UMUOJI HISTORY

We cannot accurately account for the “origin” or birth of Umuoji without searching for our roots within the general context of the history of the Igbos. Umuoji people descended from a man called Okodu, who was a descendant of a man from Nri. In those early days only people of Arochukwu (Umuchukwu meaning children of Supreme God) and Nri who were also regarded as sacred people or mediators between men and the gods were free to travel about and they were the two sets of people who were known throughout the then Igbo nation. Nri people, migrated from the Nile Valley regions travelling through the regions of the Nile, the Benue and the Niger. This mass migrations from North and Central Africa started from the first Eurasian invasions into North Africa, starting from BC times till around the 12th centuries.

These paved way for Nri cultural hegemony to spread throughout most of the then known Igbo speaking areas. They influenced, married and settled in areas like Isiuzo, Azu, Akwa, Oraofia, Mputu, even as far as Agbor and Ukwuani in the present Delta State. Umuoji was not an exception. Okodu reorganized the settlements into villages and quarters and integrated the erstwhile blood-related kindred settlements, establishing Nri political, social, religious and cultural systems in the area called Umuoji today. The origin of ‘Umuoji’ indigenous settlements goes back to at least 2000BC. Before his arrival, the indigenes, lived as a ‘united but distant’ kindred in isolated settlements although these kindred shared the same ancestry.

Okodu called the town Umuoji after his own Nri quarter, Uruoji. No wonder the word ‘Uru’ appears as prefix to names of some Umuoji villages. So, the ascendancy goes as thus, Okodu is the father of Oji. Oji in turn begat Ora II whom he named after his grandfather. Ora II had two wives from each of whom he got two sons. The sons were Ezi, Echem, Ifite and Akala. Ezi and Echem were of the same mother, while Ifite and Akala were of the same mother. These four sons today make up the four quarters of Umuoji and the villages therein. The four quarters in Umuoji and the villages are 23 in all. Formerly, Umuoji had 25 villages until Umunzulu merged with Amoji while Umuokezi joined Ideoma. The villages are not listed in order of seniority. The quarters are listed in their order of seniority.

EZIORA.
Umuobia, Abor, Ekwulu, Ireh, Amoji, Urueze.

IFITEORA
Ifite, Umuoli, Uruedeke, Umuazu.

DIMECHEM
Agumaelum, Ideoma, Umuechem, Dianokwu, Dimboko, Uruaneke, Umuoma.

AKALA.
Aguma, Anogu,  Urumkpu, Akalaetiti, Abidi, Uruegbe.

Each village is headed by an Ichie. Then a Council of Ndi Ichie form the Igwe’s Cabinet. Other traditional and cultural institutions in Umuoji are the Nze-na-Ozo, Age Grades, Umuofia, Umuokpu and Umuada etc. The Umuoji Improvement Union and the Umuoji Women Association, sees to the daily governance, development and charitable activities in Umuoji town.

There are 4 major festivals among others celebrated by the Umuoji people. The most important is the Ofala(‘Ofo ala/ani’) Festival, celebrated by the Igwe at least in every 3 years. Then the Uzoiyi(‘ka ndu gi di ka iyi’) Festival, usually celebrated in March. It kicks off the progressive farming season. The Mbajekwe Festival ushers in the Ili Ji Ofuu(a major cash crop dating back to the times of ancient Kemet/‘Land of the Yam’) Festival. This is celebrated in August – September. The Oma-Nne Festival, this is one of those cultural celebrations and ritual to keep alive and to immortalise that unique blood-matrilineal relationship shared between Abatete(‘Mbateghete’), Umuoji and Nkpor(‘Umudim’/“ndi akpoghalu akpogha”). The date for its celebration is determined by the Isi-Oma (eldest woman).

Notable places in Umuoji include the Iba Oji in Ifite village; The Amangwu and Udume Shrines in Aboh village; The Ideakpulu Stream located in Umuoma and Ideoma villages; The Ezi Ebenebe Shrine in Akala Etiti and the Iba Aroli in Umuobia village. The major Umuoji market days are Afia Eke na Afia Nkwo. Umuoji has 9 public primary schools, 2 secondary schools and several private schools, including the popular Boys High School; Mater Amabilis Secondary School and St. Francis Primary School, Umuoji.

(References are available on Request).