Everything You Need to Know About Umudioka!
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!
Umudioka Town Overview
Umudioka is an Igbo town located in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State. It shares borders with Ogidi, Ogbunike, Umunya, Umunnachi and Ifitedunu.
Main Villages in Umudioka
Umudioka is made up of two major quarters and ten villages in total.
Olioba Quarter:
Akpom
Umuezechua
Umuajana
Umuchigbo
Adagbe Quarter:
Uruagu
Umuezekwo
Uruowelle
Umueze
Ugwu
Okpuru
Major Deities
Mkpukpa
Neze
Nkisi
Omeogwalu
Rivers and Streams
Mmili Mkpukpa (not to be visited or fetched from on Eke market day)
Mmili Omeogwalu
Mmili Nkisi
Masquerades
Mmonwu Udo
Akataka
Agaba
Ulaga
Mmonwu Mgbada
Main Market Day
The main market day in Umudioka is Afo. The biggest market in the town, called Afo-Igwe, becomes very busy with buying and selling every Afo day. Burial ceremonies are not allowed on Afo market day. There is also another popular market in the town known as Oye-Ogbaegbe.
Major Festivals
Awanji Umudioka: This is the New Yam Festival in Umudioka. It is held every year in September.
Mkpukpa Festival: This festival honors Mkpukpa, the most revered deity of Umudioka. It is usually celebrated in July after the farming season. It is a time of rest for the people of Umudioka.
Mmemme Agwu Festival: This festival is celebrated by Agwu initiates in Umudioka. It is usually held two weeks before the New Yam Festival (Awanji).
Neze Festival: Neze is a deity in Umudioka responsible for the protection and peace of the people. During this festival, the people thank Neze for past protection and pray for continued peace and safety.
Ogbaegbe Festival: This is a spiritual ceremony where the people of Umudioka make declarations and take oaths to protect the land from evildoers.
Communal Taboos
Destroying another person’s food crops. Anyone who does this is said to have committed an act called “Gbuo Odudu” and must perform the ritual known as Ikpu Alu.
Murder
Climbing of palm trees (Nkwu) or kolanut trees
Killing of Eke (python) or green snakes. The green snakes are called Agwo Mkpukpa (Mkpukpa’s snake) because they are the totem animal of the revered deity, Mkpukpa.
Adultery
Incest
Stealing of yams or corn from the farm.
Founder and History
The people of Umudioka are descendants of a man called Dunukofia. Dunukofia had many sons from his wives, and these sons later founded their own towns. Dioka, the founding father of Umudioka, was one of his youngest sons. Dioka was gifted in craftsmanship, and his descendants inherited this skill. The name Umudioka means “the children of Dioka.” Today, many Umudioka communities exist in different parts of Igboland. All of them are said to have originated from Umudioka Town.
Major Occupations
Farming
Craftsmanship (especially basket weaving and Ichi scarification)
Traditional healing
Local Government Area
Umudioka is part of Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria.
Did we miss any key details or get something mixed up?
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What else do you know about Umudioka that isn’t covered here? Let us know below. Daalu!
Source:
Chief Augustine Mbanefo (Ezennaya)
Research Credit:
Chinualumogu
