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Tag: Onitsha history

Unraveling the Origins of Idu: A Fresh Look at Ado Na Idu

A thriving settlement along the Lower Niger, known as Idu or Ado Na Idu, bustling with life until an invasion scatters its people, sparking migrations that would shape communities like Onitsha. Recent discussions, paired with historical maps and anthropological evidence, are challenging long-held narratives about Idu’s origins, suggesting it was an independent Igbo settlement—not a…

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Omu Nwagboka: The Last Female Leader of Onicha and Her Legacy in Women’s Authority

Unidentified women photographed by Henry Crosse with the Royal Niger Company, c. 1886–1895. Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge. It is plausible to identify the woman on the left as Omu Nwagboka, the last Omu of Onicha (Onitsha). Omu Nwagboka Omu Nwagboka was a prominent and wealthy trader, appointed as Omu in 1884 by Obi Anazonwu, the…

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Obi Samuel Okosi I: The First Christian Obi of Onitsha and His Journey to Leadership

Obi Samuel Okosi I, widely known as Obi Onitsha ‘Sammy’ Okosi I, holds a unique place in the history of Onitsha as its first Christian monarch. His ascension to the throne in 1899 marked a significant turning point in the interplay between indigenous traditions, colonial influence, and religious transformation in southeastern Nigeria. Emerging as Obi…

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Ezechima: Was He Really a Benin Man?

People of Onicha (Onitsha) photographed by Robert Mcwhirter, 1905-11. The historical figure of Ezechima, often referenced as the progenitor of the Anioma Igbo-speaking communities, has sparked widespread debate concerning his origins. While some accounts suggest that Ezechima was a Benin man who migrated eastward, others argue that he was fundamentally Igbo, with his migration being a…

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