In Ubulu land, a small group of settlers descended from a Benin Prince named Prince Íjee, who became part of the Igbo Ubulu culture following their defeat during the Adesuwa war between the Ubulu-Uku kingdom and the Bini Empire around 1750. As a result of their loss during the war, the Edo army sued for peace. As part of the peace agreement, Prince Ije, one of the great Edo army leaders, married Amisha, the sister of the reigning king of Ubulu-Uku and the one who famously defeated the powerful Benin army.
Ije’s descendants are known today as Ụmụ-Idu. Obi Olise ensured that this group, known as “Ụmụ-Idu,” was integrated into the prestigious “Ọkwa-Iyase” class of war chiefs, greeting them as “Onowu.”Today, the descendants of Ije who are also a very successful group of people, have great personalities like Chief Justice, Professors, DMD of Total, and captains of industry in successful organisations like Banks, Dangote Group, etc and many other prestigious organisations in Nigeria.
These people now bear completely Igbo names and practices Igbo cultures, but that doesn’t mean their migration history should be altered as it is passed down to them orally from generation to generation. The name of their lineage is also “Ụmụ-Idu” but they have adopted all our cultural practices, language, food and totems.Most of these people bear completely Igbo names, practice Igbo culture and fought alongside their Igbo kins during the Ekwumekwu war against the British invaders. Below is a comment from one of them at Enuani Central Forum on Facebook:
References:
- Wright, E. (2017). The Story of Ubulu Kingdom.
- Enuani cultural forum. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/3bLHTRvHRKtC4Tgj/
