THE HISTORY OF IKWERE PEOPLE.
Abraham Madu
THE HISTORY OF IKWERE PEOPLE.
The Ikwerre (natively known as Iwhuruọha are one of the Igbo Subgroups in Rivers State. Traditional history has classified Ikwerre into seven groups called "Ikwerre Essa". They are Elele, Isiokpo, Rumuji, Emohua, Choba, Aluu Igwuruta and Obio group. This division was recognized by Forde and Jones; (1950) in their ethnographic study of the Igbo speaking peoples of South Eastern Nigeria.
Some Ikwerre people migrated from Ika a subgroup of Igbos in Delta State and Edo state while some migrated from Ngwa, Arochukwu and Ohaji/Egbema.
The Aro first came into the Ikwerre area through Ozuzu-Etche, settling at Isiokpo, Igwuruta, Omagwa, etc. As expected of pre-literate African societies, the history of the people is wrapped in myth and mystery. This presupposes that historians may have to resort to oral tradition for the justifiable/credible reconstruction of the people's history. From the post-colonial dispensation to the present, professional historians and other personals have attempted to reconstruct the history of the people. For instance, the works of Elechi Amadi, especially The Concubine, The Great Ponds, The Slave (novels) and Isiburu (a verse play) are a literary attempt at reconstructing a semblance of the Ikwerre society in the pre-colonial era.
When Port Harcourt was conquered by Nigeria during the Biafran War and the Igbo people from other parts of Igboland fled the territory, a UN report says that the Ikwerre decided to claim that the Ikwerre were non-Igbo for convenience. The Ikwerre are recognized officially as a separate group in the 1979 Nigerian Constitution.
It was about that time that names of places and those of some individuals began to change to reflect a new era in the Ikwerre history. Examples are:
Umu changed to Rumu,
Mu na chi changed to Manuchi,
Nwike changed to Wike,
ObiAkpo changed to ObiakpO,
Chidimma changed to Chiburuoma,
Nwa changed to Nwo.
Ezenwa changed to Ezenwo.
Nwakpa/Nwekpa changed to Wekpa etc.
Meanwhile, from Elechi Amadi, in his earlier narrative related that before these repudiatons a community called Chiolu had a king known as "Eze Diala" and another community had a king called "Eze Okehi". All these names were Igbo, not any other nation.
"The Ikwerre of the present Rivers State were made to underline this point after the collapse of Biafra by the simple process of prefixing a capital "R” to the names of their towns. In this way. Ụmụkurushi became Rumukurushi, Ụmụigbo became Rumuigbo and so on in the hope, rather than the belief, that this would make other Nigerians forget they are or ever were Igbo.
Credit: To the Original Author
Ntị ọdị kwa?
Ya kpọtụba!
Ya gazie.
Ụmụ nne Abrahamụọgụ Aṅụsịobi Madụ.
femi Olajide
Does a Forde and Jones; (1950) need to tell you your ancient history and publish it as recent as 1950, for you to know and appreciate your own history?
This is taking inferiority complex to another level and denigrating native intelligence to abysmal dredge.
What is wrong with you people?
Some Ikwerre people say they are not Igbos, and maybe some say they are Igbo. is it any skin off your nose?
Unless as being reiterated by PCO over and over that some of you Igbos covet what the Ikwerres have and will like to subsume that into the proposed Igbo nation. That is covetousness and armed robbery to the highest level.
It sounds very much like giving the dog a bad name so that you can hang it.......call Ikwerres Igbos so that you can strip them off their asset!
Like say you guys get sense reach dem Ikwerres. The problem with Igbos like you, Abraham Madu, is that you telegraph your moves much earlier that you take the first step to make your machinations obsolete and ineffective.
I beg go and build your states like all other citizens are building their states without whining and grumbling!
What you put in is what you get out. Simple!
Regards,
Femi Olajide
THE HISTORYOF IKWERE PEOPLE.
The Ikwerre(natively known as Iwhuruọha are one of the Igbo Subgroups in Rivers State.Traditional history has classified Ikwerre into seven groups called"Ikwerre Essa". They are Elele, Isiokpo, Rumuji, Emohua, Choba, AluuIgwuruta and Obio group. This division was recognized by Forde and Jones;(1950) in their ethnographic study of the Igbo speaking peoples of SouthEastern Nigeria.
Some Ikwerrepeople migrated from Ika a subgroup of Igbos in Delta State and Edo state whilesome migrated from Ngwa, Arochukwu and Ohaji/Egbema.
The Arofirst came into the Ikwerre area through Ozuzu-Etche, settling at Isiokpo,Igwuruta, Omagwa, etc. As expected of pre-literate African societies, thehistory of the people is wrapped in myth and mystery. This presupposes thathistorians may have to resort to oral tradition for the justifiable/crediblereconstruction of the people's history. From the post-colonial dispensation tothe present, professional historians and other personals have attempted toreconstruct the history of the people. For instance, the works of Elechi Amadi,especially The Concubine, The Great Ponds, The Slave (novels) and Isiburu (averse play) are a literary attempt at reconstructing a semblance of the Ikwerresociety in the pre-colonial era.
When PortHarcourt was conquered by Nigeria during the Biafran War and the Igbo peoplefrom other parts of Igboland fled the territory, a UN report says that theIkwerre decided to claim that the Ikwerre were non-Igbo for convenience. TheIkwerre are recognized officially as a separate group in the 1979 NigerianConstitution.
It was aboutthat time that names of places and those of some individuals began to change toreflect a new era in the Ikwerre history. Examples are:
Umu changedto Rumu,
Mu na chichanged to Manuchi,
Nwikechanged to Wike,
ObiAkpochanged to ObiakpO,
Chidimmachanged to Chiburuoma,
Nwa changedto Nwo.
Ezenwachanged to Ezenwo.
Nwakpa/Nwekpachanged to Wekpa etc.
Meanwhile,from Elechi Amadi, in his earlier narrative related that before theserepudiatons a community called Chiolu had a king known as "Eze Diala"and another community had a king called "Eze Okehi". All these nameswere Igbo, not any other nation.
"TheIkwerre of the present Rivers State were made to underline this point after thecollapse of Biafra by the simple process of prefixing a capital "R” to thenames of their towns. In this way. Ụmụkurushi became Rumukurushi, Ụmụigbobecame Rumuigbo and so on in the hope, rather than the belief, that this wouldmake other Nigerians forget they are or ever were Igbo.
Credit: Tothe Original Author
Ntị ọdị kwa?
Ya kpọtụba!
Ya gazie.
Ụmụ nne Abrahamụọgụ Aṅụsịobi Madụ.
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