Umukabia
Encyclopedia
Umukabia is a village
in the Ohuhu community of Umuahia
North Local Government Area, Abia State
, Nigeria
. There are also several other villages in Nigeria
with the same name. It is made up of 3 smaller villages namely; okpuala being the eldest then umuagbom and azummiri. Its market day is known as Orie
and has a major river known as Ikwu which is a tributary of the Imo river.it is believed that it sits on a large rock which has made it impossible for bore holes to be dug all over the village. The village holds annual ceremonies known as Iri Ji (new yam) festival and Ekpe festival which is termed as the village Christmas and holds on an Orie market day after Christmas
but must not be on a Sunday.
. He has also founded other villages around Igbo land and these villages have known to have visited each other. Most families in Umukabia are a descendant of the ancestor Ukabia, others may have migrated into the area.
Umukabia's ancestral deity is Alumeze, which is the blood union of all of Ukabia's descendants.
Umukabia is known for its culture and tradition including music and dance among which are Brass Band, Kokoma, Igborokiti, Onye oria agba, and others. Indeed, a lot of fecund spinsters who attended ceremonies in Umukabia refused to return and subsequently eloped with young men in the village. Recently in the 1990s some bold youth challenged the community by introducing a brand of masqurade, "Ekpe" which is common in Nkwoegwu and Umuopara. The elders fought relentlessly, albeit unsuccessfully to suppress this new culture, which they considered abrasive. Currently, some sections of Umukabia perform the "Ekpe" dance while others continue to resist it.
North Local Government Area and is neighbored by the villages of Umule at the north and Nkatalike to the south.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in the Ohuhu community of Umuahia
Umuahia
Umuahia is the capital of Abia State in southeastern Nigeria. Umuahia is located along the rail road that lies between Port Harcourt to Umuahia's south and Enugu city to its north. Umuahia has a population of 359,230 according to the 2006 Nigerian census. Umuahia's indigenous ethnic group are the...
North Local Government Area, Abia State
Abia State
Abia State is a state in southeastern Nigeria. The capital is Umuahia, although the major commercial city is Aba, formerly a British colonial government outpost. The state was created in 1991 from part of Imo State and its citizens are predominantly Igbo people...
, 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...
. There are also several other villages in 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...
with the same name. It is made up of 3 smaller villages namely; okpuala being the eldest then umuagbom and azummiri. Its market day is known as Orie
Igbo calendar
The Igbo calendar is the traditional calendar system of the Igbo people which has 13 months in a year, 7 weeks in a month, and 4 days in a week. The calendar has its roots steeped in ritualism and symbolism; many parts of the Igbo calendar are named or dedicated to certain spirits and deities in...
and has a major river known as Ikwu which is a tributary of the Imo river.it is believed that it sits on a large rock which has made it impossible for bore holes to be dug all over the village. The village holds annual ceremonies known as Iri Ji (new yam) festival and Ekpe festival which is termed as the village Christmas and holds on an Orie market day after Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
but must not be on a Sunday.
Origin
Umukabia founding father was a man named Ukabia (18th Century) who is thought to have migrated from the neighboring Imo stateImo State
Imo State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria and lies to the south of Nigeria with Owerri as its capital and largest city.-History:Imo State came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad, having been...
. He has also founded other villages around Igbo land and these villages have known to have visited each other. Most families in Umukabia are a descendant of the ancestor Ukabia, others may have migrated into the area.
Ukabia
Ukabia Uga is the founding father of Umukabia and may have lived sometime between the 16th and 17th century.Umukabia's ancestral deity is Alumeze, which is the blood union of all of Ukabia's descendants.
Culture
Umukabia's main appellation is Ojim Ukwu Nnu Egbe, contingent on the ability of Umukabia black smiths to produce 400 musket guns in short order. With this ability, Ukabia warriors were able to parry any aggression by neighboring villages, who dared to challenge her.Umukabia is known for its culture and tradition including music and dance among which are Brass Band, Kokoma, Igborokiti, Onye oria agba, and others. Indeed, a lot of fecund spinsters who attended ceremonies in Umukabia refused to return and subsequently eloped with young men in the village. Recently in the 1990s some bold youth challenged the community by introducing a brand of masqurade, "Ekpe" which is common in Nkwoegwu and Umuopara. The elders fought relentlessly, albeit unsuccessfully to suppress this new culture, which they considered abrasive. Currently, some sections of Umukabia perform the "Ekpe" dance while others continue to resist it.
Marriage
Although Umukabia as an autonomous community is quite populous, it is an exogamous community, which means that marriages and any romance occur outside the village apart from kindred villages like Nkata Alike. Sometime in the past, a ritual referred to as "Isu Ogwu" was performed to initiate endogamy [marriage outside the village]. However, no one has as yet dared to challenge the taboo of endogamy.Geography
Umukabia is in the UmuahiaUmuahia
Umuahia is the capital of Abia State in southeastern Nigeria. Umuahia is located along the rail road that lies between Port Harcourt to Umuahia's south and Enugu city to its north. Umuahia has a population of 359,230 according to the 2006 Nigerian census. Umuahia's indigenous ethnic group are the...
North Local Government Area and is neighbored by the villages of Umule at the north and Nkatalike to the south.