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!

Ogidi Town Overview

Ogidi is an Igbo community in Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State. It shares borders with towns such as Nkpor, Ogbunike, Uke, Umunnachi, Umuoji, Abatete, Eziowelle and Umudioka.

Main Villages in Ogidi

Ogidi is divided into four quarters and twenty major villages:

Akanano Quarter: Ire, Eziogidi, Abo and Umuru.
Uru Quarter: Ntukwulu, Ajilija-Iyienu, Adazi, Uruezealo, Uruoji, Umudoma, Ogwugwuagu, Umuanugwo.
Ezinkwo Quarter: Ogidi Anietiti, Ogidi Aniukwu, Ezikwelle Nkwelle Ogidi, Uruowelle Nkwelle Ogidi.
Ikenga Quarter: Obodokwe, Anugwo, Nanri, Odidi.

Major Deities

Aro Uruezealor Ogidi
Udo Ogidi
Idemmili Ogidi
Ogwugwu Ogidi
Erulu
Omalacha
Mkpukpa
Isiogwu

Rivers and Streams

Mmili Ódōdó
Mmili Nwangene

Masquerades

Ijele
Agumuo
Izaga
Agaba
Uraga/Ulaga

Main Market Day

The main market day in Ogidi is Eke. The popular market called Eke-Nweje Ogidi is busy with trading activities on this day.

Major Festivals

Ufejioku Festival: This is the first festival to be observed in a new year in Ogidi. It is usually held in the month of January. It is a festival held to celebrate the yam and cocoyam crops (Ji na Ede) in Ogidi. It is held on Oye/Orie market day in January and on a Friday. It is a one day celebration that everyone in the community participates in. Masquerade displays are common throughout the day and night of the festival.
Mgbagboho Festival: This is the second festival to be observed in a new year in Ogidi. It is a ceremony for young ladies in the community. Masquerades of various types perform at this festival. The Mgbagboho festival lasts for two days in June annually.
Ofala and Umatu Festivals: These are festivals linked to and organized by the Igwe of Ogidi. The Igwe of Ogidi is expected to select dates to perform these two festivals yearly. Igweship in Ogidi is an elective post for all qualified sons of Ogidi.
Nwafo Festival: This is a prestigious festival in Ogidi. It is a festival to celebrate the birth of Ogidi and also to celebrate the young men of Ogidi. The festival lasts for four days. It begins on Afo market day towards the end of July and ends on Orie/Oye market day.
Afanagwu Festival: This is a festival celebrated by Agwu initiates in Ogidi. What qualifies an Ogidi person to celebrate this is the completion of the Agwu ritual called “Ilu Agwu”. The Agwu initiate is to appease their Agwu with ritual offerings during this period. The festival lasts for one day.
Alonchi Festival: This is a festival dedicated to celebrating the older married women in Ogidi. The mothers receive gifts specifically from their sons and sons-in-law. The woman being celebrated is expected to sacrifice an animal to her Chi at her Okwu Chi( Chi altar) in the compound. The small masquerades of Ogidi perform during this festival.
Ilulu Aroji Festival: In this festival, the Aro deity of Ogidi is ritually given the new yam of the season and a chicken. The Ezearo (priest of Aro) is the only one permitted to eat any offerings given to Aro during this festival. The festival lasts for one day and is observed one week before the Ememu Aro festival.
Ememu Aro Festival: This festival occurs in August annually. It is the celebration of the most revered deity in Ogidi called Aro. The celebration starts on Eke market day in August and lasts for two days. Animal offerings are made to the deity Aro on this day, the people of Ogidi come with their different gift items and prayer requests which are given to the Ezearo (priest of Aro) to intercede to Aro on the people’s behalf. The sacrificed animal ritual offerings are then eaten by all who partake in the festival. The most revered masquerades in Ogidi make appearances during this festival.
Aka Otite: This is the festival that precedes the New Yam Festival (Awanji) in Ogidi. It lasts for one day. Yam is roasted and eaten with red oil, pepper, salt and Ukpaka (oil bean). This festival is a warmup for the official New Yam Festival (Awanji) in Ogidi.
Awanji Festival: This is the New Yam Festival for Ogidi people. It is celebrated in the month of September and lasts for two days.
Okika Izu: This is the last festival in the Ogidi calendar year. This is to announce the coming to an end of all festivals in Ogidi for that year. It is celebrated in the month of November annually.

Communal Taboos

Murder
Killing of Eke (python). It is totem animal of the river goddess, Idemmili.
Incest

Note: In Ogidi, there are two types of taboos (Alu). The first is simply called Alu, while the second and more serious type is called Otonoo. Otonoo is considered a graver offense and requires more items for its cleansing ritual. For example, a man sleeping with a widow who is still in her official mourning period is regarded as Otonoo.

Founder and History

According to oral history, Ogidi was the grandson of Ezechuamagha, also known as Ebubedike. Ogidi’s father was Inwelle and his mother was Ebenebe. Ezechuamagha was a descendant of Nri Ifikuanim, the founder of Nri town. Because of this, Ogidi is one of the many Igbo towns that trace their origin directly to the Nri Hegemony. Ezechuamagha was also believed to be the brother of the fathers of the founders of Uke and Nnobi towns. The name Ogidi means “a strong pillar.” It refers to the great difficulty his parents faced before they were finally able to have Ogidi, their only child.

Major Occupations

Subsistent Farming
Hunting
Civil Service
Trading
Academia

Local Government Area

Ogidi is part of Idemili 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 Ogidi that isn’t covered here? Let us know below. Daalu!

Sources:

Chukwugozie Remigius Obi
Elders of Ogidi.

Research Credit:

Chinualumogu

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Everything You Need to Know About Ogidi!