Skip to main content

The Man, Joseph Ozoemezie Esogbue (1895-1959) With His Odor Cocoa (Cocoa Plantation)

 The Man, Joseph Ozoemezie Esogbue (1895-1959) With His Odor Cocoa (Cocoa Plantation)



- Emeka Esogbue


The land of Ibusa was rich in cocoa that it easily grew on its land as seen in Joseph Ozoemezia Esogbue (1895-1959) of Isieke who was a cocoa farmer. He maintained a large cocoa plantation that the people referred to as “Odor Cocoa” in their local parlance. Odor Cocoa was well-known to indigenes in Umuafene, Ibusa where the cash crop was heavily grown on a large scale and also managed by local paid workers. The occupation elevated Joseph Ozoemezie Esogbue’s wealth and status but it is important to stress that he was also a train driver who had become somewhat wealthy even before venturing into the cocoa business. It was the presence of wealth that drove the people to nickname him, “Gbaa Ka Nkwua” meaning demand your debt from him and let me pay you on your behalf. It is therefore safe to conclude that it was money generated from the operation of train that he invested into the cocoa plantation. 

The cocoa plantation existed until late in the 1980s when it started to give way to the houses of family members. Gradually, what was an extensive landed property of crops, lying on an estimated 3 acres of land, retained by the owner for his occupational need, gave way to a number of family houses that can be found on the land today. He owned a housing estate in Enugu and in 1940s or thereabout built a personal house in Umuafene area of Isieke. The structure was colonially mottled with bricks and it shared resemblance with that of his Isieke kinsman, Pa Okonji, the grandfather of Ikenna Okonji who was his close ‘friend’. Until recently when it was cut down, the Esogbue family house of Joseph Ozoemezie Esogbue was easily marked or identified with a single ‘African Apple’ tree planted directly in front of the house which widely gave out the house as “Unor Apple” in the knowledge of the people.


Culled from the book, "Human and Infrastructural Developments of Ibusa Since Foundation", by Emeka Esogbue (unpublished)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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!
2 comments
Read more

A SHORT HISTORY OF OBOLLO CLAN IN ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

A SHORT HISTORY OF OBOLLO CLAN IN ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA By Emeka Esogbue Introduction Not many historical literatures on the Obollo people exist for the usual reasons associated with our people who prefer to write the history of mighty and populous peoples already enriched with volumes of historical accounts and records. Thus while there are historical documents on other peoples of Igbo, for Obollo, it is the story of dearth of documents. However, it is within my historical concern that the rich history of this part of Igboland be adequately researched into, documented and preserved for the future generation. I do not hail from this part of Igboland but my historical background, interest and curiosity propelled me towards the acquisition of both oral and written information to put this material together. Geography The various Obollo communities comprising of Obollo Afor, Obollo Etiti, Obollo Eke, Obollo Orie and Obollo Nkwo are strategically situated at the regional bou
11 comments
Read more

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
3 comments
Read more