The Location

Located in Aniocha, North of Delta State, Nigeria, Idumuje-Ugboko is bordered to the East by Idumuje-Unor, Ekpon or Akpu to the North West, Ohodua to the North East, Igbodo to the West and Onicha-Ugbo to the South.

The Language

The language spoken is Enu-ani, a variant of the Ibo language.

The History

Idumuje-Ugboko was founded in the 17th century. Historians are of the opinion that a core group of settlers led by Nwoko, his siblings and relations, Omezi, Obodo, Obu, Iyitor, Ina, Osei, Ekwulu, Oko-Onyeme, Mokobia, Osigwe, Igha and Ikohue founded Idumuje-Ugboko, but not before a majority of them settled in Idumuje-Unor. For a detailed account of the various narratives, please visit www.idumujeugboko.com

The Villages Of Idumuje-Ugboko

Idumuje-Ugboko is made of four villages. They are Atuma, Ogbe-Obi, Ogbe-Ofu and Onicha-Ukwu (Ogbe-Akwu). The four villages are reputed to have migrated from various towns and kingdoms in and around the present states of Delta, Edo and Ondo states. For example, the Atuma village is said to have migrated from Owo, a town in present-day Ondo state, the Ogbe-Ofu from Emu, an Ishan speaking town in present-day Edo state, the Ogbe-Obi from Uzebu in the old  Benin kingdom and Onicha-Ukwu from Onicha-Ukwu, a town in present-day Delta state. Of four villages, the Onicha-Ukwu was the last of the villages to settle in Idumuje-Ugboko.

There are sixteen Ebos and twenty-four quarters, commonly known as Idumu.
The sixteen Ebos are as follows:

Ogbe Ofu

Idumu Obu
Idumu Uzu
Idumu Okhohue
Idumu Uhu

Atuma

Onije
Idumu Ina
Idumu Ekwulu
Idumu Ona
Ikoko Iyala
Idumu Ezi

Ogbe Obi

Idumu Isagbeme
Umu Omile
Ahama

Onicha Ukwu

Idumu Uwadia
Idumu Ukwu
Idumu Isa

The four villages are made up of the following twenty-three quarters

Atuma

Idumu Onwochie
Idumu Ona
Idumu Ina
Idumu Ekwulu
Ikoko Iyala
Idumu Ezi

Ogbe Ofu

Idumu Ebe
Idumu Anya
Idumu Okonta
Idumu Ukwunne
Idumu Osu

Idumu Esi
Idumu Omoidia
Idumu Uzu
Ogozar

Onicha Ukwu

Onicha Ukwu
Idumu Ukwu
Idumu Uwadia
Idumu Isa

Ogbe Obi

Uzebu.
Idumu-Ugo
Owu
Idumu-Isagbeme
Umu Omile

Social Institutions Of Idumuje-Ugboko

There are various social institutions that uphold the traditions and culture of Idumuje-Ugboko. Sitting at the very top of this social order is the Obi. He is seen as the chief custodian of custom and tradition. The other social institutions are as follows:

• The chiefs – Palace and Onotu
• The Obi-In- Council
• The Council Of Chiefs
• The Ndi Dibie
• The Ndi Omu
• The Ndi Iche
• The Ikpala
• The Ikolo
• The General Assembly (Izu-Ani)
• The Youths
• The Development Union

The Traditional Festival

Like other Ibo communities, the Idumuje-Ugboko custom venerates the new yam festival – what is traditionally referred to as Iwa-Ji, meaning ‘the eating of new yam’. In most cultures where this festival is observed, the ceremony is usually marked at the end of the rainy season, signalling the end of the harvesting season, and in preparation for a new farming cycle.

In Idumuje-Ugboko, the new yam festival is a joyous occasion, usually accompanied by feasting and dancing. This is the time to give thanks to the gods for their benevolence in concluding the harvest season. The process is kicked off by the assemblage of chiefs at a place called Ani Ozuzu, where homage is paid to the Obi. The feast of songs and dancing called Ogbanigbe usually bring down the curtain on the festival.