The history
of Enugu Ezike has mainly existed in oral literature. Much of what is known
consists of retold stories which seek to sympathise and eulogise while at the
same time justifying the status and position of Enugu Ezike. Several stories of
bravery in hunting, love stories, and kindness by a priest, or gift from a
stranger who is invited and therefore accepts to settle are very much in the
retold oral history. Some three versions are however widely held by the people
as the history of their origin.
of Enugu Ezike has mainly existed in oral literature. Much of what is known
consists of retold stories which seek to sympathise and eulogise while at the
same time justifying the status and position of Enugu Ezike. Several stories of
bravery in hunting, love stories, and kindness by a priest, or gift from a
stranger who is invited and therefore accepts to settle are very much in the
retold oral history. Some three versions are however widely held by the people
as the history of their origin.
A story
widely circulating among elders and certain indigenious quiz-kids is that a
greater portion of Enugu Ezike groups is the offspring of an Igala hunter known
as Ezike Oba. A history and culture journal reports V.K Johnson as writing in
1934 that the oral history of Enugu Ezike began when an Igala hunter arrived at
Ugwueka and met the Attama “who receieved him hospitably. Ezike Oba took
off frequently and returned from his hunt with a present of his game to the
Attama. As time went on, they established a working, cordial relationship to a
point that he married and settled with the host community.
widely circulating among elders and certain indigenious quiz-kids is that a
greater portion of Enugu Ezike groups is the offspring of an Igala hunter known
as Ezike Oba. A history and culture journal reports V.K Johnson as writing in
1934 that the oral history of Enugu Ezike began when an Igala hunter arrived at
Ugwueka and met the Attama “who receieved him hospitably. Ezike Oba took
off frequently and returned from his hunt with a present of his game to the
Attama. As time went on, they established a working, cordial relationship to a
point that he married and settled with the host community.
Another
version of the myth of origin states that the name Enugu Ezike, or rather
Elugwu Ezike or Enugwu Ezike was fashioned from the call of a stranger who was
found with a gun and hunting bag wandering on the hills belonging to Ezike. He
was then referred to as Onye Elugwu Ezike, which means the man on top Ezike’s
hill, and thus the name, Elugwu Ezike.
version of the myth of origin states that the name Enugu Ezike, or rather
Elugwu Ezike or Enugwu Ezike was fashioned from the call of a stranger who was
found with a gun and hunting bag wandering on the hills belonging to Ezike. He
was then referred to as Onye Elugwu Ezike, which means the man on top Ezike’s
hill, and thus the name, Elugwu Ezike.
Ekoyi
Iheaka was also mentioned in this story and it was reported that Onye Elugwu
Ezike used to bring his game to his hosts at Amube which he gave them as gifts.
He soon fell in love with one of the village girls, and they got married,
settled down and begat four sons, namely, Ezeodo, Esodo, Itodo and Ozi. These
sons grew up and founded their own homesteads which grew into the clans and
villages making up the Enugwu Ezike of today.
Iheaka was also mentioned in this story and it was reported that Onye Elugwu
Ezike used to bring his game to his hosts at Amube which he gave them as gifts.
He soon fell in love with one of the village girls, and they got married,
settled down and begat four sons, namely, Ezeodo, Esodo, Itodo and Ozi. These
sons grew up and founded their own homesteads which grew into the clans and
villages making up the Enugwu Ezike of today.
The final
version which emerged during the 1970’s was that a man from Enugwu Ukwu in
present day Anambra state who found his way into the area called Enugwu Ezike
was a hunter who had shot and trailed a wounded elephant.
version which emerged during the 1970’s was that a man from Enugwu Ukwu in
present day Anambra state who found his way into the area called Enugwu Ezike
was a hunter who had shot and trailed a wounded elephant.
He arrived
the vicinity of Ekoyi Iheaka and finding the entire landscape unoccupied, went
back and told his people. They reportedly asked him to go and live there. He
returned and settled beside Ekoyi, and his place has since become the ancestral
home of Enugwu Ezike people.
the vicinity of Ekoyi Iheaka and finding the entire landscape unoccupied, went
back and told his people. They reportedly asked him to go and live there. He
returned and settled beside Ekoyi, and his place has since become the ancestral
home of Enugwu Ezike people.
Several
issues arise from the myth of origin from a strange hunter. The origin of the
strange hunter and his escapade all the way Enugwu Ukwu, and so on, are not
clearly retold. The hunter was operating with a hunting gun an innovation in
hunting or raiding which came with the slave trade, alongside consummable
spirits.
issues arise from the myth of origin from a strange hunter. The origin of the
strange hunter and his escapade all the way Enugwu Ukwu, and so on, are not
clearly retold. The hunter was operating with a hunting gun an innovation in
hunting or raiding which came with the slave trade, alongside consummable
spirits.
These items
spread from the slave-trading posts into the hinterland of Africa beginning
from the 17th century. Artifacts and other landmarks of human habitation and
settlement in the area pre-date the hunter story.
spread from the slave-trading posts into the hinterland of Africa beginning
from the 17th century. Artifacts and other landmarks of human habitation and
settlement in the area pre-date the hunter story.
Finally,
it’s an established fact that communities such as Ufodo, Umunaja, Umachi and
Amube were already settled groups practicing hoe agriculture and with their
established religious practices centered around their Attama. A problem of how
to place these communities arises given the fact that they are factually not
regarded as offsprings of Ezike Oba if we accept the hunter story. A serious
problem may arise as to which indigenous group correctly own the land since
hunting with gun is a recent African phenomenon.
it’s an established fact that communities such as Ufodo, Umunaja, Umachi and
Amube were already settled groups practicing hoe agriculture and with their
established religious practices centered around their Attama. A problem of how
to place these communities arises given the fact that they are factually not
regarded as offsprings of Ezike Oba if we accept the hunter story. A serious
problem may arise as to which indigenous group correctly own the land since
hunting with gun is a recent African phenomenon.
Available
artifacts found in the area clearly contradict the hunter story. Writings and researches
on the early history of Enugu Ezike are important. Ukpabi (1965) notes that
Enugu Ezike people are predominantly of Igbo origin. He agress with Afigbo
(1978) that the people constitute a nucleus of Igbo northward migration which
involved the settlement and lateral expansion in an area before or by 1000BC.
Ukpabi (1965) clearly states that the area is one core area of Igbo
civilization; the area constituting the main center for the Igbo who “did
not appear to have any tradition of migration from any other area”. P.O
Sada (1978), talking about patterns of settlement in the area suggests that
” it would seem that there was a dispersal of settlement from this point
to the other parts pf the Plateau, meaning the highlands upon which settlements
have been localized ranging from Okigwe area to its Northward end around
Otukpa.
artifacts found in the area clearly contradict the hunter story. Writings and researches
on the early history of Enugu Ezike are important. Ukpabi (1965) notes that
Enugu Ezike people are predominantly of Igbo origin. He agress with Afigbo
(1978) that the people constitute a nucleus of Igbo northward migration which
involved the settlement and lateral expansion in an area before or by 1000BC.
Ukpabi (1965) clearly states that the area is one core area of Igbo
civilization; the area constituting the main center for the Igbo who “did
not appear to have any tradition of migration from any other area”. P.O
Sada (1978), talking about patterns of settlement in the area suggests that
” it would seem that there was a dispersal of settlement from this point
to the other parts pf the Plateau, meaning the highlands upon which settlements
have been localized ranging from Okigwe area to its Northward end around
Otukpa.
Afigbo
(1978), quoting Shelton (1971), suggests that Enugu Ezike is a more recent
settlement; that a sizeable portion of the people are Igala or were ruled and
politically dominated by the Igala kingdom of Idah. As time went on, the area
came under the inf;uence of slave trading groups such as the Nike, Aro, Abam.
The orphan, the weak and the unprotected were easily taken as captives and sold
into slavery by the strong. Those seeking protection easily became enslaved to
the man or the family that provided such protection. The only attenuating
factor to this high-level disorder was run either to an oracle or a dreaded
deity as spiritual protector of the group or community. This explains why there
is an oracle in nearly every kin group of Enugu Ezike with a responsibility to
protect the free-born.
(1978), quoting Shelton (1971), suggests that Enugu Ezike is a more recent
settlement; that a sizeable portion of the people are Igala or were ruled and
politically dominated by the Igala kingdom of Idah. As time went on, the area
came under the inf;uence of slave trading groups such as the Nike, Aro, Abam.
The orphan, the weak and the unprotected were easily taken as captives and sold
into slavery by the strong. Those seeking protection easily became enslaved to
the man or the family that provided such protection. The only attenuating
factor to this high-level disorder was run either to an oracle or a dreaded
deity as spiritual protector of the group or community. This explains why there
is an oracle in nearly every kin group of Enugu Ezike with a responsibility to
protect the free-born.
As a
result, most of the slaves found in Enugu Ezike were brought in as strangers
from outside communities. They worked at farmlands, or as domestic servants,
and were literally properties in transit, to be sold when economic exigencies
demanded. Slaves were also objects for ritual sacrifice.
result, most of the slaves found in Enugu Ezike were brought in as strangers
from outside communities. They worked at farmlands, or as domestic servants,
and were literally properties in transit, to be sold when economic exigencies
demanded. Slaves were also objects for ritual sacrifice.