The history of Ezeagu Igbudu people part 1.
The history of the Ezeagu Igbudu people is deeply rooted in the ancestry of a man named Ezeagu, whose lineage can be traced back to Igbudu, the son of Kwekwo, who was the son of Gboko. Oral tradition links Gboko to the race of Gahd, believed to have migrated from regions around the Niger confluence and eventually settled in what is now known as Gboko, Benue State. Another version of the story suggests that Igbudu migrated from the area around the Benue River, now occupied by the Igala people, into the Igbo belt, fleeing the Fulani slave trade.
Kwekwo, the son of Gboko, stayed in his birthplace, where he became a successful farmer. He had two sons: Ugbokolu and Igbudu. These two brothers eventually parted ways, with Ugbokolu staying in Benue State and Igbudu moving southwards. Igbudu’s descendants ultimately established the Ezeagu people of Enugu State. Though the separation of Ugbokolu and Igbudu occurred long ago, cultural similarities still exist between the people of Ugbokolu and Ezeagu.
Igbudu had three sons: Ogala, Otekwa, and Owah. Owah, the youngest son, was a brave hunter who travelled further south and eventually settled at what is now Olie-Owa market in Imezi-Owa during the 12th century. Owah’s settlement marked the foundation of the Ezeagu people. The name “Ezeagu” is derived from “Eze” (meaning king) and “Agu” (meaning lion or farm), symbolizing Owah’s achievements in farming and hunting. Ezeagu married two wives: Mgbo-Olie, from the Okgogho clan, and Udeagu, from Nkanu land. Mgbo-Olie had four sons: Owa, Oghe, Oghu, and Obah. Udeagu, his second wife, had one son, Umana.
Owa, the first son, remained in their ancestral homeland, Imezi-Owa, where he had seven sons, founding the families that now form the Owa people. As population pressures and land fertility issues arose, some families from Imezi-Owa migrated to create new settlements, leading to the formation of Mgbagbu-Owa and Aguobu-Owa. These migrations helped bridge the distance between Imezi-Owa and Mgbagbu-Owa, solidifying the closely-knit family relationships among the descendants of Owa.
Oghe, the second son of Ezeagu, settled at Olie-Oghe. Oghe married Mgbo-Olie, who bore three sons after initially struggling with barrenness. Oghe later married a second wife, Udenkwo, from Ibite-Olo. Udenkwo’s jealousy towards Mgbo-Olie led her to secretly administer a charm that caused Mgbo-Olie’s temporary barrenness. However, Mgbo-Olie’s consultation with a powerful dibia reversed the charm, allowing her to conceive again. The descendants of Oghe, particularly through Mgbo-Olie’s five sons and Udenkwo’s five sons, are grouped into two family clans: Ikenge and Ibute-Oha.
Amid the challenges of the slave trade era, many villages were subject to invasions. Oghe, once consisting of ten villages, was reduced to seven due to these pressures. The introduction of the Odo cult protected villages like Neke and Okpogho, allowing them to defend their lands and maintain their boundaries.
Amankwo, the fourth son of Oghe, established his lineage, while Iwollo, the youngest son, settled in Imama and had six sons. The Iwollo people maintained strong family ties and cultural influences, particularly through interactions with neighbouring Igala and Ibibio peoples. The introduction of masquerade cults and dibia practices from these groups enhanced the community’s spiritual and cultural life.
Amansiodo, the fifth son of Oghe, had three sons, and his descendants settled in various parts of Ezeagu, maintaining territorial boundaries with other clans and nearby communities. Akama, another son of Oghe, expanded the territory of the Ezeagu people through his descendants. Neke, located at the centre of the Oghe clan, became known as “Ime-du-enyi-na-afu” and maintained connections with most villages in the Ezeagu area.
Oyofo, the sixth son, had nine sons, and his lineage had significant contact with the Igala people, learning various dibia practices. One of his descendants, Nebechi Okachi, gained renown for mastering these spiritual practices, travelling to distant lands to learn new skills.
The Ezeagu people, with their complex history of migration, settlement, and cultural interaction, now occupy a landmass of about 621,870 square kilometres in western Enugu State. Diverse landscapes characterise their territory, including water bodies, highlands, and fertile plains. The descendants of Ezeagu maintain strong familial bonds, often reflected in their shared history and customs across the Owa, Oghe, Amankwo, Iwollo, Amansiodo, and Akama communities.
This rich historical narrative of the Ezeagu people highlights their resilience, cultural preservation, and interconnectedness, making them an essential part of Enugu State’s heritage.
