Emeka Esogbue

 HISTORY: A COLONIAL PICTURE OF CHURCH MISSION SHOWS "IGBUZO" AS FIRST RECORDED TRADITIONAL NAME OF THE COMMUNITY "WE ADOPTED "IGBUZO" IN 1963" - PROF UWANDULU By Emeka Esogbue  (Pen Master) This particular picture may mean nothing to you but it means all to Anioma historians with interest in the finding of actual native name of today's Ibusa, an Igbo-speaking community lying in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State.  First, it conveys the true and original image of the first Catholic Mission established in the community in 1898 by Rev Fr. Carlos Zappa and shows it in its original state unlike what is known of it it today, succeeding the renovations that it had to go through in its history of existence. Second, it ends all doubts about the original native name of the community before its Anglicization by the British to "Ibusa" which happened precisely in 1900. From 1914, "Ibusa" was documented for the people, making it...

  My Igala People Migrated from Egypt   -        Ayegba Abdullahi   Since his royal commissioning by HRM Agabaidu Idakwo Ameh Oboni II, the Atta of Igala, he has engaged in series of Igala advocacy or what is simply known as “Igala Reconnection”. Ambassador Ayegba Abdulahi, a former Lecturer with the Kogi State College of Health, Science and Technology and Igala Crusa der speaks to PEN MASTER (EMEKA ESOGBUE) on his beginning, origin of the Igala people of Nigeria, the Igala Reconnection Project and the Igala-Egyptian relations. These and other weighty issues he shares with Pen Master in this interview. Excerpts.         Pen Master: (Smiling) Ambassador Ayegba Abdulahi, after several pursuits, I finally caught up with you. Abdulahi, how nice to meet you.   Abdullahi: I am also glad to meet you, sir and you are welcome.    Pen Master: Hmm! Thank you very much. Now, you are regarded by your ...

 ALOR: NEAR ANNIHILATION, REBIRTH AND SPREAD IN MODERN IBUSA  By Emeka Esogbue INTRODUCTION Alor is a general practice in various Anioma especially among the Enuani communities although the origin remains largely unknown. It bears several significances where practiced. Alor is largely practiced in other Anioma communities with the name either retained or known as “Ichi-nmor” depending on the particular society. In places like Asaba, an Mkpalor is known as “Ogbueshi” or “Ogbueyin” in Onicha-Olona. The Ogbueshi, only a dialectical version of Ogbuenyi involves a traditional practice in which a particular male has metaphorically killed a cow. It has been emphasized that cow in the traditional sense symbolizes the mother earth. The Ogbueshi process is complex yet, necessary in man’s society where practiced. However, it is called “Mkpalor” in communities like Ibusa, Akwukwu-Igbo and others.  This is not to rule out the recognized practice in Ibusa elevates an Alor initiate to O...

 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 coco...