Obowo An Integral Part Of Imo State Nigeria! The Great Obowo History -- Part 1

Imo State came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria,Murtala Muhammad, having been previously part of East-Central State. The state is named after the Imo River, Part of it was split off in 1991 as Abia State, and another part became Ebonyi State. The main cities in Imo State are Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe. The Orashi River has its source in this state. The local language is Igbo and Christianity is the predominant religion. Imo state was created at Ngwoma. 

Imo State from the last count is thought to be about 4 9million in real population count (not political) of which Obowo has a great share in that figure, which is about 400,000. Obowo is one of the three clans that make up the former Etiti Local Government Area. It is bounded in the north by Ihitte; in the south-east by the Imo River; in the south-west by Mbaise; and in the north-west by Ehime clan of Ehime Mbano Local Government Area. 

Obowo Local Government Council came into existence sequel to the May 1989 creation of Local Governments in the country by the defunct Ibrahim Babangida Administration. The council headquarters is located at Otoko. Obowo Local Government is carved out from the mother Local Government Etiti its headquarters then at Isi-Nweke. To the North lie Ahiazu and Aboh Mbaise Local Government Areas, while Eastern boundary separates it from Umuahia Abia State. The Local Government houses about nineteen autonomous communities as at today.


There are fourteen villages in Obowo namely, Achara, Alike, Amanze, Amuzi, Avutu, Ehume, Odenkume, Okwuohia, Umuariam, Umulogho, Umunachi, Umungwa, Umuokeh, and Umuosochie. The area is right across the Imo River and is less than 30 minutes from Umuahia and Ahiara in opposite directions. with the seven and half (71/2) junction and landmark in-between. Former Imo State Governor Sam Mbakwe was born in and died in Obowo. Obowo is located about 45 minutes from Owerri via Mbaise.

The history of Obowo in particular is traceable to the son of a couple Azu (man) and Ahude (woman) – both of Dinka in Agbaja in Mbano. Obowo had two other brothers (Obohia and Obokwu) who left their home for Mbaise where Obohia settled and founded the clan that is today known by that name. Obokwu, on the other hand, founded the communities around the area now known as Ihitte-Afukwu. But Obowo continued his settlement here, Obowo married a woman (Adare) from Ujichi Ahiara; and through Adare, he had a son (Okwunanso) who in turn married one Nkwo from Ezido (near Ujichi). From this marriage, Okwunanso had seven sons, Alike, Okwuohia, Amuzi, Umulogho, Oke, Nachi, and Avutu. Thus, these seven sons became the founding fathers of the seven villages of Okwunanso, namely, Alike, Amuzi, Okwuohia, Umuoke, Umulogho, Umunachi, and Avutu.

Obowo was a polygamist with his second wife from Umuopara Umuahia. By this second wife Adaure, Obowo had a son called Ekwerenote , who in turn also had seven sons. These seven sons became the founding fathers of the seven villages that make up the Ekwerenote group: Ehume, Umuosochie, Umuariam, Odenkume, Amanze, Umungwa and Achara.
Therefore, we note that a man called Obowo had two wives through whom he had a son each. In turn, the two sons had seven sons each and these became the founding fathers of the fourteen villages in Obowo.

However, there is another historic account of Obowo that deals with it purely as a geographical location, a place, rather than a person. According to this school of thought, the first people to settle in Obowo were the Ikenga from Mbano. The Ikenga included Ehume, Umuosochie, Umuariam, Umuhu, Okauga, Umudiawa etc. They were not alone in their journey to Obowo but came along with another migrant clan – Ihitte. But while the Ikenga settled within the area now known as Obowo, the Ihitte settled at a place quite near to Obowo. It is, therefore, likely that Ikenga and the Ihitte were kinsmen, hence in libations we often say: NDU IKENGA; NDU IHITTE. The Ikenga established the Onugotu (one voice) at Ehume before dispersing to other parts of Obowo. The Onugotu shrine which is present at Ehume today appears to have been recognized by all Obowo communities as evidence of Ehume’s precedence in the settlement of the area and served as a symbol of unity.

Another group to migrate to Obowo was the Okwu. It was this group that established Alike, Amuzi, Okwuohia – the villages now collectively referred to as Okwu. They were followed by yet another group, the Nso (followers); and it would, appear that the Okwu and Nso were kinsmen. The Nso established Umulogho, Umuoke, Umunachi, and Avutu; hence these villages are today collectively called the Nso.

It further continues that Obokwu from where the Okwunanso migrated was on a dry land with no rivers and streams. But when they got to Ikenga, they met many rivers and streams and it was along the numerous courses (owa)of these rivers and streams that they settled in order to satisfy their water needs. They did not want to lose their original name Obokwu. But to reflect their later identity, they took the name Obowo (the obo of owa – the river courses) a name, that has been changing from time to time – sometimes spelt as Obowa, sometimes as Obowu and most recently as Obowo. To be continued.....