Emeka Esogbue

CHIEF WILLY IKOLODO LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR GOOD WORKS IN IBUSA COMMUNITY Chief Willy Ikolodo in Uwolo regalia FAMILY PLANS POST-HUMUS HONOUR FOR THE LEGENDARY PHILANTHROPIST AND LATE UW Chief Willy Ikolodo with his wives OLO OF IBUSA By Emeka Esogbue "The kernel of truth is in Chief Willy Ikolodo, a leading protagonist in the social history of Ibusa". - Pen Master Many would agree that the history of philanthropism in Ibusa started with the foundation laid by him. Hence, the legend was Igbuzo and Igbuzo was him.  In 2010, the Ibusa community in Delta State lost one of her greatest legendary  assets in history, the man who goes beyond the traits to establish true character of passion and honour; an enigma and an Igbuzo name that cannot be wished away and the first among equals in selfless service to Ibusa. Hon High Chief Willy Ukadikebunazua Ikolodo was a man who believed in Ibusa and Ibusa people, a commander and exerciser of control over the community's affairs, one who...

ANIOMA IS NIGERIA'S CULTURAL MELTING POT Emeka Esogbue Anioma is a cultural and ancestral spot where many Nigerian ethnic groups met. But little did our docile forebears realise this. It is indeed the cultural melting pot of Nigeria.  From ancient Nri Kingdom were migrations that led to the foundations of Igbuzo, Ogwashi-Uku, Akwukwu-Igbo and many more. These movements were followed with the migrations from Isu of the Igbos. The Isu migration became the more important in terms of number in Igbuzo, Ewulu etc. But there were the Ikelike of Benin origin who were the original settlers in Ogwashi-Uku. The earliest waves of migrations were of the Ife and Akure of the Yoruba race led to the foundation of a number of Yoruba communities in the Enuani region of the Anioma area and it gave rise to the foundation of Olukwumi communities that are Ugbodu, Eko Efun (Ukwunzu), Ogodor and many more. Surprisingly, little did early Yoruba historians record the Yoruba communities in Enuani enclave unt...

KUNIRUM OSIA: THE IBUSA "SAVIOUR' THAT IBUSA IS YET TO HONOUR - Emeka Esogbue To those that know, Dr. Kunirum Osia could just supremely pass for one of the greatest patriots that the Ibusa community has ever seen in its entire history of existence yet, he was not an indigene. Who was he and how did this happen?  Kunirum Osia, PhD was an indigene of Obomkpa, an Anioma community in Delta State. He was a student of the Humanitarian and Social Science: Philosophy and Theology at the SS Peter and Paul, Major Seminary, Ibadan, affiliated to the Political Urban University, Rome.  He thereafter obtained his M.A in Social Anthropology and Political Science at Howard University, Washington D.C, M.Phil and PhD in Political Science at George Washington University. He was to later obtain Advanced Diploma in English and Literature, Latin, European History and Economics from the University of London. Osia has other professional training in Counseling and Administration from Virginia Commonwe...

The Death of Uche Nwalama Stopped Me but Now, I am Back and Strong -        Heritage Anioma Band Leader, Eluemunor Okafor He is musically a household name in Anioma, one of the earliest Ibusa traditional musicians that entrenched the music in records and also one of people’s longest playing traditional musicians of today. Music Composer, Eluemunor Isichei Okafor, the well-traveled musician also grounded in the people’s culture relieves worthy memory on how recorded music started in Ibusa. The veteran musician speaks to PEN MASTER on a number of issues that helps to fill the musicality gap of the Ibusa people in Delta State. Excerpts: Pen Master: Onyeoma Diyoyo is a household name but for those that are far-off, can our readers meet you? Okafor: Okay, thank you very much, Pen Master. Well, my name is Isichei Eluemunor Okafor. I am the third child but second male child of my parents. I was born to Odigwe Obi Okafor from Umuwor, Ogbeowele in Ibusa,...

Have you read the 55-page journal - A Study of the Origins and Migrations of Anioma Settlements written by Emeka Esogbue?' It was released to the public in 2015 and published by Carophem Communications Ltd, Ibadan, Nigeria with ISBN 978-978-53749-2-6 This well-researched journal speaks on the Anioma people geographically located in Delta State, Nigeria but the research is extended to include other Anioma settlements now located in Anambra, Imo, Rivers and Edo states of the nation. The Anioma people live within the context of shared understanding, history, culture and identity and within the context of shared political administration. Like other people, they have also evolved distinct civilization. They share common boundary; have inter-married; traded and allied in battles against common enemies. Th e Anioma people united to go to battle with the British. The Ubulu clan battled Benin in what is now known in history as 'Adesuwa War'. Igbanke, Ozubulu, Onitsha, ...