The Rich History and Cultural Heritage of Ogugu Community

The original and actual name of the community was Ogwuwgu. Ogugu as it is currently called was a dialectical difference between the native dialect and that of the white men whose own dialect dominated ours and hence, Ogugu.

The name was derived by the founder based on the physical feature of the area. The community is situated in a fertile valley (ogwugwulu) surrounded by hills which gave it a natural protection. The valley (Ogwugwulu) where the community is situated gave rise to the name, Ogwugwu, now Ogugu.

By geographical location, Ogugu is bounded on the north by owelli town, on the south by the rolling low land of Nenwe, on the east by Ọgbaku hills and on the west by Ugbo/Mmaku hills all in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The legendary story of the community’s ancestral lineage of Ntu-egbenese clan as recorded by Rev FR SN Onuigbo and acknowledged by members of the clan had it that, Ajakuba, an adventurous hunter from Akeze in the present Ivo local Government Area of Ebonyi state arrive at the valley (ogwugwu) and located a convenient cave known as Isiogba cave, located at the present day Ezioha village in Ogugu and settled at “Nkolo Isiogba”.

Having settled and established at the cave, with his wife, Ajakuba got a son he named “Ajakonwe” who in turn, married and got his own son named Ubo-Ogeneguegwu. Ubo ogeneguegwu also got married and begot Anumkpume, who thereafter, married and begot Shikeoke-Ntegbe.

Shikeoke-Ntegbe was the father of Ntegbenese. He was said to have married to Uzuma, a woman from Mgbowo and the couple had six children, five sons and a daughter-Mgbọkwọ, who was said to have got married to Ubatoke, a man from Ituku. The five sons of Shikeoke-Ntegbe in order of seniority were – Shikeoke – Anyichi, Ebe, Shikeaguma, Oshianeke, and osagwede. They all lived at Isiogba cave and it’s environs. Just like their father and other descendants of Ejakuba, they were all wise, adventurous, and highly skilled in hunting, tapping of palm wine, farming, and trading.

However, the 2nd son (Ebe) proficient in wine tapping migrated birthed the current day owelli, the third son (Shikeaguma) proficient in hunting, migrated and birthed Ihe, the fourth son – Oshianeke, proficient in farming, migrated and birthed Agbogugu, the fifth son – Osagwede, proficient in trading, migrated to present-day Akegbe ugwu, settled and became the ancestral father of the present-day, Okunano (Akagbe Ogwugwueze). The first son, Shikeanu – Anyichi, proficient in tapping wine, stayed back in their father’s land at Isiogba cave and birthed the present day Ogugu which however, became the ancestral home as well as the cultural head of Ntegbe Clan.

There are some significant present-day events that were told by oral history that proved Ogugu the head of Ntegbenese clan such as the Nkolo Isiogba cave Mkpumenese Ntegbe, Anụ-Ntegbenese, Ọhọ Ntegbenese all situated in Ogugu and handled by various communities.

Shikeanu – Anyichi who birthed Ogugu, had three sons namely, Ezioha, Amanokee, and Ibite Oli.

According to verifiable oral Ogugu was attacked by Eda warriors which made some of its descendants to run for safety and found the present day: Nara Unateze, Nomeh – Unateze, Amagunze and so on.

The Economic Crop Ogugu includes: Yama, cocoyam, cassava, okro, palm oil amongst others.

The community is made up of farm settlements such as: Ebo, Ululo, And Upata.

The traditional market is Nkwo, which happens every 4 days and offers people across the world the opportunity of coming to buy natural farm products from the village.

Religiously, Ogugu has Ancient deities that bind them such as; Anụ ogwugwu deity, Hojoku, Eja Ọmụmụ, Etubanaile, etc.

The community also has its unique cultural music such as Ụbọ, ikpirikpo, igede, ịkpa, Nkwa (Okenkwe), Opueke, Ikiti Okom,.

According to intelligent reports by Beaumound (1933) the British colonial masters visited Awgu area first in 1909 and toured round communities with Ogugu inclusive before they established Awgu division in 1919.

Some of the notable sons and daughters of Ogugu community includes: Late Chief John chukwura, the first standard six certificate holder and first civil servant, Late ìgwè GU Ochi, teacher grade 2 holder and first higher elementary teacher in Ogugu, Mrs Gladys udechoke (Nee Onovo) first female Teacher, Chief Dr Hycient Chike – Ochi, the first university graduate, Rtd Police constable Late Chief Paul Nwokolo first Public servant In Ogugu, Dr Nweze Celestine, first medical doctor, Dr Godwin Udibe, first academic doctor, Barr Nwonye James, first Lawyer, Barr Mrs Agnes Nweze, first female lawyer, Rev FR Ikenna Mathew Onovo, first indigenous Catholic Priest, Rev Sis Jacinta Emenike, first indigenous Rev Sister.

The Leadership started with the era of warrant chief between 1919 to 1932 (Beaumound 1933) Egbochionu Anekeolie became the warrant chief in 1920 and supervised the construction of Enugu – Okigwe road (Nenwe – Ogugu – Axis). Between 1933-1957, Chukwu Okolie took over from chief Egbochionu as the leader of Ogugu. When the colonial masters established native authorities in 1934, Chief Nwogbo Aniude became the paramount chief under whose leadership, birthed the present day, St Mary’s primary school Ogugu. Other native councillors include: Mr Igboekwe Madu, Paul Chime, Chukwu Onuoha, Udechoke Alo, Chukwunta Anụ, Anuchukwu Ude and so on. The men served the community with utmost sincerity and commitment to development.

In about 1959, Chief GU Ochi offered leadership service to the community and was generally accepted by the people and in about 1971, he was proclaimed, the Chief of Ogugu community until in 1979, he was crowned, the ìgwè of Ogugu community, a position he held until his demise in the year 2000.

Between 1960 and 2015, the community has had series of post-independent leadership such as: Ogugu Improvement Union, Ogugu Yagazie Union, The Ogugu United Front, and the present Ogugu Progressive Union General Assembly (Opuga) which started in 1988.

Some of the past president Generals of the community include: Chief Emma Ogbonna, (1988-1996) Mr Cammy Chukwueze (1996-1997), Late Ogbuefi C Chinenyeze (1998-2000), Engr Innocent Ude (2000-2003), Chief Cosmas Ude (2003-2007), Ogbuefi Jonas Uchenwa, (2007-2015).

Ogugu community also had some great ancient men that originated from it such as: Obasi Chukwu Aniorj (Famous rainmaker) Ajanu – Anụ from Ibite (Great magician), Ngene Anike from Uhuokpo (Warrior), Ntaa ANEKE from umuanekegwu-Ugwuoma (Powerful seer), Anuchukwu Ude from Ibite (Wise like biblical Solomon), Udechukwu Ofido from Ezioha (Great Philosopher), Chief Ogbuefi C Chinenyeze (Great political leader), Chief Aloysius Ogbonna from umumbaike (Great philosopher), HRH Gu Ochi (First ìgwè), Dr Chike Ochi (Academic and Former Rector of IMT).

Religiously, there are some other ancient minor deities in Ogugu such as: Anụ ihumbala Egwú, Ebose, Ngwu, Nwangene, Iyiogwe, Ngene – Eguy, Ọgba, Ojukwu Umuanekegwu-Ugwuoma, Ụzụ.

The community also has its taboos such as: murder/manslaughter, adultery, incest, desecrating of shrines, and so on.

References:

Ogugu Progressive Union, Enugu branch. (2015). Ogwugwu Ntu-egbe: History, culture and tradition.

Meek. (1934). Intelligent report on Awgu (National archive No. ONP 8/1/4753).

Beaumont. (1933). Intelligent report on Ntegbenese clan.

Onuigbo, F. R. S. N. (2000). The history of Ntu-egbenese.