Draft:Ihechiowa

Ihechiowa is an autonomous Igbo speaking community in Arochukwu Local Government Area, Abia State. It is a community of people with common history and ancestor. Ihechiowa consists of seventeen villages, each with its village head (the Eze Ogo).

History

Ihechiowa is among the Igbo population that may have, therefore, been part of waves of migration across the Niger and back, these include Ohafia, Abam, Ututu and so on.

It is an ancient town which migrated from Agbor in the present day Delta state according to majority of the people there. It is traditionally believed to have dated pre-historically to 1300B.C.E.

They sojourned at various times, in places like Uturu, Ibeku, and Ihenta (now in Ohafia). They finaly settled down in their present location. Although no archaeological research work was undertaken to validate the people’s traditions of origin, migration, and settlement; nonetheless Oral evidence supports the assertion that the ancestors of Ihechiowa, together with those of Abam, Edda, Ohafia, and Ututu share cultural and linguistic relationships.

These other clans along with the Nkporo, Afikpo and Amasiri are classified as the Cross River Igbo. . They are also matrilineal unlike other Igbo communities which are patrilineal. That is to say, that descent in these communities is traced through female ancestors, though inheritance is both patrimonial and matrilineal

The geographical area now occupied was possible through ancient wars, land acquisition through exchanges, buying of landed properties, treaties, and adventurous activities such as path findings and wars.

The name ‘‘Ihe’’ is seen in various localities such as Ihe-nta in Ohafia, Ihe-osu in Ututu, Ihe-ala or ihiala in Anambra, Ihe-ngwa in Ngwa and many more and its believed that Chiowa resided at Ibeku before their final sojourn in their inherent territories today

Chiowa or Ihechiowa name which according to oral tradition emanated as an answer to the Whites(colonial ruler of occupation)  who questioned Chiowa  about  the people and the response was ‘‘Ihe Chiowa’’ meaning Chiowas’ properties other sources says it means ‘‘Ihe chi owa (Uwa)’’ light that hold the world. Nevertheless; Ihechiowa had two sons namely Ikwun and Ele, which later was famously known as Eleoha which comprises of Diogu and Obaa, his sons.

Geography

Ihechiowa is one of the seven districts in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State, the other districts are Arochukwu, Amaeke Abam, Isu, Ohafor, Ovukwu and Ututu

Ihechiowa is made of two wards: Ikwun and Eloha and has seventeen (17) communities listed in alphabetical order

1. Agbor (the traditional headquarters),
2. Achara (Echara),
3. Amafia
4. Amaetiti
5. Amamiri
6. Atan
7. Ebom Ofia
8. Ebuoru
9. Ndi okpo
10. Nkporo
11. Obinto
12. Obichia
13. Okpo
14. Uburu
15. Umuchiakuma
16. Umuye
17. Umuzomgbo

Ihechiowa shares borders on the north with Ohafia, on the northwest with Abam, on the east with Ukwa Ibom or Ukwa Mbiabong (Okwa Nkasi), in Cross River State, on the south with Ututu, and on the west with Makor (Obotme), in Akwa Ibom state. The clan lies within longitudes 7⁰, 4⁰, and 8⁰ East, and latitude 5⁰, 3⁰ North. A conspicuous physical feature here is the range which extends from Udi in Enugu State through Okigwe, Ohafia, Ihechiowa, and Ututu, up to the Oban Hill in Cross River State and thence to the Cameroun mountains. This ridge runs across Ihechiowa territory from north to south, and divides the clan into two. But it makes no difference because the people are historically and culturally homogenous. Two rivers form the natural boundaries of Ihechiowa. One is the Uduma which forms the northwestern boundary of Ihechiowa and Abam. The other is the Iyi Ocha which separates Ihechiowa from Arochukwu in the southwest.