IGBO CULTURE AND SOCIETY: Geography and Origin of Opi People in Nsukka
According to Maplandia, Opi is situated in Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria. Its geographical coordinates are 6° 47′ 0” North, 7° 26’0″ East and its original name (with diacritics) is Opi.
Opi is in Enugu State of Nigeria and is located seven kilometres Southeast of the Nsukka metropolis. The community in the pre-colonial times was largely composed of agriculturalists and traders. Contacts between people and cultures are as ancient as human history. Afigbo posited that their importance as a stimulus to human development is also widely recognized.
Opi consists of three quarters namely: Idi, Ibeku, and Ogbozara in order of seniority. In the remote past, Opi people were said to be tall, stoutly built, hairy and bore facial marks. Their Igbo dialect was different from the dialect of their neighbouring villages called “Igbo Ishii” (six tribes). The people responded aggressively to external threats and were feared by their neighbouring communities.
Opi, as previously indicated, is made up of three autonomous communities: Idi, Ibeku, and Ogbozara. According to an insider, the original Opi n’ato was made up of Eziama, Umuolo, and Ejuona. They existed prior to the arrival of Ibeku and Ogbozalla, who eventually formed Opi na Ato. He went on to say that they were dominated by an elder council and titled males. He also added that because Idi was thought to be the oldest of the three-quarters of Opi, they took first place at ceremonies whenever kola nuts were offered. Thus, Opi had tried a high-quality social and economic organisation before colonial subjugation.
As previously indicated, Opi is divided into three quarters: Idi, Ibeku, and Ogbozara, in order of seniority. Opi people were tall, heavy, hairy, and had facial markings in the distant past. Their Igbo dialect differed from that of their bordering communities, known as “Igbo Ishii” (six tribes). The people offered aggressive resistance to external threats, and their neighbouring communities feared them.
According to an insider, Shere Celestine, the original Opi n’ato was made up of Eziama, Umuolo, and Ejuona. They existed prior to the arrival of Ibeku and Ogbozalla, who eventually formed Opi na Ato. He went on to state that an elder council and titled males ruled over them. He further stated that because Idi was regarded to be the oldest of three-quarters of Opi, they were always first in rituals when kola nuts were offered. Thus, Opi had tried a high-quality political organisation before colonial subjugation.
As aforesaid, Opi is made up of Idi Ibeku and Ogbozara and each community has different villages. In addition to that, each community has different kings presiding over them. There is also another called Agu-Opi which was secured by Opi people during their early war periods as a result of the fertility of the lands, Opi people made friends with the indigenes of the community and later on killed most of them while some ran away to present day Nike.
Their king was killed at Ogugu and that brought the name Opi na to Emelegeyiogugu. And the Agu-Opi is comprised of Opi-na-Ato-Idi, Ibeku and Ogbozara, and any of the communities has the right to secure any place of their choice after the vacation of the original occupants.
Agu-Opi has only one king which will preside over the three communities living in Agu-Opi and the king can come from any of the communities (Idi, Ibeku or Ogbozara).
However, with the emergence of modern government (via British Colonialism), Opi town became administered under the headquarters – the seat of power in the Nsukka zone, and all the towns that came under the administration of Nsukka (as headquarters) became known and addressed as Nsukka. That is why places/towns like Obukpa, Orba, Ede-Oballa, Edem Ani, Eha-Alumano, Alor Uno, Obimo, Enugu-Ezike, Ukehe, Opi, Obollo, Uzo-Uwani, Isi-Uzo etc are referred to as Nsukka. Nsukka therefore is today categorized into three geographical enclaves: Nsukka Town, Nsukka Local Government and Nsukka Cultural/Senatorial Zone. To this extent, one can say that Opi is a town, under Nsukka Local Government Area and a socio-cultural area in Enugu State, Nigeria.
Written by Jideofo Okibe,(Obinwannem News correspondent Enugwu State)
Date: April 16, 2024
Ubochi Eke oku
Published by Ngozi Odoh (Obinwannem Nsukka Office Secretary)
