The Origin of Agbogugu (Agbogwu Oshie Aneke)

I am inspired to write this book for our youths and for posterity. This book has been written to give values to life of the youths who, otherwise, would not have known what happened far back before their great-grandfathers up to fourth to fifth generation. This will help them to give values to life and to know what was noble and what was traditionally an abomination so that it will guide them to fashion their lives, achieve what is noble, and die peaceful deaths. This book also aims at...
More Description

I am inspired to write this book for our youths and for posterity. This book has been written to give values to life of the youths who, otherwise, would not have known what happened far back before their great-grandfathers up to fourth to fifth generation. This will help them to give values to life and to know what was noble and what was traditionally an abomination so that it will guide them to fashion their lives, achieve what is noble, and die peaceful deaths. This book also aims at showing that there is very little difference between a worthy Christian life and an ideal traditional life. What is good for the gander is good for the geese. Good and evil exist whether one is a Christian or a traditionalist. God exists, and the belief is nearly the same to both religions. What is different is the mode of worship. Igbo man, having originated from the Jews, borrowed their religion1 from them and also from the manipulation of the Aros2 from Aro-Chukwu, and the Nshis3 from Awka through their oracles. Therefore, readers of this book, after reading it carefully, you will notice that God is supreme. Jesus Christ is the saviour against the cults (which encourage sacrificing human beings) of the past and present generations, symbolised by different 'shrines' for example, Ani, Ogbuikwe, Nneche, Nwangene, Ofo, Umu etc. In Agbogwu and Ntegbe Nese in general, the existence of the age grades and the noble roles they played in the cultural activities like wrestling, dancing, masquerading, marriage, war, farming, etc are carefully highlighted. The roles of the pioneer Christian missionaries (Catholic Mission) as regards Agbogwu in conjunction with colonial administrators in the suppression of the people's cultural lives are equally discussed. Mention is made of the steps taken by the white man, especially the Irish priests, to blackmail or/ and wipe out the evil practices in our culture, such as Aros, Agbala, Nshi, Igwekala-Umunoha, etc. Life in the rural communities before the coming of the white man is looked into as well as the events that followed his arrival. The aura4 of the white man to the rural communities and his use of military powers5 to subdue the rural people to his foreign authority are X-rayed. The Nigeria Biafra War and its after-effects are discussed with the war strategies of Agbogwu people and Ntuegbe Nese in general as adopted during their inter-town or -village wars in the olden days. The decline of the people's cultural activities and the major causes are looked into and the way forward applied, why it was not quite successful. Chieftaincy institution in Agbogwu was messed up and was difficult to reactivate. The cause is discussed. The tradition of Agbogwu portrays the town as a home of decent people and the holiest among other neighbouring towns in Owelli Native Court Area and Ntegbe Nese clan. The life of elders should continue to be emulated; their government6 and judicial system were almost the best in Owelli Court Area. Find out why after going through this book. The government of Agbogwu is gerontocratic;7 'The whole organisation of this town is pure gerontocracy. There are no senior Ofo holders and no senior extended family.' Ani Agbogwu and Ofo were specially feared and venerated in the olden days before Christianity. Even now, Ani Agbogwu is still in vogue and respected in relation to 'land'.