Vivian Fox-Strangways: The first District Officer of Okigwe and his wicked exploit.
In 1914 when Nigeria was amalgamated, Fox-Strangways was sent to Okigwe as the first District Officer. He destabilized the traditional leadership of the Uturu people and clans.
How?
In 1914 when Nigeria was amalgamated, Fox-Strangways was sent to Okigwe as the first District Officer. He destabilized the traditional leadership of the Uturu people and clans.
How?
He appointed the Warrant Chief Officers in Uturu, then introduced a native court at Elu- Ọrọ Amaidi and then deployed some British soldiers who move round the villages to intimidate the natives.
Remember, the British Government had forcefully emerged six independent clans; Ọtanchara, Ọtanzu, Isuochi, Nneatọ, Isuikwuatọ and Ụmụchieze, to form the Okigwe District.
The Ọtanchara Communities include; Ihube, Ụbaha, Okigwe, Akụ, Ụmụawaibu, Ibinta, Amụrọ, Okwele,
The Ọtanchara Communities include; Ihube, Ụbaha, Okigwe, Akụ, Ụmụawaibu, Ibinta, Amụrọ, Okwele,
Isiokwe, Ezinnachi, Ụmụduruegbeagụrụ, Ugwakụ and Ụmụnze.
The Ọtanzu clan are; Uturu, Ụmụlọlọ Agbobu, Ogii, Ụmụalumoke, Okwe, Ope and Ụmụna.
The Isuochi clan consists of nine communities which include; Ụmụelem, Achara, Ndiawa, Lomara, Ihie, Amụda, Ụmụakụ,
The Ọtanzu clan are; Uturu, Ụmụlọlọ Agbobu, Ogii, Ụmụalumoke, Okwe, Ope and Ụmụna.
The Isuochi clan consists of nine communities which include; Ụmụelem, Achara, Ndiawa, Lomara, Ihie, Amụda, Ụmụakụ,
Mbala and Ngodo.
The Nneatọ clan is made up of three communities; Eziama, Ụbaha and Akawa.
The Isuikwuatọ Clan consists of three communities namely; Imenyi, Isuamawo and Oguduasaa. While The Ụmụchieze clan comprises the Lọkpaukwu people, Lekwesi, Leru and Lọkpanta.
The Nneatọ clan is made up of three communities; Eziama, Ụbaha and Akawa.
The Isuikwuatọ Clan consists of three communities namely; Imenyi, Isuamawo and Oguduasaa. While The Ụmụchieze clan comprises the Lọkpaukwu people, Lekwesi, Leru and Lọkpanta.
Each of these Clans has a head town otherwise called the ancestal home. For instance, the head town/ancestral home of the Ọtanchara clan is Ihube, the head town/ancestral home of the Ọtanzu clan is Uturu, the Isuochi clan is Ụmụelem, the Nneatọ clan is Eziama
while the head town/ancestral home of Isuikwuatọ and Ụmụchieze is Imenyi and Lọkpaukwu respectively.
Before the advent of the colonists, the member communities in any of the Six clans in old Okigwe district, were independent of one another, and each of the clans,
Before the advent of the colonists, the member communities in any of the Six clans in old Okigwe district, were independent of one another, and each of the clans,
has a common divinity, locally called "Erimafọ" or "Ụmụnne" which looks after its collective warfare and it is the symbol of their unity.
According to oral tradition in Uturu, every year all the Ọtanzu communities and other communities that have relationship with Uturu
According to oral tradition in Uturu, every year all the Ọtanzu communities and other communities that have relationship with Uturu
will gather at Eke-Ukwu, the ancestral home of the Uturu People to eat and drink together with ndị Uturu; to re-affirm the existing relationship between them and Uturu people. This ceremony is locally called "Erimafọ Eke".
As the colonists came and introduced a British Native court in Uturu and police stations, the Uturu people considered it as an abomination for an Uturu person to take his fellow Uturu or a person with whom he shares the same Erimafọto the whiteman's court or police station.
They agreed to banish anyone who disobeyed the community's rules by inviting the whiteman into the community issue(s). They believed that every issue should be brought to the ancestral home (Ekeukwu) for settlement.
#Igbohistory
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