The Ibusa Quarters and the Community’s Organized Military Strategy

By Emeka Esogbue

Modern Ibusa, a community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State has grown from the union of Ogboli and Igbuzo settlements to a community of ten quarters natively referred to as “Igbuzo Ebe Ili” (meaning the ten quarters of Ibusa). the community, in his social transformation, moved from ‘Igbuzo Ebe Ite neni” (without the Ogboli Quarters) to “Igbuzo Ebe Ili” without the addition of the Ogboli.

Prof Onwuejeogwu, a renowned Anioma Historian from the community submitted that a ‘friendship of alliance developed into a complicated political union. The union he refers to, is the Igbuzo and Ogboli settlements. Ogboli was founded by Edi while Igbuzo was founded by Umejei. However, the Igbuzo and Ezukwu, also founded by Ishite were closely related, coming from Isu while Edini journeyed from Nri. Umejei and Edini were biological brothers.

This political union has undergone many processes which today constitutes the unwritten constitution of Ibusa.

Today’s Ibusa quarters are listed below:

1. Umueze (the largest in terms of land mass)

2. Umuekea (the second largest in terms of land mass)

3. Umuodafe (comprising Oda-Ukwu and Oda-Nta)

4. Ogbeowele

5. Umuidinasagba (comprising Umuidi and Umuisagba)

6. Anyallaobum (comprising of Ezukwu and Achalla)

7. Umuwagwu (formerly Ogbeogwugwu)

8. Umuehea

9. Umuezeagwu (comprising Umuisor and Okponta)

10. Ogboli (formerly a different settlement from Ibusa before the British merger)

The totality of Igbuzo quarters are classified under three broad categories presented below:

1. Otu Odogwu

Umueze

Ezekwu/Achala

(headed by the Odogwu of Ibusa)

2. Otu Uwolo

Umuidinisagba

Umuodafe

Umuwagwu

Ogboli

(head by the Uwolo of Ibusa)

3. Otu Iyase

Umueazeagwu

Ogbeowele

Umuekea

Umuehea

(headed by the Iyase of Ibusa)

The Otu Odogwu is headed by the Odogwu; Otu Uwolo is headed by Uwolo while Otu Iyase is headed by the Iyase. The Odogwu, Uwolo and Iyase are known as War Lords and have been listed here in order of seniority. By traditional ranking, the Odogwu is the senior, followed by the Uwolo before the Iyase.

The Warlords were in pre-colonial times, commanders of their various “Otu” who led them to wars. They were to Ibusa what the Bashorun was to the Oyo empire of the Yorubas and rarely returned from such wars defeated. Although the community has lost so much in terms of documentation of the accounts, strategy and achievements of the Warlords in wars birthed the people with victories which also resulted in the defence of the community. It must be understood that Ogboli is only regarded as part of Otu Odogwu since the quarter was not initially a part of the Igbuzo settlement having been founded by Edini, a distinct progenitor.

Beyond commanding soldiers at the war front to ensure that victories were made certain, the Warlords also guaranteed peace. One of the ways by which they achieved it was to unite the various quarters under their control. They also found a way to win back persons who in their thinking could rebel against the constituted authority of the settlement.

The Ibusa community is one with a people with one destiny.

DIAMOND JUBILEE AGE: 20 THINGS THE WORLD DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT FRED AJUDUA

DIAMOND JUBILEE AGE: 20 THINGS THE WORLD DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT FRED AJUDUA On January 21 2020, Pen Master paid Chief Fred Ajudua a scheduled visit at his Lagos-VGC Marble Dome Home, a large and imposing house sitting on a hill from where it vigorously engages public views and attention. On entering the house, Pen Master freely walked in and around, in the spirit of the love that always binds the people of Igbuzo. The man, Chief Fred Ajudua often described as the “Architect of Modern Ibusa” is unarguably one of the biggest fish in history to have come out of Ibusa even as it is said that nearly every Ibusa family has benefited from him one way or the other. Beyond what you know about him, there seems many sides you do not know. As the Igbuzo Chief celebrates his 60 th Year birthday, your Pen Master brings you the things you do not know about the highly influential Igbuzo Chief. Pen Master also dug into the Ajudua family photo depository all for your knowledge. Happy reading!

A SHORT HISTORY OF OBOLLO CLAN IN ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

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SEE HOW ANIOMA PEOPLE DRESS ON THEIR TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE THE ERA OF USING OUR TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE TO PROMOTE ATTIRES OF OTHER GROUPS IN NIGERIA IS GONE

SEE HOW ANIOMA PEOPLE DRESS ON THEIR TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE THE ERA OF USING OUR TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE TO PROMOTE ATTIRES OF OTHER GROUPS IN NIGERIA IS GONE Today is Saturday, conventionally set aside for marriage ceremonies. Awareness on how our Anioma brides and grooms attire themselves during their traditional marriage has fast spread and entrenched. We no longer promote other group's cultural attires because we want them to promote our own instead. I say many thanks to our Anioma cultural advocates on this day because our labours to preserve as well as promote the good cultures of our Anioma society have never been in vain. Noticeable now is that in time of our traditional marriages, we costume ourselves in Akwa-Ocha which brings out our god-given beauty. A few moments after her traditional marriage in Umuodafe, Ibusa on December 28, inside the Agokei palatial home, I visited former Miss Amaka Thelma Agokei, the bride. I was rather late; but I met this beautiful bride t

Emeka Esogbue

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