Everything You Need to Know About Ihiala!
Our goal with this series is to help Igbo descents worldwide reconnect with their roots and gain a clearer understanding of who they are.
Do you know the name of your town and village? What kindred your family belongs to, both maternally and paternally? How did your surname come to be, and what stories shape your cultural identity?
We hope this series inspires you to explore, document, and preserve your history for generations to come. Enjoy!
Ihiala Town Overview
Ihiala is an Igbo town located in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State. It shares borders with Okija, Uli, and Ubuluisiuzor, and is separated from towns in Ogbaru by the Urasi River. It is also bordered by Egbuoma, a community in Imo State.
Main Villages in Ihiala
Umudara
Umuduru-Oru
Umuezeawara
Umudike/Umuedike
Amaduru
Uzoakwa
Akwa
Amamu
Ubahuekwem
Umueze
Ogboro
Major Deities
Urasi
Atammiri
Ogwugwu Akpu
Akazi
Ogwugwu Ajo-ohia
Akpunama
Nduruohia
Aja-Ana Umudara
Rivers and Streams
Mmili Okpu
Mmiri Akazi
Mmiri Ogboro Isi-Ana
Atammiri
Mmiri Urasi
Mmiri Onyekperechi
Mmiri Agbobu
Masquerades
Anufude
Ohigbo Azu
Efesa
Ikpo
Egbe-aka
Ochokokwam
Omesi-igbudu
Nduduebie
Eleke
Ozaraigwe
Main Market Day
The primary market day in Ihiala is Nkwo, hosted at the Nkwo-Ogwe market. Specific items such as dogs, palm nuts, and ji ona (a type of yam/potato) cannot be sold at Nkwo-Ogwe on Nkwo days, and burial ceremonies are strictly forbidden on this day. A smaller market, Afo-Igwe, operates every Afo market day.
Major Festivals
Alo Mmuo/Erim-Ji Festival: This is the annual New Yam Festival in Ihiala, celebrated every September. According to tradition, the Oluoha (the Eze of Ihiala) must ceremonially eat the new yam first before anyone else in the town can eat it.
Agwu-Nsi Festival: This is celebrated by Agwu initiates in Ihiala a few weeks after the New Yam Festival.
Ihiala Day: This is a festival celebrated every two to three years. It holds when the Oluoha of Ihiala declares.
Communal Taboos
Murder
Incest
Stealing yams or cocoyams
Killing of Eke (python)
Killing of Ewi (grass-cutter) is forbidden in certain parts of Ihiala
Founder and History
According to oral history, most of Ihiala’s population descends from Achala, an early migrant from Ogidi, though some indigenous people already lived on the land. Achala is said to have had four sons (Ihembosi, Okija, Ihiala and Uli) who expanded the settlements of Achala Ogidi.
Major Occupations
Farming.
Local Government Area
Ihiala is part of Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria.
Did we miss any key details or get something mixed up?
Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
What else do you know about Ihiala that isn’t covered here? Let us know below. Daalu!
Sources:
James M. Obodozie
Research Credit:
Chinualumogu
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