By Anolu Vincent Senior Correspondent, Owerri
Of the 637 autonomous communities in Imo State, the Ehime Autonomous Community, in the Isiala Mbano Council Area of Okigwe zone, could be said to be spectacular in a number of ways.
HRH Eze Ohanweh, offering prayers for continued peace, unity and progress of his community.
It is a settlement with a peculiar topography that is undulating, but rich in agricultural produce and where rearing of dogs and eating their meat, snakes and owl is forbidden.
Famous for a number of cultures and festivals, the traditional ruler of the community, His Royal Highness, Eze Oliver Ohanweh, the Obi Gburugburu of Ehime, is the only Igbo monarch that has three staff of office.
Origin
Umuehime Okohia was the first town and the head of Osuowere ancient kingdom clan of Isiala Mbano. During the administration of former Governor Achike Udenwa, Osu Owere metamorphosed into seven autonomous communities, with UmuEhime Okohia emerging as Isiama Osuowere and Eze Oliver Ohanweh was staffed as the traditional ruler because he hails from that clan.
Again, during the Ikedi Ohakim regime, with the circumstances that prevailed at that time, which led to the creation of another autonomous community, Isiama was balkanised and UmuEhime remained the head, which is now know as Ehime Autonomous Community, with Eze Ohanweh still remaining as the traditional ruler and also as the head of the Osuowere ancient clan. This was in the year 2011.
The eight autonomous communities that had been created out of Osuowere are still being headed by Eze Ohanweh because of traditions and culture of Igbo land. The cultures and deities from the Osuowere are still under the supremacy of Eze Ohanweh.
Occupation
Trading is the in-thing due to oversight of some of the cultures of the community with little attention to farming, hence farming is at its lowest ebb due to westernisation and civilisation.
Cultures and deity
Because of the overbearing influence of Christianity and western civilisation, some of the rich cultural heritage of the community had been taken away and discarded, but not entirely forgotten.
In the olden days, there was the Ebomiri Osu that was highly revered by the people and serviced during the Orie, Eke, Afor and Nkwo market days and these markets served as traditional calendars for the indigenes of the community.
Festivals still in vogue
The New Yam festival (Iriji) is a very important festival of the people. It usually marks the beginning of the harvesting of farm produce. The major crop is yam and the community takes pride in brandishing three types of yam namely Ji Ocha (white yam) Ji Oyiba and Ji Abali. The Ji Odu today is what travellers from all walks of life, especially those from the Northern parts of the country, came and took to their areas, planted them and are today the major cultivators in the North.
The Ji Ogba specie was similarly taken away by the Yoruba and planted in their areas, while the Idoma in the same vein, arrived the community, took away samples of the Ji Abali and planted same in their areas. This has made them popular in yam production.
The community, which is also blessed with palm tree, is generally acclaimed as the major owners of palm trees in Igbo land. This, the colonial masters took to such places as Malaysia, developed them there and the country eventually emerged as the current number one producer of the commodity in the world.
Cultural/traditional festivals
These are still intact. They include the New Yam festival, age grade and cultural dances. One of the interesting exhibitions of the community is to showcase the biggest yam and cassava grown and harvested in a particular year and also under age grade, cultural approval of nubile daughters of the communities – that is, females, who have attained the age of marriage and who must not be less than 21 years. These girls are rarely given out in marriage without sound and solid education.
The New Yam festival is celebrated from October every year when there is evidence and assurance that the yam is fully grown and mature enough for harvest. During the festival, friends’ relations and in-laws storm the community and are well entertained with cultural dishes and music, including folklores.
While the men appear in their best cultural regalia of white long sleeves, expensive wrappers (George) red caps and black shoes to match, the women dress gorgeously with white blouses, brown cloths and neatly plaited hairs matching this with jewels and laurels.
Dishes
Traditional food is served in place of continental dishes and this gives the typical Igbo taste of delicious menu. Cassava is used to prepare tapioca and fufu, while breadfruit is used to prepare the porridge instead of rice. The yam is pounded and deliciously cooked with native goat (he goat). In the past, the (he goat) was offered to the Ebomiri shrine, which was the deity, but now, the community just takes it and offer prayers because yam is the first Ahiajoku as the first crop. Yam is regarded as the man of every crop because it is the very crop that the community celebrates most and no marriage is consummated in the community without the presentation of tubers of yam. Likewise, no thanksgiving or homage to the traditional ruler of the community is deemed perfect without the presence of tubers of yam.
Cocoyam cultivation and consumption is for the women. In those days, the women had what is called Uri and no woman is allowed to put on trousers during cultural celebrations because wearing of trousers is seen as signs of westernised cultures.
Igbo language and proverbs are the essential ingredients for communication and discussion. During the festival, quarrels or fighting between or among the indigenes are prohibited. It is usually a period of reconciliation and that of Jubilee when the people see each other as God’s own creatures. Kids are well entertained and loved so that they can carry on and sustain the traditions and cultures for which the community is known for. Unadulterated palm wine is served to guests and visitors.
Taboos
Abuse or defilement of minors and marginalisation or maltreatment of widows are taboos. Anybody found guilty of defiling a minor must be striped naked during the market days. The villain is then paraded naked with ashes and palm fronds placed on his neck.
Forbidden items
Consumption of dog meat and rearing of dogs are strictly forbidden. This is because history has it that about a century ago, dogs with rabies infested some of their owners with the disease who died of it. Eating of native cows is also an abomination because the people see them as home pets and they live freely with the community. The flesh of owl, snakes and monkeys are also not consumed by the people. Signs of contravention normally appear on the skins of defaulters and the disease defiles antibiotic solutions. However, remedy comes with the application of either waste from the animals or the use of particular specie of fresh leaves.
Challenges
Gully erosion, which has now divided the community with seven villages already severed, is the people’s main challenge. The erosion measures more than 100 fit deep with about 250 metres in length and is so threatening that every rainy season, the people begin to live in fears, anxiety and apprehension.
According to Eze Ohanwe, the community has lost quite a number of her indigenes as a result of the havoc being caused by erosion that has not only swallowed many residential buildings, schools and churches, but has equally devastated farm lands and economic trees. Ohanwe is worried that if nothing urgent is done about the erosion, the entire community may be wiped out in the next three years and the victims forced to relocate elsewhere.
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