User:Ayobannaikeanumba

Mmaku (Beauty of Wealth)

History/Background: There are historical evidence that the original name was Amaku (Place of Wealth) but this was over the years corrupted to be Mma-Aku. The literal English meaning of the name, Mmaku, is 'Beauty of Wealth'. According to historical and oral evidences, Mmaku was a 4th generation descendant of Nri (the son of Eri, the son of Gad, the son of Jacob (Genesis Chapter 30:9; 46: 16 and Numbers chapter 26:15-19) the acclaimed ancestor of the Igbo Race of the South East Nigeria who migrated southward after the Jewish Exodus from Egypt and migrated towards south of Sudan.

Eri had two wives namely Nneamaku and Oboli.Nneamaku had five children namely Nrifikwuanịm-Menri, his first son, Agụlụ, Ogbodudu, Onogu and Iguedo her only daughter. Nri-Ifikwuanịm beget Agụkwu Nri, Enugwu-Ukwu, Enugwu-Agidi, Nọfịa, and Amọbia. Nri-Ifikwuanim was a Priest like his father Eri. Eri had continued the Jewish traditional worship even as he settled at Ezunaoamambala (hence Anambra).

Nri-Ifikwuanim being the first child/son of Eri continued to establish and strengthen the kingdom of his father. He was the custodian of the tradition and the Royal Priest. Having begotten five children from his first wife, he continued to have more children from his other wives and concubines. His kingdom was quick to expand.

However, when he passed-on to his ancestors, his entire family could not hold anymore as one, some of the sons left with their families and migrated to the east and south, none migrated north or west. Those that left continued with their father's traditions like the 'Igu-Aro' (observing the yearly calendar) child circumcision and many more rites.

Ezianu, a grandchild of Eri-Ifikwuanim the son of Nneamaku, begot Mmaku, a twist of the suffix in his great grand mother's name, Nneamaku (Mother of the place of wealth).Ezianu (good land) arrived at the green belt after Awka (Oji/Awgu location) and he was so blessed and became so rich that he blessed the god of his ancestors for bringing him to the place and named it 'ezi-anu'. He founded a dynasty after his name, named his first son Mma-Aku (beauty of wealth) and believed strongly that the name of his great grandmother, Nneamaku, has influenced him to become wealthy. Ezianu settled and beget other children including Mmaku as the first son, Achi, Nenwe and Awgu, other children from his other women include Ezere, Nkwe and Awgu-nta. Some scholars attributed other towns like Mgbowo as his son but Mgbowo as a town has been confirmed as a migrant family that settled at the south-east of Mmaku with unfamiliar cultures. This made it easier for errand children of the lineage to inter-live with her, check paragraphs below. It has been confirmed that Ezianu migrated from the present day Amoli where he originally landed. The possibility of blood link with present Amoli people is till been investigated. When Ezianu passed-on, Mmaku retained the ancestral and spiritual custodian of the Ezi-anu Clan. Achi, who migrated northward of the Mmaku home, became friendly with other migrated descendants of Eri located at the west of Oji River hence the high influence of the cultures of the neighbors on its original cultures as could be observed today.

Amaku (now a corrupt name Mmaku has taken the name instead), the first son of Ezi-anu begot 12 children named, Afam (Enugu Afam, the traditional and spiritual custodian of Ezi-anu deity), Eziama, Ibite, Mkpulukpu, Awo, Ezioha, Otokwu, Amanato, Okwulofia, Amegu, Enugwu-Mmaku and Ifite-ohanta. Some of the decendants of Mmaku also migrated to Arochukwu, today called Mmaku-Aro. Some of the decendants of Ezioha and Amanato migrated to Mgbowo to become what is today called Amanato and Ezioha Mgbowo while some decendants of Okwulofia migrated to Ogwugwu from where is called Ebo-Ogwuwgu and to Ogbaku where we have Okwuolofia-Ogbaku.

The ancestral shrine of Mmaku is situated at the family house of Ezi-anu called Ezi-anu Shrine located at Enugwu Affam. Kings are crowned at this location considered the most sacred spot in Mmaku.

Till date, the dialect of Mmaku never changed from that of his grand-cousins and brothers in Nofia, Amobia, Enugwu-Agidi, Enugu-Ukwu and Agukwu-Nri. According to Eri, his generational first sons must keep to his (Eri) traditions and one of such is the language.

Spirituality Due to the continuous upholding of the ancestral Eri traditions, Mmaku has continued to be a great place of spiritual revival. It has produced great Christain Preachers/Minister, examples are the reknown song writer and singer Rev Patty Obasi and South African based Evangelist, Rev Ayobanna Ikeanumba.

Loction: Mmaku is located between Achi and Awgu towns.

Population: According to 2006 Census, the population of Mmaku is 256, 000 people consisting of more women than men.

Economy: Mmaku is surrounded by streams hence the perennial production of vegetables and tubers. Agriculture remains the main economic strength of the people. Mmaku has a weekly Afor market located at Ezioha Village.

Academic: Mmaku has produced renown academics who have stood tall among their peers. Some of them are Prof Mark Anikpo, former Deputy VC University of Port Harcourt Nigeria, Prof Eric Okoli, former Dean of Post Graduate Studies, Ebonyi State University and many more.

Mmaku has among her sons and daughters, other Professors and Associate Professors, 26 PhD and Doctorate degree holders, 29 Medical Doctors, 178 Attorneys, 46 Engineers, 14 Ordained Priests and 1,789 undergraduates in 2011 academic year.Ayobannaikeanumba (talk) 20:55, 18 April 2011 (UTC)