Community Forum

I will mention three:

1. 1789 - A book by Olaudah Equiano. He was an Igbo boy born in Essaka in 1745. He was kidnapped and later wrote his story in London in 1789. In chapter one he described Igbo life, our food, our blue cloth, and how we pour libation before eating.

1. 1906 - Report on Ezza District by H M Douglas. He was a British officer who visited Abakaliki. He wrote that Ezza were very industrious, they made iron at Ogbo and controlled salt at Okposi. He said headquarters was Onueke.
2. 1921 - Among the Ibos of Nigeria by Rev Basden. He lived in Onitsha for 35 years and wrote about Ozo title, marriage, masquerade and new yam festival.

All these books are now in public domain and free to read if you search the titles on google.

I am from Omuagu in Ezza. My reason for posting is that I believe our elders in Onueke still know more than what is in these books.

Does anyone have old family story about Ezza before 1900?

Thanks.

Yorubas of Oyo, Kwara, some part of Osun had long term relationship with Baruba and Tapa (nupe) people, this influenced how Yoruba is spoken among them.

Also, some Awori people in Lagos have their tongue influenced by the Egun and Ewe people, this also impacted their mode of speaking Yorubas.

The set of Yoruba who maintained their identity to some extent as they left Ife are:

Ife itself

Ijesha

Ekiti

And some parts of Awori are the only Yoruba groups who didn't mix much with external influence

1. Archival Evidence:

1905 - Colonial map of the area records IDEMBIA. Onueke is absent.

1906 - Colonial Report records Okpoku shrine in Idembia with Ovu boxes containing preserved ancestors.

1976 - Onueke designated as LGA HQ.

1. Genetic Evidence:

Haplogroup E1b1a-M2 found in Idembia lineage shows ancient ancestry. Matches with 3rd cousins in the Americas traceable to trans-Atlantic period 300 years ago. A 1976 market cannot have trans-Atlantic genetic matches. Only a pre-colonial settlement can.

1. Summary:

Idembia: Ancient mother settlement. Onueke: Later market settlement.

The archival and genetic timeline confirms Idembia predates Onueke.

Documents referenced are preserved for National Archives Enugu.

We Move. Igbo Bu Ofu And Nobody Will Divide Us Again!

Yariba And Ile Ibinu In Tears 😭!! Finally, We Told You All That Truth Backed Up With Facts And Evidence Will Surely Win. Dein Of Will Shock Them Very Soon When He Will Publicly Announce His Igboness. We Move. Igbo Bu Ofu And Nobody Will Divide Us Again! pic.twitter.com/16Z1lcauiY

— Deputy Jesus (@DeputyJesus6) September 20, 2026

[3] NYT March 1 1979 - "Ancient Nubian Artifacts Yield Evidence of Earliest Monarchy" - Nubian black kings 3300 BC before Egyptian kings. Many chiefdoms united under one ruler - same as Idembia Ovu.

[4] Scythian Priestess Queen 500 BC - woman king in red Ododo with antler staff and infinity belt. Same dress as Ezza. Proves women were keepers of HQ before pale men arrived.

Conclusion: Natural salt (Idembia/Cherchen/Nubia) beats chemical (Egypt). Inside (Idembia) is HQ, not market (Onueke 6.15N 7.98E is gate to Idu salt valley).

Sources: Xinjiang Museum, Cairo passport F0000000, NYT 1979 A16, Altai burial, ADM 53/39021.

Ezza Inside, Unknown Outside.