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September 11,
2008
Issele-Uku
Association of North America debuts on the Internet. The
Association formed recently already has established Chapters and both
in North America as well as request for Abuja Chapter back in the
Federal Capital Territory. Qualified individuals and groups wanting to
start a Chapter in North America should please Contact Us.
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DISCUSSION FORUM
Here, you access the Issele-Uku Online Forum where you are able to read Articles posted
to the Discussion, respond to them and post your own Article. Count. |
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Nigerian major News
Media are available in this section. The listing will be updated
from time to time. To visit its home page, click
NIGERIA NEWS MEDIA |
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Chief G. C. Okwumabua |
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Chief S. O. K. Ashiedu |
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Chief O. Anene |
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Chief Okafor Nwadigwe |
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Chief G. S. Ebite |
UNITY HALL
ISSELE-UKU |
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The People, Yesterday
and Today
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HRH OBI
AGBOGIDI:
EZEAGWUNA
I
OBI OF ISSELE-UKU
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HEAD OF EZECHIMA CLAN |
The
Issele people are the descendants of Oligbo the son of Ovbi IKhime
otherwise known as Eze Chima who left the ancient Bini Kingdom at
about 1200 A.D. The main homestead of the Isseles is Issele-Uku from
whence Issele-Mkpitime and Issele Azagba left to found other towns.
Issele-Uku is located at an equidistance of Agbor and Asaba. Issele
Mkpitime is about three miles north of Issele-Uku and Issele Azagba is
located within the Delta state Capital of Asaba. Issele-Uku is the
headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government of Delta State.
Furthermore, Issele-Uku is the traditional head of Ezechima clan which
includes Onitsha in Anambra state.
Akenzua I (about 1713) Father of Obi of Issele-Uku. Era of peace and
prosperity.
BRIEF HISTORY OF ISSELE-UKU
As chronicled by Prince Afumata Akeh-Osu in The History of Great
Isi-Ile-Uku (Issele-Uku) Kingdom.
Isi-Ile-Uku, “Issele-Uku” Kingdom was founded by the Binis in about 1230
AD by Oba Eweka 1 of Benin Empire and first Ogie of the kingdom was
Prince Uwadiaie who was the second son of Oba Eweka I.
The original name of the new kingdom carved out of Benin Empire
“Isi-Ile-Uku” signifies relationship with the Benis and Oba of
Benin-City ‘Uku akpolokpolo Omonoba n’edo’.
When Oba Eweka 1 created the new Benin outpost of Isi-Ile-Uku now
pronounced Issele-Uku, his main objectives was to check and stop the
influx of the movement of people from East of the River Niger, and
people from Igala land into the Edo land West of the River Niger, for
farming and fishing operations. Also to use Isi-Ile-Uku, the new outpost
and kingdom, as a defensive outpost to the Benin Empire and moreover for
expansion purposes.
 Prince Uwadiaie, the second son of Oba Eweka
I, was crowned Ogie ‘King’
by his father Oba Eweka1 of Benin Empire about 1230 A.D. and sent to
rule the Bini new kingdom of ISI-ILE-UKU in company of a group of Binis,
worriors, administrators, chiefs and other princes of the royal family
of Benin from Ogbe, Ehaekpen, Idumu Inaleibiwe, idumu Igun, Idumu Iken,
Idumu Isama and Idumu Ugboka. Members of the royal family of Benin were
settled at Ehaekpen of Issele-Uku.
These Bini quarters – Ogbe and Idumu are now called Isheakpe, Ogbidibo,
Idumu-Inele Ebigwe, Idumu Uzu, Idumu Ikem, Idumu Ozoma, Idumu Onishe,
Idumu Ihama, Idumu Isama and Idumu Edemoka “Umu edomoka” at Ogboli. The
present language of the people of Issele-Uku has changed slightly the
original pronounciations.
The Oba of Benin in the days of old had real suzerainty over the kingdom
of ISI-ILE-UKU. The new kingdom of ISI-ILE-UKU was gladly hailed in
Benin then as an Eastern extension of Benin empire. In fact, the kings
of ISI-ILE-UKU have paraphernalia and relics of kingly office as the Oba
of Benin and performs the same yearly festival – Ugie ro ‘Oba – “Uje ine
Aho Obi” at Issele-Uku.
The kings of ISI-ILE-UKU “ISSELE-UKU” are the true representatives of
the Oba of Benin in the area lying to the West of the River Niger and as
such the Obi “king” of Issele-Uku has a position of authority as the
Oba’s authentic representative in the Eastern extremeties of the great
Benin Empire
The custom and tradition of Benin is the same at Issele-Uku and the
influence of Bini language can be noticed or traced in the Ika-Ibo
language of the people of ISI-ILE-UKU “ISSELE-UKU”.
The Oba of Benin continues to crown the Obis of Issele-Uku until
presently when he sends Chiefs to officiate for him on the crowning of
any new Obi “king” of ISI-ILE-UKU “ISSELE-UKU”. Although the Ika-Ibo
Language predominates at Issele-Uku nowadays and it was due mainly to
the fact that there were more interactions with the later Ibo founded
towns around Issele-Uku than Benin-City which is situated a long
distance away.
THE OBI AND THE COUNCIL OF CHIEFS IN FRONT OF THE UNITY HALL, ISSELE-UKU
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