Oba, Anambra State

6°4′0″N 6°50′0″E / 6.06667°N 6.83333°E / 6.06667; 6.83333

Oba
Motto: 
Ife di n'Oba
Oba
Location in Nigeria
Coordinates: 6°4′N 6°50′E / 6.067°N 6.833°E / 6.067; 6.833
Country Nigeria
StateAnambra State

Oba Listenⓘ is a town in Nigeria. Its postal code is 434112. It is a suburb of Onitsha.

It was formerly the headquarters of the Idemili South Local Government Area in Anambra State and lies approximately 7 kilometers south of Onitsha along the old Owerri-Onitsha Trunk A Road.

The first traditional King of Oba town was Igwe Peter Chukwuma Ezenwa( Eze Okpoko I of Oba). (1926-2018)

Geography

To the north is the Idemili River and the neighboring towns of Nkpor and Umuoji.[1] To the south is the Ekulu River and the towns of Oraifite and Akwu-Ukwu. To the east are the towns of Ojoto and Ichi and to the west is the Ose River and the towns of Obosi and Odekpe.[2]

History

Traditions of Origin

Oba's traditions trace its foundation to a man called Oba[3] or Oba Ezechidebelu Okehi[4], who fathered 9 children - Urueze, Umuoali, Isu, Okuzu, Ogwugwu, Abime, Ogboenwe, Aboji and Ezele - that founded the 9 villages in Oba. A legendary bird, called Okpoko, was said to have birthed Oba[3] or carried him to the present location of Oba[4].

Another tradition names the founder as Urueze, who was the oldest of 9 siblings born by Okpoko in the location of Oba[5].

A third tradition claims that Oba was the third son of Eri[6], the founder of the Kingdom of Nri in the 9th[7] to 11th centuries[8][9].

Relations with the Kingdom of Nri

Oba is an older town which had links to the Kingdom of Nri[10][11], though remaining independent in its local affairs[12].

Migrations

Oba predated the founding of Onitsha[13] in the 15th[14] to 17th Centuries[15]. The Ozo people displaced by the founding of Onitsha settled in Oba, along with other nearby towns such as Atani and Obosi[16]. Onitsha also warred against the nearby town of Obosi in this period.[17][18]

The traditions of the Omoku of Ahoada recount that their first wave of founders, after migrating from Ado na Idu[19] during the “oguaro war” with Benin[20], sojourned at Obosi and Oba, before moving south to found Ahoada.[21]

Migrants from Oba, along with other nearby towns[22][23], settled in Okpanam in the 16th Century.[24][25]

19th Century

Aro influence reached Oba in the 18th to 19th centuries[26][27][28]. Aro agents instigated wars in the region, leading Oba to fight wars against Ojoto[29] and Umuoji[30]. The nearby towns of Obosi and Nnewi were also subject to Abam invasions.[31][32]

Anglican missionaries first reached Oba in 1899[33][34].

Attractions

Oba has nine villages which are Abime, Aborji, Ezelle, Isu, Ogbenwe, Ogwugwu, Okuzu, Umuogali and Urueze. Some of the notable places and sites of attraction include the Rojenny Games Village, Tansian University, Ogba Spring, Oba Airport (under construction), Afor Oba, hotels and banks. The town is strategically located, being sandwiched between the commercial city of Onitsha and the industrial city of Nnewi, both cities being less than five-minutes' drive from Oba. An international market (Anambra International Trade Centre) which was commissioned under the first democratic governor of Anambra state is currently under construction in Oba; when completed it would consist of 25,000 lock-up stores with modern amenities like fire service, schools, police posts, 24/7 power supply amongst others. It will also pride itself as the largest market in West Africa. Oba has turned into a modern urban town with a population of over 300,000 inhabitants. Oba is part of the Greater Onitsha City as designated by the United Nations.

The Biafran Republic army settled in Oba as their last frontier following the fall of Onitsha during the Nigeria Civil War. Oba was never in the hands of the Nigerian Army until the end of the war.

Oba was in the limelight during the lavish burial of Obi Iyiegbu's mother on 16 July 2021.[35][36]

References

  1. ^ Maduekwe, Nnamdi Ifeanyi; Adesina, Francis (2017). "Remittances economy, remittances landscape: an analysis of the economic and socioecological implications of remittances to households in South Eastern Nigeria". GeoJournal. 82 (1): 142. Bibcode:2017GeoJo..82..139M. doi:10.1007/s10708-015-9674-y. JSTOR 44202519. Map of the Idemili River Basin
  2. ^ Ayadiuno, Romanus Udegbunam; Mozie, Arinze Tagbo; Ndulue, Chukwuka Dominic (2020). "Mapping the Terrain and Land Use Types in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, South Eastern Nigeria" (PDF). Ponte Journal. 76 (9/1): 124. doi:10.21506/j.ponte.2020.9.9. Archived from the original on 25 May 2026. Fig 1: Idemili South L. G. A
  3. ^ a b Mbalisi, Chinedu N. (2019). ""Ifedinoba": Historical Contributions of Palm Wine Industry in the Economy of Oba People in Idemmili Area of Igboland Since 1900" (PDF). Igwebuike: An African Journal of Arts and Humanities. 5 (4): 134. ISSN 2488-9210. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 November 2023.
  4. ^ a b "About Oba". Oba Development Foundation USA. Archived from the original on 21 March 2016.
  5. ^ "Evolution of OBA Town in Idemili South Local Govt. Area". Humanities: 40. 1998. ISBN 978-978-34334-1-0. There are different versions of the origin of Oba. the myth has it that a bird called "Okpoko" buried her parents on her head. The bird gave birth to a baby boy called Urueze, who is said to have been sent down from heaven by sun god to a place called Oba. In a like manner as Urueze, eight other children; Umuogali, Isu, Okuzu, Ogwugwu, Abime, Ogboenwe, Aboji and Ezele, in order of descend of age were born. The descendants of these nine children founded the nine villages that make up Oba Community.
  6. ^ Ombugadu, Victor Attah; Awugosi, Edward (2021). "A Cause-Effect Analysis of Land Conflict between Umuezegbute and Ezele Mbana of Oba Community, Anambra State, 1980 – 2020" (PDF). Department of History and International Relations, Veritas University, Abuja.: 3. Archived from the original on 26 May 2026.
  7. ^ Oriji, John N. (2011). "The Nri and the Evolution of the Igbo-Ukwu Mega State". Political Organization in Nigeria Since the Late Stone Age: A History of the Igbo People. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 56–57. ISBN 978-0-230-11668-9.
  8. ^ Onwuejeogwu, M. Angulu (1981). An Igbo Civilization: Nri Kingdom and Hegemony. Ethnographica Ltd. p. 22. ISBN 9789781231056. Archived from the original on 16 July 2024.
  9. ^ Oguagha, Philip Adigwe; Okpoko, Alex Ikechukwu (1984). "History And Ethnoarchaeology In Eastern Nigeria: A Study Of Igbo Igala Relations With Special Reference To The Anambra Valley". BAR Publishing: 215. ISBN 978-0-86054-249-0. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024.
  10. ^ Onwuejeogwu, M. Angulu (1981). An Igbo Civilization: Nri Kingdom and Hegemony. Ethnographica Ltd. p. 6. ISBN 9789781231056. Archived from the original on 16 July 2024.
  11. ^ Akinjobi-Babatunde, Tosin (2017). "Nri". In Aderinto, Saheed (ed.). African Kingdoms: An Encyclopedia of Empires and Civilizations. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 227. ISBN 9798216043430. Nri's influence over many communities in Igboland was felt from the reign of the 4th eze nri to the reign of the 9th eze nri.
  12. ^ Oriji, John N. (2011). "Igbo-Ukwu: Its Geographical Boundary and Decline". Political Organization in Nigeria Since the Late Stone Age: A History of the Igbo People. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 84. "Thus, as Henderson pointed out, many communities in northwestern Igboland said to be under the ritual control of Nri remained virtually autonomous in administrating their local affairs, including Adazi, Nnokwa, Nnobi, Abaja, Ojoto, Oba, Obosi, and Onitsha."
  13. ^ "2.3 THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ONITSHA". Structure Plan for Onitsha and Satellite Towns (PDF). UN-Habitat. 2009. p. 20. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022.
  14. ^ Oriji, J. (2011). "The Igbo and the Benin, Igala, and Ijo Mega States During the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade". Political Organization in Nigeria Since the Late Stone Age: A History of the Igbo People. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 93–94. doi:10.1057/9780230116689_4. ISBN 9780230116689. Aboh traditions maintain that the emigrations occurred during the reign of Ozolua (c. 1481–c.1504), while the Onitsha version asserts that the emigrations took place when Oba Esigie (c.1504–c.1550) was in power.
  15. ^ Afigbo, A. E. (1980). "Igboland Before 1800". In Ikime, Obaro (ed.). Groundwork of Nigerian History. Heinemann Educational Books (Nig). p. 85. ISBN 978-978-129-953-7. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024.
  16. ^ Azikiwe, Ben N. (1930). "Fragments of Onitsha History". The Journal of Negro History. 15 (4): 476. doi:10.2307/2714208. JSTOR 2714208.
  17. ^ Oriji, J. (2011). Political Organization in Nigeria Since the Late Stone Age: A History of the Igbo People. p. 96.
  18. ^ Nzimiro, I. (1972). Studies in Ibo Political Systems: Chieftaincy and Politics in Four Niger States. p. 8-9. "Legends reveal several wars with these neighbours—namely Obosi, Awkuzu, and Ogidi—during this expansionist period."
  19. ^ “Ado na Idu” may refer to Benin (Leonard, 1906, p. 35; Oriji, 1990, p. 78; Nzimiro, 2023, p. 7) or to a western igbo chiefdom, that existed in the Igbo-Benin borderland (Oriji, 1990, p. 69; Oriji, 2011, p. 207).
  20. ^ Oriji, John Nwachimereze (1990). Traditions of Igbo origin : a study of pre-colonial population movements in Africa. Internet Archive. New York : P. Lang. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-8204-1267-2. The "Oguaro" war maybe referring to the incursions of Oba Ewuare against the Ika-Igbo and other communities.
  21. ^ Oriji, J. (1994). "The Omoku of Ahoada". Traditions of Igbo Origin: A Study of Pre-colonial Population Movements in Africa. P. Lang. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-8204-2481-1. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023.
  22. ^ Nzeogwu, Okeleke Peter (2003). Fighting the Illusive Nigerian Enemy from Childhood to Death. Spectrum Books. p. 1. ISBN 978-978-029-403-8. The people of Okpanam, in their oral history, claim claim to be descendants of a people who left Benin and migrated eastward and intermarried with the Igbo families who came from across the Niger River.
  23. ^ Ohadike, Don C. (1994). Anioma : a social history of the Western Igbo people. Ohio University Press. p. 20. ISBN 978-0-8214-1072-1. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022.
  24. ^ Ogbobine, Rufus A. I. (1981). Oshimili and Aniocha: Their People and Land Tenure. Rubine Book Centre. p. 48.
  25. ^ "A Brief History of Okpanam". okpanam.com. Archived from the original on 8 June 2026.
  26. ^ Onwuejeogwu, M. Angulu (1981). An Igbo Civilization: Nri Kingdom and Hegemony. Ethnographica Ltd. p. 28. ISBN 9789781231056. Archived from the original on 16 July 2024.
  27. ^ Asaaju, Morenikeji (2017). "Arochukwu". In Aderinto, Saheed (ed.). African Kingdoms: An Encyclopedia of Empires and Civilizations. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-61069-580-0. Throughout the 19th century the violent activities of the Aro and the intrusive slave raiding undermined the eze nri's influence in eastern Igboland.
  28. ^ Onwuejeogwu, M. Angulu (1979). "The Genesis, Diffusion, Structure and Significance of Ozo Title in Igbo Land" (PDF). Paideuma: Mitteilungen zur Kulturkunde. 25: 125. JSTOR 23076441.
  29. ^ Onwuejeogwu, M. A. (1981). An Igbo Civilization: Nri Kingdom & Hegemony. p. 63.
  30. ^ Onwuejeogwu, M. A. (1981). An Igbo Civilization: Nri Kingdom & Hegemony. p. 166. "During my father's time Eze Nri stopped the fighting between Ichi and Ojoto, Oba and Ojoto, Umuoji and Oba, Abatete and Uke, and Ojoto and Uke".
  31. ^ Oriji, J. (2011). Political Organization in Nigeria Since the Late Stone Age: A History of the Igbo People. p. 120.
  32. ^ Oriji, J. N. (1985). "Slave trade, warfare and Aro expansion in the Igbo Hinterland" (PDF). IKENGA International Journal of the Institute of African Studies. 24 (1 & 2): 161. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 June 2026. The Abam were also actively involved in the civil wars which had raged between the different seсtions of Nnewi from the 1860s to the 1890s.
  33. ^ Afigbo, Adiele Eberechukwu, ed. (1992). Groundwork of Igbo history. Vista Books. p. 491. ISBN 978-978-134-400-8.
  34. ^ Harneit-Sievers, Axel (2006). ""Town People" and "Church People": The Impact of Christianity". Constructions of Belonging: Igbo Communities and the Nigerian State in the Twentieth Century. p. 101. Map 4.1. A mission's view of Igboland, 1908
  35. ^ "Interesting reasons why Nigerians dey tok about Obi Cubana mama burial". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  36. ^ "Why everyone is talking about Obi Cubana's mum's burial". Premium Times. 2021-07-17. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
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