Alor Anthropological Source Book Anambra Nigeria

654 Pages·2011·34.089 MB·English

by  C.S. Nwajide A.I. Afuekwe A.A. Okafor A.E. Edozie A.C. Nwune E.I. Mbaekwe C.F. Ojukwu

ALOR

AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL SOURCE BOOK

A PUBLICATION OF THE

ALOR DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
ALOR

AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL SOURCE BOOK

A PUBLICATION OF THE

ALOR DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

Edited by

C.S. Nwajide
A.I. Afuekwe
A.A. Okafor
A.E. Edozie
A.C. Nwune
E.I. Mbaekwe
C.F. Ojukwu

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FOREWORD

With the dearth of books and publications on the histories of the various communities of Ndigbo,
Alor: An Anthropological Source Book, is a commendable gap-filling project by the Alor
Development Initiative. The book has no pretension to being a statement of documented historical
facts; it derives mainly from oral traditions passed on from generation to generation. In Obosi
where I am an Ndichie, Ichie Adazie Obosi, we know and had it written as far back as 1924 by
Igwe I. E. Iweka, Eze Obosi, in his book, The History of Obosi and Igboland in Brief, that we are
descendants of Adike who was related to Alor and Ojoto.

This book contains very useful data and material which not only inform but also should serve as a
rich basis for work by future researchers in authoritative history of Alor and the other eighteen
communities washed by the Idemili River.

I congratulate the Alor Development Initiative, and especially the contributors and the team of
editors, on the production of this very readable book. And I commend it both to the citizens of
Idemili region at home and in the diaspora, and to all those interested in the story of Alor and its
neighbours in Igboland.

Chief Emeka Anyaoku, CON, CFR, GCVO
Adazie Obosi
Commonwealth Secretary-General 1990 – 2000
22 November 2009

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PREFACE

This volume titled: Alor: Anthropological Source Book, is aimed at compiling all that can possibly
be documented about the town, Alor, one of the seven towns of the Idemili South Local
Government Area of Anambra State of Nigeria. As indicated in an accompanying map, the town
consists of two groups of villages – Ezi (Umuoshi, Etiti, Ebenesi-Okebunoye) to the east and Ifite
(Umuokwu, Uruezeani, Ide) to the west. It is bordered by seven towns as follows: - to the north and
northwest, across the Idemili River are Abatete, Ideani and Uke; to the east, across a gully is
Oraukwu, to the southeast is Adazi Ani, to the south is Nnokwa, and to the southwest and west is
Nnobi, which lies partially across a gully. The town is therefore unique in being largely naturally
demarcated from her neighbours. The uniqueness indeed extends to several other aspects – origins
of the people, socio-cultural practices, belief systems, politics and governance. She also is distinct
for furnishing Igboland, and indeed Nigeria, with some of the finest administrators, political
stalwarts, iconic intellectuals, legal luminaries, erudite professionals, and talented entrepreneurs. It
should be added that Alor has been the dispersal centre of thriving diaspora as near as Ideani,
Ukpor, Ihiala and Igbuzor, and as far flung as Okrika, Alor Uno, the whole of Africa, as well as
Europe and the Americas. She therefore clearly boasts the best credentials for being one of the
places that should be studied closely as a model or archetype. This contribution should serve as a
major source of the required inside story as well as a guidebook.

The undertaking is considered worthwhile in being at once historical, extant, futuristic and didactic,
even if somewhat belated, especially in terms of capturing the history from as far back in time as
would have made the compilation as complete as possible. Times are changing and life appears to
be proceeding at a faster pace than ever. It is therefore opportune to record as much as possible
before the passing on of those who can even dimly recall the history, and to ensure that the said
changes do not completely swamp the identity of our homeland in the drive towards globalization.
The rationale is, let there be an authentic source of facts rather than fiction, a veritable quarry of
reliable information about a unique place and its people. The book has been designed to embody,
under one cover, what a relaxed or fast-paced indigene, relative or indeed anybody, including the
research scholar or general reader, would require to enlighten them on Alor. This is the only way to
ensure that future historians, anthropologists, sociologists and ethnologists interpret and present
Alor fully and accurately.
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The Alor Development Initiative (ADI) has been an idea that took wings. The burning desire for an
organisation of its kind, which had incubated for long in many people, finally got an expression
when, on 29th December 2002, the “nucleating dozen” assembled in the house of Engr. Frank
Emeka Asiegbu and gave life to their aspiration. The body has an uncommon, singular and special
character essentially for the fact that it is not based on clan, gender, religion, occupation,
educational level, age, social standing or wealth; it is not a social club, a flash in the pan or a
transient organisation. Membership is therefore of the widest possible spectrum. It sprouted with a
singular objective: - the development of Alor in all ramifications, approached as the contribution of
ideas and execution of projects that would uplift the homeland now and in the future. The task is to
accelerate the tempo of development by complementing the efforts of the statutory town
government. This publication should be taken as a partial fulfillment of an aspect of the mandate
ADI imposed on itself – doing everything within its reach for the development of the town.

Although the bulk of the authorship is internal to ADI, the association remains grateful to non-
members and even non-Alor persons who most graciously contributed papers to the publication.
Additionally, the ADI places on record all those Alor and non-Alor persons who availed various
authors of their rich repertoire of knowledge during the research for the papers. For editing and
reviewing of the papers, members and non-members alike contributed ideas that added some
sparkle to the compendium. We thank them all.

Sam Ojukwu, Afam Mbachu and Emeka Asiegbu
Lagos
June 2010

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CONTENTS

1.0 The Physical Environment
1.1 Physical setting – C.S. Nwajide
1.2 Substratum and earth resources – D.U. Okafor
1.3 Environmental perspectives – E. I. Mbaekwe

2.0 Our Origins – Genealogical Insights
2.1 Origins of Alor – M.C. Obiagwu
2.2 Myth of the ofor, Ezeofor, and the akpu tree – M. Ukatu
2.3 Alor writ large in Igboland – E.E. Ndubuisi

3.0 Socio-Cultural Setting and Practices
3.1 Societal structure – A.I. Afuekwe
3.2 Alor names: origin and meaning – B.J.O. Okafo
3.3 Foods and culinary practices – S. Nwune, N. Udodi
4.4 Alor dialect: glimpses at its twilight – C.N. Oyeka, A.I. Afuekwe,
L.N. Oraka, C.F. Ojukwu and C.S. Nwajide
3.5 Evolution of living quarters – C.S. Nwajide and E.F. Asiegbu
3.6 Arts of Alor – P.N. Ufo (Monte)
3.7 Music of Alor – J.C. Mmeka
3.8 Festivals, religious observances and recreational activities – A.I. Afuekwe ns R.N. Obiorah
3.9 Title taking – A.I. Afuekwe
3.10 Marriage issues – A.I. Afuekwe
3.11 A comparative study of marriage – E.S.O. Amugo
3.12 Ịma nsi in Alor – P.U. Nnaebue
3.13 Deaths and funerals– A.I. Afuekwe and C.S. Nwajide
3.14 Succession and inheritance – L.N. Oraka
3.15 Generational analysis – C.C. Nwudo-Odenigbo

4.0 Belief Systems and Practices
4.1 Religions in Alor – S.C. Okafor-Udah
4.2 The Olise festival – L. Madubuko
4.3 Pentecostal movements – N. Okide

5.0 Native Ordinances, Politics and Governance
5.1 Politics and administration – E.C. Nwankwo and A.I. Afuekwe
5.2 Age grade system – A.I. Afuekwe
5.3 Modern governance – C. Aniefuna
5.4 Native ordinances applicable in the olden days – C. Ngige

6.0 Educational Development
6.1 Educational development: - home upbringing and early childhood – R.N. Obiorah
6.2 Western education: - history and products – R.N. Obiorah, F.C Ojukwu and C.C. Oyeka

7.0 Land Issues
7.1 Land ownership and use – A.A. Okafor and N.V. Okafor

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8.0 Local Economy
8.1 Rural economy – N.J. Aziagba
8.2 Alor experience in agricultural evolution – E. E. Obidozie
8.3 Alor mba nkwụ – C.S. Nwajide and E.I. Mbaekwe
8.4 Soap-making – Francis Agbazue
8.5 Nkwọ Alor: more than a market – Mallinson Ukatu

9.0 Health and Medical Practices
9.1 Medical practices from antiquity – C.S. Nwajide and A.I. Afuekwe
9.2 Medical practices: past, present and future – N.P. Obiegbu
10.0 External Relations
10.1 Relations with Obosi and Ojoto – C.S. Nwajide
10.2 Relations with Ukpor – A.M. Igwegbe
10.3 Wars Alor had to fight – J. Onyeanuna
10.4 The Alor – Nnobi hostilities: a perspective from Nnobi – W.I. Azugo
10.5 Ideani: antecedents and route to independence – L.N. Oraka

11.0 Population Dynamics
11.1 Population movements – J.O. Izunwanne and A.E. Edozie

12.0 Mysteries and Superstitions
12.1 Mysteries, superstitions and taboos – A.C. Nwune

13.0 The Future
13.1 Alor in the future – I.O. Obiora-Okafo and U. Obiorah

14.0 Heroes and Heroines
14.1 Chief Ezeukwu Enendu
14.2 N. Dr. Mgbankwo Nnwayi Nwose
14.3 Rev. Julius Okafo
14.4 Chief Ezekiel Obiegbu
14.5 Chief S.M.B. Ojukwu
14.6 Chief P.O. Mbachu
14.7 Chief G.N. Udoka
14.8 Chief P.N. Okeke
14.9 Mrs. S. Ifejika
14.10 Justice G.O. Oyudo
14.11 Dr. Gibson Nwokedi
14.12 Rev. Fr. Tim Ańunobi
14.13 Prof. E.C. Ogbuobiri
14.14 Dr. Chris Ngige

15.0 Appendices
15.1 Igwes of Alor
15.2 Members of Alor Development Initiative

16.0 ADI – the Journey So Far – Emeka Ngige

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1 THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

1.1 Physical Setting – C.S. Nwajide

1.2 Substratum and Earth Resources – D.U. Okafor

1.3 Environmental Perspectives – E. I. Mbaekwe

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1.1 PHYSICAL SETTING
C.S. Nwajide
1 Introduction
Alor town is located within the triangle formed by the three main towns of Anambra State.
Conceptually straightening out the roads connecting the towns, the northern side of the triangle is
the Onitsha – Awka road, whether the expressway or the old Enugu – Onitsha road. The eastern or
southeastern edge of the triangle is the connection from Awka through Agulu or Nimo, Neni,
Oraukwu, Adazi Ani, Nnokwa, and Nnobi to Nnewi. The third side is Onitsha to Nnewi. These
road connections can be gleaned on the satellite imagery below.

Satellite imagery showing the location of Alor in relation to the main towns of Anambra State

Nearer still, the town is located just beyond the southeastern periphery of greater Onitsha. By this is
meant that where Ogidi and Nkpor are now virtually assimilated at least in commerce if not in the
broad culture, Alor happens to still continue to be protected from that undesirable type of
urbanization. Umuoji, Ojoto, Uke, Ideani and Abatete serve very well as such a buffer. By a stroke
of chance, the way the roads traversed the terrains in the past resulted in Alor not really being a
passageway to any particular market or town. This in a way made her location insular. The Idemili
River, which bounds her in the north and northwest, had in the past been both a physical and
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commercial demarcation as well as a cultural barrier of sorts, which took quite some effort to cross
from either side. Thus Alor has, to a large extent, remained a pristine and idyllic locality shielded
by her location from becoming a concrete jungle with garbage-lined streets.

Map showing the access routes into Alor from the major towns of Anambra State and beyond

2 Geographical Location
As indicated in the map, Alor is located within latitudes 6o 4.00”N (Alor/Nnobi boundary off Ichie
Okua‟s compound) and 6o 6.08”N (Alor/Abatete boundary at Mmili Ezigbo bridge), and longitudes
6o 56.11”E (Alor/Uke boundary at Mmili Obiaja bridge) and 6o 58.23”E (Alor/Adazi-Ani boundary
off Idi Akubeze and Onuselogu compounds. Important stretches within the town include:
Mmili Ezigbo – Nkwọ Alor 3.6 km
Mmili Ezigbo – Ukatu Road junction 4.0 km
Centre Nnokwa – Nkwọ Alor 2.1 km
Mmili Obiaja – Nkwọ Alor 3.7 km
Approximate land area 25 km2

From this set of figures, the land area is about 25 km2 and has a geometrical shape that is a cross
between a circle and a pentagon. It is clear, therefore, that Alor is not among the large towns (cf.
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