Nnokwa is one of the seven towns in idemili south local government area(LGA) of Anambra state, Nigeria. It has the distinction of being the only Nri town in this LGA.It comprises of ten villages: Ogonogo, Ozala, Isimgbede, Umuide, Aboh, Odumodu, Eziama, Umueshi, Ubili and Umudim. These ten villages are grouped into three quarters: Nnaku,Etiti and Ifite for easy administration. With a population of 30,000 (2006 census) Nnokwa is among the most populous towns in Idemili South LGA.
Nnokwa originated from Nri. There are many versions of the origin of Nri people. One tradition states that both Nri and the Igala descended from ERI in an area in the present Kogi state of Nigeria.Igala went into one direction while NRI moved southwards.
The Nri origin of Nnokwa states that there were two bands of Nri settlements at the early stages of their migration. The first, settled on the eastern side of the Anambra river of the present Anambra west LGA and later founded the towns of Aguleri,Umuleri,Nteje and Igbariam.The second band moved southwards to found the four towns of Nri including Agukwu,Nawfia.Enugwukwu and Enugu-Agidi.
According to the tradition of Nri (confirmed by those of Ora-eri and Nnokwa),Nnokwa and another Nri town,Ora-eri were two uterine direct Princes born to the King,Nri-Namoko VII of Nri, who lived in his old kingdom located at Diodo,one of the three quarters of Nri .These two Royal Princes were conferred with spiritual powers of Eze Nri Namoko VII. However their Royal Queen Mother, the wife of Nri Namoko VII Aghabilo was the Kings most favorite, most attractive and the youngest wife and a native of Adazi-Enu.
Queen mother Aghabilo, due to her exalted position, excited jealousy from the court. So intrigues were hatched against her which eventually led to her banishment from the palace with her two children, Nnokwa and Ora-eri..The king was forced by his counselors to acquiesce as he was egged on by Aghabilo`s co-wives and their most senior children and relatives. The King was reduced to tears when Aghabilo left with her two children, Nnokwa and Ora-eri.He gave her two sacred staff of office and a roped bronze vase to keep in trust for her infant sons. They were Otonsi and Ofo – Anaigbo.Aghabilo returned to Adazi-enu.When her children grew up, they settled first at the present site of Ora-eri, who was the elder brother.
Later a bitter quarrel developed between Nnokwa and Ora-eri.Nnokwa helped Ora-eri his elder brother, to get a wife, but when he requested Ora-eri to assist him, Ora-eri refused,because the latter’s wife was not in support of it. The two brothers disagreed violently, and Nnokwa broke away and migrated southwards to the present site which he founded. The bitterness was ritually cleansed and the mutual curses removed on 31st December 1977 after centuries of bitterness. In 1977,the Ora-eri people made amends to placate the injured feelings of Nnokwa and both embraced and buried their hatchet. Inter-marriages,which were tabooed between both and their descendants were ritually restored. However, despite the bitterness, the ancient history and futures of Ora-eri and Nnokwa were inter-woven.
Early Spacemen of the World:
Nnokwa is reputed to be one of the first places where mankind made its first attempt at exploration of outer space.
According to Nnokwa tradition, the incident took place in the distant past, many years and possibly centuries before the advent of the Whiteman to Igbo land. It happened that some energetic young men from Isimgbede village Nnokwa, came together and conceived the idea of plucking down the moon from the sky and keeping it in their custody as their exclusive possession to be rented out to whoever has the wherewithal to hire it. Their purpose was primarily to demonstrate the supremacy of their skill and strength to other villages of Nnokwa and beyond. They also intended to celebrate their traditional marriage ceremonies in grand style by taking the moon along with them as one would demonstrate the extent of his wealth by displaying a cow while performing a marriage ceremony.
Thus resolved, their youths reasoned that the easiest way to reach the moon was to climb on top of the tallest iroko tree and from there stand on one another’s shoulder, shoulder upon shoulder, vertically escalating upwards into the sky. In this way one of them would ultimately reach near enough to the moon and with iron hook, pluck it down from the sky like a fruit. They imagined that the moon was a spangle hanging out in the space. They embarked on their mission at night during the time of the full moon. They went about to execute their idea after weighing the possible risks and dangers. With the aid of a ladder, they climbed on top of the iroko tree. They tied a metal gong to a long rope with which those on top communicated with those on the ground regarding their needs, including their distance from the moon this way they established a communication link with the ground crew waiting to attend to their needs in space.
According to tradition, they were coming close to their target when the crew met a catastrophic fall from the sky. Their fall created a huge crater on the ground which exists till date. The site where this incident took place is called “osha okuko onwa” or forest where the first attempt to pluck down the moon was made. It remains tabooed for anyone to enter there. However in modern times Nnokwa intends to develop this site as a tourist site.
Culled from the book “THE EARLY SPACEMEN OF NIGERIA “ by Obioma Uchendu.
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