History of Arochukwu

Via Logbaby.com

Arochukwu is a small town located at the Southern end of Abia State in Nigeria.

The Aros, as other Igbos,  migrated from the Middle East to their present location in then Eastern Nigeria. You cannot mention Christopher Columbus who discovered America, without a short history of the Indians who owned the land. Also, in retrospect, the Aros came and won the land from the inhabitants, the Ibibios, after series of wars. These wars had a historic impact on the town. For instance, the leader of the Ibibio warriors who fought the war was captured and slain at Oro Village and this is why Oro became the chieftancy village. Amikpe Obinkita became the center where these defeated warriors were judged. This also is why all Aro villages assemble at Obinkita during the Ikeji festival. Any village that is not represented was fined by the entire Aro.

Arochukwu, sometimes referred to as Arochuku, or Aro-Okigbo, (pronounced Aruchukwu) is the third largest city in Abia State (after Aba and Umuahia) in southeastern Nigeria and homeland of the Igbosubgroup, Aro people. It is composed of 19 villages with an overall leader called Eze Aro. Arochukwu is a principal historic town in Igboland. It was also one of the cities in the Southern protectorate conquered by the British colonial government. Several historic tourist sites exist in the city. The mystic Ibini Ukpabi shrine, the slave routes and other relics of the slave trade era are frequently visited by tourists. It is also in the food belt of Abia state where most of the staple foods are produced.

The Arochukwu town has 19 villages namely: (Not alphabetically ordered.)

UGWUAKUMA, AGBAGWU, UTUGHUGWU, AMANMAGWU, UJARI, AMASU, IBOM. (These villages are what is known as IMEARO).  ORO, OBINKITA, AMOBA, AMANKWU, UGBO, AMUKWA, ATANI, ISINKPU, UGWUAFOR, AMANGWU, ASAGA, AND AMUVI. (These villages sums up the AMUZE.)

 Each of these villages are characterized by their respective cultural displays. For instance, Obinkita village (Landlord of all Aro) is known by their masquerades called Ekpo.  Atani villages are identified by their Ugboali for example madam Mary Kanu.

Arochukwu town is divided into three classes: OKENNACHI,EZEAGWU, AND IBOM ISI. These villages are then merged into these classes due to their migration from one village to another. This inter-village migration not only populated Arochukwu but brought internal progression that helped split the villages into these classes as seen below. Note also that EzeAgwu is split into two Umumna Okpara Agwu and Okpara Ezo Agwu.