History Of Mgbidi In Awgu LGA Of Enugu State

Locations and directions of Villages in Mgbidi Community Awgu LGA Enugu state

Mgbidi is an ancient kingdom located in Awgu local government, Enugu State Nigeria. Mgbidi has no common origin. Different  people from different places had settled in the area in pursuit of safety. Mgbidi has a citadel structure and whoever ran into it was secure from external harms. 

It was stated in the concept of Mgbidi that it was once called Uwe, some even pronounced it Enwe or Nwe as I was told. (I will still state the deprivation the multi-pronunciation of the name 'NWE, UWE, ENWE' cost the people of Mgbidi). Till date our aged People still refers Mgbidi as UWE.

By Oral history, the life-existence of Uwe back to hundreds years ago was after the gradual emergence of intelligent primates (Human) on planet Earth during Cenozoic Era, It was known that primordial ancestors living in Uwe and Mgbidi were mainly hunters and Farmers while few were Priests or spiritualists of different deities. The hunters used primeval tools like strong wooden spears, sharp stones, bamboos et cetera , to feed and shelter themselves. The spiritualists prayed to the Almighty God by sacrifices for general guidance and protection.

By Oral transmission over the generations as I was told, It was said that some villages migrated to Uwe and Mgbidi from their untraceable and traceable origin (There was no concrete written record or oral say of the traces or origin but was told orally that during primordial and pre-medieval eras war, banishment, famine, hunting , protection and source for food etc could make them migrate to unknown land).

The discovery of Okofia/Amoji

According to transmissive history, people of Uwe believed that Amoji was the first to establish in Uwe.

Amoji was referred as the first son or the earliest migrants in Uwe. It was more than ten centuries years that some migrants came to a place currently called Ama in Eziama settings to make a habitation, at dawn they saw ray of fire-light with smoke and moved towards the direction getting there they discovered that the people had already built their huts and called them "Ndu Okofia" mean people of typical forest. There is no concrete prove either by oral or written that stated the abode of the migrants that discovered the village. The name Okofia was renamed to Amoji at recent time after the civil war by late Obidinanwa Who Later became the second autonomous chief of Ezineri mgbidi at modern Era. More details in Amoji Archive.

Relationship between Ezioha and Ifite. 
Ezioha and Ifite can not be discredit when talking about Mgbidi.
Emigrants from different places, as we discussed earlier, formed Mgbidi at different periods. In the pre-colonial time, Mgbidi was used to refer to the village of Ifite and Ezioha. The two brothers from Mgbidi, in IMO state embarked on a journey. When they got to Okpanku , one settled there . His brother continue the journey until he got to a citadel area. He settled there and named it after their original home Mgbidi. He begot two sons , Ifite and Ezioha. Ifite , in turn begot Enemchi and Ezioha begot Ukwuewa.

Ezioha and Ifite do things in common and they were the two villages known as Mgbidi. Remember every communities currently bearing Mgbidi now were under Uwe village apart from Ezioha and Ifite who were the two communities known as Mgbidi. The two villages were bound to be the first to celebrate her new yam festival every year after which other villages in Uwe as diaspora would hold theirs. For instance, Eke is sacred Square in Ezioha where lot of shrines were being put in place of altar its priesthood could be an indigene of Ezioha or Ifite. Nnemuruoha is One of the shrines in Eke whose priest is an Ifite spiritualist. It's no doubt that Ezioha Mgbowo  and Ugbo migrated from Ezioha Mgbidi.... To be continue in Ezioha and Ifite Archives.

Colonial Era in Uwe and Mgbidi

During the colonial Era the British men penetrated Uwe and Mgbidi two times to subdued them, During their first visit people of Uwe ran away feeling they were white spirits who have come to harm them the fear and their autocratic government made the people of Uwe beheaded one of their servants in a place currently called Obodoaduluogu. During the Akwete patrol which was initiated by British, they entered into large-scale war sending scores of British troops continued marching to and fro of Uwe and Mgbidi , thus led to defeating of Uwe and Mgbidi people and lot ran away to different asylum but later many returned and few never returned. The conquered people of Uwe would gather to welcome British troops, giving them water, fruits and food and gave them piece of land for their office. Their office was located at Agu Ugwu(presently Anike LGA office).

Why Uwe was changed to Mgbidi

The village area called Mgbidi today was formerly called Uwe. At the coming of the colonial masters, they found it difficult to pronounce and write "Uwe". G.I Oko , who was once in colonial and independence era, the ruler of the town came from Ezioha Mgbidi. he then decided to use his community name as a general name for the village areas. Since then the area has been called Mgbidi. 

(due to its multi-pronunciation as written earlier) which they formerly wrote as 'Uwe, Nnwe', 'Enwe', 'Ewen' with much contradictions according to history, The Name Uwe (due to Its pronunciation and writing impediment) brought lose of name recognition to their neighbouring Town, For instance Rosary high school was meant to be addressed as Uwe , As the host of the local govt Land , The local govt could have been named after the village Name. 

Till today, the dialect of Mgbidi has never changed throughout the land of Igbos it is believed that during the great Jewish migrations about five thousand years ago, in search of greener pastures. The migrants' languages varied from one established settlement to the other; Mgbidi  accents and dialects are unique throughout the world. In particular Mgbidi had roots from ERI the son of Gad . From the human existence in Mgbidi , the people believed in God Almighty. They worshipped him in many religious centres called shrines, such as Obodoaduluogu, Iyiogba, Ala, Iyiowere, Nnemuruoha ,etc. The advent for religions in Mgbidi, particularly Christianity , about hundreds of years ago, gradually changed the belief of most people. Now , most people of Mgbidi are Christians in various denominations.

 Ala the Earth Deity The most important Deity in the religious and social life of the people of Mgbidi was Ala , the Earth Deity. Ala is derived from the ancient Mediterranean cult of the great mother, the symbol of life. Ala is known as ma or Ama , the term by which the Great mother is known throughout Asia minor. Earth Deity or Ala Mgbidi are Obodoaduluogu, Iyiogba, Ogbu Ajala , Ogbara, and Iyiowere Even Agwo Aka (green snake).

Oriri Njoku Oha In Mgbidi
Dike Orufa Ibe a man from Isiuga Mgbidi introduced Njoku Oha to Mgbidi.

Njoku Oha is simply the yam spirit or gods of yam. Ala is a spirit or god of earth , under its control was Njoku Oha whom was the most important spirit under the numerous spirits of Ala. Mgbidi has its public shrine of Njoku Oha at Okpo Uwe , the symbols of which were stone and Ogirisi tree surrounded by a circle of stones, with two monoliths in center, The Etymological name is called Ogidi. Each village in Mgbidi had its own Ogidi as symbol of Njoku Oha at Okpo Uwe. In Mgbidi, the perennial rites of Njoku Oha were performed every four years as festival before the planting of the yams it does not stop annual plantation, and it was offence for anyone to plant yams until the rites have been performed. Before the appointed day of the ritual, Every successfully family would celebrate Njoku Oha as the highest festival. Those men who were very Rich might kill Pig or Igbo Cow "EFI Igbo" for their wife/wives for the celebration. The rituals which must be performed before anyone could plant his yams was as follows. On the appointed day, each family head brings yam to the shrine of Njoku. The yams were piled before the symbols of cult, and the elders' then squat behind the priest, who took a pullet, and holding it up in his right hand , spoke as follows.

Njoku, I have come to give you food and to tell you that we are preparing to plant our yams. May these yams grow up well and may we remain alive to eat them and celebrate the next Njoku. Grant that no one may meet with any injury during this farming year. Protect the lives of our men, women and children.

During the Njoku festival, people returned massively from other parts of Nigeria and other foreign countries for celebration and resolution of other commitments at home.

From the time of human existence in Mgbidi, like any other Community in Igbo land, four market days called Orie, Avo, Nkwo, Eke existed and dictated the twenty-eight days for each month. Mgbidi people have some exciting festivals during which happiness is shared among them, friends and well-wishers, viz: New yam festival, Oriri Njoku Oha, Oriri Udude (Uwakpu) etc. Before the festivals, the people return massively from other parts of Nigeria and other foreign countries for celebration and resolution of other commitments at home. During the festivals, people attend their worship centers in their best attire with bicycles and many on foot. On return to home, there are various for sumptuous dishes for every family member, friends and well-wishers to eat and joyfully go out for sight seeing. Some of the most exciting displays that hold massive spectators spell-bound during the local festivals have been lost to the factors of injuries and religious belief, viz:- Boxing contests called 'Okpueka Mgbidi' and various masquerades festivals (Uwakpu and their Udude). However, Dances, local music beaters/dancers like Ikwurikwo', Itelkpa', et cetera, still prevail. Okpueka' contest was gradually stopped in the mid-1960s due to humiliations arising from unbelievable infliction of deep-cuts with blood gushing from the head, face and body of some contestants.

The occupations of Mgbidi people for thousands of years ago have been mainly farming and hunting. The Land is not too fertile because it is Sandy soil as common but they enjoy whatever comes out of it for they believe in what Nature gives. It was habitation of various wild animal species; and the people maintain the soil-Fertility by land shifting rotation that may last a year or more before re-preparations and re-cultivation. Mgbidi land yields too many types of food produces inclusive of yam , cassava, cocoa yam ,corn vegetables etc.

Development in Mgbidi was at the lowest ebb for thousands of years ago. This was due to lack of machines. Communication was done on foot and orally. Farming and hunting were based on local tools. Medicine was based on known local natural herbs. These limitations caused very low population and slow development. However, the advent of religion, education and gradual and invention of machines slowly improved development.

Mgbidi has produced highly illustrious indigenes at National and World class levels, in various fields, viz: A Monarch that ruled entire Awgu Division for more than 20yrs Chief G.I Okoh, Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, Engineers, Chartered Accountants, Architects, Professors, Chief judge of Enugu state for more than 12yrs, ACP of police, Generals in Nigeria Army, Authors, Journalists, Real Admiral in Nigeria Army, Head of Major ministries in Nigeria, Programmers, Teachers, Magistrates, Lawyers, Custom officers, etc.

NB: UWE=NWE=NWEA =UWEE or UWAE as the case may be.

For any update or if found any contradiction or error please do not forget to hit my contact page for a proper correction(s). Instinct of words construction could also instigate different interpretation.

Credits to Late Mr Ajah, HRH Igwe PD Uzochukwu, Chief L.I Nze, Okenna Oko, Chief Kanueze, Mr Okechukwu and others who are the backbones of this chronicle, they never tired of my regular visitations and disturbances with conjunction of many historical books i read like History of Greater Awgu and others.