Umuchu
Encyclopedia
Umuchu is the second largest town (after Uga) in Aguata
local government of Anambra State
, Nigeria
. Anambra is the cradle of Igbo people
of eastern Nigeria. Umuchu shares boundary in the north with Achina and Enugwu-Umuonyia communities (both in Aguata, Anambra state). Umuchu is bordered in the south by Akokwa town in Imo State
. In the west, it is bordered by Uga Town (Aguata Anambra) and in the East by Umunze
and Isuokpu/umualaoma communities (both in Orumba Anambra state). Umuchu town as a whole covers roughly thirty square miles. Historically, the town is grouped into three units: Ihite, Amanasaa and Okwu-na-Achalla. Ihite is the head group. Ihite is composed of three villages: Ugwuakwu, Umugama and Ozalla-Akukwa. Ugwuakwu is the head village.
Amanasaa unit is composed of five main villages: Ogu, Osete, Ogwugwu,Amihe and Isi-Ogwugwu Osete. Finally, Okwu-na-Achalla is made up of two villages: Ibughubu and Achalla.
. Small towns were easy prey as they were ambushed at midnight, and carted off as commercial wares. It was therefore pertinent for the communities to raise their numbers at all cost and this led to an amalgamation of these three distinct units to become one town known as Umuchu. Lacking any means of putting this amalgamation treaty in writing, a team of qualified native doctors were assembled to make these treaty binding on the consenting units. Part of their work included the making of an antidote that will ward off violent attacks or wars. This antidote was known as Ichu, literally interpreted as 'to ward off'. This antidote was buried in two places. One was buried in the meeting place of the three units, now known as Nkwo Uchu. This place also hosts the market and Ichu/Uchu Shrine. The second portion of the antidote was buried in Odere stream and automatically the stream became known as Ichu/Uchu lake. The three consenting units voluntary dedicated themselves to this Ichu antidote, which they understood to be a female spirit or goddess and from that day onward became and called themselves, Umuichu. However, long usage have caused the 'i' letter to disappear and the town is now simply known as Umuchu.
The town is mostly on a gentle slope that provides a wonderful scenic landscape. Her highest hill is Ojukwu Ibeazoro Hill while her lowest lands (known locally as Okolokolo) are mostly found in Umugama, Osete and Ibughubu villages. Her largest water supply is the Uchu stream, a tributary to the Imo River
. In addition to other smaller streams, there are various springs (known locally as Ogbanelu or simply Ogbana) in the town. The most respected tree in Umuchu is the Ukwu Achi tree located in Nkwo Uchu and said to be about two century old.
The nearest Airport from Umuchu is Enugu Airport (about 136.6 km). There are also hotels and hospitality services in Umuchu.
Since late sixties, Umuchu have been led by a elected King in conjunction with the Town Union, also known as Umuchu Improvement Union. The first elected king was His majesty, Igwe Ignatius Ofobuike (Umugama) while the current monarch is Igwe Godson Ezechukwu (Ozara-Akukwa)
's Arrow of God
was based on an incident in Umuchu in 1913.That year,the chief priest of Uchu and arguably the most important figure in Umuchu,a man named Ezeagu Uchu had a superiority tussle with the District Commissioner,a Briton named Mr J.G Lotain. Ezeagu was immediately arrested and detained in Awka for two months. On his return, Ezeagu refused to perform his monthly ritual of roasting the two yams that had accumulated as a result of his incarceration. Till this day, Uchu's calendar moon (month) sometimes starts in late February as a result of that skip. Charles Nnolim claimed that Ezeulu in Achebe's Arrows of god was Ezeagu and Umuaro and Illu are Umuchu and Uchu, respectively.
He further claimed that Achebe may have failed to reference an earlier work by Simon Nnolim, The History of Umuchu, published in 1953, where the oral story of Ezeagu's incident was first recorded. There was a suggestion, that Simon Nnolim might have given a copy during Achebe's interwiev with him in 1957. Achebe's Arrows of God was published about five years after Nnolim's The History Of Umuchu.
This second part of the claim (which some interpreted as subtle accusation of plagiarism) elicited hot academic dispute as notable researcher, C.L Innes joined issue with Charles Nnolim.
Some scholars however believe that both men might have tapped from the same oral source.
Aguata
Aguata is a Local Government Area in Anambra state in Nigeria with its headquarters in Aguata part of which falls into the city of Ekwulobia while the other part falls within Aguluezechukwu...
local government of Anambra State
Anambra State
Anambra is a state in south-eastern Nigeria. Its name is an anglicized version of the original 'Oma Mbala', the native name of the Anambra River. The Capital and the Seat of Government is Awka. Onitsha and Nnewi are the biggest commercial and industrial cities, respectively. The state's theme is...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. Anambra is the cradle of Igbo people
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
of eastern Nigeria. Umuchu shares boundary in the north with Achina and Enugwu-Umuonyia communities (both in Aguata, Anambra state). Umuchu is bordered in the south by Akokwa town in Imo State
Imo State
Imo State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria and lies to the south of Nigeria with Owerri as its capital and largest city.-History:Imo State came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad, having been...
. In the west, it is bordered by Uga Town (Aguata Anambra) and in the East by Umunze
Umunze
Umunze is an Igbo-speaking town in south eastern Nigeria. It is the headquarters of Orumba South local government area of Anambra State. Its geographic coordinates are 5" 58' 0 North, 7" 13' 0 East....
and Isuokpu/umualaoma communities (both in Orumba Anambra state). Umuchu town as a whole covers roughly thirty square miles. Historically, the town is grouped into three units: Ihite, Amanasaa and Okwu-na-Achalla. Ihite is the head group. Ihite is composed of three villages: Ugwuakwu, Umugama and Ozalla-Akukwa. Ugwuakwu is the head village.
Amanasaa unit is composed of five main villages: Ogu, Osete, Ogwugwu,Amihe and Isi-Ogwugwu Osete. Finally, Okwu-na-Achalla is made up of two villages: Ibughubu and Achalla.
History
The three units that today make up Umuchu were independent communities in the past. But they were forced into an amalgamation to save themselves from brutal invasions by Slave-hunting parties mainly from ArochukwuArochukwu
Arochukwu, sometimes referred to as Arochuku, or Aro-Okigbo, is the third largest city in Abia State in southeastern Nigeria and homeland of the Igbo subgroup, Aro people....
. Small towns were easy prey as they were ambushed at midnight, and carted off as commercial wares. It was therefore pertinent for the communities to raise their numbers at all cost and this led to an amalgamation of these three distinct units to become one town known as Umuchu. Lacking any means of putting this amalgamation treaty in writing, a team of qualified native doctors were assembled to make these treaty binding on the consenting units. Part of their work included the making of an antidote that will ward off violent attacks or wars. This antidote was known as Ichu, literally interpreted as 'to ward off'. This antidote was buried in two places. One was buried in the meeting place of the three units, now known as Nkwo Uchu. This place also hosts the market and Ichu/Uchu Shrine. The second portion of the antidote was buried in Odere stream and automatically the stream became known as Ichu/Uchu lake. The three consenting units voluntary dedicated themselves to this Ichu antidote, which they understood to be a female spirit or goddess and from that day onward became and called themselves, Umuichu. However, long usage have caused the 'i' letter to disappear and the town is now simply known as Umuchu.
Demography
Umuchu town is a rural community with large number of her population living abroad. Umuchu is mostly an agrarian community as a result of her fertile land. It hosts variety of Christian churches including a Catholic procathedral. A government technical college is also situated in the town in addition to various public and private schools scattered in the town. Igbo language is still preferred but a large number of town's people understands English language.The town is mostly on a gentle slope that provides a wonderful scenic landscape. Her highest hill is Ojukwu Ibeazoro Hill while her lowest lands (known locally as Okolokolo) are mostly found in Umugama, Osete and Ibughubu villages. Her largest water supply is the Uchu stream, a tributary to the Imo River
Imo River
The Imo River is located in southeastern Nigeria and flows 150 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. Its estuary is around 40km wide, and the river has an annual discharge of 4km3 with 26,000 hectares of wetland. The Imo's tributary Rivers are the Otamiri and Oramirukwa...
. In addition to other smaller streams, there are various springs (known locally as Ogbanelu or simply Ogbana) in the town. The most respected tree in Umuchu is the Ukwu Achi tree located in Nkwo Uchu and said to be about two century old.
The nearest Airport from Umuchu is Enugu Airport (about 136.6 km). There are also hotels and hospitality services in Umuchu.
Religion
The people of Umuchu are mostly Christians with a minority of traditional believers, who still worship the Ichu/Uchu deity. Religious intolerance and extremism by some Christians has occasionally led to attacks on, and destruction of, holy places of worship belonging to traditional believers.Political Organisation
Umuchu like majority of Igbo people had an egalitarian society that was both patriarchal and gerontocratic in nature. But a trace of hereditary monarchy (the Chikwado/Umezinwa Royal clans) in Ugwuakwu suggests that at a point Umuchu had a precolonial Kingship system.Since late sixties, Umuchu have been led by a elected King in conjunction with the Town Union, also known as Umuchu Improvement Union. The first elected king was His majesty, Igwe Ignatius Ofobuike (Umugama) while the current monarch is Igwe Godson Ezechukwu (Ozara-Akukwa)
Umuchu in Chinua Acebe's "Arrow of God"
In 1977, Charles Nnolim claimed that part of Chinua AchebeChinua Achebe
Albert Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe popularly known as Chinua Achebe is a Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic...
's Arrow of God
Arrow of God
Arrow of God is a 1964 novel by Chinua Achebe. It is Achebe's third novel following Things Fall Apart and No Longer at Ease. These three books are sometimes called The African Trilogy...
was based on an incident in Umuchu in 1913.That year,the chief priest of Uchu and arguably the most important figure in Umuchu,a man named Ezeagu Uchu had a superiority tussle with the District Commissioner,a Briton named Mr J.G Lotain. Ezeagu was immediately arrested and detained in Awka for two months. On his return, Ezeagu refused to perform his monthly ritual of roasting the two yams that had accumulated as a result of his incarceration. Till this day, Uchu's calendar moon (month) sometimes starts in late February as a result of that skip. Charles Nnolim claimed that Ezeulu in Achebe's Arrows of god was Ezeagu and Umuaro and Illu are Umuchu and Uchu, respectively.
He further claimed that Achebe may have failed to reference an earlier work by Simon Nnolim, The History of Umuchu, published in 1953, where the oral story of Ezeagu's incident was first recorded. There was a suggestion, that Simon Nnolim might have given a copy during Achebe's interwiev with him in 1957. Achebe's Arrows of God was published about five years after Nnolim's The History Of Umuchu.
This second part of the claim (which some interpreted as subtle accusation of plagiarism) elicited hot academic dispute as notable researcher, C.L Innes joined issue with Charles Nnolim.
Some scholars however believe that both men might have tapped from the same oral source.