History of Ohafia people and culture

 Igbo History 

This our Ohafia history is base on our discoveries and oral meeting with some Ohafia caretaker. So this set of experiences may vary from yours. Be that as it may, all we are attempting to do is to recount our story without anyone else. 

Ohafia is a town and neighborhood government territory in abia state, Nigeria. It is an igbo talking locale. The hereditary capital of Ohafia is situated in the town of Elu. The Ohafia Local Government Area additionally incorporates the towns of Abiriba and Nkporo. 

Historcally, Ohafia individuals left Andoli and got comfortable Isi-Eke, from where they fled one evening, when they heard the shaking sound of calabashes. The sound was deciphered to imply that they were being attacked which lead to a disturbance, as some of them got away toward Ngodo and others went towards Isuochi. At a certain point, some of them headed towards Abam driving the gathering going to Abam, was a man known as Ezeama Atita, and two children called Uduma Ezeama and Onyereobi Ezeama. At the point when they got to Abam, Onyereobi's significant other, who was hefty with pregnancy, could presently don't walk. He, hence, stayed in Abam with his pregnant spouse, while the gathering proceeded on the excursion. In the current area of Ohafia, at a spot called Ugwumgbo, Ezeama Atita, and his subsequent child, Uduma, settled. After numerous years, their posterity set up the 26 towns that make up the present Ohafia. The tribal central command of Ohafia is in Elu Ohafia. Every town is represented by an eze ogo. All the eze ogo's met up to shape the EZE Ogo-in-Council, which, with the amala, choose how the local area is to be administered. The in general customary ruler, Udumeze, who lives in Elu Ohafia, intercedes just when there is a matter between an eze ogo and a subject. Before, the way of life of Ohafia was pivoted around one's ability in war. 

They were continually watching out for battles in which to partake. They became something like soldiers of fortune and individuals of Arochukwu, who were all over Igboland 'chasing' for slaves, outfit this warlike soul in Ohafia individuals for their own potential benefit. The precursors of the Ohafia public were famous as powerful heroes. This part of the Ohafia people groups history stays major to the Ohafia public's feeling of character. 

The champion's cap or "panther cap" (Igbo: Okpu agu)is notable and is a related result of Ohafia. The Ohafia champion custom is epitomized in the exhibition of iri agha The act of decapitating a fallen adversary was a most loved distraction. A human skull was esteemed as a gift, and it was a proof of a man's fortitude, which brought to the Ohafia man various sorts of honor. Just the individuals who brought home a human head could join the Ogbu-Isi society and wear the hawk tuft of fortitude. The affection for military greatness turned into a devouring energy and the focal point of every friendly worth. 

The Ohafia public, whose warlike endeavors made serene travel inconceivable, were presently ready to work abroad. By 1913, the greater part of them were exchanging at Itu, in Akwa Ibom State, and Calabar, in Cross River State. Prior to now, the Ohafia man, with his whole conflict ability, went through a custom, to cleanse him of his conflict like qualities. Maybe, he should have been told by no less a power than the frontier may the old request had died. 

What's more, it came to fruition in 1901, when a unit of the Royal West African Frontier Power (RWAFF) situated in Calabar laid an attack on Ohafia and Ebem. It was in reaction to the obliteration of Obegu, in the present Abia south, by contenders from the two networks. The Ohafia public had anticipated that experience. Individuals were in optimistic mood, honing their blades and stacking their dane firearms with black powder. Obviously, it was another chance for them to cut human heads. However, in their obliviousness, they neglected to understand that the capability of the white man was way beyond their unrefined weapons. 

Enter Eke Kalu, the previous slave. He had since gotten back from Opobo and was presently visiting Calabar as a finance manager, when arrangements to attack Ohafia and Ebem were in high stuff. Seeing RWAFF officers walking in Calabar, combined with his involvement with Eket when he was a firearm transporter, constrained him to look for a method of saving his kin. Squeeze Kalu knew as a matter of fact that his kin, the acclaimed and feared champions of antiquated Ohafia, the lions of the wilderness, the pleased and heroic children of Uduma Ezema, would challenge the troopers. He understood additionally that in spite of the fact that the military strategies of the Ohafia fighters may outperform that of the RWAFF, yet their weapons were rough and not even close to the capability of the rifles and assault rifles of the RWAFF troopers. 

He, along these lines, rushed out of Calabar in a kayak and, going through Ikun, shown up Ohafia. It was a squeeze day and, on appearance, he went through the zone, cautioning individuals against testing the officers. Four days after his return, the British troopers were headed to Ohafia, taking the Akoli Adda course. Going through Elu, they showed up in Ebem, where they pitched their tents at Ifi Iri-opu. Commander Mowatt told the warriors. No sooner did the fighters show up than an Ebem champion, Idika Echeme, was said to have charged at them. From that point, the request to start shooting was given on the opposite side of the line. Before long, trees and people started to fall. Each time gun balls went off, trees and charging Ebem champions were cut down. The mainstay of Ikoro Nde Anaga additionally descended. At the point when they saw what was occurring, the enduring Ebem fighters froze and took to the timberlands for asylum. 

After Ebem was diminished to rubbles, the British warriors turned their thoughtfulness regarding Ohafia. As they drew closer, Eke Kalu was sitting tight for them, not with blades or dane weapons. He had a long bamboo, at the highest point of which he tied a white cloth, which he waved hysterically noticeable all around, saying to the knowing about the moving toward officers: "Ayi kwere na ndi beke", which means: "We give up to the British". Given his uncommon mental fortitude, Captain Mowatt was said to have requested to know Eke Kalu's character. Approaching the chief was a chance the previous slave expected to illustrate, before his kin, his capacity to talk English language. To the chief's inquiry, he gladly answered: "I from Elu Ohafia; my fadda, Imaga Agwunsi, say he no wan conflict". The chief was satisfied and to another inquiry, he answered: "I is de onle man for Ohafia hear English". At the point when the British warriors left Ohafia, the profile of the ex-slave rose among his kin. The way that he could draw in a white man in a discussion procured him regard and honor. Therefore, they designated him their counselor. The occasion that changed the course of Ohafia individuals everlastingly happened soon after, and Eke Kalu was, once more, at its focal point. There was, in Ohafia, a Ohafia individuals". The day came when he secured a few men in the jail for what portrayed as a trifling offense 

The men broke out of the jail and were expectation on pummeling him, when he announced the make a difference to one Major Cobham, who despatched some cops to his salvage. The detainees were expeditiously rearrested and fines were forced on them. After this occasion, Ohafia individuals began searching for an exit from what had become standard abuses in the possession of the Sierra Leonean. As the answer for their concern, Eke Kalu, encouraged them to construct schools and instruct their kids who, understanding what the agent knew, would better challenge him and his replacements in future. The primary school was opened at Ndi Imaga Shed. From here on out, the longing for training moved through Ohafia like a shrubbery fire. 

Ohafia is home to the third biggest army installation in Nigeria, named Goodluck Jonathan Barracks. It houses the central command of the recently settled 14 Brigade and 145 Battalion office complex.