Ibusa Pays Final Respect to Omu Augustina Nando, the late Omu of the community
By Emeka Esogbue
The final funeral rites of the last Omu of Ibusa, Omu Augustina Ogugua Nando was conducted in Ibusa yesterday being Eke day. The final rites of the funeral natively known as "Ife ilo" were conducted to give the late Omu who was popular for her discipline and knowledge of the Ibusa customs and tradition, the last respect culturally expected of an Omu in the community where culture is heavily cherished.
Omu Nando was the last Omu of Ibusa whose reign ended the more than 400 years of the traditional institution of the Anioma people in the community. Since then, the community has been struggling to rebirth the foremost traditional female institution which gave women in the community and Anioma as a whole, a true sense of belonging. The institution once acted as a voice for the womenfolk and as a check on societal excesses. For instance, the Omu of Ibusa is empowered to attend the Izu Ani Igbuzo where voices of women are heard on the platform of the institution.
Although the Omu position is traditionally and officially listed in Obuzo-in-Council the bearer is not physically present to play her role as the position has remained vacant for years now.
Only recently, there has been a clamour for Omu rebirth in parts of Anioma where the institution has become lost and the Ibusa community was not left out. The wind of renaissance began to blow through several Anioma communities about six years ago when Pen Master (this author) published the book, "A Short History of Omu." Nevertheless, no one has worked as hard as HRM Obi Dr. Martha Dunkwu, the Omu of Okpanam/Anioma whose efforts saw through several communities regaining their Omuship.
Omu Esther Obiogwa was crowned the Omu of Ugbolu but it is Omu Barr. Queensly Uzoka, Omu of Obomkpa who is Anioma's most recent Omu. 20 years ago, there were just 5 Omus in five different communities but today, they are 15.
The Omu institution has also seen a bit of cultural dynamism, a mild departure from what was once known of it. From the institution of aged women who seated in market places, it is today, a glory of an institution with dynamic occupants that are learned and professionally trained to meet current societal exigencies, expected of the institution and to drive other forms of advancement for the people of the community, mostly women affairs.
Many thanks to everyone that contributed to the return of the institution including Issele-Uku-born journalist, Patrick Nweike Ochei, publisher of Anioma Trust Newspapers, the late Prof Nwanze, Prof Michael Onwujeogwu, and others.
With the wind of clamour now climatically blowing through the Ibusa socio-cultural environment with yearning voices, more and more indigenes have joined the clamour for the return of the female traditional institution seen as a vehicle for women change, socio-cultural affairs, and development which once accorded the community cultural splendour. Cultural observers in the community have said that with the Omu absence, Ibusa, located about 6 miles from Asaba, the state capital is denied a place in reputable socio-political gatherings that require the presence of women.
The completion of the burial rites of Omu Augustina Ogugua Nando of Umuwai in Umueze of the community, described as "the end of an era" by one undisclosed source is not unconnected with the Ibusa people's preparations towards returning the institutions to the community.
"Today's ife Ilo rites" are the end," the sources stated.
Recall that Pen Master had some few weeks ago reported that the community was making frantic arrangements to rejoin Asaba, Okpanam, Issele-Uku, Akwukwu-Igbo, Onicha-Olona, Obomkpa, and other big Anioma communities belonging to the league of Omu owners. If everything goes as planned, the people will rejoice in their own Omu.
See video of ife Ilo rites
Read also:
"Economic History: Land, Labour, and Capital as Factors of Production in Pre-Colonial Anioma Society" By Emeka Esogbue
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