photo : Oni foto
Utagba-Uno is a big village with enough hustle inside the Ndokwa West Local Government Area in Delta State, Nigeria. It is among some of the main towns where Ukwuani is spoken in Anioma. It acts as a center for culture and governmental work in nearby villages. The place is located along the Kwale-Umutu road, which is why it is situated where enough traders and people meet.
How Utagba-Uno Started
Stories And How They Settled
It was said that the people who started Utagba-Uno originated from big Igbo communities (maybe Nri-Akwa)
They settled down in a good land between Ase and River Niger.
They have family connections with the people of Ukwuani, such as Umutu and Abbi.
The name “Utagba-Uno ” means ” Utagba in homeland,” so it is differentiated from places like Utagba-Ogbe.
Colonial Era and After Independence
It was put under British rule by the whites in the early 1900s
It was situated in the Warri province
Joined the Mid-Western Region in(1963-1976)
Later, it entered Bendel State before the Origin of the Delta in 1991.
How They Operate
Traditional Ways
Utagba-Uno has a strong local leadership:
Obi (king), who watches culture
Council of Elders (Ndichie): Family heads and famous titled men.
Age Grade (Otu-Ogbo): Groups in charge of community work.
Modernity
It is one of the headquarters in the Ndokwa West Local Government Area (with Kwale)
It has offices in the Local Government
Send out representatives at the state and local levels.
Their Sources Of Income
Farming is the basic source of income
Food crops: yams, cassava, plantain, maize.
Cash Crops: palm oil, rubber, and cashew.
Fishing: In riverine areas
Buying and Selling
Utagba-Uno Market: A big weekly trading spot,
Many petty trades for food and house equipment,
Banks and POS are partially existing,
Small garri and palm oil businesses,
Most people who have handworking skills like blacksmithing and basket weaving are still seeking government jobs.
Culture and Tradition
Language and Their Personalities
They speak Ukwuani ( a dialect of Igbo) and are strongly connected to the Ndokwa/Ukwuani people.
Festivals and Ceremonies
Iwa Ji (New Yam Festival): A big harvest party
Ogene Dance: Way Back, kinds of music and dance
Marriage: Talks about bride price
Religion: Most people are Christians (Catholics, Anglicans, and Pentecostal churches). Most people still worship their gods, and Muslims are also developing.
Things That are Present and Services
Schools
Many public primary and secondary schools, with vocational service centers, are close to Delta State Polytechnic’s Kwale campus.
Hospitals
General Hospital Utagba-Uno
Private clinics and chemists are present,
The presence of traditional midwives,
Roads and Light
Good roads link Kwale and Umutu together
The steady movement of buses and motorcycles
The light there is preferable as compared to most nearby towns
Activeness of the borehole water project.
Developing Problems
Issues of Development
Roads still need to be fixed
Lack of job employment for youths, making them move to cities
Oil mining damages the land
Cultural problems
Youths fail to learn the old ways.
Land disputes with neighboring communities.
Modernity is disturbing traditions.
What is Liable To Happen In The Future
Chances of growing
Upgrading of farms with better plans
Using culture to bring in tourists
Bringing in more government offices
Helping the young
Teaching computers and other digital skills
Setting up minor business programs
Building of sporting facilities
Utagba-Uno is one of the sharpest villages in Ndokwa, mixing the culture of Ukwuani with modern hustle. Its location and government jobs can make it grow higher, but they need to fix the roads and provide employment for the youth. If they are able to maintain their culture while moving forward, then the future will be great.
Refrences
- Nwauwa, Apollos O. (1995). The Evolution of the Anioma Identity.
- Okafor, F.U. (1981). Igbo Kinship and Social Structure.
- Isichei, Elizabeth (1976). A History of the Igbo People.
- Uchendu, Victor C. (1965). The Igbo of Southeast Nigeria.
- Onwuejeogwu, M.A. (1981). An Igbo Civilization: Nri Kingdom & Hegemony.
- Ekeh, Peter P. (1975). Social and Historical Origins of the Igbo Age Grade System.
- Obi-Ani, N.A. (2009). Anioma Culture and the Challenges of Modernity.
