Enugwu Aguleri

Last updated

Enugwu Aguleri
Town
Nigeria location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Enugwu Aguleri
Location in Nigeria
Coordinates: 6°20′N6°53′E / 6.333°N 6.883°E / 6.333; 6.883
Country Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria
State Anambra State

Enugwu Aguleri is a community in Anambra state (Nigeria) with one of the oldest dynasty in South eastern Nigeria in which the kingdom has produced over thirty four kings of Aguleri, up to the 18th century, and has continued, in recent times, up to now, to produce the ruler of Enugwu Aguleri. The Ezeora dynasty has remained powerful been the sacred holder of the Ovo Eri and as well occupying the throne of Eri at Obu-Gad. [1] It is located in the present Anambra State.

Contents

Administration

His Majesty, Eze Chukwuemeka Eri
(The Custodian of the Sacred Ovo Eri) (Coronation: August 1976) Eze eri.jpg
His Majesty, Eze Chukwuemeka Eri
(The Custodian of the Sacred Ovo Eri) (Coronation: August 1976)

Traditional Rulership: - Hereditary (Ezeora Dynasty)

The Ndi Ichie, Ndi Ojiana, Eze Eri Cabinet chiefs and the Town Union Executives.

Villages

Enugwu Aguleri comprises six (6) villages namely Amuleri (Ama Amuleri), Umuokpoto (Ama Umuokpoto),Umuezunu (Ama Umuezunu) Umuekwe, Umuakwu and Umuenini popularly known as Enugwu Ndida (Ama Obuga).

Festivals

Traditional titles: (seven traditional Sacraments for men only) Ozo, Ogbuevi, Ivijioku, Ekwu, Amanwulu, Oba and Nze. Nze is the highest of these titles and it is mostly taken by the elderly in Aguleri. The paraphernalia of these titles include: Red cap(okpu ododo), Anklet, Ngwuagiliga/alo (title scepter), Akpa ewu (goat skin bag), Nzu (white chalk) and trypod stool (oche mgbo) and a medium-sized bell. Uvio and Nchachaa are the musical instruments for the titled men's dirge in Aguleri. Non titled men are not allowed to partake in this Uvio dance and defaulters are heavily fined. Nze which is the highest of these titles is highly revered and the diseased members are buried in a special cemetery(oli-nze) designated for men of the Nze society at midnight by their members. Some of these practices started diminishing with the advent of Christianity in Aguleri.

Traditional titles for women; IYOMU & ikiti;This title is taken only by reputable matured women in Aguleri who have contributed in one way or the other to the development of the community. The woman to take this title and her family must be ready to go through the expenses that go with the ceremony that accompany this title in the form of the properties the concerned lady must procure to be able to support the affluence she is expected to display during the ceremony such as lengths of very expensive cloths (wrappers), expensive fashion tables etc. She must also be ready to procure all kinds of food items to be used in entertaining guests during the occasion. The newly inducted members of this group undergo procession beautifully decorated and each of them at a time must be given opportunity to display her ability to dance (itu unyaka) in full admiration of guests, spectators and family members.

Christianity has dealt a very heavy blow on most of the traditional values of Aguleri  just like many other igbo communities where on conversion some Christians unfortunately classify some aspects of our cultures as satanic without any substantiation.

Institutions of learning

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idoma people</span> Ethnic group in Nigeria

The Idomas are people that primarily inhabit the lower western areas of Benue State, Nigeria, and some of them can be found in Taraba State, Cross Rivers State, Enugu State, Kogi State and Nasarawa State in Nigeria. The Idoma language is classified in the Akweya subgroup of the Idomoid languages of the Volta–Niger family, which include Igede, Alago, Agatu, Etulo, Ete, Akweya (Akpa) and Yala languages of Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Enugu, and Northern Cross River states. The Akweya subgroup is closely related to the Yatye-Akpa sub-group. The bulk of the territory is inland, south of river Benue, some seventy-two kilometres east of its confluence with River Niger. The Idoma tribe are known to be 'warriors' and 'hunters' of class, but hospitable and peace-loving. The greater part of Idoma land remained largely unknown to the West until the 1920s, leaving much of the colourful traditional culture of the Idoma intact. The population of the Idomas is estimated to be about 3.5 million. The Idoma people have a traditional ruler called the Och'Idoma who is the head of the Idoma Area Traditional Council. This was introduced by the British. Each community has its own traditional chief such as the former Ad'Ogbadibo of Orokam, Late Chief D.E Enenche. The Palace of the Och'Idoma is located at Otukpo, Benue State. The present Och'Idoma, HRM, Elaigwu Odogbo John, the 5th Och'Idoma of the Idoma People was installed on the 30th of June, 2022 following the passing of his Predecessor HRH Agabaidu Elias Ikoyi Obekpa who ruled from 1996 to October 2021. Past Och'Idomas also include: HRH, Agabaidu Edwin Ogbu, who reigned from 1996 to 1997, HRH, Abraham Ajene Okpabi of Igede descent who ruled from 1960 to 1995 and HRH, Agabaidu Ogiri Oko whose reign took place between 1948 and 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Igboland</span> Cultural region in 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.

Nri is an Igbo city-state in Anambra State, Nigeria. It was the seat of a powerful and imperial state who was influenced much by the territories inhabited by the Igbo of Awka and Onitsha to the east; the Efik, the Ibibio, to the south; Nsukka and Asaba, and the Anioma to the west. Today, Nri claims to be the heart and origin of the Igbos, but it is historically dated that Igbo Ukwu, formally known as Igbo, and Igbo Nkwo is the true origin and beginning of the Igbos.

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.

Ejemekwuru is an Igbo-speaking community that sits in the North-Western part of Imo State in the southeastern region of Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oyi</span> LGA and city in Anambra State, Nigeria

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.

Nsugbe is a town in Anambra East Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Nri</span> Ancient African kingdom

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.

Anambra East is a Local Government Area in Anambra State, south-central Nigeria. Towns that make up the local government are Aguleri, Enugwu Aguleri, Eziagulu Otu Aguleri, Enugwu Otu Aguleri, Mkpunando-otu Aguleri, Ikem Ivite, Igbariam, Umuoba Anam, Nando, Umueri, and Nsugbe.

Aguleri is a medium-sized town located within the Anambra Valley in the southeastern quadrant of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is a country on the west coast of Africa. Aguleri is the largest town in the Anambra East local government area of Anambra State in Nigeria, bordered by Umueri, Anam, and Nando in the west; Anaku, Omor, Ifite Ogwari, Igbakwu, and Umueje in the east; Iggah, Ojjor, Asaba, and Ogwurugwu communities of Uzo Uwani lga in Enugu state in the south; and in the north, it borders Obele, Odeke, and Eshonwa communities of Ibaji lga in Kogi state. Census figures put the population of Aguleri at close to 900,000 people. Aguleri has a landmass of about 380 square kilometers.

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.

Eri is said to be the original legendary cultural head of the Umu-eri groups of the Igbo people. Eri established a community in the middle of Anambra river valley in Aguleri where he married two wives. The first wife, Nneamakụ, bore him five children. The first was Agulu, the founder of Aguleri, the second was Menri, the founder of Umunri / Kingdom of Nri, followed by Onugu, the founder of Igbariam and Ogbodulu, the founder of Amanuke. The fifth one was a daughter called Iguedo, who is said to have borne the founders of Nteje, and Awkuzu, Ogbunike, Umuleri, Nando and Ogboli in Onitsha. As one of the children of Eri, Menri migrated from Aguleri, which was and still is, the ancestral temple of the entire Umu-Eri. His second wife Oboli begot Ọnọja, the only son who founded the Igala Kingdom in Kogi State.

Otuocha is a populated town in Nigeria and serves as the capital of Anambra East, a local government area of Anambra State, Nigeria. It was previously a divisional headquarters of the Anambra Divisional Council during the First Republic of Nigeria (1963–1966). Otuocha was located on the northern side of Biafra, a short-lived nation, and was one of the food baskets of the nation due to its large market during the Nigerian Civil War. It was also regarded as the oldest Local Government headquarters of old Anambra before 1991 when it was split to make up the four prevalent local governments: Anambra East, Anambra West, Oyi, and Ayamelum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enugwu Ukwu</span> Town in Anambra State, Nigeria

Enugwu-Ukwu is a large town in Anambra State, Nigeria. Enugwu-Ukwu town is geographically situated on hilly terrain; thus it is named after its geographical topography. It is predominantly occupied by the Igbo people ethnic group of Anambra State. Most of its inhabitants are Christians. It is located in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State. Major villages that make up the town include Uruokwe, Enu-Avomimi, Adagbe-Avomini, Umu-Atulu, Urualor, Akiyi, Avomimi, Awovu, Enuagu, Ire, Orji, Orofia, Osili, Umuakwu, Umuatulu, Umuatuora, Umuokpaleri, Uruekwo, Urukpaleke, Urunnebo, and Uruogbo.

Umunya is an Olu Town and one of the five communities that make up Oyi Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State Nigeria. It is bordered by six neighbors: Ifite-Dunu, Awkuzu, Nteje, Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Ogbunike, and Umudioka. In the south lies Umudioka and Ifite-Dunu, both in Dunukofia LGA. In the north, Nteje and Nkwelle-Ezunaka. In the east, Awkuzu and in the west, Ogbunike. The boundaries are naturally demarcated by streams except at the border with Nkwelle-Ezunaka where an expanse of Umunya heath namely, Oli-Omoto, Ogwugwu-Obo, Ugwueze, etc. crossed the Kpokili River. Nearly all ten villages of Umunya have their own fresh water springs. The town has fertile lands; hence, its economy is based on agriculture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nze na Ozo</span> Highest and most important spiritual, religious and social grouping in Igbo society

The Nze na Ozo society, otherwise known as the Agbalanze society, is the highest and most important spiritual, religious and social grouping in the Igbo society of Southeast Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anaku Town</span> Place in Anambra State, Nigeria

Anaku is one of the administrative divisions of Anambra State, South-Eastern Nigeria. The town lies 6°15' North of the Equator and 6°44' East of the Greenwich Meridian. It is bordered by "Omabala," the native name of the Anambra River, which is a tributary of the River Niger (North), Aguleri, Ezu River (South), Omor and Umuerum communities (East).

Umulokpa is a town in Enugu State, Nigeria. It serves as the headquarters of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area (L.G.A) in Enugu State, and has a population of over 150,000.

Nawfia is a town in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. Nawfia is surrounded by neighbouring towns namely Enugwu Ukwu, Awka (Umuokpu), Nise, Amawbia and Enugwu Agidi. It is predominantly occupied by the Igbo ethnic group and is believed to be one of the towns that make up the ancestral home of Igbo people. Most of its inhabitants are Christians. Igbo and English are the predominant languages spoken in Nawfia.

References

  1. "Eze Eri – Eri Kingdom" . Retrieved 2024-06-12.