User:Onyinyechukwu Odilinye

Uke

Uke is an Igbo speaking town in present Idemili North Local Government of Anambra State, Nigeria. It is a typical Igbo town bounded by towns like Ogidi, Umuoji, Nnobi, Alor, Abatete and Ideani.

Uke is a small, compact and highly populated community. The town is noted for its rich cultural values especially the reverence of the Idemili Python. It has been noted as a town for refuge. During the Nigerian-Biafra war, It served as a place of safety to many and as of recent many flock to the region for its most recent attraction; The Ebube Mmunso Adoration Ground. A non- denominational Catholic Church gathering, seeking for spiritual solutions.

HISTORY

Ozodoani, the father of Uke together with his brothers Ezechumagha, the grandfather of Ogidi and Obinu, the father of Nnobi, desired for children and were asked to leave their home Mkpologwu, in present day Aguata to a promised land bearing a mystical stone. The mystical stone which they bore fell in Uruabor, present day, Uke. The three settled in the region. Obinu moved towards the Obiaja River where his descendants would later be known as Nnobi while Ezechumagha moved to the present town, Ogidi. The three share cognate relationship marked by a feast known as Ime oma Ibenne.

Ozodoani settled and gave birth to a son, Uke.(his wife’s name remains unmentioned in history) Uke grew and had 11children; 2 females and 9 males; Ezema, Uruezeani, Oba, Umunnakwe, Ubulenu, Uruabor, Umuazu, Omimi, Nkwelle. These constitutes the 9 villages in Uke but for safety and convenience, the villages were compacted to 6. Thus, the popular saying; “Uke aka teghete emelu obulu isii”