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The Ngwa people (natively: ''Nde Ṅgwà'' ) are an Igbo group living in the southern part of
Igboland Igbo land ( Standard ) is a cultural and common linguistic region in southeastern Nigeria which is the indigenous homeland of the Igbo people. Geographically, it is divided into two sections, eastern (the larger of the two) and western. Its popu ...
. The Ngwa people are found predominantly in
Abia State Abia is a state in the Southeastern region of Nigeria. The state's capital is Umuahia and its most populous city is Aba. Abia is bordered the west by Imo, east by Cross River, south by Rivers, northwest by Anambra and northeast by Enug ...
with a population of 314,840 in 1963. They cover and are the largest subgroup of
Igbo people The Igbo people ( , ; also spelled Ibo" and historically also ''Iboe'', ''Ebo'', ''Eboe'', / / ''Eboans'', ''Heebo''; natively ) are an ethnic group found in Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea. Their primary origin is fo ...
. It is bounded by the
Imo River The Imo River (Igbo:Imo) is located in southeastern Nigeria and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. In Akwa Ibom State, the river is known as Imoh River, that is, Inyang Imoh, which translates to ''River of Wealth'' ( means ''river'' or ''ocean'', and ...
in the west, and the Anang-Ibibio people in the east. The
Asa Asa may refer to: People and fictional characters * Asa (given name), a given name, including a list of people and fictional characters so named * Asa people, an ethnic group based in Tanzania * Aṣa, Nigerian-French singer, songwriter, and reco ...
and Ndoki people shares boundary in the south. Ngwaland borders Ubakala and Olokoro people in the north and Isuorgu in the northeastern part. Chineke is considered the most powerful god in the pantheon of Ngwa gods. Others include Ohanjoku and Amadioha. In pre-colonial Ngwa, the Okonko society and Ekpe served as law enforcers. Festivals in Ngwaland include Ekpe and Owu masquerade festivals and the Ikoro drama festival. The Ngwa people speak Ngwa dialect which is rich in idioms and proverbs. They are predominantly
Christians A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the world. The words '' Christ'' and ''C ...
, but also practice tradition religion and customs. The Ngwa people are mainly farmers, producing crops such as yam, cassava, cocoyam and
palm oil Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil derived from the mesocarp (reddish pulp) of the fruit of oil palms. The oil is used in food manufacturing, in beauty products, and as biofuel. Palm oil accounted for about 36% of global oils produced from o ...
production. Importation of iron for hoe and machete began around the 16th and 19th century.


History


Origin and migration

The Ngwa people are a part of the Isuama people who lived in the Orlu area. The founders of Ngwaland and other Igbo groups emigrated from
Umunoha Umunoha is a town in southeastern Nigeria near the city of Owerri. It is an Igbo town. Umunoha is south of Eziama Obiato and Afara communities; and is North and Northeast of Ogbaku, Azara Obiato and Ejemekwuru communities; and is north and no ...
through Ama-Igbo and arrived at Ezinihitte at an unknown date due to an increase in population in the Owerri area and due to the need of virgin land for cultivating. Some groups moved northwards into the Umuahia, Etiti and Mbano axis while the founders of Ngwaland and the Ohuhu moved southwards towards the
Imo River The Imo River (Igbo:Imo) is located in southeastern Nigeria and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. In Akwa Ibom State, the river is known as Imoh River, that is, Inyang Imoh, which translates to ''River of Wealth'' ( means ''river'' or ''ocean'', and ...
. On reaching at the west bank of the Imo River, the group became tired, and they decided to eat. Three brothers; Ngwaukwu, Nwoha and Avosi quickly boiled their yam and crossed over the Imo River before their companions; the Imo River grew and held their companions at the bank. The Ngwa people first settled at Okpuala Ngwa where they performed their first ritual. The Ngwa people are said to have displaced the Ibibio and Ibeme people driving them eastward. After settling in Okpuala Ngwa, the founders of Ngwaland created the eight original villages—Ntigha-Okpuala, Eziala-Nsulu, Amaku-Nvosi, Amauha Ovokwu, Umuokwu Mbutu, Orie-Afo Umuoha, Okpu Ngwa Ovunkwu and Okpuala-Ngwa. After the establishment of villages groups by the Ngwa people, they moved down to the eastern part of Ngwaland and further into the northwestern and southern part. Some Ngwa farmers settled in the northwest of the present Ngwa region before the
Atlantic slave trade The Atlantic slave trade or transatlantic slave trade involved the transportation by slave traders of Slavery in Africa, enslaved African people to the Americas. European slave ships regularly used the triangular trade route and its Middle Pass ...
began but the area saw the establishment of more villages and increase in population from the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries. They further migrated into the Ndoki,
Asa Asa may refer to: People and fictional characters * Asa (given name), a given name, including a list of people and fictional characters so named * Asa people, an ethnic group based in Tanzania * Aṣa, Nigerian-French singer, songwriter, and reco ...
and Bonny areas around the 14th century.


Pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial era

The Aro people gained access to Ngwaland through members of the Okonko society with originated from the
Efik The Efik are an ethnic group located primarily in southern Nigeria, and western Cameroon. Within Nigeria, the Efik can be found in the present-day Cross River State and Akwa Ibom state. The Efik speak the Efik language which is a member of the ...
- Ibibio area. Trade routes were established in Bende, Umuahia and Aba. In order to meet the demand for slaves from the
Bight of Biafra The Bight of Biafra, also known as the Bight of Bonny, is a bight off the west- central African coast, in the easternmost part of the Gulf of Guinea. This "bight" has also sometimes been erroneously referred to as the "Bight of Africa" because ...
, Ngwa people condemned by the Long Juju for defaulting the laws of Ngwaland and people kidnapped by the members of the Okonko society in Ngwaland. The Ngwa people made contacts with the
British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
during the period when slave trading was being banned; this saw the establishment of the first consular post at Obegu in 1895. Ngwaland was made a British colony after the Anglo-Aro War in 1901. The garrison and district headquarter at Ndokiland was moved to Aba-Ngwa in 1902 and 1903 respectively. In the 21st century, Ngwaland was divided into eight
local government area A local government area (LGA) is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a federated state, state, province, division (politica ...
s.


Geography

The Ngwa people are found in southern Igbo land and the largest group of Igbo people with a landmass of and an estimated population of 314,840 in 1963. Ngwaland is bounded by the
Imo River The Imo River (Igbo:Imo) is located in southeastern Nigeria and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. In Akwa Ibom State, the river is known as Imoh River, that is, Inyang Imoh, which translates to ''River of Wealth'' ( means ''river'' or ''ocean'', and ...
in the west, and the Anang-Ibibio people in the east. The
Asa Asa may refer to: People and fictional characters * Asa (given name), a given name, including a list of people and fictional characters so named * Asa people, an ethnic group based in Tanzania * Aṣa, Nigerian-French singer, songwriter, and reco ...
and Ndoki people share boundaries in the south. Ngwaland borders Ubakala and Olokoro people in the north and Isuorgu in the northeastern part. Ngwaland are divided into four parts; northern, southern, northwestern and eastern Ngwa. Ngwaland lies in a flat agricultural land with the highest elevation of 100 feet in the basin of the Aza river in the south-east with an annual rainfall of 80 inches to 100 inches and an average annual temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Ngwaland has a humid tropical type of climate with the seasons divided between wet and dry seasons, with the rainy season lasting from March to November. There are three main watercourses in Ngwaland; the
Imo River The Imo River (Igbo:Imo) is located in southeastern Nigeria and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. In Akwa Ibom State, the river is known as Imoh River, that is, Inyang Imoh, which translates to ''River of Wealth'' ( means ''river'' or ''ocean'', and ...
, the Azi River which rises in the
Umuahia Umuahia () is the capital city of Abia State in southeastern Nigeria. Umuahia is located along the rail road that lies between Port Harcourt to its south, and Enugu city to its north. Umuahia has a population of 359,230 according to the 2006 Ni ...
area and the Oji River which rises at Nsirimo in Ubakala. In the 21st century, Ngwa people are found in Nine local government area of Abia State, namely:
Obingwa Obingwa is a Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Mgboko. It has an area of 395 km and a population of 181,439 at the 2006 census. The postal code of the area is 453. Obingwa's Geography The ...
,
Osisioma Ngwa Osisioma Ngwa is a Local Government Area of Abia state of Nigeria. Its headquarters are located in Osisioma town. It has an area of and a population of 219,632 as per 2006 census data of Nigeria. Origin of name The name "Osisi" means ''tree'' ...
, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South, Aba North,
Ugwunagbo Ugwunagbo is a Local Government Area (LGA) in Abia State, located in the southeastern region of Nigeria. It shares boundaries with Aba South, Obingwa, and Ukwa East Local Government Areas, and serves as part of the greater Aba metropolitan are ...
, Aba South,
Ukwa East Ukwa East is a Local Government Area located in Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the town of Akwete. Ukwa East is bordered by Akwa Ibom State and Rivers States. It has an area of 280 km and a population of 58,865 at the 2006 cens ...
and
Ukwa West Ukwa West is a Local Government Areas of Nigeria, Local Government Area in Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the town of Oke Ikpe. It has an area of 271 km2 and a population of 88,555 at the 2006 census. The postal code of the are ...
.


Culture

Precolonial Ngwa land were practitioners of
African religion The beliefs and practices of African people are highly diverse, and include various ethnic religions.Encyclopedia of African Religion (Sage, 2009) Molefi Kete Asante Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptural and are passed down ...
and worship their gods as part of their culture. Yam, maize, cassava, cocoyam, vegetables, oranges, palms, fruits make up majority of the food crops. The men in Ngwaland are the only people allowed to speak at the main village meetings where the affairs of the people are discussed while married women hold village meetings where internal affairs were discussed and these meetings also served as savings clubs. Ngwa people practice polygamy. The Ngwa people believe in procreation and reincarnation and believe that childbirth through marriage is the only means of reincarnation. The Ekpe and Okonko secret societies served as moral enforcement societies in pre-colonial Ngwaland, as decisions reached by the lineage council was enforced by them. The Ekpe and Okonko society were introduced to Ngwaland through Aros and originally from their neighbours in Cross River. The Okonko Society was reserved strictly for men. The young unmarried women are sometimes inducted into ''mgbede'' to undergo a nutritional course aimed at fattening and preparing them for marriage to suitors. Ekpe and Owu masquerades are part of the each of year festivals in Ngwaland. Agwu-Ikoro, a part of the Ikoro farming festival is popular among the Mbutu villages in Ngwaland. The Ekpe dance festival is an annual religious festival among the Ngwa people (except for Obioma Ngwa) with influence in the
Umuahia Umuahia () is the capital city of Abia State in southeastern Nigeria. Umuahia is located along the rail road that lies between Port Harcourt to its south, and Enugu city to its north. Umuahia has a population of 359,230 according to the 2006 Ni ...
and
Owerri Owerri ( , ) is the capital city of Imo State in Nigeria, set in the heart of Igboland. It is also the state's largest city, followed by Orlu, Nigeria, Orlu, Okigwe and Ohaji/Egbema. Owerri consists of three Local Government Areas of Nigeria, Loc ...
axises. Originating from the Aros, it is performed on the Eke market day. In
Obingwa Obingwa is a Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Mgboko. It has an area of 395 km and a population of 181,439 at the 2006 census. The postal code of the area is 453. Obingwa's Geography The ...
, the Ikoro festival—a costume drama where the Ikoro is used for its performance —is celebrated in place of the Ekpe.


Language and literature

Ngwa dialect which is filled with idioms and proverbs is spoken in Ngwaland. It is used as means of communication in trade, folktales, community and village meeting and entertainment with the Standard Igbo being the preferred language for administrative and educational purposes. The Ngwa dialect is classified it as an Igboid dialect under the New Benue Congo subfamily of the Niger Congo phylum and among the south-eastern group of dialects.


Religion

Prior to the arrival of the British, the Ngwa people worshipped the deities that were indigenous to their village which Chineke was and still is considered the most powerful in the pantheon of gods. Other gods include Ohanjoku and
Amadioha Amadioha is the deity or god (Arusi or Agbara) of thunder and lightning of the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. His main function is to do justice and avenge for the oppressed by striking their oppressors and their properties. But due to the ...
. Through the means of colonization, Christian missionaries converted most Ngwa people from their indigenous religious practice to Christianity particularly, the
Seventh-day Adventist The Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) is an Adventist Protestant Christian denomination which is distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the seventh day of the week in the Christian (Gregorian) and the Hebrew calendar, as the Sabbat ...
,
Anglican Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...
and
Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
. In the 21st century, majority of Ngwa people are Christians with very few practicing traditional Ngwa religion with Okpuala Ngwa being the capital of such practices.


Economy

Due to the fertile land, the economy of Ngwa people in pre-colonial era was solely based on farming. Written information about the economy before 1900 is scare. The Ngwa people were majorly involved in international trade. The Ngwa people started importing iron for hoes and machete around the sixteenth and nineteenth century. The nineteenth century saw the involvement of Ngwa people in the production of palm oil and from the 1870s palm kernel for export. The Slave trade was later conducted by members of Okonko society in Ngwaland. With the emergence of the
British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
, the slave trade was slowly replaced by palm oil production and trading. During the
second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, the prices of palm oil and kernel were beginning to recover; which gave rise to the construction of the Eastern Railway which runs through Ngwaland. From 1919 to 1920, there was an expansion of palm oil production and a labour-saving processing technique. The railway created sizeable food markets for the sale of cassava; either as
garri In West Africa, ''garri'' (also known as ''gari'', ''galli'', or ''gali'') is the flour of the fresh starchy cassava root. In the Hausa language, ''garri'' can also refer to the flour of guinea corn, maize, rice, yam, plantain and mille ...
or as akpu. Palm wine was another source of income for the Ngwa people. Since the
Nigerian Civil War The Nigerian Civil War (6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970), also known as the Biafran War, Nigeria-Biafra War, or Biafra War, was fought between Nigeria and the Republic of Biafra, a Secession, secessionist state which had declared its independen ...
, cassava has become a more important cash crop in the Ngwa villages. "Isusu" a form of banking institution aiding in raising money for business or marriage in pre-colonial Ngwa. This form of banking system is still practiced.


References


Notes


Citations


Bibliography

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Further reading

* {{Authority control Igbo clans Igbo subgroups People from Abia State