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THE NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR: AN IBUSA PERSPECTIVE — DOCUMENTING THE UNTOLD STORIES

 THE NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR: AN IBUSA PERSPECTIVE — DOCUMENTING THE UNTOLD STORIES Pen Master (Emeka Esogbue) has continued his oral history documentation, engaging several Ibusa indigenes within the community to gather firsthand accounts and historical testimonies for his forthcoming book, The Nigerian Civil War: An Ibusa Perspective. This particular interview was especially fascinating, as it offered a wealth of historical information. My interviewee, an eyewitness to the war, demonstrated considerable knowledge of the conflict and its devastating impact on the Ibusa community. Among the issues discussed were the role of Oliewunaji during the war; how Colonel Murtala Muhammed narrowly escaped shelling in Ibusa; the circumstances surrounding the death of Emma Nwosu, a Biafran soldier; and how some Ibusa civilians were separated from other indigenes in Okpanam and subsequently transported to the St. Patrick's College Asaba Refugee Camp. While several Ibusa civilians were conveyed in mi...
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A Visit to the National Museum, Asaba: Reflections on Cultural Heritage, Collective Memory and the Preservation of Anioma Identity

 A Visit to the National Museum, Asaba: Reflections on Cultural Heritage, Collective Memory and the Preservation of Anioma Identity By Emeka Esogbue On Thursday, October 29, 2026, I visited the National Museum, Asaba, where I took a tour of the available collections and explored the various historical and cultural artefacts on display. It was, without doubt, a beautiful and intellectually stimulating experience. However, one observation that became increasingly apparent as I moved through the exhibition spaces was the relatively limited number of indigenous artefacts deposited in the museum. This observation raised an important question about our collective attitude towards cultural heritage preservation, particularly among the Anioma people. It appears that many of us have yet to fully appreciate the significance of preserving our ancestral material culture in designated heritage institutions for the benefit of present and future generations. Museums are not merely repositories of...
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Ibusa Youths Lack Direction and Leadership: Chris Nwanze's Comment Draws Criticism

 Ibusa Youths Lack Direction and Leadership: Chris Nwanze's Comment Draws Criticism By Emeka Esogbue Chris Nwanze has drawn criticism following comments in which he described Ibusa youths as lacking direction and leadership, a position he linked to what he characterised as the typical attitude of the average Igbo person. Nwanze made the remarks while reacting to an interview granted by Denis Umunna, popularly known as Yellow Man Denny, to Pen Master on the Umuigbuzo Forum. In his response, Nwanze recalled meeting some Ibusa youths in Ibusa and Asaba in 2012 in an effort to introduce the Ibusa/Anioma Talent Hunt and Ibusa/Anioma Film Corporation projects. He claimed that none of the young people he approached showed interest in the initiatives at the time. However, his assessment has attracted differing reactions from members of the Ibusa community, some of whom have questioned whether his experience with a few individuals could justify a general conclusion about the wider youth pop...
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The Proposed Obi Nwaokocha Okeze Mini Stadium, Ibusa: Everything You Need to Know

 The Proposed Obi Nwaokocha Okeze Mini Stadium, Ibusa: Everything You Need to Know By Emeka Esogbue Ibusa may soon be taking a significant step towards strengthening its position on the sporting map of Nigeria with the proposed establishment of the Obi Nwaokocha Okeze Mini Stadium, a project expected to open new opportunities for sports development, talent discovery and youth empowerment in the community. The proposed stadium, which was recently unveiled during an inauguration ceremony by renowned philanthropist, Pastor Idowu Okeze, has generated considerable interest among Ibusa indigenes, particularly sports enthusiasts and those who recognise the importance of providing modern sporting infrastructure for the next generation. On Saturday, a live video broadcast by Dr. Pat Okechukwu Adigwe on Ibusa social media platforms brought the inauguration ceremony and details of the proposed project to the attention of a wider audience. The occasion offered an opportunity to learn about the...
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Afam Enuha Emerges Umuafene Youth President

 Afam Enuha Emerges Umuafene Youth President By Emeka Esogbue Mr. Afam Enuha, a prominent member of the Umuafene Clan in Isieke, Ibusa, Delta State, has been appointed President of the Umuafene Youth. Enuha’s appointment was announced on Sunday during the General Meeting of the Umuafene Family Union, where members entrusted him with the responsibility of leading the clan’s youth. Congratulating the new youth president, the President of the Umuafene Family Union, Mr. Somayina Onyeachonam, acknowledged that challenges might arise in the course of his duties but urged him to remain resilient, exercise wisdom and demonstrate effective leadership. Onyeachonam also encouraged Enuha to approach his new responsibilities with dedication and a strong sense of commitment to the interests of the union. In his acceptance speech, Enuha expressed gratitude to members of the union for the confidence reposed in him, pledging not to disappoint them. He assured members of his commitment to dischargin...
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How Russia Sold Alaska: Territorial Acquisition without the Consent of Indigenous Peoples

 How Russia Sold Alaska: Territorial Acquisition without the Consent of Indigenous Peoples By Emeka Esogbue "Sometimes, a joke gets straight to the heart of a historical injustice more quickly than a lengthy legal explanation." And this is one such instance. Contrary to the perception held by some Africans, Africa is not the only continent that has suffered colonial injustice. The history of Alaska provides another striking example of how powerful governments have negotiated over territories inhabited by other peoples without obtaining the consent of those whose lives and ancestral lands were directly affected. In 1867, Russia sold Alaska to the United States for $7.2 million in gold. The transaction, known as the Alaska Purchase, was a diplomatic agreement rather than a military conquest. However, beneath the formalities of the treaty lies a troubling question: what consideration was given to the Indigenous peoples who had inhabited the territory long before Russian explorer...
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Obi Ajudua Congratulates Ibusa Over Reported Court Ruling in Ogwashi-Uku Land Dispute

 Obi Ajudua Congratulates Ibusa Over Reported Court Ruling in Ogwashi-Uku Land Dispute By Emeka Esogbue Founder of Vebron Carre Inc., Obi Dr. Henry Chukwuma Ajudua, has congratulated the Ibusa community following a reported ruling delivered on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, by the Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba in the longstanding land dispute between Ibusa and Ogwashi-Uku communities in Delta State. In a brief statement published on major Ibusa social media platforms, Ajudua described the reported ruling as a well-deserved victory for Ibusa after years of litigation. "Congratulations to Ibusa. This is a victory well deserved after all the years of several court cases," he said. "We hope that this will be the end of it," the philanthropist added. The dispute centres on the boundary between Ibusa and Ogwashi-Uku, including competing claims relating to Ubu Stream and the Oboshi River. The matter has a lengthy legal history, with earlier litigation between the com...
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Emeka Esogbue Launches Book on Iwu Festival

 Last Sunday was another day of milestones for me with the launch of my book, "Ibusa Iwu Festival: Dancing Through Time".  See pictures of the event. Reviewer: Apst Patrick Nwanze, President-General, Association of Anioma Indigenes Inc., and Vice President, Ibusa Community Development Union, Festac Branch Publisher: Caro Phem Communications Ltd Year of Publication: 2026
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Ibusa Indigenes, Friends Gather in Lagos as Festac ICDU Celebrates First Iwaji Festival

 Ibusa Indigenes, Friends Gather in Lagos as Festac ICDU Celebrates First Iwaji Festival * Book on the Community's Iwu Festival Unveiled to the Public By Emeka Esogbue Members of the Ibusa Community Development Union (ICDU), Festac Branch, Ibusa indigenes resident in Lagos, and friends of the community gathered in Festac on Sunday to celebrate Iwaji, also known as the New Yam Festival.  Guests and other attendees began arriving at the venue as early as 11:00 a.m. for the event, which was scheduled to commence at 2:00 p.m. The hall was eventually filled to capacity, with hundreds of guests in attendance. In his welcome address, Mr. Patrick Obi Nweke, President of ICDU Festac Branch, expressed delight at the impressive turnout. He attributed the large attendance to the love, unity, and sense of community among Ibusa indigenes and encouraged them to sustain these cherished values. Delivering an address on behalf of the President General of ICDU Worldwide, Onowu Victor Uchuno, Mr....
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Ibusa Book Unveiling on Iwu Festival

 Today, during the 1st Annual Festac ICDU Iwaji Festival, my book, Ibusa Iwu Festival: Dancing Through Time, will be officially unveiled—a significant milestone in my continuing commitment to documenting, celebrating, and preserving the rich cultural heritage of Ibusa. In addition to the book unveiling, I will deliver a lecture titled “Iwaji Festival: The Essence and Continuity in Ibusa Society.” The lecture will explore the deeper cultural significance of Iwaji, its place in the collective identity of the Ibusa people, and the responsibility we bear in ensuring that our cherished traditions endure across generations. Since the 1990s, Ibusa has witnessed a remarkable increase in the number of chiefs and other holders of traditional titles. While this growth reflects an expanding recognition of traditional institutions, it also raises a fundamental question: To what extent has this increase translated into meaningful efforts to preserve, promote, and sustain Ibusa culture and tradit...
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