Emeka Esogbue

 What is Ishi Among the Enuani People?  - Pen Master (Emeka Esogbue) Ishi also called Ifi means "spiritual retribution," in the belief of the Enuani people of Anioma in Delta State.   In general terms, it is a spiritual punishment either for doing what one was not supposed to do or for not doing what one was supposed to do. Either way, one suffers from the misconduct.  In line with marriage, a woman who sleeps outside the home may suffer ishi not because the bride price is on her head but because her husband still considers her married to him and they live under one roof while he feeds on food cooked by her. If a bride price is on the head of a woman but they have separated and gone their way, there could be nothing like ishi. Ishi only happens because the woman still sleeps with her husband and cooks for him to eat. And even if they both live under a single roof as a husband and wife the woman is flirtatious, the man will only avoid two things, eating her food ...

  Writing and Pastoral works are Spiritual Exercises with Inspirations   -        Ibusa Novelist, Chike Okeze   With the recent literary growth and renaissance among young writers, an encouraging discovery is made of Chike Godwin Okeze, a Pastor, Writer and Novelist from the Ibusa Community in Delta State. Chike Okeze, the Author of “A Sacrifice of Peace” and a member of Guild of Ibusa Writers and Authors, speaks to PEN MASTER (EMEKA ESOGBUE) on a number of issues impacting on literary Nigeria. Excerpts:   Pen Master: It is my pleasure to meet you, a young Anioma writer. However, I consider it appropriate that our global readers also meet you for wider recognition.   Okeze: Thank you, the Pen Master Sir. It’s indeed a rare honour providing me the platform to be heard. My name is Chike Godwin Okeze. I am the author of “Amope the Slave Girl,” published by Macmillan Nigeria Publishers. There are other self-publishe...

 Anioma's Atuma Community in Mournful Mood as Chiazor, Nigeria's First Commissioned Naval Officer Passes.  - Emeka Esogbue  The Anioma traditional flag has remained at half mast following the passing of Commander Onwurah Zonyenuno Chiazor, Nigeria's first commissioned Naval Officer and only a few in a nation of more than 250 million people are aware of the colossal loss of a high-ranking Naval Officer of his caliber. Incidentally, not many residents within the local government of his origin are also aware of the loss sustained by them hence life goes on.  Navy Commander Chiazor was an indigene of Atuma in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, a community in the same local government affiliation with Ibusa, Akwukwu-Igbo, Okpanam, and others.  Navy Commander Onwurah, initially with the Canadian Navy, was the most celebrated Nigerian Naval Officer of his time perhaps, and upon his return, prominent in building and indigenizing the Nigerian Navy base...

 Emmanuel Amatokwu Calls for the Revival of the La gos Branch of Ibusa ICDU - Emeka Esogbue  Ibusa Sports Club Coordinator and one-time Oshimili North Local Government Area Chairmanship contestant, Mr. Emmanuel 'Kwasa' Amatokwu have called on the people of the Ibusa community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State to ensure the revival of the Lagos Branch of the Ibusa Community Development Union also known as ICDU.  Amatokwu also called "Mayor of Ibusa" by his admirers made the call in Ibusa on Saturday via the email he sent to a chain of prominent indigenes of the Ibusa Community and other stakeholders, a copy he forwarded to PEN MASTER.  Worried by near loss of value, the former Banker wrote, "it has come to our notice that despite all the efforts put in place by the Ibusa Think Tank to make sure that those of us in Lagos take our ICDU meetings very seriously, our Lagos Town Union is dying. Unfortunately, the move has been allowed to gradually f...

 Town Hall Meeting: Patrick Utomi Invites Ibusa Indigenes  - Emeka Esogbue  Ace Political Economist and former presidential candidate, Prof Patrick Okedinachi Utomi has invited the people of Ibusa in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta to a town hall meeting in the community.  According to the information posted in Anioma Watch, an online group of the Anioma people from Aniocha, Oshimili, Ika, and Ndokwa/Ukwuani, by Emmanuel 'Kwasa' Amatokwu, the erudite Professor, now one of Peter Obi's advocates, something to tell his Ibusa people.  Emmanuel 'Kwasa' Amatokwu who also hails from the Ibusa community further advised the people to turn out en masse inside the Umueze Community Hall in the community to hear him out. The time of event is slated for 9 am.  Kwasa wrote: "Special Invitation Prof Pat Utomi is inviting Ndi Igbuzo to a town hall meeting tomorrow at 9 am at Umueze Community Hall by Umuochie, Umueze. Pls call others and go and hear what he has...

 Umuodafe is the Most Popular Ibusa Quarters Outside the Community According to Poll - Emeka Esogbue  An opinion poll conducted by Pen Master Media Services in Igbuzo Singles Meet Worldwide has thrown up the result of Umuodafe as the most popular quarter in the community.  The majority of the Ibusa youths who are single threw their weights behind the quarters as the most favored followed by Umuekea.   The question was: "Which of the following Ibusa quarters is the most popular because most indigenes you meet outside the community come from there," and more voters went for Umuodafe.  35% of the total number of voters say most Ibusa indigenes they have met outside the shores of the community are often from Umuodafe.  20% went for Umuekea as a preferred choice. While ironically, Umueze, the largest of the community's quarters was tied with Umuezeagwu with the attraction of 18% of the total votes cast. The Ogboli Quarters then followed with the 14℅ votes t...

 Anioma Music Maestro, Onyeoma Diyoyo, Happy to Relocate to Hometown, Ibusa  - Emeka Esogbue  Anioma music veteran and leader of Anioma Musik Makers Band, Onowu Onyeoma Diyoyo Okafor has finally relocated to Ibusa, his hometown where he hopes to continue to entertain his people with his Ekobe genre of music. Onyeoma Diyoyo Okafor made this disclosure on Sunday to PEN MASTER in a telephone conversation.  He said he was better and more fulfilled staying home to thrill lovers of his music.  "Pen Master, what you heard is true. I am here fully from whence I have been serving my Anioma lovers and beyond with my kind of music. I move them to dance, enjoy my songs and give them happiness. I am roundly happy they are happy."  Asked where he particularly was, the Diyoyo said, "it was better to stay closer to people who need my musical services than be far away." "Pen Master, tell them that Diyoyo, the Music Maker is now with them in our Anioma. I have moved down to ...

 How Ndudi Elumelu Remembered the Omu Institution with a Palatial Edifice - Emeka Esogbue HRM Obi Dr. Martha Dunkwu, the Omu of Anioma means so many things to so many people but to the Anioma nation, she is an exemplification of the elevation of the Omu traditional institution.  Once crowned the Omu of Anioma amid severe criticisms from her Anioma people, Omu Dunkwu took up the female institution and made it her pet project. From a dying institution, she worked hard to miraculously sell the institution to the world and it became the envy of other traditional institutions in the region.  She told her followers the story of her journey, "I met about five to six Omus when I became Omu, two are remaining from that era. Through advocacy by our Great Anioma Historian Emeka Esogbue, Anioma Association USA, Prof E. A. C Nwanze, late Prof Onwuejiogwu, Dr. Ikechukwu Enwenwa, Comrade Patrick Nweike Ochei, my humble person, etc, we have over ten Omus today. We had about fifteen but f...

 How Issele-Uku Kingdom United the Ogboli Families of Anioma in a Conference, Issues a Communique  - Emeka Esogbue The Anioma people are becoming more socially united as Ogboli Quarters in Anioma communities met recently in Issele-Uku and were hosted by Diokpa Okonkwo Nduka Nwajei, the Onishe of Issele-Uku and Okpalabisi of Ogboli Quarters.  The Ogboli people in the Anioma communities of Issele-Uku, Ibusa,  Illah, Obior, Ogwashi-Uku, Akwukwu-Igbo, and Atuma Iga all came together to chart a socio-cultural course that will advance their well-being.  After the meeting in which a communique was issued on the way forward for the Nshi (Nri) migrants, they promised to unite more among themselves and also unite more with their kit and kin from the present Anambra State.  The Ogboli are migrants from Nishi (Nri Kingdom) in Anambra State. They are all related. Legends of these various communities show this relationship.  Edini (of Ibusa) and Adaigbo (of Ogwashi-...

Sorrow in Issele-Azagba, Anioma Community as the Ogbele-Ani Passes On   - Emeka Esogbue   Issele-Azagba, an Anioma community was thrown into mourning following the reported passing away of Chief Sunday Uwandulu, the Ogbele-Ani of the community.  PEN MASTER learned that Chief Sunday Uwandulu (Ukadike), the Ogbelani-Ani of Issele-Azagba Kingdom passed away on Sunday.  The Ogbele-Ani who hailed from the Ogbe-Onicha Quarter of the community is considered to be a hero due to his exploits in the Nigerian Civil War.  Comrade Maha Jude Ifechukwude, a relative of the late High Chief who spoke to PEN MASTER on the phone, described him as a man of integrity and as one with a heart of gold who went all out to assist the Issele-Azagba Kingdom to grow over the last few decades and also made philanthropic contributions in the lives of Issele-Azagba indigenes and beyond.   Funeral arrangements will be announced by his family in due course.