Obomkpa and It’s Igbo Heritage

Obomkpa, an Igbo settlement in Anioma that is deeply rooted in the traditions and cultural practices of Igbo.

The written record

Historical context

Anagba or Kanagbana-Ogidi was the name of Obamkpa’s founding father, the oral traditions of Obamkpa by Kunirum Osia, accounts that Kanagbana was given birth to while his mother was escaping to Ogidi as a result of insurgency which gave reasons for his name.

Kanagbana was born into a family filled with diviner, however he became an exceptional herbalist and a spiritual guardian.

His skills in divinity was so profound that the Oba of Benin made him a consultant but due to hatred from other medicine men as a result of jealousy, for this reason he left Benin eventually.

When the people of Ezechima and other Igbo groups residing in old Benin kingdom decided to continue their migration as a result of hostility and subjugation from the Oba, Kanagbana joined them and decided to settle in the place that would be called Obomkpa.

The decision to settle in Obomkpa came as a result of Kanagbana’s wife giving birth unexpectedly whilst they were still trying to gather materials to construct a hut.

Kanagbana knew that the circumstances surrounding the birth of his child was a sign and he named the settlement “Obomkpa” which translates to a child born when we were collecting reeds.

Kunirum Osia, in his works affirmed that the origin of Obamkpa is unarguably Igbo and also layed emphasis on Ezechima people and Kanagbana being Igbo language speakers despite connecting with the old Benin kingdom temporarily, their lineage traces spans accros Igbo communities like Ogidi.

Today, Obomkpa stands as one the significant Igbo settlements that has gained fame for its prownes in traditional medicines.

Ohadike, D. C. (1994). Anioma: A social history of the western Igbo people