Awka Villages Ezi and Ifite Sections Awka town is topographicallydivided into two sections: Eziand Ifite Sections. Ifite Section occupies the high land (Ngbogo) while Ezi Section occupies the low land(Ngbede) of Awka. An imaginary line drawn eastward between the compounds of Chinwuko Agbonma at Umuzocha and Mbonu Angunoby at Umudioka, entering into Umuzocha village and stopping at Nkwelle village, bisects the town into the twosections. The EA. Section ends at the Nise road, after the government station, whereas the Ifite Section ends at Ezu River, on Enuguroad. Ifite Section consists four groups of quarters—Ayom na Okpala, NkweIle, Amachalla and Ifite—while Ezi Section consists of three groups of quarters—Ayom naOkpala, Nkwelle, Amachalla and Ifite – while Ezi section consists of three groups of quarters Amikwo, Agulu and Ezioka. The Ayom na Okpala Quarter of Rite Section consists of four villages: Umuayom Umuoramna Umnokpu Umunnoke The Nkwelle Quarter also comprises four villages: Achalloji Umunnamoke Agbana Umudiaba Today, Awka people can be found all across the globe many working as skilled professionals in a wide range of fields. As a result, there is a large Awka diaspora located primarily in the UK and in the USA. There, they have formed social clubs like Awka Union USA and Canada, Awka TownSocial Community UK and Ireland and other community associations. These associations have been a way for people to enjoy theirculture as well as to engage in community self-help projects. Villages Ayom-na-Okpala Group Umuayom, Umunnoke, Umuoramma and Umuokpu Nkwelle Group Achallaoji, Umunamoke, Agbana, Umudiaba Amachalla Group Amachalla, Amudo, Umuzocha Ifite-Oka Group Enu-Ifite, Ezinato-Ifite, Agbana-Ifite Amikwo Group Umudiana, Okperi, Igweogige, Isiagu, Obunagu Ezi-Oka Group Omuko, Umueri, Umuogwal, Umuogbunu 1, Umuogbunu 2, Umudioka, Umukwa Agulu Group Umuogbu, Umubele, Umuanaga, Umuike, Umujagwo, Umuenechi, Umuoruka

AWKA NIGERIA MAP Awka is the capital of Anambra State, Nigeria with an estimated population of 301,657 As of 2006 Nigerian census. The city is located about 300 miles east of Lagos in the centre of the densely populated Igbo heartland in southeastern Nigeria. GOVERNMENT Type: State, Traditional Governor: Peter Obi Eze Uzu: Gibson Nwosu POPULATION Total: 301,657 GEOGRAPHY Awka lies below 300 metres above sea in a valley on the plains of the Mamu River. Two ridges or cuestas, both lying in a North-South direction, form the major topographical features of the area. The ridges reach the highest point at Agulu just outside the Capital Territory. About six kilometers east of this, the minor cuesta peaks about 150 metres above sea level at Ifite Awka.

AWKA SOUTH LGA It was created in 1989 from Awka local government area. Bounded on the north by Awka North local government area, on the east by Oji-River local government area of Enugu State, on the south by Anaocha local government area and on the west by Njikoka local government area. *. LAND AREA: 180 square kilometers *. POPULATION: 189,654 *. COMMUNITIES: Awka(HQ), Amawbia, Ezinato, Nibo, Nise, Umuawulu, Isiagu, Okpuno, and Mbaukwu. *. POLITICAL WARDS: Agu-Awka I, AmawbiaI, AmawbiaII,Amawbia III, Awka I, Awka II, Awka III, Awka IV, Awka V, Awka VI, Awka VII, Ezinato/Isiagu I, Mbaukwu I, Nibo I, Nibo II, Nibo III, Nise I, Nise II, Okpuno I, Umunawuku I. *. Total – 20 wards THE PEOPLE: Blacksmiths, farmers and businessmen. Awka town is known basically as the seat of indigenous technology and craft. Carving and iron works industry predominate the area. TOURIST ATTRACTION: *. Imo-Awka Shrine at Awka *. Sacred Water – Ezu-Ngene at Nise *. New Yam festival is common FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PRESENCE *. Nnamdi Azikiwe University *. Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies. *. Federal Science and Technical College Awka *. Federal Government College Nise. STATE GOVERNMENT FACILITIES *. a) HEALTH: *. Amaku General Hospital Awka *. Regina Caeli Hospital (Catholic Church Owned) *. Health Centre in every community *. Many private health clinics and maternity homes. *. b) EDUCATION: *. St. Paul’s University (Anglican Communion) *. 18 Secondary Schools(government owned) *. 42 Primary Schools (government owned) NATURAL RESOURCES *. Agricultural produce, iron ingots and scraps

This is the story of the Oka people, the fathers that begat us. It is the story of the Oka people as they were the British came into their lives and seized control of their country and their destiny, and later merged their city –state with the great body politic known as Nigeria. Okalost her independence then, and ceased to be a free self-governing nation. The Oka people, before A.D. 1905 (when the British came), were a great people, resourceful, inventive and courageous. They were a race of specialists, working in iron, copper, brass and bronze; skilled in the carving of the wooden implements and ornaments; in farming; in the practice of medicine; and in the pursuit of wisdom. They did not belong to any known clan in Igboland, neither had they any known relatives. They referred to themselves simply as “Ebe Anyi” – our stock. This is their story, based onoral tradition. I have set down the story asit was told to me. The change in thespelling of the name from “Oka” to “Awka” was made by the British Colonial Office in 1908. According to the researches of Dr. Nwibe Onejeme, Barrister-at-Law, of Umuokpu Village, the change of spelling was made by the Colonial Secretary, Mr. F.S. James, in 1908, through Government Notice No. 729, published in the Southern Nigerian Gazette of1908, No. 42, Volume 3 at page 8511. Oka people have a languageof their own, which is variation, or dialect, of the Igbo tongue. One outstandingpeculiarity of that Oka language is a sound not found in other Igbo dialects. It is a sound that is made of slightly parting the lips and blowing out air to make a sound that is between “v” and “b”, but without actuallypronouncing “v” as “v” or “b” as “b”. This peculiar sound is also found among the Bini, and in the Benin alphabet it is written as “vb”, as in the name “Egharevb”. I have adopted these letters of the Benin alphabet, “vb” for this Oka sound. The “vb” in Oka dialect would be pronounced as “f” in Onitsha dialect, or as “h” in Owerri dialect. For example, where the Oka manwould say: “Ivbe nkee ivbe kwe!” (This is extraordinary!) The Onitsha man would say: “Ife nka ife kwa!” And the owerri man would say “Ihe nka ihe kwa. So, in many cases, where other Igbos use the letter “f” Oka use “vb”. Other examples: “efe (chance) is “evbe” in Oka “fe ta” (come over) is “evbete” in Oka “Afamefuna” (a name) is “Avbamevbune” in Oka. And the exclamation, “Unu afukwa nu” (you see my trouble?! Is in Oka language “ivbilivbivbi!!” off course, Oka people use “f” in some words, such as “fuo” go, “futa” come out, “fuli ya” take it from him by force. Another peculiarity of Oka language is that Oka people do not pronounce the final vowel sounds “i” and “u”, like other Igbos, where they occur. For example, in other dialects the word “malu” (know), “ralu” or “rali” (choose) are pronounced as written, but the Okas drop the “u” and “i” and pronounce the words as “mal”; “ral”. These peculiar Oka spellingsand manner of pronunciation of words will be used throughout this book. Up to 1905 Oka town was a sovereign nation-state, self-contained, self-sufficient and prosperous, with a well defined territory. By their system of government the Oka people were the freest people in the world. They were republicans. No one man ruled over them (Oka enwere eze). In their society they regarded each other asequals. They were ruled by their laws, in the making of which every citizen participated. They managed their affairs in the democratic assembly of the whole people, called “Izu Oka”, to which every citizen had the right to attend. The womenfolk had their own assemblies. The nearest thing to kings that the Oka people had wasthe Society of ozo title-holders. The members of thisSociety had traditional functions in Oka, and had a part in the management of the affairs of the town. Theydeclared wars and made peace, on behalf of the town;and they settled disputes. But they rules no one. They were just “primus inter pares” –first among equals. When the British came, they wanted to make Onwurah Uzoku the paramount Chief of all Oka. But Onwurah declined saying that anyone who allowed himself to be made king of Oka would be struck dead by the gods of Oka instantly!. The government of Oka could be likened t that of ancient Athens, in the heyday of Athenian greatness; or such other Greek city states as Miletus and Corinth. But whereas theexecutive organs of Izu Okawere the Age-Grades (Age-Grade being a groupingof people born within three years of one another, counting upwards). The Greeks were said to be the inventors of democratic government, fur from whom did the Oka people learn their own? The answer is from no one. They developed their form of government themselves. Our story concerns Oka when she was truly a nation-state, when she was independent and free, and when she had, by her own initiative and enterprise, created customs, her own system of government, her own religion and view of life,her unique social and political organizations.

This is the story of the Oka people, the fathers that begat us. It is the story of the Oka people as they were the British came into their lives and seized control of their country and their destiny, and later merged their city –state with the great body politic known as Nigeria. Okalost her independence then, and ceased to be a free self-governing nation. The Oka people, before A.D. 1905 (when the British came), were a great people, resourceful, inventive and courageous. They were a race of specialists, working in iron, copper, brass and bronze; skilled in the carving of the wooden implements and ornaments; in farming; in the practice of medicine; and in the pursuit of wisdom. They did not belong to any known clan in Igboland, neither had they any known relatives. They referred to themselves simply as “Ebe Anyi” – our stock. This is their story, based onoral tradition. I have set down the story asit was told to me. The change in thespelling of the name from “Oka” to “Awka” was made by the British Colonial Office in 1908. According to the researches of Dr. Nwibe Onejeme, Barrister-at-Law, of Umuokpu Village, the change of spelling was made by the Colonial Secretary, Mr. F.S. James, in 1908, through Government Notice No. 729, published in the Southern Nigerian Gazette of1908, No. 42, Volume 3 at page 8511. Oka people have a languageof their own, which is variation, or dialect, of the Igbo tongue. One outstandingpeculiarity of that Oka language is a sound not found in other Igbo dialects. It is a sound that is made of slightly parting the lips and blowing out air to make a sound that is between “v” and “b”, but without actuallypronouncing “v” as “v” or “b” as “b”. This peculiar sound is also found among the Bini, and in the Benin alphabet it is written as “vb”, as in the name “Egharevb”. I have adopted these letters of the Benin alphabet, “vb” for this Oka sound. The “vb” in Oka dialect would be pronounced as “f” in Onitsha dialect, or as “h” in Owerri dialect. For example, where the Oka manwould say: “Ivbe nkee ivbe kwe!” (This is extraordinary!) The Onitsha man would say: “Ife nka ife kwa!” And the owerri man would say “Ihe nka ihe kwa. So, in many cases, where other Igbos use the letter “f” Oka use “vb”. Other examples: “efe (chance) is “evbe” in Oka “fe ta” (come over) is “evbete” in Oka “Afamefuna” (a name) is “Avbamevbune” in Oka. And the exclamation, “Unu afukwa nu” (you see my trouble?! Is in Oka language “ivbilivbivbi!!” off course, Oka people use “f” in some words, such as “fuo” go, “futa” come out, “fuli ya” take it from him by force. Another peculiarity of Oka language is that Oka people do not pronounce the final vowel sounds “i” and “u”, like other Igbos, where they occur. For example, in other dialects the word “malu” (know), “ralu” or “rali” (choose) are pronounced as written, but the Okas drop the “u” and “i” and pronounce the words as “mal”; “ral”. These peculiar Oka spellingsand manner of pronunciation of words will be used throughout this book. Up to 1905 Oka town was a sovereign nation-state, self-contained, self-sufficient and prosperous, with a well defined territory. By their system of government the Oka people were the freest people in the world. They were republicans. No one man ruled over them (Oka enwere eze). In their society they regarded each other asequals. They were ruled by their laws, in the making of which every citizen participated. They managed their affairs in the democratic assembly of the whole people, called “Izu Oka”, to which every citizen had the right to attend. The womenfolk had their own assemblies. The nearest thing to kings that the Oka people had wasthe Society of ozo title-holders. The members of thisSociety had traditional functions in Oka, and had a part in the management of the affairs of the town. Theydeclared wars and made peace, on behalf of the town;and they settled disputes. But they rules no one. They were just “primus inter pares” –first among equals. When the British came, they wanted to make Onwurah Uzoku the paramount Chief of all Oka. But Onwurah declined saying that anyone who allowed himself to be made king of Oka would be struck dead by the gods of Oka instantly!. The government of Oka could be likened t that of ancient Athens, in the heyday of Athenian greatness; or such other Greek city states as Miletus and Corinth. But whereas theexecutive organs of Izu Okawere the Age-Grades (Age-Grade being a groupingof people born within three years of one another, counting upwards). The Greeks were said to be the inventors of democratic government, fur from whom did the Oka people learn their own? The answer is from no one. They developed their form of government themselves. Our story concerns Oka when she was truly a nation-state, when she was independent and free, and when she had, by her own initiative and enterprise, created customs, her own system of government, her own religion and view of life,her unique social and political organizations.