A Brief History of Ibusa
By Emeka Esogbue
The Ibusa account of foundation depends on oral sources as
continually handed down from generations, and also documented by the writers of
the community’s history of origin. The community offers an example of a
bipartite society, formed by two distinct movements from two dissimilar
settlements that have now merged. Indeed, it is a federation of two autonomous
communities considering that its major founders were from Nri and Isu of the
Igbo outside the present Anioma enclave. Nevertheless, the modern community of
Ibusa has the three founders being Edini (founder of Ogboli), Umejei (founder
of Igbuzo) and Ishite (founder of Ezukwu).
Ibusa, an Igbo-speaking
settlement as it exists today was founded in the 15th century by two
major migrations to the West of the River Niger Basin. The movements were by
migrants from Nri and Isu, two ancient settlements that are located in today’s
Southeast part of Nigeria. The Nri migration occurred when Edini whose father
was the Eze Nri (King of Nri Kingdom) in present Anambra State of the country
accompanied his brother, Adaigbo who was said to have committed an offence by
sleeping with his father’s wife to go on exile westwards across the River Niger
to avoid punitive measures. Journeying to escape the punitive measure with
their mother Obodo, Edini who was carrying a pot of charm on his head had it drop
at a place called Ani Udo, meaning “land of peace.” It was on this spot that he
consequently settled down, giving birth to the Ogboli settlement of Ibusa.
By implication, the Ogboli
settlement had been founded by Edini while Adaigbo, his elder brother continued
his journey until the pot of charm also carried by him also dropped at a place called
Eke, which is the present Ogwashi-Uku site. He consequently built a shrine
called “Ogwa” on the site. It was from this “Ogwa,” that the name of the
community is derived, “Ogwa-Nshi,” which is the Ogwa of the people from Nshi (Nri).
However, their mother, Obodo decided to settle with Edini in Ogboli, Ibusa
since he was the younger of the two and needed attention.
By extension, the Ogwashi-Uku
and Akwukwu-Igbo legend of foundation retain Okolie-Agu, a historical figure who
was said to have accompanied Adaigbo on the journey from Nri (Nshi). Okolie-Agu
being younger than Adaigbo remained in Ogwashi-Uku with Adaigbo, his elder
brother until he went on hunting expedition and never returned, leading to the
foundation of the Akwukwu-Igbo community. The “Akwukwu” in the name meant “large
farm” while the “Igbo” suffix retains the Igbo background of his progenitor. The
three brothers had founded Ogboli (Ibusa), Ogwashi-Uku and Akwukwu-Igbo
settlements.
A second migration retained in the legend of
the Ibusa people was by Umejei Nwa Eze Isu or Prince Umejei and his entourage. According
to the well-known legend, Prince Umejei, the son of the Eze Isu killed Agbadike, his opponent in a friendly wrestling bout,
an action considered an abomination and punishable with death under the Mosaic
law of Isu at the time but rather than hang himself as the custom of the land
demanded, he was forced to go on exile by his father who was the king of
Isu. His father specially prepared a pot
of charm and other items with strict instruction to settle wherever the pot
dropped. Umejei was accompanied by a number of his kinsmen that included his
sister, Omuoha, Ishite, and the founders of Ewulu, Atani, Olo-Anal and Abala.
The pot was said to have fallen at a place called Ani Oshe (in Umueze), Ibusa.
Ishite,
his elder brother, settled on a piece of land called Ezukwu that meant a “broad
street”, leading to the foundation of that settlement. Since Umejei and Ishite were
brothers of same parents, they did not have challenges relating closely with
themselves hence the settlements founded by both historical figures were
close-knit. However, the British colonialists amalgamated the Igbuzo settlement
(of Umejei and Ishite) with Ogboli due to administrative conveniences and
retained the name “Igbuzo,” which they Anglicized as “Ibusa” later in the
history. It was the amalgamation of the British that shifted the community from
“Igbuzo Ebe Iteneni” (place of 9 quarters) to “Igbuzo Ebe Ili” (place of 10
quarters). The addition of Ogboli by the British to the rest nine quarters of
Ibusa, created the paradigm shift in name, multiplying the number of the
villages that make up the community to ten as it is today.
THE IBUSA QUARTERS
As said earlier, modern Ibusa
comprises ten quarters, which are listed below:
1.
Umueze colloquially pronounced as “Omeze.”
(The largest of Ibusa quarters and custodians of Ibusa monarchy hence the name,
“Umu-Eze,” “Children of the King”)
2.
Umuekea (comprises Isieke, Nkpikolo,
Nkpanyala and Umuogwu)
3.
Umuodafe (comprising Oda-Ukwu and
Oda-Nta)
4.
Ogbeowele
5.
Umuidinasagba (comprising Umuidi and
Umuisagba)
6.
Anyallaobum (comprising of Ezukwu
and Achalla) founded by Ishite, Umejei’s elder brother.
7.
Umuwagwu (formerly known as Ogbeogwugwu)
8.
Umuezeagwu (comprising Umuisor and
Okponta)
9.
Umuehea
10.
Ogboli (Originally founded by Edini)
Later amalgamated to the Igbuzo settlement.
THE IBUSA OTU
The totality of Igbuzo quarters are classified
under three broad categories which the people know natively as “Otu.” The three
Otu are reproduced below in other of seniority:
OTU
ODOGWU (Headed by the Odogwu of Ibusa who is
traditionally greeted Abi)
1.
Umueze
2.
Ezukwu/Achala
OTU
UWOLO (Headed by the Uwolo of Ibusa who is
traditionally greeted Agbaa)
1.
Umuidinisagba
2.
Umuodafe
3.
Umuwagwu
4.
Ogboli
OTU
IYASE (Headed by the Iyase of Ibusa who is
traditionally greeted Onowu)
1. Umueazeagwu
2.
Ogbeowele
3.
Umuekea
4.
Umuehea
Although the Otu system was
established for war strategies, it is now useful for the determination of the
Obuzo, Omuship and other institutions that rotate among the three Otu. This is
often done in order of seniority of the three Otu.
GEOGRAPHY
Ibusa is an
Anioma community located in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta
State, South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria. The community is bounded to
the North by Okpanam; Ogwashi-Uku and Ewulu to the West; Asaba, Okwe and Oko to
the East and Abala- Unor to the South. It also lies close to other important
towns such as Issele-Azagba, Ubulu-Uku, Ubulu-Okiti and Akwukwu-Igbo and has the geographical coordinates of 6o 11’
0”North, 60 38 0”East. The location of the town is considered very
strategic as it is surrounded by a number of notable towns and communities that
it has related for centuries.
Ibusa
is naturally situated on a hill, which causes it to be dusty most times. It is
on the west of the majestic River Niger Basin and lying 6 (six) miles to Asaba,
the state capital. It further
lies on latitude 6.40 East and longitude 6.370 North, which is 700km above the
equator or east of the Greenwich meridian with its total land mass covering
nearly 260km2. Its landmass stretches from Aboh on Ibusa-Ogwashi
Road to Ashia Uzo near Iyiabi along Igbuzo-Asaba Road and from Azagba-Ogwashi
to Abala-Unor. It is administratively located within the Delta North Senatorial
District of Delta State alongside other communities of Aniocha, Oshimili, Ika
and Nodokwa/Ukwuani sub-groups which makes up Anioma.
LANGUAGE
The language of the Ibusa people is
Enuani, which is a version of Igbo. This Enuani dialect is characteristic of
the specific Aniocha and Oshimili groups. It is a dialect rich in expressions
and condensed memorable sayings that personify facts of past important
experiences. Although the community shares the dialect with other Enuani
communities of Anioma, it is dialectically spoken close to those of Asaba,
Akwukwu-Igbo and Okpanam definitely.
POLITICAL ADMINISTRATION OF IBUSA
By the law established and
consequently published in the Delta
State of Nigeria Extraordinary Gazette No. 28, Vol. 5 of June 21, 1995 pp.
B7-B11, Obuzor is the prescribed authority in Ibusa. His Royal Majesty, Obi
(Professor) Louis Chelunor Nwaoboshi is the Obuzor of Ibusa. He has been the first
occupant of the position since its creation in 1995. There is also the Diokpa
of Ibusa who is the oldest living man in the community.
Other Important Traditional Titles
Additionally,
there are other traditional titles reproduced below;
1. The Ikwele of Ibusa (Chief Priest)
2. The Odogwu of Ibusa
3. The Uwolo of Ibusa
4. The Iyase of Ibusa
5. The Ohene of Ibusa (The last of
the Ohene died in 2009)
6. The Omu of Ibusa
IBUSA TODAY
Situated
about six miles from Asaba, the state capital, Ibusa is today an important community
of Anioma. It is also a part of the Capital Territory Development since 1991
when the state was created by the military administration of the Gen Ibrahim
Babangida. With a remarkable number of professors and other scholars, and also
other famous indigenes who have distinguished themselves in different walks of
life all over the world, Ibusa is regarded as one of the important communities
of the Anioma Nation and it is believed that the return of the Omu institution
will enable the community to intensify its contributions to women development
within and outside the state.
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