Umuokpara

Last updated

Umuopara are a clan of the Igbo people of Umuahia, Nigeria, which is one of the five Clans that make up the present day Umuahia. Umuopara lies on the western border of Abia with Imo State. The natural boundaries between the Umuopara of Umuahia Abia State and its Umungwa and Udo-Mbaise neighbours both in Imo state is the Imo River. [1]

Contents

The Umuopara reside in seven villages known as umunne asaa: Ezeleke, Ogbodiukwu, Ekenobizi, Ehume, Ogbodinibe, Umuihi and Umunwawa.

Culture

Umuopara is generally regarded as the cradle of Umuahia civilization. It was known for the Egwu festival celebrated at Omaegwu. Umuopara later became known for the Ekpe festival which is also celebrated by Ibeku and Ohuhu clans in Umuahia. The first ever Ekpe festival took place in Ogbodiukwu Umuopara. The new Yam festival is also celebrated in Umuopara. The supreme deity in Umuopara during pre-colonial times was Ojam. Most of the modern-day residents are Christians, predominantly Methodist and Anglican. Assemblies of God is the foremost Pentecostal denomination in Nigeria. It began in Umuahia and is gaining ground in Umuopara.

Origin

Several beliefs describe the origin of Umuopara people. [2] One view is that the Umuopara people did not migrate from anywhere. Some villages in Umuopara today trace their origin to places outside Umuopara.

It has been suggested that at least sections of the people of Umuopara came from Obowu and Mbaise areas.

According to oral traditions Eku was the ancestor of the people of Umuopara. Eku had two sons namely Opara who became the founder of Umuopara and Ibe who founded Ibeku. Omaegwu in Umuopara was his first point of settlement. As the first son Opara remained while Ibe moved east. Nkwoegwu in present-day Ohuhu clan was a meeting point for the two brothers during the annual Egwu festival. This was before later migrations from Obowu area by the Ohuhu people. Some sons of Ibe later moved further east to establish Abam, Ohafia and Edda.

Meanwhile, The traditions of origin of the Umuopara people are like those of most other Igbo Societies with diverse views on how the people came to be. These views usually seem contradictory and conflicting with regard to one epical father fathering all of the constituent units. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umuahia</span> Capital city of Abia State, Nigeria

Umuahia is the capital city of Abia State in southeastern Nigeria. Umuahia is located along the rail road that lies between Port Harcourt to its south,and Enugu city to its north. Umuahia has a population of 359,230 according to the 2006 Nigerian census. Umuahia is indigenously Igbo.

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

The Aro people or Aros are an Igbo subgroup that originated from the Arochukwu kingdom in present-day Abia state, Nigeria. The Aros can also be found in about 250 other settlements mostly in the Southeastern Nigeria and adjacent areas. The Aros today are classified as Eastern or Cross River Igbos because of their location, mixed origins, culture, and dialect. Their god, Chukwu Abiama, was a key factor in establishing the Aro Confederacy as a regional power in the Niger Delta and Southeastern Nigeria during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Emekuku, is a town in Owerri North Local Government of Imo state in South-Eastern Nigeria.

Ubakala is a large town in Umuahia South Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia State, Nigeria. It is one of the major ancient clans of Umuahia. A popular market for which it is known is the Apumiri Market. Umuahia South Local Government Area Headquarters is located at Apumiri as well. Ubakala is situated southwards of Umuahia main township. Its well defined boundaries geographically places it at the North of Ntigha.

Umukabia is a village in the Ohuhu community of Umuahia North Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. There are also several other villages in Nigeria with the same name. Umukabia comprises 3 small villages namely; Okpuala being the eldest, followed by Umuagbom and Azummiri. Within these 3 small villages are 6 compounds-For Okpuala, they comprise-Agbom Na Omurumba and Umu Eze Aguma. Azumiri is regarded as a single compound. In the case of Umuagbom, there are three compounds, namely, Umuezeocha, Ibeneze also Uhu Ukwu Na Ezegiri and Ukwu Udara. Noteworthy is that each of these compounds finds further sub-divisions, comprising family units, each headed by a patriarch, usually the oldest male member of that family unit. This oldest male is also regarded as the ultimate repository of the knowledge, cultures and traditions of the family unit and sometimes Umukabia as a whole. He performs all the rituals and ceremonies regarding the compound and seeks reciprocals with the ancestors through oracles and ritualizations. These elders or patriarchs constitute Umukabia's democratic dispensation and policy making unit, in that they collectively make and take decisions on behalf of the entire Umukabia community. Whatever decisions they make is binding across the village and even beyond to Diasporic sons and daughters of Umukabia. Umukabia's renowned market day is known as Orie Umukabia Orie. Umukabia has a major river known as Ikwu, which traverses the villages in Umuire, Umuegwu Okpula Former Eastern Nigeria Premier, Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara's village and flows into the famous Imo River basin Imo/Abia States, Nigeria.Legend has it that Umukabia sits on a large rock which has made it impossible for bore holes to be successfully dug in any part of the village for the purposes of extracting water. The village holds annual ceremonies known as Iri Ji festival and Ekpe festival which is termed as the village Christmas and holds on an Orie market day after Christmas but never on a Sunday.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obowo</span> Local Government Area in Imo State

Obowo, also spelled Obowu is a Local Government Area in Imo State, Nigeria formed during the Ibrahim Babangida administration in May 1989. It was carved out of Etiti Local Government Area with its headquarters at Isi Nweke. There are twenty-two autonomous communities in Obowo Local Government Area. Achara, Amanze, Umuariam, Umunachi, Umuagu, Ehume, Umungwa, Umulogho, Odenkwume, Okwuohia, Amuzi, Alike, Avutu, Umuosochie and Umuoke are towns in the L.G.A. Obowo is located about 45 minutes from Owerri, across the Imo River and is less than 30 minutes from the Umuahia and Ahiara in opposite directions with the Amanze seven and a half (71/2) junction and landmark in-between. It is surrounded by Ahiazu and Aboh Mbaise Local Government Areas to the north and Umuahia Abia State to the East.

The Ohuhu clan of Umuahia north in Abia State Nigeria Igbo people, also referred to as Ohonhaw, form a unique community of people in Umuahia, Abia state, Nigeria, consisting of several Autonomous Communities including Umukabia, Ohiya, Isingwu, Ofeme, Afugiri, Nkwoegwu, Umuawa, Umudiawa, Akpahia, Umuagu, Amaogugu, Umule-Eke-Okwuru, Umuhu-Okigha, Amaogwugwu called Eziama/ Amaudo in Ohuhu etc. Ohuhu was formerly known as Umuhu-na-Okaiuga, or better-known as Ohu-ahia-na-otu. Until 1949, the Umuopara clan used to be part of Ohuhu before they were carved out politically.

Ikwuano is a Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in Isiala Oboro. The name 'Ikwuano' etymologically indicates that there are four different ancient kingdoms that make up the community called Ikwuano. These include Oboro, Ibere, Ariam/Usaka and Oloko.

Ibeku is a chiefdom consisting of seven clans nestled in the hilly terrain of Umuahia, in the southeastern part of Nigeria. It is located in the present-day Umuahia North Local Government of Abia State, Nigeria. The people of Ibeku speak Igbo, one of the three dominant Nigerian languages. The neighbouring clans near Ibeku are interconnected by history and culture. To the South are the clans of Olokoro, Afor Ibeji, Amakama, Ubakala. To the East is Oboro. The clans of Umuokpara and Ohuhu are to the West, while Uzuakoli and Abiriba are to the North. These areas were once known as the Bende region of Eastern Nigeria.

Odumodu is a folk style of music that is predominantly sung among the Arochukwu, Bende, Ohafia, Abiriba, Umuahia, Ikwuano, and Ngwa people of the Igbo ethnic group, of Abia State, located in southeastern Nigeria. It is mainly used to uplift spirits and entertain guests at events, while extolling the virtues of illustrious men and women, and telling stories that edify.

Elemaga is a small farming village in Ibere, Ikwuano, Abia State, Nigeria. Elemaga is located in the center of Inyila, Isiala Ibere, Ahia Orie, Iberenta, Itunta and Obuoru at the food belt of Ibere, about 15 km southwest of Umuahia, the Abia State capital. Elemaga is believed to be derived syntactically from the words Ele ("look"), Ma ("well") and Ga ("go") which literally means "look well before you go". Climate is tropical monsoon.

Amawom is a town in Oboro, Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. The name is derived from two words; Ama meaning location and Awom meaning farm. Amawom is believed to have been discovered in the 18th century. Awom Oboro and Ibeuzo Ukwu are the autonomous communities of Amawom. English and Igbo are the languages spoken in the town.

Oloko is one of the four clans that make up Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Oloko is from the Isuogu group. It borders Oboro to the north, Olokoro and Ngwa to the west, Ariam/Usaka to the east and Ikono; a clan in Akwa Ibom State to its south. Oloko is one of 18 Igbo clans of the Old Bende Division. It was classified in the Ohuhu-Ngwa cluster of the Southern Igbo area.

Ogbodiukwu is a village, also known as umunne asaa and located in Abia state, Nigeria.

Oboro is the largest of four clans in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. It is bounded to the north by Ibeku and Bende clans, west by the Olokoro and Ngwa, east by Ibere and south by the Isuogu. Oboro was classified in the Ohuhu-Ngwa cluster of the Southern Igbo area by British anthropologists Forde and Jones. It is also one of 18 Igbo clans in the Old Bende Division of the defunct Owerri Province. The Oboro speak a common language with the other 17 clans of the Bende Division though dialectal variations exist. These clans share a history of inter-ethnic relations.

Ndoro is a town in Oboro, Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. It is about 16 km southeast from the state capital, Umuahia and is located along the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road.

Ibere is a clan located in the eastern part of Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. It borders Oboro to the west, Bende to the north, the Isuogu to the south, Itumbauzo and Nkari to the east. It is one of 18 Igbo clans of the Old Bende Division. Ibere was classified in the Ohuhu-Ngwa cluster of the Southern Igbo area by Forde and Jones.

Ariam/Usaka is one of the four principal clans of Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. Ariam/Usaka belongs to the Isuogu family. Ariam itself is made up of three subgroups namely; Ariam, Ekpiri and Usaka. This clan borders Ibere and Oboro to the north, Oloko to the west, as well as several Ibibio communities in Akwa Ibom State to its eastern and southern borders. Forde and Jones categorized the Isuogu family in the Ohuhu-Ngwa cluster of the Southern Igbo area.

Ahaba is a rural community in Oloko, Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Isiala Ahaba and Ahaba Ukwu are the autonomous communities of Ahaba. Ahaba is 23km south of Umuahia, Abia State's capital city.

Ogbuebulle is a village in Oboro, Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. The community is situated along the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road. It is about 20km away from Umuahia, the capital of Abia State. Ogbuebulle is part of the Ala-Ala Oboro Autonomous Community alongside Ekebedi, its neighboring village.

References

  1. ↑ Odigbo, Chukwudike.C (2008). "Umuopara Under the British Colonial Administration, 1905-1960".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ↑ "The festivals of Nigeria". GoUNESCO - Make Heritage Fun!. 2018-01-17. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  3. ↑ Umuopara under the British colonial administration unn.edu.ng [ dead link ]

Sources


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.