Emeka Esogbue

 One Year Without Omu Anioma: Obi Martha Dunkwu Lived and Died for the Anioma Cause By Emeka Esogbue Today marks the one-year anniversary of Omu Martha Dunkwu's passing, a legendary figure who left an indelible mark on the Anioma people. As the Omu of Anioma, she was a trailblazer, breaking cultural barriers and paving the way for women's leadership in Anioma society. Since the days of modern Anioma, there was no female figure in history who enjoyed cultural and global fame as did Obi Martha Dunkwu, the Omu of Anioma; since the days of modern Anioma, there was no female traditional leader from Anioma who cut cultural influence as seen in Obi Martha Dunkwu, the Omu of Anioma. By January 26, 2002, when she was installed as the Omu of Okpanam, an Anioma female leader had been born in her. By January 15, 2019, when she became crowned as the Omu of Anioma, the people were becoming conversant with the female cultural leader, the like of which was never seen in the history of the peop...

  Omuship of the Anioma People in Brief By Emeka Esogbue INTRODUCTION Omuship is the oldest, best known and most revered female traditional among the Anioma people of Nigeria, which includes Onitsha where Omu Nwangboka is known to have reigned and also Ossomari, another community outside Delta State that shares ancestral relations with Anioma. According to Prof E. A. C. Nwanze, the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Edo State from Asaba, the Omu institution of the Anioma people is about 822 years in existence. Until recently, the history of Omuship despite its age-long existence remained obscure partly due to the nature of the spiritual requirements of the institution and the traditional nature of the occupants, on one hand, and lack of interest from writers of social history of the people of the area, on the other hand. The deep spiritual nature of the institution meant that only little was known about th institution and even then, the sketchy knowledge of ...

 IN MEMORY OF OMU MGBOUSHE OF ASABA: THE CIVIL WAR HEROINE, BETRAYED BY HER PEOPLE AND KILLED BY SOLDIERS  By Emeka Esogbue Although the Omu Mgboushe of Asaba statue stands reverently erect in front of Ogbeogonogo Market in Asaba, most visitors and natives alike do not know the history behind the statue. Nevertheless, the statue stands to historically testify to the wartime atrocities and deaths that the people of Asaba suffered during the Nigerian Civil War. Omuship is a 500- year female traditional institution that exists among the Anioma people. The institution also once existed in Onicha Ado (Onitsha) and Ossomarri, two other Anioma communities that are now outside the geographical Delta State.  Omuship, charged with the spiritual, economic, and political responsibilities to their respective Anioma communities is the pride of the people. It is also the traditional vehicle for the movent of women in this region. Take for instance, in Ibusa, a community of about 6 miles...

 OMUSHIP: CHICAGO PROFESSORS TRAVELED ALL THE WAY FROM AMERICA JUST TO LISTEN TO OMU ANIOMA LECTURE By Emeka Esogbue * How the Omu Gathered other Anioma Omu for the Americans * How the Omu of Anioma Got the Professors to Speak with Pen Master In what is becoming examples to other custodians of the Anioma culture, the Omu of Okpanam/Anioma, HRM Obi Martha Dunkwu is effortlessly and in true Anioma spirit, staying and remaining in the forefront of the promotion and preservation of the Anioma culture especially on Omuship, which is unique to the people. Yesterday, in what looked unprecedented, amazing, and interesting, two distinguished professors from the University of Chicago who have heard of the Omuship with its uniqueness, traveled down to Okpanam Palace of the Omu Anioma to listen to the Omu Okpanam/Anioma lectures on Omuship.  Interested in this aspect of Anioma culture and being long-time admirers of Obi Dr. Martha Dunkwu, the Omu of Okpanam/Anioma even from afar, the two ...

 ANIOCHA-OSHIMILI CHAIRMEN: APPROVE MONTHLY TOKEN FOR YOUR OMU  - Emeka Esogbue The time is here and now for the Aniocha North and South and Oshimili North and South Councils to pay the Omu token on monthly basis. With the campaign for votes, they move to Omu Anioma palace because they understand the role and influence of Omuship within the Enuani society but when elections have come and gone, they soon forget where they started.  Times have since changed and the government should recognize that the Omu should be catered for. We have a tradition, a woman leaves her husband and occupation because Omuship has called, a palace is built for her, with a retinue of domestic staff to cater for, and she takes up societal responsibility for her people's over all wellbeing.  She was formally in charge of markets within her vicinity but with foreign invasion by colonialists, she became stripped of this headship with the local government put in charge. The same council collects ...