Structure of Ozubulu
Ozubulu is traditionally divided into four major quarters (villages):
1. Amakwa
2. Egbema
3. Eziora
4. Nza
Each of these quarters has several kindreds (umunna) and clans, which together make up the entire Ozubulu kingdom.
Group of inhabitants adjacent to the present day Agu-le-ri decry marginalization and moved to across the River (present day River Niger) until they reached a settlement called Ubulu Uku. Although some migrants stopped along the way and decided to settle down.
After unspecified long time, these group of migrants later returned to east after series of wars and misunderstanding between them and the indigenes of Ubulu Uku. The fierced migrants returned and found out that there's no enough available lands for settlement.
The Earliest Settlers, Akpulu and Ikono Inhabitants: The Invasion:
They resorted to survival of the fittest and invaded the ancient people of Akpulu and Ikono but met less resistance due to epidemic of cerebral spinal meningitis.
The Akpulu and Ikono communities, who would later become part of the Ozubulu populace. Today, the Akpulu community resides in Enugu Ozubulu, while the Ikono people live in Nza Ozubulu. The Ana Emblem was raised at a site in Amakwa, which was subsequently named Ama-nhike in honor of Nhike. The young Akpu plant, once placed in a clay basin, was planted in a special location now known as Akpu Ozubulu, or Olie Akpu. Meanwhile, the Udo Ekwulu was planted at the present site of Ndekwulu Ozubulu, serving as a protective symbol to ward off potential threats from Ubulu Uku. Read Full History
The Name Amakwa: Origin of Amakwa
Amakwa is one of the oldest and most influential quarters in Ozubulu. Amakwa was a site where many descendants of Akpulu and Ikono who died from meningitis were buried. Amakwa extend to cover many area in the present day Ozubulu. It is also a divine site established for meeting point of one of the earliest settlements established by the descendants of Akpulu, Ikono and Ezimo (real Ozubulu), making it a founding pillar of Ozubulu town.
The name “Amakwa” is derived from two Igbo words:
“Ama” meaning open space or outdoor space outside home.
“Akwa” has handful of connotations in Igbo language and usages depends on contexts. But akwa we're talking about here is "Cry".
Amakwa is the central area of settlement. Historically, Amakwa served as a meeting and cultural hub, hosting community decisions, festivals, and early missionary activities in Ozubulu.
Click to: Read The Full History of Ozubulu town
Amakwa Kindred in Neni:
Ama-Akwa are group of migrants from Ozo Ubulu left their settlement following allegedly mysterious event in their ancestral land. In search of conducive place for settlement, they luckily ran into settlement of runaway Awka-etiti warriors (deserters) in the present day Eziaja village. However, Eziaja inhabitants welcomed the migrants, Ikwerrefi from Eziaja spearheaded the allocation of Eziaja's land to Ama-akwa migrants.
The empty land where Amakwa Neni migrated from still exist in Amakwa village in Ozubulu. Sometime ago, traditional rurer of Ozubulu, HRH, Nnamdi Oruche paid a homage visit to Amakwa Community in Neni and planted a Kola nut In Amakwa Event Arena as this is to further exercise committment of the brotherly bond between the two Communities. Read: The History of Ozubulu Town
Families In Amakwa Kindred Neni:
There are handful of sub-families in Amakwa kindred. There were three brothers who migrated from Amakwa Village in Ozubulu to Amakwa Neni. They are:
1. Ezenebo
2. Owa
3. Utukolo
Ezenebo begat two sons which are:
1. Okpala-Ekeli
2. Eyisi
Owa moved to present day Anaocha LGA in Ezineni.
Utukolo had no issue
Okpala-Ekeli begat three sons which are:
1. Ezeani Okpala-Ekeli
2. Ikwele
3. Onyekuba
Ezeani Okpala-Ekeli begat two sons which are:
1. Ifekanandu
2. Utukolo
Ikwele had five sons which are:
1. Eyisiudo
2. Okpalanukwu
3. Agudosi
4. Anyadiegwu
5. Obeano.
Ifekanandu had two sons:
1. Chukwunelo
2. Okeke (Ononomkpo).
Chief Moses Anosike Snr (Nnanyeaka) version of Nwokediuko Family Tree.
Nwokediuko Family Tree
Onyekuba sons:
- Ndubuilo
- Nwokediuko
- Ibemesi
- Madubuike
- Ezuzo Riaku
Nwokediuko begot 7 sons and 7 daughters (14 Children total) from 3 wives.
- First wife:
a. Eyisi Obiajulu
b. Aghadiuche
- Second wife:
a. Chukwuyereonu
b. Anosike
c. Obidiako
- Third wife (Igwe Nwanyi from Obianodo family in Umueze village):
a. Alaysius Chidula
b. Reuben Aniekezie
Nwokediuko 7 Daughters: (names not available)
- Families of Nwokediuko's 7 sons:
- 1st son: Eyisi Obiajulu: (Family details: N/A)
- 2nd son: Chukwuyereonu: (Family details: N/A)
- 3rd son:
Aghadiuche:
(Family details: N/A)
- 4th son: Anosike: (Family details: N/A)
- 5th son: Obidiako:
(Family details: N/A)
- 6th son: Alaysius Chidula:
Alaysius Chidula married Odueze from Umudioka village. Their children are:
- Louisa
- Mathew (with 5 children: Ifunanya, Chidubem, Ikenna, Ejike, and Nonye)
- Josephine (with 1 daughter)
- Oge Adolf (with 2 children: Lotanna and Ifenna)
- 7th son: Reuben Aniekezie:
Reuben Aniekezie married Menwa Veronica (a.k.a Agumma) from the Umeh family in Etitinabo. Their children are:
1. Nwabueze Christian
2. Fidelis Obinwa
3. Uche Peter
4. Patricia
5. Maria
6. Ngozi
7. Okwukwe
Although there are settlers already inhabiting the present location called Amakwa Neni. The first settlers are: Enidom (Nyekem descendant), Onyenwe Uwa (descendants unknown), etc
Chief Oliver Chukwuyereonu (Abiola) version of history of Amakwa/Nwokediuko Family:
Owa migration and settlement:
Owa moved to present day Anaocha LGA and later joined Ezineni village due to the distance of attending activities in Amakwa kindred, that is why someone from Amakwa can marry from Umu-owa kindred in Ezineni. E.g Moses Aloekwe from Amakwa married from Umeh family from Umuowa.Nwokediuko's lineage:
Ibemesi Senior Nwokediuko and Nwokediuko has 3 wives with 7 sons and 7 daughters. Eyisi Obiajulu has 1 brother, Aghadiuche from their mother.
2nd wife "Nwakaife" has 3 sons: Chukwuyereonu, Anosike and Obidiako. Nwakaife (nee Okemuo) from Umueze village is the 2nd wife of Nwokediuko and begot Chukwuyereonu, he has 3 sisters.
One married to Uba family Ezineni village, she has 3 sons: Ezenwanne, Paul and Augustine Uba.
2nd "Nneuwa" married to Ibeme family Umueze has Richard, Lawrence and others, Richard had Augustine Ibeme who is the M/D citizen paints Onitsha.
3rd married to Adigwe family Umueze and had Anselem Adigwe who is Laja Brothers Lagos.
4th married to Ezechuluo family Umueze and had Augustine.
Chukwuyereonu has 5 sons sons and 2 daughters: Dennis, Albert, Olisaegbo, Christopher, Lazarus and Elizabeth who married to Ezeanochie family Akwaeze and Florence married to Ezennwune family Etitinabo village, Neni.
3rd wife "Igwenwayi" who is sister to father of Vincent Obianodo (CEO Young shall Grow Motors) has two sons:
Alaysius Chidula and Reuben Aniekezie. Before the last born Reuben was born Chukwuyereonu and Eyisi are already married that is why Nwokediuko grand son son Dennis Chukwuyereonu is born before Reuben.
The 2nd wife of Nwokediuko is pregnant at same time Chukwuyereonu have entered 9th month while Eyisi is at 7th month, Eyisi came out in 7th month and because first born of Chief Nwokediuko.
Eyisi Obiajulu had a sister married to Ama or Amako family Umueze and She had a son by C. Ama that did combine business with chief Jeremiah Obiajulu in Onitsha.
Eyisi married 2 wives:
1st "Akuoboso" Nee Akonobi, she has 2 sons and 3 daughters:
Chief Jeremiah and Ferdinand, 1st sister married to Okpala family in Umudioka, 2nd to Chukwuma family Umueze, 3rd Ekenma didn't marry, she died as a spinster.
2nd wife had Peter, mama Paul married to Onyemazu family Akwaeze, Agnes married at Ukpo
In early 1920, when they are doing egwu onwa. They used the moon light to see in the night, Amakwa has 3 strong wrestlers e.g Christopher chukwu grandson from Nwokediuko, went to Akwaeze and Defeated them, our people carry him in the shoulder and brought him to Neni (Ezenwamadu).
2nd Ajaowele Madubuike his back can never touch ground.
Mgboike Obiagui is one of the best 4th we have John Super Danddy Ibemesi is a Heavy weight lifter, he can carry 10 bags of Cement in his stomach.
Chief Michael Okpala Power: A legendary professional wrestler and also World heavyweight title holder
Shrines:
Amakwa has 3 shrine at the 3 entrance to the kindred. Ekeokpo, Ugbaja and Ididenka which has Obiadighigwe Obiano as the chief priest.
Nka has the chief priest from Amakwa "Obiadighigwe Obiano".
Present Significance
a. Today, Amakwa remains a vibrant part of Ozubulu, known for:
b. Its strategic location near the Ozubulu town center
c. Strong presence in religious, political, and business life
d. Producing prominent figures in Anambra’s history and the Nigerian diaspora. E.g Power Mike, etc.
Migrants from Amakwa Neni in Ebeneato in Nnewi South, Anambra state:
Some families at the boundary of Umueze village and Amakwa behind High Court/Eziaja Hall edifice according to verified history murdered a young man from Umueze village and when this happened, as per tradition, the families embarked on the run what is termed "Oso Ochu", they migrated and joined Ebenato Nnewi.
Summary and other untold facts:
One of the original people in Ozubulu was called Akpulu not Akputu. Their obi (fathers compound) was where St Micheals Catholic Church Amakwa Ozubulu is situated today. Just like Akpulu town, a brethren in Orumba/Aguata (today disintegrated and swallowed by nearby towns: Oko, Nanka, Ekwuluobia, Isuofia), Akpulu people where marginalised and their ancestral land was forcefully taken away from them. Due to the chaos, some of them move to the place called Uruokwe in Enugwu-Ukwu; some still dwell in Amakwa near the Church, Anamalu family of Amakwa is one of them; Onyia the father of Enukposi moved to Ozu village in Uruokwe, some Umu Enukposi Onyia went back to settle at Ugwu orie behind the market, they are called Umu Onyia Nbana today. Many generational decendant of Enukposi Onyia in Ozu include Nwachukwu, Anigbogu, Anaeheobi and so many others. Anaeheobi has a son Ohaemesi. A few other Akpulu people settled within Eziora Ozubulu.
Some time in the 90's, a parish priest at St Micheal's Amakwa invited all members of Akpulu family alive to gather at the church for a love feast and to apologise on behalf of the church for accepting a land that was forcefully taken. The elders were happy that at last someone has recognised the ill treatment meted out to their ancestors. Akpulu and Ikono people were ultimately decimated haven battling with killings from returning Ezimo descendants and cerebral spinal meningitis at same time.
Source: Throwback Times Nigeria
