UMUIDINAISAGBA KINDRED IN
IBUSA: THE BEGINNING AND SPREAD IN MODERN TIMES
By Emeka Esogbue
(Pen Master)
INTRODUCTION
Like most histories of African
societies which belong to the non-literate period, the Umuidinaisagba people of
Ibusa rely on the story handed them by their forebears to tell the history of
their beginning, which is known as oral sources and having retained it from
generation to generation, the history of the people has become useful to the
present generation who equally hopes to pass it down to the future generation of
their sons and daughters and Ibusa as a whole. The Umuidinaisagba people have
always been proud of their beginning which gives them a place in Ibusa space, a
true sense of belonging that preserves their direct lineage to Prince Umejei
(or Umejei Nwa Eze Isu as he is natively known by his today’s descendants of
Ibusa)
Although they are biologically
traced to one of the children of the said Prince Umejei, they have grown and
spread today as a quarter, one of the ten villages that makes up the Ibusa
community. What needs to be further stated as an overture is that the Igbuzo
community is a close-knit settlement with cohesive ancestry, essentially, a
clan of some sort, which is a group of people related by blood. Eight out of
the ten villages that make up the settlement are of Igbuzo ancestral foundation
with this kinship. This excludes the Ogboli and Ezukwu (Anyallaobum) due to the
addition of Achala-Igbuzo.
It is known to Ibusa history
that Ishite is the progenitor of Ezukwu and the said Ishite had only one son
who was named Anyalla. It was from Anyalla that the descendants of the present
Ezukwu developed fully into what it is today. It was also from Anyalla that the
umbrella name covering Ezukwu and Achala is also derived. It has been
historically noted that Achala-Igbuzo was founded by members of Ezukwu who fled
to that area as refugees to avoid rampaging Benin aggressors as established by Anthony
Nwaezeigwe, a professional historian of the Institute of African Studies,
University of Nigeria, Nsukka who traced the beginning to the invasion of Ibusa
by Benin over Obi Ezesi of Umuogwu who was crowned by the Oba of Benin became the
King of Ibusa Kingdom.
Ogboli, on the other hand, was
founded by Edini, who journeyed from the Nri Kingdom in present Anambra State. by
extension, it has been submitted that Ogboli of Ibusa is a composition of two
maximal lineages being Edini and Ezekeke. Edini had four children who became
the progenitors of Ogbe Atakpo while Ezekeke bore five children. All of these
figures make up today’s Ogboli. From the family tree of both Ezukwu and Ogboli,
it becomes needless to emphasize that Ogboli and Ezukwu were never parts of the
Igbuzo settlement at the initial history of beginning. Igbuzo, Ogboli, and
Ezukwu existed distinctly as settlements of their own. Edini and his Ogboli
were of Nri and Umejei and Ishite, his elder brother, biologically related were
of Isu.
The Ogboli are not limited to Ibusa
as they are widespread in Anioma though the best known of these societies today
are only found in three communities of the Anioma nation. That of Issele-Uku
has been widely referenced and discussed by Ifenna Leonard Azomani in his book,
“The Kingmaker: Biography of Justice Eustace Okafor Azomani and the History of
the Ogboli Community of Issele-Uku,” and Prince Chris Afumata Akeh-Osu in his
book, “The History of Great Isi-Ile-Uku (Issele-Uku) Kingdom and the Emergence
of the Mighty Umu-Ezechima.”
Azomani particularly
wrote: “A document I obtained from him showed a written account of the history
of Ogboli from Enwei (our great ancestor) down to himself, proving that we are
direct descendants of Enwei, the founder of Ogboli village and the oldest
settler in the land of Isei (Issele-Uku). Of course, most of these histories
were transmitted down the line via oral tradition but my father had the wisdom
to draw a family tree. Ani Isi Enwei is a piece of land and a shrine sacred to the
Ogboli community and people marking the original place where Enwei settled and
lived. That is why it is called “Ani Isi Enwei” – “Ani Isi” means the first land
or first settlement, buttressing the first comer status of Enwei to be the area
known today as Issele-Uku.”
In a community that is the
subject of this discourse, the political administration of the three
settlements, Ogboli was distinct while the later amalgamation of Igbuzo and Ezukwu resulted in “Igbuzo Ebo Ite Neni.” The merger of the Igbuzo settlement
(including Ezukwu) and Ogboli was the last to occur and it is today's "Igbuzo Ebo Ili." However, it took a convincing
oath for Ezukwu to produce the overall Diokpa of Ibusa when it was the turn of
that quarter in gerontocracy, which was the settlement’s system of government.
|
NAME OF SETTLEMENT |
PROGENITOR |
REMARK |
|
Ogboli
Settlement |
Edini |
Arrived
from Nri |
|
Igbuzo
Settlement |
Umejei |
Arrived
from Isu (Probably Isu Nnewi also called Uruagu) |
|
Ezukwu
(later Anyallaobum with the accommodation of Achala) |
Ishite |
Accompanied
Isu Umejei as an Elder Brother from Isu |
Table 1: Settlements that formed the Ibusa
Community
It is important to note that
all progenitors bore their distinctive names. The Umejei settlement was named
“Igbuzo”, meaning the Igbos living along the road and he maintained his Igbuzo
territory. Ishite had occupied a broad territory that he maintained separately from Umejei’s Igbuzo. The broad settlement is found in the expression of
“Ezukwu” (Ezi-Ukwu), which means “Broad Street.” Ogboli, in turn, often historically
held to be the first to arrive in the vicinity, held on to his territory. While Ishite
and Umejei occasionally related, Edini seemed reserved, cold and distant but remained close to
Adaigbo’s Ogwashi-Uku his sibling. All three distinct settlements would later
in colonial history be united with the retention of "Igbuzo" as the collective
name. The “Igbuzo” was later Anglicized to “Ibusa” by the British.
THE
UMUIDINAISAGBA BEGINNING
Prince Umejei had three
children, one of who was Oshenta. Oshenta had three children that were
Ekwensuazu, Ezebuogu, and Ezemese. Ezebuogu fathered Odaukwu and Odanta that
makeup Umuodafe and also Idi and Isagba that make up Umuisagba. Ezemese, the
last son, married ten wives and fathered Umuisor and Okponta. Part of the ten
wives was Madam Ekea, the Obosi woman from whom the people Umuekea that bear
her name descended.
|
PATRIARCH |
CHILDREN |
|
Prince
Umejei of Isu |
Onumaegbu
(Onuma) |
|
|
Oshenta |
|
|
Nwangolo |
Table 2: The Umejei Family
|
PATRIARCH |
CHILDREN |
|
Oshenta,
the Son of Umejei |
Ekwensuazu |
|
|
Ezebuogu |
|
|
Ezemese |
Table 3: The Oshenta Family
|
PATRIARCH |
CHILDREN |
|
Ezebuogu
(Had six Children) |
Odaukwu |
|
|
Odanta |
|
|
Isagba |
|
|
Idi |
|
|
Umuosewa;
and one other child |
Table 4: The Ezebuogu Family
THE
UMUIDINAISAGBA
According to Ibusa legend, Ezebuogu
was the father of six children, five of whom have been captured in Table 4
above and they include Isagba and Idi, two subjects of this discourse. Isagba
was an older brother to Idi and both sons of the Ezebuogu were the progenitors
of the descendants that are collectively known as Umuidinaisagba interpreted properly
as “Descendants of Idi and Isagba.” It is the combination of Umuidi and
Umuisagba that gave birth to Umuidinaisagba, a unit and quarter or village
that shares homogenous traditional privileges within the Ibusa cultural space
because they are related by blood. This explains the prefix – “Umu” in the
name, Umu-Idi and Umu-Isagba and collectively Umu-Idi-na-Isagba.
Although the Ibusa legend
retains the grandchildren of Prince Umejei as brothers that closely related with
themselves and also holds Odafenta to be more particularly industrious than his
other siblings, the presence of Ashia-Eke in Umuidinaisagba, which is the Ibusa
largest market clearly demonstrates the Ezebuogu descendants to be assiduous
with commercial inclination. The Umuisagba matriarch is named Nkwuaka, the
statue that can still be seen by Umuisagba Junction, by Ashiaeke. It is
enclosed inside the Nkwuaka House donated by the Late Hon Chief Willy Ikolodo,
an illustrious member of the kindred.
THE
UMUISAGBA FAMILY TREE OF PETER NKWUKA UDEZE
Since the people of Umuidinaisagba
take pride in their bloodline, this author, Emeka Esogbue decided to carry out
a study on successive generations of kin of the people using popular Onowu
Chief Peter Nkwuka Udeze, famously known to the people as “Abu Udeze” as a case
study for the analysis. The Peter Nkwuka Udeze Family Tree (FT) now
successfully traced to Umejei, the founder of the Igbuzo settlement through
Oshenta, his son is provided below:
Umejei ˃ Oshenta ˃ Ezebuogu ˃
Isagba ˃ Iyase ˃ Obi Ezulu ˃ Okpolor ˃ Egbuchue ˃ Udeze ˃ Agbudu ˃ Charles ˃ Nkwuka.
For iOnowu Chief Peter Nkwuka Udeze is the son
of Charles. Charles is the son of Agbudu and Agbudu is the son of Udeze. Udeze
is the son of Obi Egbuchue and Obi Egbuchue is the son of Obi Okpolor. Obi
Okpolor is the son of Ezulu and Obi Ezulu is the son of Iyase. Iyase is the son
of Isagba and Isagba is the son of Ezebuogu. Ezebuogu is the son of Oshenta and
Oshenta is the son of Prince Umejei.
The family tree confirms Umejei to be a true and not hypothetical figure in the formation of the Igbuzo settlement who had verifiable children from which possible link can be unvaryingly claimed. The Peter Nkwuka Udeze Family Tree also shows that obiship has remained with Umuisagba Quarters since the days of Obi Ezulu. Dating to explain the possible period of the event is immediately lacking but this happened centuries after the Umejei departure from the world since Obi Ezulu was in the line of his sixth generation while Onowu Chief Peter Nkwuka Udeze is 12th in the generational line of Umejei.
Comparatively, Engr. Chief Celestine Okafor, the present Ikwele of Ibusa is the 12th since Ishite, the first Ikwele who arrived the present Ibusa settlement with Umejei. Hostorically, the analytical Chief Peter Nkwuka Udeze is also the 12th in line to to Umejei. This goes to authenticate the reality and existence of both the Umejei and his elder brother, Ishite on one hand and also Okafor and Udeze, on the other hand. Finally, the beauty, relevance and realism of this work of history.
The roles played by the historical
figures which led to the formation and development of Umuisagba will be
explained in the course of the article.
THE
UMUISAGBA SPREAD
The Ibusa history establishes
Isagba as connected to the founder of the Eke Market also known as “Ashiaeke”,
which is located in Umuisagba. The Isagba role is retained in the people’s
saying of “Ndi aja ji nmadu shi eke ka ashia wea zia na Igbuzo.” The saying in this regard is also recollected in the praise of any Umuisagba native as “nwa onye
aja.” There is also the Akwukwu-Igbo link to the establishment of the market,
another theory in the foundation of the popular market. According to HRM Obi
Prof Louis Nwaoboshi, the Obuzo of Ibusa who during the Ibusa Youth Council
expedition to important places in the community, made certain historical
explanations to the youths of the community, Ikuteke, an indigene of the
Umuisagba married a woman from Akwukwu-Igbo whose market day in her community
was on Eke Day.
It was the Akwukwu-Igbo wife
of Ikuteke that sought permission from the Ibusa people and consequently
established the Ashiaeke in Ibusa. By her remarkable accomplishment, she became
the first of Omu of Igbuzo origin by this account. The Umuisagba first
continues with Uwolo Onyema from Umuakue Division of the Quarter. He is regarded
as the first Uwolo from Otu Uwolo. He was a great warrior that went to wars to
defend the Ibusa community and returned with victories.
OBI
EZULU IN HISTORY
Obi Ezulu, the son of Iyase
and grandson of Isagba is retained in Ibusa history as very handsome, wealthy, and
fearless. He owned several slaves that he maintained. Furthermore, he was a
lover of his people’s culture, an enthusiasm that enabled him to become the
first Obi of Umuisagba descent. He fathered Okpolor whose descendants are known
today as Umuokpolor. However, Okpolor was not his first child as he had three
daughters before him. The birth of Okpolor is significant in the history of
Umuisagba being that his father looked forward to the birth of a male child and
was anxious to have it. It was a concern that led him to powerful medicine men
who came to his assistance.
One of the powerful medicine
men he met predicted that he would bear a male child and assigned him remedies.
Obi Ezulu planted the two orji (iroko) trees that can still be seen in
Umuisagba today due to his search for a male child. Having been foretold that a
woman from Asaba who would be going to the market would give him the male child
that he sought, he eventually married one by captured who was going to Ashiake.
It turned out that she hailed from Umuezei, Asaba. She marched the prediction
that a woman who was always going to see her sister was the woman that would
give him the male child. the Asaba wife bore him the male child he named
Okpolua from which the name “Okpolor’ is derived as the name of his descendants.
As predicted, the Asaba woman bore for Okpolor, 7 male children.
The Umuisagba legend is not
forgetful that before the birth of Okpolor and his mother whom he married, Obi
Ezulu had given birth to Olo and Nwinna who were females. They said Olo and
Nwinna had married, Olo especially in Nkporji but since their husbands were in
the habit of their maltreatment, they returned to their ancestral home. Since
Ezulu being an Obi was forbidden by his Obiship to live in the same house with
them, he apportioned them with separate accommodations to reside near him. Olo
became the progenitor of Umuolo and Nwinna became the progenitor of Umuwinna,
both of which are found today in Umueze. For this reason, the Umuokpolor do not
inter-marry with the people of Umuolo and Umuwinna since they are the
descendants of their sisters. What is to be also noted is that Kanyia who is
also the progenitor of Umukanyia also bore Nwinna for Obi Ezulu according to Umuisagba
legend.
OKPOLUA
IN UMUISAGBA HISTORY
The circumstances that led to
the birth of Okpolua, the patriarch of Umuokpolor of Umuisagba have been
explained earlier, in this piece. He was a child of fortune whose father was
desperate to have come to the world in other to preserve his name and his birth
came about through the prediction that came true. He was blessed with 7 other
sons who together were the progenitors of the present Umuokpolor Division of
Umuisagba. The 7 sons of Obi Okpolor are listed in the table below:
|
PATRIARCH |
CHILDREN |
|
Obi
Okpolor |
Egbuchue
(First son) |
|
|
Ifezeme |
|
|
Okwerekwu |
|
|
Nwanze |
|
|
Anua |
|
|
Omumu |
|
|
Amakam
(Never Had any Child of his Own) |
Table 5: The 7 Sons of Okpolor
UMUIDINAISAGBA
TODAY
Umuidinaisagba, which is one
of the ten quarters of the Ibusa community is situated close to Odaukwu and
Odanta (Umuodafe), children of their brother and Umuekea, the descendants of
Ezemese, all of who are of Oshenta, the son of Umejei. It is also situated
close to Umueze, regarded as the Ibusa beginning where Umejei, the grandfather of
Ezebuogu and Ezemese settled once his pot dropped at a place called Ani-Oshe
within the Umueze Quarters. The geographical locations of Umuidinaisagba which
borders Umuodafe, Umuekea, and Umueze is a verification of the Ibusa legend of the foundation of the Igbuzo settlement as Umejei lived close to his children and
grandchildren who later spread. The testimony is the pattern of settlement as
observed in the various quarters as they exist today. Worthy of mention is that
the Ogbeowele settlement, descendants of the children of Ezemesi are located
close to Umuekea.
It is the commercial centre of
Ibusa with Ashiaeke as the largest market located in this area. The history is
further told of how Obi Okpolor took some traditional steps to ensure that the
community hosted trade. It is the expression “Ndi aja ji made shili ka ashia
nwe zua.” The people are categorized as Otu Uwolo in the traditional
administrative system of the community, the same traditional umbrella with Umueze
and Umuodafe. The Umuidinaisagba people are proud Ibusa people and have
been contributing to the development of the community and beyond with the huge
human capital available to them. High Chief Hon Willy Ukadike Ikolodo is best
remembered as an illustrious son of the quarter who rose to represent the
Anioma people at the Federal House of Representatives, the only Ibusa native to
occupy that position to date.
Emeka
Esogbue is the winner of the 2016 Patriot Award for contributions to Researches and
Literature on Anioma
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