Ogidi
Encyclopedia
Ogidi is an Igbo
town, the headquarters of Idemili North
Local Government area, Anambra State, Nigeria
. It has an estimated population of 70,000 and has as its neighbours Abatete
, Nkpor
, Umunachi, Umuoji, Oze
, Ogbunike and Umudioka
. Ogidi is best known for its mid-July annual Nwafor Festival, and for being the birthplace of author Chinua Achebe
. Other attractions include the famous Iyi-Enu Hospital and Aforigwe market. The people are known for not killing pythons, as the creature is regarded as a deity.
Ogidi means pillar.
, Ezinkwo and Ikenga
) formed the present Ebo Ino (four quarters) of Ogidi.
History has it that Umu-Udo migrated to present day Umunya (in Oyi Local Government of Anambra State). Ama-Okwu was either sold off into slavery or got integrated into other parts of Ogidi, especially Odida in Ikenga. Nne Ogidi was married off to Agulu and is a thriving village in Agulu. Uruagu migrated and settled in Nnewi although present day Uruagu Nnewi people deny any claim with Ogidi, and Achalla Ogidi (a great elephant hunter) migrated to present day Okija (derived from Oka Ije Achalla Ogidi).
Of the four sons who stayed back in Ogidi, Akanano had 2 wives. The first wife had Ire and Abo, while the second had Ezi-Ogidi and Umuru. Uru (born c.1643) had 8 children: Ntukwulu, Ajilija, Adazi, Umudoma, Uru Ezealo, Uro Oji, Umu Anugwo, and Ogwugwuagu. Ezinkwo had 2 sons: (a) Ogidi-Ani who had Ogidi-Anu Ukwu and Ogidi-Ani Etiti; and (b) Nkwelle Ogidi who had Ezinkwelle and Uru Owelle. Ikenga had 2 wives: (a) Aghaluji Ejebe Ogu who had Obodo Okwe and Anugwo; and (b) Ezenebo who had Nanri and Odida.
and embrace their religion when they arrived in Onitsha
through the River Niger. He became the first catechist in Ogidi.
His son, Igwe Walter Okafor Amobi I of Ogidi had the rare opportunity of being exposed to Christian education and culture. He was active in the palace council of HRH The Obi of Onitsha
and adjudicated in native courts there. A wealthy and prosperous noble, he was appointed a Political Agent of Queen Victoria's Royal Niger Company
in 1898 and had a contingent of soldiers at his command. On July 9, 1904, he became the first Igwe of Ogidi in a ceremony recorded in the Colonial Administrative Intelligence Book and witnessed by colonial officers representing the government of HM King Edward VII of England.
As Igwe, he was instrumental in establishing peaceful and mutually beneficial contact between the Royal Niger Company and the people of Ogidi and the greater Igbo hinterland. Though peace-loving by nature, he was a brave, able and resolute warrior in battle and at other times of conflict. His courageous leadership earned him the respect and gratitude of his people and those of the neighbouring provinces. During this period, he was invested with the princely and ducal title of Ozo in recognition of his successes against Portuguese raiders striking inland from the Niger Delta, and indigenous soldiers attacking from provinces to the north. HRH Igwe Amobi I reigned as ruler of Ogidi for 21 years until his death on 18 December 1925. Upon his death, Amobi I was succeeded by his eldest son, HRH Prince Benjamin Olisaeloka Amobi, who, as HRH Igwe Amobi II of Ogidi, later represented the Colony
and Protectorate of Nigeria
at the coronation of HM King George VI of England in 1937.
During Amobi II's long reign, he ruled wisely and, like his father, he maintained cordial relations with the rulers of other kingdoms and provinces including HRH The Oba of Benin
, HRH The Obi of Onitsha, Ojiako Ezenne
of Adazi, HRH The Oni of Ife and HRH The Oba of Lagos
. His eldest son, HRH (Dr.) Benedict Vincent Obiora Amobi became Igwe Amobi III after the death of Igwe II in 1975. When he died in 1986, HRH (Engr.) Walter Nnamdi Ifediora Amobi ascended the throne as Igwe Amobi IV of Ogidi until his death in 1998.
Igwe Amobi I died in 1924. Walter Amobi was born on March 19, 1929. He married, Uche in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1957 and has six children, including his send son, Ifediora Chimezie Amobi, born on October 1, 1960. He has three children, including Chastity Lynn Nwakego Grant-Amobi born on October 27, 1982.
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
town, the headquarters of Idemili North
Idemili North
Idemili North is a Local Government Area in Anambra State, south-central Nigeria. Towns that make up the local government are Abacha, Abatete, Eziowelle, Ideani, Nkpor, Obosi, Ogidi, Oraukwu, Uke, Umuoji.-References:...
Local Government area, Anambra State, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. It has an estimated population of 70,000 and has as its neighbours Abatete
Abatete
Abatete is a town in Anambra State in Nigeria. Abatete is bordered by Uke, Ogidi, Abacha, Oraukwu, Alor, Ideani. It is located in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.It is made up of four villages Nsukwu,Agbaja,Ogbu and Odida. Its people are one of the Igbo Speaking peoples of...
, Nkpor
Nkpor
Nkpor is a town in Idemili North local government area of Anambra state, southeastern Nigeria. The town of Nkpor had an estimated population of 109,377 in 2007....
, Umunachi, Umuoji, Oze
Oze
Oze is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Ogbunike and Umudioka
Umudioka
Umudioka is a town in Dunukofia Local Government Area in Anambra State, Southeastern Nigeria. It is made up of ten villages, and shares boundaries with neighbouring towns as follows: Ogidi, Ogbunike, Umunya, Umunnachi and Ifite-Dunu....
. Ogidi is best known for its mid-July annual Nwafor Festival, and for being the birthplace of author Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe
Albert Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe popularly known as Chinua Achebe is a Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic...
. Other attractions include the famous Iyi-Enu Hospital and Aforigwe market. The people are known for not killing pythons, as the creature is regarded as a deity.
Ogidi means pillar.
History
Ogidi has a very rich history that dates over 450 years. The founding father of the town, Ezechumagha (born c.1550) married Anum-Ubosi and they had a son in 1580 named Inwelle. Inwelle married and had a son in 1611 named Ogidi (meaning strong pillar because he was a great warrior). Ogidi had 2 wives: (i) Duaja whose children were Akanano, Uru, Ezinkwo, Umu-Udo, and Ama-Okwu; and (ii) Amalanyia whose children were Ikenga, Nne Ogidi, Uruagu and Achalla Ogidi. After the migration of five of his children, the remaining four sons (Akanano, UruUru
Uru may refer to* URU, a determinative in mesopotamian cuneiform script; see Cities of the Ancient Near East* Uru, São Paulo, a city in Brazil* Mekanika Uru, a submachine gun* Uru , an ancient trading vessel* Uru: Ages Beyond Myst, a computer game...
, Ezinkwo and Ikenga
Ikenga
Ikenga is a horned Alusi found among the Igbo people in southeastern Nigeria. It is one of the most popular symbols of the Igbo people, and the most common cultural artifact. Astrologically, Ikenga's governing planet is Mars and its sacred number is 3...
) formed the present Ebo Ino (four quarters) of Ogidi.
History has it that Umu-Udo migrated to present day Umunya (in Oyi Local Government of Anambra State). Ama-Okwu was either sold off into slavery or got integrated into other parts of Ogidi, especially Odida in Ikenga. Nne Ogidi was married off to Agulu and is a thriving village in Agulu. Uruagu migrated and settled in Nnewi although present day Uruagu Nnewi people deny any claim with Ogidi, and Achalla Ogidi (a great elephant hunter) migrated to present day Okija (derived from Oka Ije Achalla Ogidi).
Of the four sons who stayed back in Ogidi, Akanano had 2 wives. The first wife had Ire and Abo, while the second had Ezi-Ogidi and Umuru. Uru (born c.1643) had 8 children: Ntukwulu, Ajilija, Adazi, Umudoma, Uru Ezealo, Uro Oji, Umu Anugwo, and Ogwugwuagu. Ezinkwo had 2 sons: (a) Ogidi-Ani who had Ogidi-Anu Ukwu and Ogidi-Ani Etiti; and (b) Nkwelle Ogidi who had Ezinkwelle and Uru Owelle. Ikenga had 2 wives: (a) Aghaluji Ejebe Ogu who had Obodo Okwe and Anugwo; and (b) Ezenebo who had Nanri and Odida.
Kingship
The kingship stool has historically been vested in the Amobi family. His Royal Highness Igwe Amobi I of Ogidi, Walter Okafor Okerulu Watakwochaka Amobi (1838 - 18 December 1925), was the first ruler of Ogidi. His father, Abraham Amobi was born in 1806, and was one of the first people to encounter the English Church missionariesMissionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
and embrace their religion when they arrived in Onitsha
Onitsha
Onitsha is a city, a commercial, educational, and religious center and river port on the eastern bank of the Niger river in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria....
through the River Niger. He became the first catechist in Ogidi.
His son, Igwe Walter Okafor Amobi I of Ogidi had the rare opportunity of being exposed to Christian education and culture. He was active in the palace council of HRH The Obi of Onitsha
Obi of Onitsha
The Obi of Onitsha is the traditional leader of Onitsha, Anambra State, southeast Nigeria. The post of the Obi is recognised by the state and federal governments of Nigeria, and the Obi himself is seen as a representative of the people of Onitsha to the state and federal levels of government...
and adjudicated in native courts there. A wealthy and prosperous noble, he was appointed a Political Agent of Queen Victoria's Royal Niger Company
Royal Niger Company
The Royal Niger Company was a mercantile company chartered by the British government in the nineteenth century. It formed the basis of the modern state of Nigeria....
in 1898 and had a contingent of soldiers at his command. On July 9, 1904, he became the first Igwe of Ogidi in a ceremony recorded in the Colonial Administrative Intelligence Book and witnessed by colonial officers representing the government of HM King Edward VII of England.
As Igwe, he was instrumental in establishing peaceful and mutually beneficial contact between the Royal Niger Company and the people of Ogidi and the greater Igbo hinterland. Though peace-loving by nature, he was a brave, able and resolute warrior in battle and at other times of conflict. His courageous leadership earned him the respect and gratitude of his people and those of the neighbouring provinces. During this period, he was invested with the princely and ducal title of Ozo in recognition of his successes against Portuguese raiders striking inland from the Niger Delta, and indigenous soldiers attacking from provinces to the north. HRH Igwe Amobi I reigned as ruler of Ogidi for 21 years until his death on 18 December 1925. Upon his death, Amobi I was succeeded by his eldest son, HRH Prince Benjamin Olisaeloka Amobi, who, as HRH Igwe Amobi II of Ogidi, later represented the Colony
Colonial Nigeria
Colonial Nigeria ran from 1800 till October 1, 1960 when it gained independence. Up until the amalgamation of 1914, the country's constituting parts existed as separate British protectorates.-Abolition of the Slave Trade:...
and Protectorate of Nigeria
Colonial Nigeria
Colonial Nigeria ran from 1800 till October 1, 1960 when it gained independence. Up until the amalgamation of 1914, the country's constituting parts existed as separate British protectorates.-Abolition of the Slave Trade:...
at the coronation of HM King George VI of England in 1937.
During Amobi II's long reign, he ruled wisely and, like his father, he maintained cordial relations with the rulers of other kingdoms and provinces including HRH The Oba of Benin
Oba of Benin
The Oba of Benin, or Omo N'Oba, is both the oba of the Edo people and the pretender to the defunct title of the king of the Benin Kingdom...
, HRH The Obi of Onitsha, Ojiako Ezenne
Ojiako Ezenne
His Royal Highness, Ogbuefi Ojiako Ezenne was a Nigerian who was appointed by the Colonial government to serve as Warrant Chief and then Paramount Chief , of Adazi-Nnukwu, currently in Anambra State in Nigeria...
of Adazi, HRH The Oni of Ife and HRH The Oba of Lagos
Oba of Lagos
The Oba of Lagos is the traditional, yet ceremonial, sovereign of Lagos, a historical Yorubano-Bini kingdom that went on to become one of the largest cities in Africa after first giving its name to Lagos State, the acknowledged financial heart of contemporary Nigeria...
. His eldest son, HRH (Dr.) Benedict Vincent Obiora Amobi became Igwe Amobi III after the death of Igwe II in 1975. When he died in 1986, HRH (Engr.) Walter Nnamdi Ifediora Amobi ascended the throne as Igwe Amobi IV of Ogidi until his death in 1998.
Igwe Amobi I died in 1924. Walter Amobi was born on March 19, 1929. He married, Uche in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1957 and has six children, including his send son, Ifediora Chimezie Amobi, born on October 1, 1960. He has three children, including Chastity Lynn Nwakego Grant-Amobi born on October 27, 1982.