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| Family History |
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Our ancestor was called IGWEBUIKE AJIE. The short form of his name was IGWE. He was nicknamed NWATUMADE (literally saying, he was blessed, pleasantly surprised by children; they came by surprise) He was a Red Cap Chief - Chief Ajie of the Obi of Onitsha. He was indeed a High Chief, being the second in rank after the ONOWU, who is described as the Prime Minister to the Obi of Onitsha.
There was a record that on one occasion when the people chose a new Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Ajie presided over the election and announced the decision of the majority opinion. (Egbuniwe, “The Big Tree” p117-118)
Igwe Ajie had several male children. Aghadiuno, ONYECHI and Ndiwe were born by Onowu Agbani, eldest daughter of Obi Udogwu of Ogbeoza village. His other wives gave him the other male children namely Onwuzulike, Ogbogu, Obunse and Omenye.
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| IGWEBUIKE (Nwatumade) AJIE of Onitsha-Ado had the following children: |
- Onwuzulike
- Adibuah
- Ogbogu (Ozo title OGBUAKU)
- Aghaduino (Red Cap chief Ozi)
- Onyechi (Ozo title KPAJIE)
- Ndiwe (Ozo title Akukalia)
- Obunse (Ozo title Akukalia)
- Arinze
- Obidigbo
- Ilukwe
- Omenye (Red Cap Chief Oziziani)
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Kpajie Edekobi Onyechi (5th Child of the great IGWEBUIKE (Nwatumade) Ajie of Onitsha) had children as follows: |
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EDEKOBI ONYECHI a.k.a Onyekwulu Ofu Chie was the first child of KPAJIE ONYECHI. Kpajie Onyechi unfortunately died when his father Igwe Ajie was still alive. His Ozo title was AKUNNE. His younger ones were VICTOR ONOCHIE (Ozo title AKUNNE), CHIEBONAM AGNES (Otu Odu title NNABUENYI) who married Akunwata Obiora of Umudei village, and ODIACHI who married Ogbukasia of Odojele village. |
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| Akunne Edekobi Onyechi’s
children are as follows: |
- Kpajie Mbanefo Jacob
- Ejoh Francis
- Nwanyimbele (married an Atani man)
- Ikwunne ( married two women from Abagana)
- Mgbo ( married Okwundu of Umunya)
- Afulenu Angelina (married IFEONU of Awkuzu)
- Megidem John
- Edozie Pius
- Obianuju Antonia Rebecca (married Nwozala Ifejika of Obikporo village)
- Chude Christopher
- Nnaemeka Paul Nso
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The strongman Akunne Edekobi Onyechi was a great cultural activist. He was probably born in 1882 and died on 01-10-1940. He was a leader among men and had notable friends and relatives like Akunwata Tagbo Arimah of Umudei also known as Tagbo, Nwannaga (- elegant Tagbo) Akukalia Ilora of Nteje town who visited him often in Onitsha. Akunne Edekobi was prominent in the presentation of the Agaba masquerade, a fearsome and terrifying presence, whose identity was the demonstration of physical energy and stamina. It was the spirit of the man challenging opposition along the path on which Agaba displayed its mournful strategies. Agaba had iron skins, bare teeth and two horns standing on the head. The countenance was a deadly menace. The right hand held a sharp cutlass with which it sought to destroy opposition. The picture is one of fear and excitement as viewers at the funeral or festival ran helter skelter for their lives. No wonder the sobriquet for the amazing figure was “onyekwulu ofu chie” (stay where you are when I approach and you will see your god). He was associated with such unforgettable social and cultural activity.
Akunne Edekobi Onyechi's mother was Agbovu Odigwe, the daughter of Arimah of Umudei village, onitsha. He was an only son of the mother and thus saw the reason for company. He married a number of wives. He was a popular and successful farmer who hired many farm workers at home in the village and out there across the stream. He got the OZO title from dint of hardwork. |
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