Compiled By: Comrade Timothy Chukwunwosa Umukoro and Comrade Stanley Chukwuka Oweniwe.

Ezhionum Kingdom is one of the communities that make up Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
The geographical location of Ezhionum can be explained throughthe physical boundaries it shares with other communities. In the north, Ezhionum is bounded by Amai; in the south by Abbi, In the east by Ogume and in the west by Aragba.

POPULATION DENSITY
According to the projected census figure of 1991, Ezhionum has a population density of about 15,240 people comprising of 8,000 females and 7,240 males.

TRADITIONAL SET UP
Ezhionum is traditionally made up of three (3) quarters namely: Aweka, Ogbe-Nami and Ogbe-Ofu. The three quarters consist of twelve (12) families with five (5) in Aweka, three (3) in Ogbe-Nami and four (4) in Ogbe-Ofu quarters.

OCCUPATION
The geographical location of Ezhionum places it in the tropical rain forest which makes the people completely agrarian by occupation. The crops cultivated for both subsistence and trading with neighboring communities include yams, cassava, maize, melon, pepper, groundnut, beans and plantain. The cash crops cultivated include rubber, palm-oil, kola-nuts, etc.

THE HISTORICAL ORIGIN OF EZHIONUM
Different historical sources and varying accounts of the elders were sought by the writers with a view of gathering some historical facts and finally presenting a summerized and streamlined historical origin of Ezhionum.

One of the accounts has it that the great grandfather of the founder of Ezhionum community and some other people originally settled in Benin. But due to incessant wars in the Benin empire, they left Benin and settled at Asaba near the western bank of the River Niger at about 1500 AD.

However, at the 1600 AD, war broke out in Asaba over who becomes the king of Asaba and the faction to which the grandfather of Ezhionum belonged ran to ask for the help of Benin w warriors who responded quickly but did not see their opponents who had hidden themselves inside an anthill. Most unfortunately, the invited Benin warriors started killing the faction that invited them based on the assumption that they lied to them.

This unquestionably led to the exodus of many people from Asaba amongst whom was a pregnant woman who according to one of the accounts finally settled at Ejeme and gave birth to a baby boy whom she named "Onumgbunum" which literally means "my mouth killed me."

Onumgbunum later became an adult and started an expedition further towards the west and after many years, he met a man called Akashiede who was living with his family at the present day Eziokpor and was accepted to live with them at about 1700 AD. The account further started that Akashiede has a daughter named Ezhie and a son named Ebu and the daughter was married to a man called Okpor with children. But Okpor later for sick and died and after some time, Onumgbunum, on the request of Akashiede took Ezhie as a wife in order to take care of Okpor's children and also have children through her.

Consequently, Ezhie and Onumgbunum had there (3) children namely: Ossai, Oduegwu and Anie the only female. All of them including Ebu and Okpor's children called themselves "UMU AKASHIEDE" and lived for many years in the vast land called Akashiede village which stretches from Umukwata through Aragba.

After the death of Akashiede, the children decided to share their father's land, hence Okpor's children chosed the original dwelling place and named it Eziokpor with Ezhie and Onumgbunum including their children choosing the middle part whole Ebu accepted the area close to Aragba and Abraka which is the present day Umuebu. But before their movement to different locations, Onumgbunum died and after some time, Onumgbunum's children led by Ossai took their mother (Ezhie) to Umunwali before relocation to the present day location and named it Ezhionum in about 1800 AD.

Another account according to Okolugbo (2004) has it that a man called Akashiede who married two wives migrated from Benin and settled in Umuoshi quarter of Eziokpor. The first wife gave birth to three (3) sons namely: Okpor, Ezhie and Ebu while the second wife had a son named Ovili.

As members of the various families increased rapidly after the death of Akashiede, the first settlement became too congested for the migrants, hence they agreed to separate their families from one another.

Hence Okpor the eldest son became the direct heir of the original settlement at Umuoshi and his descendants named the settlement Eziokpor (after Okpor). Ezhie the second son moved southward with his family and founded a site which (his) descendants named Ezhionum after their ancestor. Ebu the youngest son migrated westward with his family and settled at the present site which his descendants called Umuebu meaning "the descendants of Ebu". Ovili the only son of the second wife moved farther and founded the village of Ovili (Abraka inland). This account, according to some Ezhionum elders has doubtful ingredients because Ezhie is believed to be a woman and not a man.

Yet another account opined that Onuma, the founder of Ezhionum originally settled with his brothers Okpor and Ebu at a place near Okumeshi stream some kilometers away from present day Obiaruku under the leadership of their father, Akashiede, whose parents fled from Benin due to incessant wars. But after sometime, Onuma became bored living with his parents and brothers and had to move away with his wife, Ezhie and they finally settled at a place near the River Niger which is now known as Asaba.

But after many years, Onuma decided to flee Asaba and return to his kinsmen near Okumeshi stream because of a serious power take which did not favour him, as the great warriors from Benin empire who he sought for help in the hands of Eware the Great of the then Benin empire regrettably turned against him and his people.

Before the arrival of Onuma and his people, his parents had died and Okpor and Ebu had settled at the present settlements of Eziokpor and Umuebu respectively. However, Onuma and his family were asked to settle at the centre and they originally settled at Obiaka before moving to its (Ezhionum's) present location.

After they had settled in Ezhionum according to the first account, Ossai the first son of Ezhie and Onuma who was nicknamed "Eweka Onyeidu", in remembrance to the great warrior who ruled with the Oba of Benin, had there male children namely: Odumegwu, Osele, and Ine. And later, Ine also gave birth to Osumili, Ughomeh and Ezeogbu. It is interesting to note here that Ine gave his children these names in reflection to the stories he heard from his elder brother Ossai. For instance, Osumili reflected River Niger which they formerly lived close to while Ugbomeh and Ezeogbu reflected the names of some great warriors in Asaba.

Correspondingly, the first quarter in Ezhionum was named after the nickname of Ossai (Eweka Onyeidu) the first son of Ezhie and (also), the five families in Aweka are the true true reflection of Ossai's children and and grandchildren namely Umu-Okpala Odumegwu, Ogbe-Osele, Umu-Ugbome, and Umu-Nzeogbu.

Moreso, Oduegwu the second son of Ezhie and Onumgbunum who was nicknamed "Unuami" in the remembrance of the river close to Siloko in Benin where their great grandfather lived, had two male children namely: Akpashi and Okolo. In the same vein, the second quarter in Ezhionum was named after the nickname of Oduegwu (Unuami) in Ogbe-nami. Also, two of the three families in the present day Ogbe-nami quarters bear the names of Oduegwu's sons namely: Umu-Akpashi and Umu-Okpalaokolo.

In another development, Anie the only daughter of Ezhie and Onumgbunum took care of their mother Ezhie until her death and after some time, Ossai also died. Both were buried, though at different periods, close to the god of Iyienwe. For the avoidance of doubts, their graves called "Isu Ezhie" and "Isu Ossai Uku" are served by the Okpala-Uku of Ezhionum every eight ( days (Oge-eto) till date undoubtedly in the remembrance of the founders and historical origin of Ezhionum.

However, for the fear of attack from neighboring village, Ossai and Oduegwu's children including Anie and led by Odumegwu, the eldest son of Ossai moved onward around the present Ogwa of Aweka and resettled. Hence the presence of Chukwu-Osa, Ifijioku-Osa and the age grade initiation centre around that place.

Within the periods of resettlement, Anie had four children. The include: Ozegbe, Opia, Ugbo and Imegwu. Anie's children started expanding so rapidly that a new quarter called Ogbe-Ofu had to be created and organized into four (4) distinct families which were named according to the names of Anie's children viz: Umu-Ozegbe-Anie, Umu-Opia-Anie, Umu-Ugbo and Umu-Imegwu.

The emergence of Umu-Eyeh as the third family in Ogbe-nami was formed from a distinct wave of migrants who according to some historical accounts came from Utue-Ogume side and teamed up with Akashiede clans because of their age long family ties. They first settled at Ogo-Owu in Ugule-Etiti farmland and established a shrine called Orji-Eyeh. This group was made up of five (5) family units of Umu-Ekelemu, Umu-Ogwezhi, Umu-Chijiuwe, Umu-Anagba, and Umu-Ukpeme.

But due to the ravaging effects of constant wars, especially the Eze-Igbo war, they were made to flee willy-nilly war, they were made to flee willy-nilly to different directions for safety. So while Umu-Ekelemu moved south eastward to join Utue; Umu-Ogwezhi Ekei, Umu-Chijiuwe and Umu-Anagba moved westward to meet Umu-Akpashi in the Ogbe-nami quarters of Ezhionum.

The last family unit of Umu-Eyeh called Umu-Ukpeme moved northward and joined Umu-Esume group of Eziokpor extraction in Obiaruku to form the Umusume quarters. No wonder then the cultural knot and affinity between the Umu-Eyeh people of Ezhionum and the Umu-Esume people in Obiaruku still remains tight as can be seen during the coronation of Ndu-Eze in Ezhionum and that of the last Okpala-Uku of Umusume quarters.

EARLY DIFFICULTIES IN EZHIONUM UNDER LOCAL AND NATIVE ADMINISTRATION

Ezhionum people exhibited very furious expansionist tendencies by always coming together to form formidable group and at the same time, withstood invaders from the neighborhood.

Eventually, when the British rule was first introduced, the people of Ezhionum neither allowed the white men to settle with them, nor had a single dealing with them. Ezhionum people resisted all forms of perceived intimidations from the colonial masters and this led to several wars which in the long run led Ezhionum into captivity. The people were led mostly to a village called Igun after Eku where they stayed for so many years before they were left to return to Ezhionum.

After some years, the antagonistic tendencies against any foreign system of leadership outside the traditional gerontocracy started waning. Hence the British rule was accepted and taxation and native law court systems became fully operative and with Ezhionum people abiding.

It is the same spirit of abiding my the rules of new orders and accepting innovations that Ezhionum people showed and displayed reasonable concordance in the decision to evolve a new system of monarchial rule to supplement the age long gerontocratic rule.


We wish, on behalf of the entire good people of Ezhionum kingdom, to thank Chief G. Enudi (Onochieze of Ezhionum), Chief J.F.M Obi (Ogbuimi of Ezhionum), Hon. Chief S.O Ogashi (The Secretary of Ezhionum Kingship Committee), Chief C.C Onyichi (The Onueze of Ezhionum Kingdom), Late Rev. Dr. E.O Okolugbo (the author of History of Ukwuani & Ndosumili People of Niger Delta), for their priceless contributions towards making (this) historical account fairly detailed and factual.

- Comrade Timothy Chukwunwosa Umukoro & Comrade Sunday Chukwuka Oweniwe

Isegwari

abiolamitodun:
Isegwari

Yoooh !

oweniwe:
EARLY DIFFICULTIES IN EZHIONUM UNDER LOCAL AND NATIVE ADMINISTRATION

Ezhionum people exhibited very furious expansionist tendencies by always coming together to form formidable group and at the same time, withstood invaders from the neighborhood.

Eventually, when the British rule was first introduced, the people of Ezhionum neither allowed the white men to settle with them, nor had a single sealing with them. Ezhionum people resisted all forms of perceived intimidations from the colonial masters and this led to several wars which in the long run led Ezhionum into captivity. The people were led mostly to a village called Igun after Eku where they stayed for so many years before they were left to return to Ezhionum.

After some years, the antagonistic tendencies against any foreign system of leadership outside the traditional gerontocracy started waning. Hence the British rule was accepted and taxation and native law court systems became fully operative and with Ezhionum people abiding.

It is the same spirit of abiding my the rules of new orders and accepting innovations that Ezhionum people showed and displayed reasonable concordance in the decision to evolve a new system of monarchial rule to supplement the age long gerontocratic rule.


We wish, on behalf of the entire good people of Ezhionum kingdom, to thank Chief G. Enudi (Onochieze of Ezhionum), Chief J.F.M Obi (Ogbuimi of Ezhionum), Hon. Chief S.O Ogashi (The Secretary of Ezhionum Kingship Committee), Chief C.C Onyichi (The Onueze of Ezhionum Kingdom), Late Rev. Dr. E.O Okolugbo (the author of History of Ukwuani & Ndosumili People of Niger Delta), for their priceless contributions towards making (this) historical account fairly detailed and factual.

- Comrade Timothy Chukwunwosa Umukoro & Comrade Sunday Chukwuka Oweniwe

Awesome history! It seems you
guys have Bini-Edo and Igala ancestries. Ebu people are
of Igala origin.

oweniwe:
Moreso, Oduegwu the second son of Ezhie and Onumgbunum who was nicknamed "Unuami" in the remembrance of the river close to Siloko in Benin where their great grandfather lived, had two male children namely: Akpashi and Okolo. In the same vein, the second quarter in Ezhionum was named after the nickname of Oduegwu (Unuami) in Ogbe-nami. Also, two of the three families in the present day Ogbe-nami quarters bear the names of Oduegwu's sons namely: Umu-Akpashi and Umu-Okpalaokolo.

In another development, Anie the only daughter of Ezhie and Onumgbunum took care of their mother Ezhie until her death and after some time, Ossai also died. Both were buried, though at different periods, close to the god of Iyienwe. For the avoidance of doubts, their graves called "Isu Ezhie" and "Isu Ossai Uku" are served by the Okpala-Uku of Ezhionum every eight ( days (Oge-eto) till date undoubtedly in the remembrance of the founders and historical origin of Ezhionum.

However, for the fear of attack from neighboring village, Ossai and Oduegwu's children including Anie and led by Odumegwu, the eldest son of Ossai moved onward around the present Ogwa of Aweka and resettled. Hence the presence of Chukwu-Osa, Ifijioku-Osa and the age grade initiation centre around that place.

Within the periods of resettlement, Anie had four children. The include: Ozegbe, Opia, Ugbo and Imegwu. Anie's children started expanding so rapidly that a new quarter called Ogbe-Ofu had to be created and organized into four (4) distinct families which were named according to the names of Anie's children viz: Umu-Ozegbe-Anie, Umu-Opia-Anie, Umu-Ugbo and Umu-Imegwu.

Ive been to that iyienwe shrine b4....is it true that if u take pictures of that three white clothed statue or so it won't show in the picture...

abiolamitodun:

Ive been to that iyienwe shrine b4....is it true that if u take pictures of that three white clothed statue or so it won't show in the picture...

Are you from Ezhionum please ?

oweniwe:


Are you from Ezhionum please ?

yes...

abiolamitodun:

yes...

Nice one.