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 Aro Ndi Izuogu: These are migrants from Umuezuzo kindred, Eziaja Village, Neni
3. Umuohi migrants in Amichi Nnewi: Umuohi (now a village in Neni) couldn't achieve to form own town. After a protracted war with neighboring towns due to negligence and denial of rights of chieftaincy titles and others, majority pulled back to join Neni Town while some migrated to Ebenasaa Amichi in Nnewi North LGA Anambra State.
READ: History of Neni Town
4. Owerre Umudioka: Migrants from Neni:
Owerre Umudioka in present-day Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State traces its ancestral story to a group of families who migrated from Neni during the period of extensive migrations across Igboland.
According to the historical account, the migrants were attracted by the reputation, pride and economic importance associated with Ichi, the traditional art of facial scarification for which the Dioka people were renowned.
The migrants first moved southward and spent periods at Okija and Iseke, where established Dioka communities already existed. From there, they eventually reached Afor Akatta, where they encountered information about conflicts between the Owerre and Orsu people.
The Diokans subsequently became allies of the Owerre people and fought alongside them during the Orsu-Owerre wars. Over several generations, the migrant Diokans became increasingly integrated into Owerre society and became known as Umudioka Owerre.
The account identifies several cultural changes that followed this settlement. The community adopted Nkwo as its market day instead of Afor, became associated with the Nkeriji Festival and Okonko masquerade, and at one point accepted the worship of the deity Utashi.
Thus, Owerre Umudioka's story is presented as a migration from Neni through several southern settlements before establishing a significant presence in Owerre.
5. Umudioka Okija: A Dioka Community Along the Migration Route
Umudioka Okija represents another important point in the migration history of the Dioka people from Neni.
According to the account, the Dioka migrants moving south from Neni did not travel directly to their final destinations. Okija, in present-day Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, was one of the places where the migrating Diokans settled or stayed for periods.
The community became part of the network of Dioka settlements spread across southern Igboland. The migrants carried with them the occupational traditions and cultural identity associated with the Dioka people.
The account also recalls a traditional expression of hospitality associated with the Dioka travellers: “Anaghi agwo madu na nwa Dioka abiala” reflecting the reputation of Dioka people as welcomed guests.
Okija therefore occupies an important position in the broader story of communities connected to the Neni migration. It was both a settlement point and part of the southern route followed by Dioka migrants.
6. Umudioka Iseke: Another Community Linked to Neni
Umudioka Iseke, also in present-day Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, is another community identified with the movement of Dioka people from Neni.
Like Okija, Iseke was one of the places where Dioka migrants stayed during their southward movement. The community formed part of the wider Dioka network that existed across different parts of what is today southeastern Nigeria.
The historical account suggests that the Dioka communities at Okija and Iseke could not absorb all the newcomers permanently. Changes in the regional economy, including the decline of slave raiding and the reduced demand associated with traditional Dioka activities, contributed to further movement.
Some of the migrants therefore continued southward, eventually reaching areas around Akatta and Owerre.
Neni and the Wider Dioka Migration
The stories of Owerre Umudioka, Umudioka Okija and Umudioka Iseke illustrate how migration contributed to the spread of communities bearing the Umudioka identity across Igboland.
While the communities developed distinct local cultures after settling among different host populations, their traditions preserve memories of a common ancestral connection.
In the account of Owerre Umudioka, Neni is identified as the point from which the migrant families began their journey. Their movement through Okija and Iseke, followed by their eventual association with Owerre, demonstrates how one ancestral community could give rise to settlements far from its original homeland.
The story also highlights an important feature of Igbo history: migration did not necessarily mean the complete abandonment of ancestral identity. Migrants could establish new communities, integrate into their host societies and still preserve the memory of where their forebears came from.
For the communities that identify with this tradition, Neni remains an important ancestral reference point in tracing the history of their people.
7. Dudu mmili (presently Ebenato): A family from Amakwa Neni on Leave-Township (Oso Ochu) allegedly migrated and eventually became part of what is today Ebenato town in Nnewi South LGA, Anambra State. It was allegedly that victim family (from Umueze village??) took over their settlement.
The migrants are referred to as Dudu Mmili by 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 Nigeria
