Chukwu, the central deity.
Onitsha is a city on the eastern bank of the Niger River, in Anambra State, Nigeria. A metropolitan city, Onitsha is known for its river port and as an economic hub for commerce, industry, and education. It is one of the largest metropolitan area in Nigeria with a fast growing population of over 8 million people. It hosts the Onitsha Main Market, the largest market in Africa in terms of geographical size and volume of goods. Onitsha and neighboring Asaba on the western bank of the Niger River form a continuous metropolitan area.
Anambra State is a Nigerian state, located in the southeastern region of the country. The state was created on 27 August 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State and Rivers State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State to the north. The State Capital is Awka, while the State’s Largest City is Onitsha which is regarded as one of the largest metropolis area in Africa.
Nnewi is a commercial and industrial city in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria. It is the second largest city in Anambra state after Onitsha. Nnewi as a metropolitan area has two local government area, which are Nnewi North and Nnewi South, all centred around the Nnewi town. Even Ekwusigo local government area is now part of Nnewi urban area, as urbanization continues to spread from Nnewi to neighbouring communities. The Nnewi town which is the only town in Nnewi North comprises four villages: Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim, and Nnewichi. Nnewi had been the centre of economics and commerce, being at a time the fastest growing industrial city east of the Niger, being the home of many industries such as The Ibeto Group, the Chicason Group, Cutix Cables, amongst others. The first indigenous car manufacturing plant in Nigeria is located in the city while the first wholly Made-in-Nigeria motorcycle, the 'NASENI M1' was manufactured in Nnewi.
Awka is the capital city of Anambra State, Nigeria. The city was declared capital on 21 August 1991, after the creation of Anambra and Enugu state, which moved the capital from Enugu to Awka. The city has an estimated population of 301,657 as of the 2006 Nigerian census. The both LGAs of Awka South and North had a estimated population of 430,200 in 2022. The city is located at 199.1 kilometres (123.7 mi), by road, directly north of Port Harcourt in the centre of the densely-populated Igbo heartland in South-East Nigeria.
Igboland, also known as Southeastern Nigeria, is the indigenous homeland of the Igbo people. It is a cultural and common linguistic region in southern Nigeria. Geographically, it is divided into two sections by the lower Niger River: an eastern and a western one. Its population is characterised by the diverse Igbo culture and the speakers of equally diverse Igbo languages.
Abacha is a town in Anambra State in the southeastern part of Nigeria. It is bordered by Abatete, Nimo, Oraukwu and Eziowelle towns. It forms part of the ten communities in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, and it is also part of the Anambra Central Senatorial Zone. Its people are among the Igbo-speaking communities in the eastern part of Nigeria. Abacha comprises Five official villages; Umudisi, Umuazu, Umuokpolonwu, Umuekpeli, and Ugwuma, with Nogba kindred aspiring to be a village of their own. Umuokpolonwu village of Abacha has two villages, namely: Umunneora and Umuaribo.
Nkpor is a town in Idemili North local government area of Anambra state. The town of Nkpor had an estimated population of 109,377 in 2007. It is attached to the much larger city of Onitsha to the west, Oze to the north, Ogidi and Umuoji to the east, and Obosi to the south. The name 'Nkpor' is derived from the adulteration of the Igbo word nkpogha meaning 'repositioning'.Nkpor is known for its farming prowess. There is a maize known as ‘akpu aka Nkpor’ because of its robust yield and is reminiscent of Nkpor men who are often muscular. In ancient times, a rich man is known in Nkpor for his rich yam barn and the number of animals in his pen. An average Nkpor indigene does not buy foodstuff in the market and does not deny his visitors food. Nkpor is a traditional Community that worshiped the God of their ancestors before the advent of Christianity.
Alor is one of the seven communities comprising the Idemili South Local Government of Anambra State in the southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It is surrounded by seven neighbouring towns, namely Oraukwu, Nnobi, Abatete, Ideani, Uke, Adazi Ani and Nnokwa. Alor has several rivers which names in most cases are derived from the major idol of the village touched by the river – Mmili Ezigbo, Mmili Nwangene, Mmili Ọhọsha, Mmili Ideọhwọlọ, Mmili Iyiogwgwu, and Mmili Ọbịaja.
Ayamelum is a local government area (LGA) in Anambra state, in the southeastern part of Nigeria with headquarters in Anaku. The towns that make up the local government are Anaku, Umueje, Omasi, Igbakwu, Umumbo, Omor, Umuerum, and Ifite Ogwari. Ayamelum’s area is situated at the border between Enugu state and Anambra state. The communities in the area are notable for food production.
Ogbaru is a local government area in Anambra State, south-central Nigeria. The area's local government headquarters is in the port city of Atani.
Oyi is a Local Government Area in Anambra State, Nigeria. It is home to the Oyi people. The towns that make up the local government are Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Awkuzu, Ogbunike, Umuneba, Umunya and Nteje.
The Kingdom of Nri was a medieval polity located in what is now Nigeria. The kingdom existed as a sphere of religious and political influence over a significant part of what is known today as Igboland prior to expansion, and was administered by a priest-king called an Eze Nri. The Eze Nri managed trade and diplomacy on behalf of the Nri people, a subgroup of the Igbo-speaking people, and possessed divine authority in religious matters.
Igbo culture are the customs, practices and traditions of the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. It consists of ancient practices as well as new concepts added into the Igbo culture either by cultural evolution or by outside influence. These customs and traditions include the Igbo people's visual art, music and dance forms, as well as their attire, cuisine and language dialects. Because of their various subgroups, the variety of their culture is heightened further.
Enuani is an Igbo dialect spoken in Nigeria by the Anioma people of Delta State, Onitsha, Obosi and Ogbaru in Anambra State, Mgbidi in Imo State, Ndoni in Rivers State and some parts of Ibaji in Delta state. Enuani is tonal like the rest of Anioma dialects and is particularly related to the standard Igbo pronunciation in many regards. The Enuani dialect is the dominant Anioma dialect in Delta State.
Nanka, is an Igbo speaking town in Southeastern Nigeria. The town is bordered by Agulu to the north, the town of Nanka is posited to exist alongside Igboukwu.
Eziorsu is an autonomous community on the South bank of the Oguta Lake, southeastern Nigeria. Its one of the foremost territories that witnessed western or European expedition during colonization and used as a gateway by the British to advance the Igboland further. As at the 1991 census in Nigeria, the population of Eziorsu was estimated at 14,560. It is one of the Oil and Gas producing communities in Imo State, being the second largest producing community in Oguta L.G.A after Izombe. The community promised to continue to protect and support Addax Petroleum at all times, especially as the Company remained the best partner to the communities in terms of best practices in corporate social responsibility.
Awka-Etiti, historically known as Awka-Diedo ; later mentioned as Awka-Nkakwu (Okankaku) by colonial authors, is an affluent town comprising seven villages in Idemili South local government area of Anambra state, Nigeria. The seven villages of Awka-Etiti in order of age established are: Nkolofia, Umunocha, Ejighinandu, Iruowelle, Umudunu, Nnaba and Ogunzele.
Imo Awka festival (Imo Oka or Imoka festival) is an ancient cultural event that is celebrated annually by the people of Awka kingdom in the month of May in order to venerate their gods. Imo-Oka shrine is symbolic and it is denoted by the special white-bellied monkey, widely respected and revered as the messengers of the shrine.
Anambra State Library Board (ANSLB), is a Nigerian-established Library Board that manages all the public libraries in Anambra State. It is situated along Awka – Enugu express road by Aroma junction in Awka, the capital of Anambra State. Its headquarter is located at Professor Kenneth Dike State Central e-Library, Awka. It has eleven public libraries, comprising three Divisional libraries with seven Branch/Community libraries and the headquarter that houses the Library Board – Professor Kenneth Dike State Central e-Library, Awka. The State Library Board has won awards for the Best Public Library in Nigeria for three consecutive years, earning it another award for the Ever Green Public Library in Nigeria
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