Okpogho

Okpogho is one of the most ancient cities in Africa located in today Enugu State of Nigeria. Okpogho is well known for her distinguished strides in iron smelting which ended the world's trade by barter system. The originality of Okpogho could be traced from earlier ancestor called Ezeanyanwu a great worrior, farmer and healer (herbalist). The communities that make up the Okpogho kingdom are


 * 1) Imezi Okpogho
 * 2) Ukwuagba Okpogho
 * 3) Okube Okpogho
 * 4) Ngbuta Okpogho and
 * 5) Mbanito Okpogho.

Read also: Okpogho Diji: The Forgotten Warriors of Ogbodume-Ofilofi settlement - A Tale of Resilience and Legacy.

The people of Okpogho displayed exceptional creative abilities, as they settled in distinct regions of a place which is now referred to as Ezeagu, a local government area in Enugu state.

Population
The last known population of Okppgho was 342,800 (2015) which is about 0.188% of the Nigeria population. If population growth rate would be same as in period 1991-2015 (+5.05%/year), Okpogho population in 2021 would be: 460 636*.

Demographics
Okpogho is generally populated by the Igbo people..

Education
The People of Okpogho loves Education and focuses on early child Education at all cost usually born partly by the community and the government on the other part. The community provided resources such as transportation means to convey pupils to school as well as structures for academic excellence.

Ona Okpogho (OnaDoo or Ona Okpogho)
In the ancient times, the Manilla branded by the colonial masters. Copper and Steel bracelets and leg bands were the principal 'money' and they were usually worn by women to display their husband's wealth. Early Portuguese traders thus found a preexisting and very convenient willingness to accept unlimited numbers of these 'bracelets'.

A report by the British Consul of Fernando Po in 1856 listed five different patterns of manillas in use in Nigeria. The Antony Manilla was good in all interior markets; the Congo Simgolo or 'bottle-necked' was good only at Opungo market; the Onadoo was best for Old Calabar, Igbo country between Bonny New Kalabari and the kingdom of Okrika; the Finniman Fawfinna was passable in Juju Town and Qua Market, but only half the worth of the Antony; and the Cutta Antony was valued by the people at Umballa.

The Onadoo was largely made of steel by the experienced Okpogho Blacksmiths who then shipped them to Calabar. Calabar was the chief city of the ancient southeast Nigerian coastal kingdom of that name. The word and the name Okpogho was indigenous to the Okpogho people, the adoption of Okpogho as an Efik word for money was related to the use of the Ona-Okpogho instead of their "okụk ' or "ọkVk" in trades. The word 'okpoko ' is synonymous with 'money' or 'brass' in several West African languages like Calabar, Efik, Ibibio, and the Bonny New Kalabari and the kingdom of Okrika.

The universal name for manillas, which are an ancient form of money or barter coinage, is Okpoho or Okpo[g]ho. Manillas originated at Calabar but not from Calabar and 'okpoko', or 'okpoho' (only mispelt for convenience)  is the term for money or brass spoken at all the trade borders and river-banks where trades are executed.

Religion and Beliefs
Okpogho people like other South-Eastern Nigerians are predominantly Christians. Other non-religious faiths like Traditionalism and Habalism are strongly practiced by a very few minority that still hold strongly to ancient believes and faith. Roman Catholic is the dominant Christian faith practiced in Okpogho.

Okpogho Youth General Assembly (OYGA)
Okpogho Youth General Assembly - (OYGA) was formed following an uprising within the Okpogho community, the youth in demonstration poor infrastructure and to seek government attention aimed at uniting all able-bodied youth in the community formed a strong YOUTH ORGANIZATION under the leadership of Mr. Sylvester Enezu and Mr. Tochukwu Ucheama.

On 21 August 2021, The Okpogho Youths General Association (OYGA) under the able leadership of Mr. Sylvester Enezu successfully galvanized the Community youths from all over the country and in diaspora for the epoch making maiden meeting held in Okpogho Mbanito - the ancestral land and original settlement of the Okpogho Kingdom comprising the five Communities - Imezi Okpogho, Ukwuagba Okpogho, Okube Okpogho, Ngbuta Okpogho and Mbanito Okpogho. The new youth organ (OYGA) vowed to change the narrative of sitting and waiting for the government. The 21st August 2021 meeting reviewed the Agricultural endowment and potentials that have been abandoned, her rich minerals, and the pitiable state of her roads as well as other basic amenities. On this stance, a Clarion call was made to for development funds, and over 2 million Naira was instantly raised and donations to continue even after the meeting.

The Odo Traditional Society
The Odo masquerade society is an ancient culture practiced by the people of Opkogho from the past to the present. Odo is not pertinent to the people of Okpogho as it is also practiced by most ancient kingdoms within the Udi and Ezeagu people. The Odo festival provides a heritage that sees every men and women of Okpogho unite under the umbrella of a rich culture during which the dead are believed to walk among the living, interceding and reuniting temporarily with their families. The initiation into the cult would see every young male of Okpogho undergo three(3) initiation stages namely:

Most of the activities of the Odo society requires secrecy. OKOM FESTIVAL' The okom festival is a very one of the greatest festival in okpogho community. It is a festival of the wealthy, where okpogho demonstrate how bless and wealthy they are; people invite their friends and relatives from different villages and towns for this festival and It features different musical groups and dance, varieties of African dishes and wine for indigenes and visitors to eat, drink and merry.
 * 1) "Iba N'uno" - Presentation to the clan, Child naming ceremony.
 * 2) "Ifu N'Ama" - Presentation to the community, and first introductory sacrifice to the Odo society.
 * 3) "Ite` Odo" - Joining the Odo cult proper which is often performed in two sessions, name-masked as "Igbu Awo"