Umudim is a village in Nnewi North, Anambra State, Nigeria. Umudim as we know is the third quarter among the four quarters of Nnewi town. Others are Otolo, Uruagu and Nnewichi. Umudim Community has ten (10) Administrative wards as follows.
(i) Ward 33 Inyaba (ii) Ward 37 Inyaba Ngo (iii) Ward 34 Umuezena and Ebeleogo (iv) Ward 35 Umunwakanwa Akamiili (v) Ward 36 Uru (vi) Ward 38 Umudimkwa (vii) Ward 39 Amai and Umughaji (viii) Ward 40 Umuezeokalum, Akabo and Umuele (ix) Ward 41 Umunnealam (x) Ward 42 Okpuno-egbu [1]
The introduction of wards not-withstanding, Nnewi has a lineage system of Administration developed over the centuries. Each quarter or descent is made up several major lineages upon which the administration is based. Umudim has six (6) of such lineages namely: (i) Ogo (ii) Uru (iii) Umudimnkwa and Umuele (iv) Umuezeokalum (v) Okpuno-egbu and Akamili (vi) Umunnealam [2]
Based on estimated population of Anambra State published by the Statistic Division of Ministry of Economic Development Enugu in 2009, Umudim, Nnewi has a population about 50,000 males and females.
From time immemorial and even before the arrival of the British Administration in Igboland, the four quarters of Nnewi town have operated a confederal political system of government. Each quarter has an “OBI” but no “OBI” has jurisdiction outside his own quarter. The foundation of the political Union rests on the principle of “’AGBANANO NNEWI”. This recognizes the equality of the traditional rulers of the four (4) communities and independence of action as far as their communities are concerned.
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 to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State to the north.
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. Even Ekwusigo local government area is now part of Nnewi urban area, as urbanization continues to spread from Nnewi to neighbouring communities. Nnewi North comprises four quarters: Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim, and Nnewichi. 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.
Ogidi is an Igbo speaking town and the headquarters of Idemili North Local Government area, Anambra State, Nigeria. It has an estimated population of 70,000 people and share boundaries with neighbouring towns like Abatete, Ṅkpọr, Ụmụnnachị, Ụmụoji, Ogbụnike and Ụmụdiọka.
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.
Nnewi North is a Local Government Area in Anambra State, south-central Nigeria. Nnewi is the only town in Nnewi North LGA. It has four villages (sub-towns) that make up the one-town local government, which includes; Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim and Nnewi-ichi. The traditional ruler of Nnewi- Igwe of Nnewi -presently is Igwe Kenneth Orizu the 3rd of which this royal family is from Otolo Nnewi, and for this reason, is regarded as first among equals of the four villages. Other traditional rulers exist in other villages and they oversee the traditional affairs of their respective villages, amongst which are Obi Nnamdi AC Obi (ogidi) who is obi of Uruagu, Obi Umudim And obi Onyekaba Of Nnewichi. In this vein one may ask who is now Obi of Otolo since the royal family of Igwe oversees the traditional affairs of entire nnewi.
The New Yam Festival of the Igbo people is an annual cultural festival by the Igbo people that is held at the end of the rainy season in early August.
Otolo is a town in Nnewi North, Anambra State, Nigeria. Otolo is the premier quarter in Nnewi among the four quarters of Nnewi town. Others are Umudim, Uruagu and Nnewichi.This is true in terms of population, seat of political power and, apparently even, concentration of wealth. Otolo is ruled by a monarchy, the Nwosu family which is a part of a larger nwakanwa family has ruled Otolo for centuries. The current traditional ruler Chief Chukwuemeka Ofili Nwosu is the son of the late chief A.B.C Nwosu, former lawyer and general in the now deposed Biafran army. Chief Ofili Nwosu has three children with his first wife Chief Mrs Ebele Nwosu. Next in line to the throne of Otolo is the first son of Chief Ofili Nwosu and heir apparent to the throne, Prince Nwosu Chukwudumebi obidimma, Princess Adanna Nwosu who is the first daughter of Chief Ofili and also the ADA of Otolo, Prince Chukwukamso Nwosu who is the last child of the three children. The Nwosu family is a very large and dense family which is also part of the even larger Nwakanwa family which is also part of an even larger Obiuno family.
Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III is the 20th Obi of Otolo and Igwe of Nnewi kingdom. He is the traditional supreme ruler and spiritual leader in Nnewi, an Igbo city in Nigeria. He is a member of the Nnofo Royal lineage and the successor to his father Igwe Josiah Orizu II, his grandfather Igwe Orizu I, and great-grandfather Igwe Iwuchukwu Ezeifekaibeya. Unlike most Igbo chiefs, there were heads of Nnewi before the arrival of Europeans. In Anambra State, Igwe Kenneth Orizu III is the vice chairman of the Anambra State House of Chiefs and as of 2015 one of the longest-serving tribal Kings in the world.
Igwe Iwuchukwu was the 17th Obi of Otolo and Igwe of Nnewi kingdom in the present day Anambra state of Nigeria. He is the traditional supreme ruler and spiritual leader in Nnewi, an Igbo city in Nigeria. He is a member of the Nnofo Royal lineage and the successor to his father Igwe Okafo. Unlike most Igbo monarchies, there were kings of Nnewi before the arrival of Europeans.
Igwe Orizu I was the 18th Obi of Otolo and the Igwe of Nnewi kingdom. He was the traditional supreme ruler and spiritual leader in Nnewi, an Igbo city in Eastern Nigeria. Eze Ugbonyamba was crowned the King of Nnewi and he took the ofo of Nnewi after his father's death in 1904. He was a member of the Nnofo Royal lineage and the successor to his father Igwe Iwuchukwu Ezeifekaibeya. Igwe Orizu I died in 1924 and was succeeded by his first son Igwe Josiah Orizu II. One of remarkable events of his reign was the arrival of the British in 1905.
Igwe Josiah Nnaji Orizu II (1902–1962) was the 19th Obi of Otolo and Igwe of Nnewi kingdom. He took the ofo of Nnewi in 1924 after his father's death. He is a member of the Nnofo Royal lineage and the successor to his father Igwe Orizu I , He was the first Igwe to officially become a Christian, although the traditional rulers of Nnewi are the ofo holders and as such, preservers and upholders of Nnewi culture and traditions.
The ofo is a staff carried by selected Igbo leaders — notably patrilineage priests, kings, onyishi, and some masqueraders — that signifies authority, the right to command, administrative powers, and/or the conferment of leadership and power bestowed by the gods..It is typically six to seven inches long and made of bronze, brass, or wood.
The Nnewi monarchy is a traditional inheritance of the throne based on patrilineality and sonship heredity. In Nnewi the traditional monarch is called the Igwe. The Igwe is born and not made or elected, and the institution of inheritance is the traditional right and primogeniture privilege. The position is neither transferable nor negotiable.
The House of Nnofo is the ruling dynasty of the Nnewi Kingdom, a subnational monarchy that is part of the Nigerian chieftaincy system in Nigeria. The authority of the Nnofo dynasty is primarily in Otolo. In the other three quarters of Nnewi, the influence of the Nnofo monarch is felt but very slightly – a situation which has arisen from the fact that the chiefs in these quarters are virtually autonomous. Royal descent plays an important role in many Igbo societies; authority and property tend to be lineally derived. Among the tribes which recognize a single ruler, the hereditary bloodline of the rulers forms a dynasty.
Igwe Okafo was the 16th Obi of Otolo and Igwe of Nnewi kingdom. He was the traditional supreme ruler and spiritual leader in Nnewi, an Igbo city in Nigeria. He is a member of the Nnofo Royal lineage and the successor to his father Eze Ukwu. Unlike most Igbo monarchies, there were kings of Nnewi before the arrival of Europeans.
Eze Ukwu was the 15th Obi of Otolo and Igwe of Nnewi kingdom. He was the traditional supreme ruler and spiritual leader in Nnewi, an Igbo city in Nigeria. He was a member of the Nnofo Royal lineage and the successor to his father Eze Chukwu. Unlike most Igbo monarchies, there were kings of Nnewi before the arrival of Europeans.
Uruagu is a town in Nnewi North, Anambra State, Nigeria. Uruagu is the second quarter among the four quarters of Nnewi town. Others are Otolo, Umudim and Nnewichi.
Nnewichi is a town in Nnewi North, Anambra State, Nigeria. Nnewichi is the fourth of four quarters in Nnewi town. Others quarters are Otolo, Uruagu and Umudim.
Afiaolu is a traditional festival held annually in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria around August. The Afiaolu festival commences on “Eke” day with what is traditionally described as “Iwaji” and Ikpa Nku, this heralds the availability of new yam as well as thanksgiving to God. The festival includes a variety of entertainments including performance of ceremonial rites by the Igwe (king), cultural dance by girls and masquerade dance.