AWKA PEOPLE

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The first settlers in Awka and sub-region migrated originally from Avomimi village in Enugwu-ukwu from about AD 900. They associated their origins and mythology with the Nri people who established Nri Kingdom and hegemony in pre-colonial times. History had it that Awka was the centre of the Nri Kingdom. Other surrounding towns namely, Agulu, Agukwu- Nri, Enugwu-Ukwu, Enugwu-Agidi and Nawfia call themselves Umu-Nri. Adazi and Mbaukwu also claim Nri lineage (Jeffreys 1956 pp 119-131).

Awka was believed to occupy the site between the present village of Amudo and Ifite, a favourable flat fertile agricultural land.

The Nri developed their divine kingship and established a kingdom and hegemony, not by conquest,
but by control of the ritual life of the people, control of Ozo and Eze titles, control of yam cult, and so on. The hegemony embraced much of Igboland east and west of the River Niger. At that time, Awka people, especially those from Agulu Quarter, Umuzuocha and Umunagu wards were broadening their economic base by engaging in various kinds of craft activities particularly, black smithing, wood carving, ivory carving, and art work; and others engaged in other non- agricultural activities like herbal healing and trade. The blacksmith developed the apprenticeship system where they groomed the younger ones in their trade purposely to ensure succession.

Several smiths traveled out or even migrated to other settlements in order to get a wider range of clientele and increase their sales. With time, Awka smiths became widely renowned. They made numerous implements such as Otonsi (staff of peace), Oji (staff of mystical power), Ngwuagiliga (staff of ozo men), and metal bells; musical instruments like iron gongs and also, Alo (the big ogene); and war implements namely spear, dagger, and later, Dane guns.

The people of Umudioka and Ezioka wards specialized in carving of wood, and ivory and arts designs. The wood carvers among them produced elegantly carved tools, door shutters and door panels, chairs, vessels for presentation of kola nuts, and idols (Okpesi). The ivory carvers produced elegant designs on “odu okike” (ivory trumpet) for ozo titled men and other items as part of the paraphernalia for titled men.

The artists among them produced various elaborate designs made on pots and wooden doors and engaged in paint works on walls of houses and compound. They also made the special “itchi” marks on faces of people intending to take titles.

The people of Amikwo, Umuike, and Umuoruka wards also practice herbal medicine, healing the sick and traded in ritual objects. They traveled widely advertising and selling their goods which included some of the products of the craftsmen. They sometimes acted as agents of Eze Nri, which conferred on them immunity from molestation as they went from place to place. Some of the Amikwos established Agbala oracle.

A number of Aro migrants settled with the Amikwos and helped them run the Agbala oracle in the fashion of the long Juju of Arochukwu. The oracle soon became famous in the areas around and it fostered slave trading activities. Some Awka people became long distance traders, trading in various goods including slaves, ritual objects, and products of craftsmen. Their trading activity was promoted by Awka which was the Aro trade route to the Niger and west of the Niger. With the increasing number of these non-agricultural specialists, Awka gradually developed into a pre-industrial urban centre both by natural increase and by immigration (there was of course some outmigration of some of the craftsmen, even if it was temporary migration). By 1850, the population of Awka was estimated at 18,000. This compared very favourably with the population of some other pre-industrial urban centres in the area that came to be known as Nigeria; for about the same year the population of Benin was established at 15,000 by Adams, Katsina at 8,000 in 1855 by Barth, Lagos 20,000 in 1856 by Brown, Onitsha, 15,000 in 1850 by Burdo, and Ondo 15,000 in 1883 by Chausse. Before the creation of Anambra State in August 1991 with Awka as its Capital, the town had played different roles as administrative/zonal headquarters to different Governments. In these roles the city had remained
more rural than urban in scope and essence. This had to change as soon as it became a State Capital.
The influx of population made up mainly of returnee civil servants from Enugu, employees of federal ministries and parastatals, student population of Nnamdi Azikiwe University and others, brought tremendous pressures on existing infrastructure and services.
(The picture above is Amikwo Development Union-Lagos)
culled from Awka Master Plan-UNHABITAT