Amawom

Amawom Amawom
Town
Amawom
Amawom Location of Amawom in Nigeria
Coordinates: 5°28′0″N 7°34′0″E
Country	Nigeria
State	Abia State
L.G.A	Ikwuano
Clan	Oboro
Government
• Type	Monarchy
• Eze	HRM Eze Nkwo Okey
Elevation	449 ft (137 m)
Population  (2023)
• Total	15,000
• Ethnicities	Igbo
• Religion	Christianity
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)
3-digit postal code prefix	440109
Area code	440
ISO 3166 code	NG.AB.IK
Website	https://ng.geoview.info/amawom,7073524

Amawom is a town in Oboro, Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. The name is derived from two words; Ama meaning location and Awom meaning farm. Amawom is believed to have been discovered in the 18th century. Awom Oboro and Ibeuzo Ukwu are the autonomous communities of Amawom. English and Igbo are the languages spoken in the town.

History

Amawom is made up of 10 villages namely; Mgbaja, Agbommiri, Umuobia, Mbachukwu, Umuokom, Mbakamanu, Mbaisara, Aga, Amaya and Aruamaeke.

History has it that the present composition of Amawom has not always been so, but that the different villages migrated from different areas to the present settlement. The present harmony in culture is as a result of age long years of social and cultural interaction. In the pre-colonial days when there were still vast unoccupied lands in different areas, people migrated from one location to another in search of a better condition of living. This could either be in quest for better land, portable water or just a more accommodating space. This movement could also be as a result of inter tribal squabbles and wars. Such conditions aforementioned necessitated the migration of the present inhabitants of Amawom from their previous locations. Oral tradition has it that the first settlers in Amawom are the Mgbajas. They migrated and settled with other settlers first at Olori Oboro where presently there is a customary court. It is said that at a point in time, a member of one of the nuclear families in Olori called Igbo Nwanyi owned a cow. This cow grazes freely in the surrounding bushes. A time came when there was drought and water became scarce. The cow started going long distances, sometimes staying some days away before returning home. They noticed however that each time the cow returns, it carried white clay (nzu) on its legs. So they suspected that there must be a stream wherever the cow went to drink water. With this reasoning, Igbo Nwanyi sent his slaves to trail the cow in the next grazing journey. The slaves followed the cow and were led to a stream where they saw earlier foot prints of the cow. The slaves reported back to their master, who then took his family and slaves and settled near the stream which he called ‘Iyi Ukwu” (big stream). That first spot they settled has many umbrella-like trees called ‘Uru’. Hence the place is called ‘Mbara Uru” (Uru Arena). This place consequently became the center for all socio cultural and commercial activities in Amawom. The Mgbaja being the earlier settlers have the status of the first son (opara) in Amawom. After the Mgbajas, came another group migrating from Bende. They settled near Mgbaja and are known as Agbommiri. This reflects the location of the village acting as the water receptacle of the town (‘ndi mmiri na ebulatari aku’) as all waterfalls drain towards Agbommiri. Umuobia, the third settlers came from Ohokobe Ndume. Their ancestor, Obia settled north of Mgbaja. The people still maintain some links with their kinsmen at Ohokobe Ndume as they exchange visits during festivals. The next after Umuobia was Mbaisara. They migrated from Iyalu in Ibere. Next in sequence is Aga. They migrated from Bende too. The first man to settle from Ndiokoro Ukwu Bende in Aga is Mazi Ikpo. As a result of a minor misunderstanding arising from the origin of exalted beings to hold and control certain offices of serving their juju which he was against, left to settle somewhere which was at Ukpom Bende where he had old friends who previously occupied the town before him. He settled with his two sons, Amaobi and Nwulu. They later continued their journey leaving majority of their relatives at Ukpom Bende and finally settled at Aga. Mazi Ikpo was a prominent farmer and blacksmith, he produced hoes, matchets and local guns. He acquired enough land for his descendants. The Aga people came with their own culture and every child born in Aga must unfailingly have a nickname. This does not cause any dispute among them. It is inherited from their ancestors. After Aga followed, Mbachukwu was next, they also migrated from Bende. Then followed Mbakamanu, their ancestors first settled at Ekebedi in Oboro from where they eventually came to Amawom at last. The next was Umuokom, their ancestor, Okom migrated from Mbom in Ibeku. The next was Amaya. They migrated from Isiala Oboro, formerly called Mbiopong. Mbiopong is currently the headquarters of Ikwuano LGA. The last settlers were the Aru Amaeke people. They migrated from Arochukwu.

Missionaries arrived Amawom in the year 1916. Mazi Olekagoha is presently the eldest man of Amawom. They have a juju called Ogwuma which is similar to the one at Ekeweri (Ekebedi). The first oil mill in Ikwuano is situated in Amawom.

Culture

Amawom is a town rich in culture. According to their customs, the hamlets share their rights commonly in order of merit in their activities held at Amawom. Festivals in Amawom include Igba Mgba, Iri Iji, Igbu Ehi, Uju Agbala, Igba Ikoro, Uju Ede, Iri Ero, Isi Okonko, Egwu Ikpa, Inya Agwo, Izu Ahia, Igba Ekpe etc. Among the cultural heritage of Amawom people, the Ekpe festival has its climax at the beheading of a goat with one stroke of a matchet by a masquerade.

Economy

Economically, Amawom is also rich. They have enough farmland in which they cultivate to produce different kinds of food, such as garri, melon, yam, maize, cocoyam, pumpkin, cocoa, plantain, banana, palm oil, timber etc. which are sold at cheaper prices. When all these items are sold in their daily market which starts at 4pm and closes by 7pm, it yields a lot of revenue for Amawom people. Amawom is also a commercial center of Ikwuano, many villages in Oboro come to Amawom for trading. Mbara Uru market is the center for commerce and trade. Amawom is blessed with different kinds of natural resources such as good drinking water, farmland, economic trees, wildlife/animals, forests etc.

Religion

There are two types of religion in Amawom. They are Christianity and Traditional Religion religions. The Christians are to obey the commandments of God and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. The traditionalists believe in idols and/or deities. The oracles in Amawom are Ogwuma, Ahia Njoku, Ala Isi Ama and many others. The only person to make sacrifices to these gods is the chief priest. When the priest dies, the next elderly person in the family succeeds him.

Politics

During the pre-colonial era, Amawom had no chief. The system of governance was segmental. Decision making was based on different autonomous groups that are within the family level. Policy making was always at the house of the eldest man of the family. Due to the Amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914, Amawom had her first Chief in Chief Okukuru who was then succeeded by Chief Iroatu, then High Chief Nzeribe Orunta, then the last Chief before the creation of autonomy was Chief N.N. Okey. As a result of the creation of more autonomous communities, Amawom got two autonomous communities and they are, Ibe Uzo and Awom. The first Eze of Awom was Late HRH Eze U. Orunta and Ibe Uzo's was the Late HRH Major Irole. Presently, the central working committee has a cabinet in which there are representatives from each village, age grade, Ndi-Nkwo-Ukwu and the youths. All of these groups are the legislators of the community. The age grades act as the policemen and tax collectors. The Ndi Nkwo-Ukwu settles disputes, they also act as the judiciary. There is no separation of power because the three arms of government in Amawom work hand in hand. Amawom is politically organized. In political matters, it is not autocratic rather it is democratic because people are allowed to air their views before decisions are taken. The people’s reaction determines the type of decision to be taken. Decision making is by consensus. Whenever a decision is to be taken, the people and social groups are always consulted. An Amawom Chief/Eze doesn’t have power like the Emirs of Northern Nigeria. If he makes a wrong policy, the people must oppose him. Igbos don’t necessarily recognize Chiefs. This is why political affairs in Amawom are democratically organized.

Socio-political Structure

The 10 villages in Amawom inter-marry. They also inter-marry with other neighboring villages, because of this they settle their disputes amicably for being related by blood one way or the other. Different social groups contribute political leaders to administer their duties. But if they are looked down on, oppositions arises, and it can lead to political instability. Kindreds visit and entertain their people during New Yam and Ekpe Festivals. Amawom also organizes traditional wrestling in which neighboring villages come to witness. Mbara-Uru market is the social center in Amawom and different social activities take place there.

Schools

• Awom Na Ebo Secondary Technical School

• Amawom Community School

• Amawom Central School

See also

• Umudike