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...AS OMU REVIVAL REACHES ISSELE-UKU "A SHORT HISTORY OF OMU": THE PEN MASTER'S BOOK THAT IS RE-BIRTHING OMUSHIP IN ANIOMA BY EMEKA ESOGBUE



...AS OMU REVIVAL REACHES ISSELE-UKU
"A SHORT HISTORY OF OMU": THE BOOK THAT IS RE-BIRTHING OMUSHIP IN ANIOMA
The ongoing cultural re
vival of Omuship sweeping across the Anioma cultural space touched Issele-Uku with yesterday's coronation of Her Highness, Madam Beatrice Ebidomnwa Onwordi as the Omu of Issele-Uku Kingdom.
Anioma Trust Newspaper, a publication of Wikinson Publications reported that the event took place at the palace of the Kingdom's traditional ruler on Sunday, Sept 8, 2018 where Obi Nduka also charged the new Omu to help to maintain peace and progress in Issele-Uku.
Her Ukpai family that worked hard to see her emerge as the Omu also built for her a house and palace in her family compound as culturally required of Omus in Anioma.
A respected 100-year old Ojeashi Omu, Diokpa Idoko was also on ground to play his traditional role in the crowning of the Omu. Omuship in Issele-Uku rotates among the three villages of Ogbeofu, Ogbeowele and Ukpai. Despite the popular claim among the Issele-Uku people that Omuship in Anioma started in Issele-Uku, this community has only produced a total of six Omu in centuries and Her Highness Omu Beatrice Onwordi is the 6th.
Omuship in the community is traced to the powerful Queen Omu Idia from Ogbeofu. The rest of the Omus produced by the community are Omu Nwaonyimi, Omu Aku, Omu Julie Nwaugbade, Omu Ego Onwena and the current Omu Beatrice Ebidomnwa Onwordi. Historically, the Omu concept in Anioma as a whole is traced to Queen Idia of Benin.
One book that has played important role in revitalizing Omuship in Anioma is "A Short History of Omu: An Account of Anioma's Female Traditional Institution" authored by Emeka Esogbue. Since its publication in 2015 and widely sold in Nigeria and America, about five Anioma communities that are Akwukwu-Igbo, Onicha Olona, Obior, Ubulu Okiti and Issele-Uku have revived their Omuship. However, Ibusa, the Author's community and Ubulu Uku often referenced for the strong presence of Omuship are yet to rediscover the institution.

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