Obosi

Obosi
Obosi

Location in Nigeria

Coordinates: 6°7′N 6°50′E / 6.117°N 6.833°E / 6.117; 6.833
Country Nigeria
State Anambra State

Obosi is a town in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria. A hotly contested site during the Nigerian Civil War, the town of about 200,000 people is one of the most densely populated in West Africa.

History

Presently Obosi Ukwala is situated in a hilly area, bordered by Onitsha to the North-west, Nkpor to the North-east and Oba to the south-east, all part of the old Idemili local government area, with the exception of Onitsha.

Oral history shows that Obosi people originated from Arochukwu via Ojoto. Some ancient people of Arochukwu migrated into Oze, Ora-Eshi, and Nri then found Ojoto, Ihiala and Alo. Some Ojoto people that left founded Obosi, Nnewi-Umudim, and Ibuzo and Umuru-Ukpo. The founder of Obosi was a hunter named Adike from Ojoto and the word "Obosi" came from "Mbosisi" meaning "falling apart of soil" (erosion prone soil). The name Mbosisi was given to the land by Adike because of the difficulties he encountered with in building his house due to the easily eroded soil.

Adike and his generation

Adike, the founder of Obosi, was the son of Okpala, who had other sons who permanently resided in Ojoto. For this relationship he is still known as and referred to as Adike-Okpala. The first son of Adike was also named Okpala (First Son) . Listed below is the genealogy of Adike; Okpala-Adike (meaning Adike first son), Ezeani and Okpo are the sons of Adike. Ota (Arrow) is the first son of Okpala Adike. Today the village Okpuno-umuota and Umuota are home to the descendants of Ota. umuota meaning ' Children of ota'. Ota gave birth to ' Shime '. The first son of Shime was named ' Agu' and the second named Okwasala. today both extended families home villages are Okpuno -umuota and umuota. Agu was later crowned the First King of Obosi as Eze Agu 1, today the children of Agu are known as Umuezeagu royal dynasty. The female of this lines are called ' Abadagu' (meaning the Lion's Skin ). The other Villages of obosi also have a distinct title differentiating the royal house and othe lines from another to avoid inter-marriages. Umuota village (Abadagu and Onowu) in addition to Adike Children, another family (named Chima), came from the western side of the river Niger to settle with the royal line in umuota village. Umuezechima are not descendants of the royal dynasty but are settled in Umuota. Ire village ( Nwalor, Akpaka, Onwelego, Ati onu) Ugamuma village ( Akudenu, Asiliugo, Nweshi) Mmakwm and Uruowulu ( Oji Azu, )

Ito-Ogbo in Obosi

The history Ito-ogbo in Obosi started about 400 AD. It is a unique event in which 80- to 82-year-old citizens are honored by their families, friends, well-wishers and the whole village, and is held every three years. The Ito-ogbo is a celebration of life and death for the beneficiaries long life, and also a preview of their funeral, which gives them the right to enjoy with everyone. On the day of the occasion, they all dress in their best traditional outfits and congregate in the town square, called "Afor-Adike", where the traditional rites and celebration are held, with the king in attendance. After the traditional rites are completed, males are given the title of "Ogbueshi", with a red cap, and the ladies "Ogbueshi-Nwanyi", also with a red scarf, and all the celebrants go home and feast, drink, dance and have a merry time with friends and family.

Royalty Dynasty

the first king of Obosi is known as Eze Agu I. Today Umuota and Okpuno-Umuota is the home village of the extended Kingship of ' Umuezagu' (meaning Children of the Lion King') . As such the Kings of Obosi are drawn from Umuota in two rotating Royal Dynasty - Umuokwasala (Linenage from Ota) and Umuezeagu (Linenage from Agu). The Royal dynasty genealogical Tree and chronology of Kings dates back to 400 AD. The Obosi Kings attain the sacred status of "igwe" during coronation meaning 'Divine King' or ' Heavenly One'. Appointed by the Supreme.

Some of the great Kings of Obosi were: HRH Igwe Anene I, (1889 - 1906) from Okwasala Royal Dynasty, who ruled in the 19th century; he is known as the Eze that cooperated with the Portuguese Merchants and with the British setting up of the Royal Niger Company and the First Christian Missionary (CMS). HRH Igwe J.M. Ezeagu-Kodilinye I, (1915 -1950) from Umuezeagu Royal Dynasty, known for his fierce fight and repelling of the invasion by Onicha. Apart from his warlike deeds, like his popularly known, he worked with the British and the CMS. He was instrumental in translating the Igbo Bible and Hyms, as records can be seen in St Andrews Church Obosi, the first foothold of the CMS in south-east Nigeria. He later became the Chief Customs Officer for the British, controlling the waterways collecting taxes and duties from the Headquarters in Lokoja down to onicha, further down to Escravos and Forcados creeks, sezing illegal Palm oil trade which was the number export at that time. During the slave abolution, he seized slave ships helping to put an end to the trans atlantic slave trade. HRH Igwe Iweka I (1906-1915), also from Umuezeagu Royal Dynasty, who ruled in the early 20th century. He wrote the first historical essay in Igbo language, Akuko Ala-Obosi. He constructed the Iweka Road, which extends from Obosi to river NIger and ends at the banks of the River Niger. Several landmarks, such as Iweka Road, Iweka Halt and Upper Iweka, are named after him. One of his successors was his first son, Isaac, who was crowned, Igwe Iweka II, in the early 1970s. To continue the chronology of Obosi Kings (Eze), the current king is Igwe A.C. Iweka III.

Veneration of Idemili

One of the gods of Obosi is Idemili, a river that flows through the whole length of the town. Historically, Obosi people honoured the Royal Python, which is dedicated to Idemili. Killing such a python is considered great sacrilege, and the perpetrator is required to bury the python with the full funeral rites normally reserved for a human being.

Obosi town is known as the root and the foundation of Christian evangelism in Igbo land. Although Evangelism began in Onitsha, but could not spread for 25 years. During this twenty-five-year period, the Obosi indigenes refused acceptance of Christianity. But once accepted by Obosi people, Christian evangelism spread like wildfire in Igbo land. Notable evangelists are Rev. Abel Ekpunobi, Rev. Ejindu, Mr. Timothy Eneli, PA G. O. C. Mortanya, Bishop Nkemena, and Rev. Ekwulugo. The mother church or sanctuary of evangelism is St. Andrew's Church.

Biafran War

The town was a strategic battlefield during the Nigerian Civil War of the late 1960s, during which most buildings were destroyed. It was the site of heavy artillery bombardment from the Nigerian forces stationed on its western border. The secessionist Biafran forces shelled the city from its eastern and northern border.

Population growth and development

Since the war, Obosi has had major immigration from elsewhere in Nigeria, such that only one in twenty residents is considered indigenous to Obosi. Including the extensive housing districts of Awada, Mgbuka, ime-Obosi, Odume, Enekwasumpu, Achaputa, Nkpikpa, Ozala, and Little Wood. The school of health technology, Electrical Material Dealers Market, Anambra Broadcasting Service Awada, and Minaj Broadcast International have been important in the development of the town. As of 2007 it has an estimated population of 144,203 in the densely populated city.[1]

Notable people from Obosi include:

Hon. Henry Chukwuebuka Iwenofu Mayor Village Of Upland Park, Missouri, USA and President of Missouri American Energy Inc and MOAN Nig. LTD

References

  1. ↑ "The World Gazetteer". Archived from the original on 2013-02-09. Retrieved 2007-04-04.

Coordinates: 6°07′N 6°50′E / 6.117°N 6.833°E / 6.117; 6.833

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