Communities that have migrants from Neni town in Anambra State reflect the strong cultural nexus, and resilience of the Neni people who have settled permanently in different communities in Anambra state. During the ancient times, individuals and families from Neni have migrated and settled in various places in search of better life and also to escape from getting killed due to wars or maybe some other reasons. Today they've contributed meaningfully to the social and economic development of their new environments. These settlements not only strengthen inter-community relationships but also promote the rich traditions.

Throwback Times Nigeria is here to reveal the list of communities founded by migrants from Neni town, including communities that has Neni people as permanent settlers. We spent our resources and time researching about this. The list are:

1. Utuh town in Nnewi South LGA in Anambra state: Group of hunters led by Utuh during their hunting adventure left (the present day Okofia) Neni and decided to settle where they're today. 

2. Eziuzo Anyasiudu Kindred in Around Izuogu: These are migrants from Umuezuzo kindred, Eziaja Village, Neni

2. Neni migrants in Amichi Nnewi (Also in Adazi Nnukwu, Oraukwu): Umuohi (now a village in Neni) couldn't achieve to form own town, some joined their neighbor Oraukwu, Adazi Nnukwu, after a protracted war due to negligence and denial of rights to chieftaincy titles and others, majority pulled back from the two towns to join Neni Town while some migrated to Amichi in Nnewi. 


3. Dudu mmili (presently Ebenato): Some families from Amakwa Neni, at the boundary of Umueze village and Amakwa, behind the High Court/Eziaja Hall edifice, according to verified history, murdered a young man from Umueze village. When this happened, tradition required the families involved to flee a practice known as “Oso Ochu.” They migrated and eventually became part of what is today Ebenato town in Nnewi South LGA, Anambra State. Umueze village took their land. 

The migrants are referred to as Dudu Mmili by other locals. Utuh and Dudu Mmili still recognize one another as brothers to this day.

The Historic War:
The town is called 'Ebenator Ozulogu' because of her great deeds in the past. According to oral history, the town, not withstanding her smallness, was very mighty, and fought with virtually all her neighbouring communities who attempted to annex, plunder, raid, pillage or even annihilate her because of her smallness in those olden days. The town was undefeatable and able to wage war with all those neighbouring communities, and emerge victorious because of the powerful gods, Akwai, and goddess called Ofala which the people worshipped then.

Ebenato fought deadly wars with Ukpor and later with Osu, later with Utuh his brother and other nearby communities.

The Origin of the Name:
The name Ebenator was coined in 1918 by an Anglican church teacher posted to the community, Peter Onwuemerie. Then, these three autonomous villages (Umunnama, Umuonyeukpa and Ubaha) so far had no common name, by which they were addressed as a community, until Onwuemerie suggested Ebonator (meaning three villages or regions), a name which the community leaders and members accepted, and which later became pronounced as Ebenator, the name the community bears till today.

Ebenato Root:
All Ebenato originated from Ebeneato in Nnewi South and spread to other parts Igbo Community. Many members of the community flee to other communities  escape been killed during the deadly series of wars which happened from time to time while some joined other communities as mercinaries to fight invaders. This relocation birthed other Ebenato communities and kindreds. They are:

Ebonato (corrupted to Ebenato):
a. Ebenator in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State

b. Umuru Ebenator in Nnobi, Anambra state 

c. Ebenato in Ora-Eri, Aguata LGA Anambra state

d. Ebenato in Orsumoghu, Ihiala LGA Anambra state 

c. Ebenato in Azigbo, Nnewi South LGA Anambra 

d. Ebenato town in Nnewi South LGA Anambra 

e. Ebenato in Utuh, Nnewi South LGA Anambra state.

f. Ebenato in Otolo Nnewi 

g. Ebonator in Nimo, Njikoka LGA of Anambra State.

h. Umu-ebonator in Ufuma, Orumba North.

I. Amanachi in Ebenator, Orsu LGA Imo State

j. Ebenato Ekwe in Isu Local Government, Imo State.

k. Umuna, Orlu LGA, Imo State, Nigeria.

All Ebenato originated from Ebeneato in Nnewi South.

Summary:
Utuh and Dudu mmili are migrants from Neni. They're hunters during their hunting adventure, they settled in where they are today. Fore fathers of Ebenato are called "Dudu Mmili", brother with Utuh. During the war, Umunama (Native doctor) in Akwa Ihedi were contracted to fight on the side of Ebenato against Ukpor and because Ebenato were very small.

The native doctor prepared charms for Dudu mmili and Umunnama later contracted "Umu-onyeukpa" who assist in preparing rituals and charms already domiciled in Ebenato.

After the war Umu"nama" and Umuonyeukpa settled with Dudu mmili and Ubaha. In 1918, a historian and also a headmater wrote their history and named the three setllers (Umunnama, Umuonyeukpa and Ubaha) in Dudu mmili's abode Ebenato.

Source: Throwback Times