First, An Introduction
Iwollo Oghe
Historically, Oghe, one of the sons of Ezeagu, begat Iwollo. According to Dons Eze, legend had it that Oghe married two wives. While the first bore him five sons - Owè, Akama, Neke, Oyofho and Iwollo, which are known as Ikenga (right-hand side), the second wife equally had five sons - Amankwo, Amansiodo, Umunum, Obiagu, and Akasaa. They are known as Ibute Oha (left-hand side). Umunum, Obiagu, and Akasaa are now either extinct or have been subsumed into Amankwo and Amansiodo. At the same time, a misunderstanding that arose between Owè and Akama, forced the former to flee his ancestral home to sojourn with Iwollo.
Iwollo: Geographical Location
Iwollo, a fast-developing cosmopolitan urban Town, is located in the Enugu region, which is approximately 24 km (15 mi) away (as the crow flies). The distance from Iwollo to Nigeria's capital, Abuja, is approximately 291 km (181 mi) (as the crow flies).
Iwollo lies smack in the middle of the route leading from 9th Mile Corner by Ama Brewery, through Eke, Oghe, on to Olo, via Omor in Uzo-Uwani and on to Onitsha in Anambra State.
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Iwollo Town - The Villages and Families
Iwollo, the last son of Oghe, originally settled at Imama, where he had six sons: Ezeonyia, Ndubunagu, Amagu, Obunagu, Owolloti, and Enugwu, before the outward migration started. Except Enugwu, which has only two settlements at Enugwu Akwuosa and Enugwu Ogbagana, the other five villages have multiple settlements at Ugwuike, Obodongwu, Ogbugbuagu, Agueke, Anike, Mbanamba, Owolloti, Akpugo, Ugwuochii, and most outstanding, Aguobu Iwollo.
Ezeonyia Village is made up of the following families: Okunitoropu, Ezeaghubudo, Ebiem, Erianya, Erim, Ezeehuchie, Ogadangwu, Ezeanaeneanya.
Ndubunagu Village is made up of the following families: Ezeogbu, Ene, Itenshi na Obochi.
Amagu Village is made up of the following families: Aneke, Udara, Owereagu, Oshingo na Ezeikpe, Ilo na Okwuibe, Amaka na Onedigwe.
Obunagu Village is made up of the following families: Ezeaneke, Awam Awolor, and Ugwu.
Owolloti Village (now Owolloti Iwollo Autonomous Community) is made up of the following families: Ezeugwu, Amabor, Uwani, and Onuigbo.
Enugwu Village is made up of the following families: Ilo, Onyinem.
Many years ago, when Iwollo had issues with the neighbouring community of Olo, several families were selected from each of these villages to move down towards the borders with the Olo community, to inhabit the area and form a defense to ward off encroachment into Iwollo lands from the Olo community. That area then became Aguobu Iwollo. Today, Aguobu Iwollo is an autonomous community in Iwollo Omashi.
In addition, four years ago, Owolloti Iwollo gained the status of an autonomous community, the first unique autonomous community that is also one family or clan in Iwollo. This status update was followed by Amagu Iwollo, which also became an autonomous community two years after Owolloti Iwollo. Hence, Iwollo is now made up of four autonomous communities - Aguobu Iwollo, Owolloti Iwollo, Amagu Iwollo, with the mother community retaining the name of Iwollo Town (a.k.a. Iwollo Central).
Tanzania Junction (Nkwushi Kolota), Iwollo
Iwollo Omashi in the Diaspora
Today, Iwollo sons and daughters may be found in a number of places all over the world. There is Iwollo Ndiowu in Aguata, Anambra State, and Omashi in Ayamele, also in Anambra State. However, the largest colony of Iwollo people outside the homeland may be found in Ogbunka, Orumba South, Anambra State.
There is also Umu-Ezeonyia and Amagu, part of whose family members sujourned to Uzo-Uwani in present-day Enugu State many decades ago, and decided to make their habitation there. These family members used to attend the biennial Ibono Iwollo cultural festival even in the recent past. There are ongoing concerted efforts to revive the cultural and familial relationships of all Iwollo people, both at home and abroad.
Ogbunka is a town in the Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. It has five villages: Awuka, Umunobe, Akwuoba, Agbala, and Isiokpu. The history of Ogbunka began with a man called Nka, who was believed to have migrated from Iwollo in Ezeagu Local Area of Enugu State in the 14th century A.D. to a place that is called Ogbunka today. He got married and begat a son called Ogbuzuru, acronymed Ogbu. His full name became Ogbunka - a concatenation of Ogbu and Nka, which translates as Ogbu, the son of Nka.
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It is hoped that, in the fullness of time, Iwollo Omashi sons and daughters everywhere will come together to celebrate the affinity and power of blood relationship.
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