This Article Contains The Following:
a. Background
b. Origin
c. Villages
d. Institutions domiciled
e. Random
f. Conclusion
Background
Akwaeze Town is among the towns that made up Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. It however, shared boundaries with Neni, Obeledu, Aguluzuigbo, Oraeri, Ichida and Adazi-Enu. Akwaeze is among the towns that made up Agu-inyi town.
Akwaeze also is endowed with fertile land where agriculture thrives. It is among top Ancient towns in Anaocha LGA.
Origin
When Eri's descendents arrived from Middle East, although first settled at East Africa (Ethiopia), dwelled at the bank of Omo River in Southern Ethiopia albertly and migrated and settled at the River bank of where today called "Omo" "Mbala" River (Agul-eri). The original name of the migrants' leader was Dabawor (although was refered to as Eri in honor of the Primogenitor, Eri who died long ago at Middle East) However, many historians mistake him as being the real Eri. Dabawor alongside other migrants crossed Seven Wilderness (Aguu na Asaa) and “Seven Rivers” (Mmili na Asaa) to arrived at Omambala. Earliest human migration started about 3 million years ago (Both Homo Eretus and Homo-heidelbergensis).
From the timeline of events [Read The Full Story]. In AD900 (9th Century) Eri founded Nri Kingdom (Umu-Nri) named it after his second son, Me-Nri, although Eri governed the Kingdom from 948 -1041 after his death, Ifikuanim took over as first Eze Nri from 1043 - 1089. [Continue Reading]
Menri goes as far as to establish Nri's capital at the present day (Igbo Ukwu), originally known as Igbo Nkwo around 910 AD.
Note:The name Igbo Ukwu English translation is 'Great Igbo'.
The people of Igbo-Ukwu, ancestors of present-day Igbo, were the earliest smithers of copper and its alloys in West Africa (before Benin Empire, others), working the metal through hammering, twisting, bending and incising.
They are probably among the earliest groups of West Africans to employ the lost-wax casting techniques in the production of bronze sculptures. Circumstantial evidence suggests that their metal working repertoire was limited and Igbo smiths were not familiar with techniques such as raising, soldering, riveting, and wire making, though these techniques were used elsewhere on the continent. Most of the raw items they used in sculpting are imports.
During the era of Igbo Nkwo (today in Aguata, South-Central part of Anambra State, Nigeria), migration continued as a man called Nnebo, a descendant of Menri (Eri's second son) secured his settlement at the present day Akwaeze Town.
Akwa-Eze [Settlement 1210 AD]:
The man Nnebo fought so hard all the way from Igbo Nkwo to secure his settlement (present day Akwaeze Town). Most immigrants and others regarded him as Eze, having secured significant proportion of area for settlement which he does supernaturally with help of Agwo Ojilike (Green Snake), till date, the snake was considered secred and not to be killed by Akwa Citizens and also Akwa is said to posses his father's major tactics which is "Cunning Style" trait. However, in 1957, the leadership of Akwa affixed the title of Eze to the name Akwa.
Eze-Nnebo begot two sons namely:
1. Akwaikwamobi (Akwa, later affixed Eze in honor/remembrance of the Founder, Eze-Nnebo).
2. Enenina-Ubosi (Nneni, later corrupted to Neni).
In the twilight of his reign, Ezennebo divided his domain between his two sons. He gave the Obu (ancestral home) to Akwa, the founder of Umuajana kindred, one of kindreds in Umuezeani village in Akwaeze.
To the younger son, he gave the Ajofia Obiajulu, territories to the west of Aguezennebo (This territory is contiguous to the present Uhuani area).
This was to enable him to check the constant attacks by the Nri people from that sector of the town. When the frontier of hostility shifted towards Ora-eri.
Relationship With Neni
Akwa and Neni maintained their brotherly love, in appreciation, the junior brother (Neni) initiated Ibu-Iru (Hommage) to the elder brother (Akwa). After the death of Enenina-Ubosi (dwelled at Ajofia Obiajulu, present day Okofia, which extended to the first Child's domain called "Etiti Nabo"). Etitinabo village in Neni now perform the rituals (Ibu-Iru).
Furthermore, Akwa and Neni also engendered a common idol of worship which they called "Ibe-Nnem" (Ibenne i.e of same mother). They idol reportedly is domiciled at Neni-Akwaeze boundary (Umu-eze village, Neni and Umu-ezeani one of sons of Enenina-Ubosi who joined Akwaeze).
Neni and Akwaeze town historically perform funeral ceremony today and also regarded by their descendents as Ebem-isi which was a name coined by unification of 10 villages in Neni and 6 Villages in Akwaeze which aggregated to 16 villages.
Villages
Akwaeze is made up of six (6) villages:
1. Umu-Ezeani village:
Enenina Ubosi begot Eze-Ani (English translation: King Of The Land), his third son whom his descendents are today known as Umu-Ezeani (Children of Ezeani). Subsequently, Ezeani joined his uncle (Akwa).
Akwaikwamobi begot the following village:
2. Ideke (Umu-Ideke) village
3. Onyili (Uru-onyili) village
4. Utu (Umu-Utu) village
Below villages are migrants who joined to makeup Akwaeze town.
5. Olu (Uru-Olu) was descendents of migrants who earlier joined Uru-onyili. Note: English translation of Uru is Gain.
6. Mgbuwa also are migrants who escaped from being captured by imperialistics from Igboukwu-Nri Kingdom. However, the fleeing group of migrants spread, some settled in present day Ichida. Mgbuwa village in Akwaeze are reportedly the last that joined to make up the villages in Akwaeze.
Institutions:
Akwaeze has ultra modern market called Afor Akwaeze, they also have handful of primary, secondary schools and churches with the most popular secondary school as Girls High School Akwaeze (to Akwaeze Community Secondary School). The people are predominantly christians with handful of traditionalists.
Conclusion
We've seen how Nnebo (Eze-Nnebo), a descendent from Igbo Nkwo (present day Igbo-Ukwu), the Capital of Nri Kingdom founded by Eri's second son, Menri with the assistance from his father, Eri (Dabawor).
Eze-Nnebo's influence extended all the way from Igbo Nkwo (Agu- Ata) to where he fought so hard to secure a settlement (present day Akwaeze town). He begot two sons namely Akwa (Akwa, the first son) and Enenina-Ubosi (second son, in the present day called Neni Town).
