OHAFIA AND COMMUNITIES FROM OHAFIA.

EZEMA ATITA AKPO, the founding father of OHAFIA had 4 sons, namely, in order of seniority: Amogu (Ama) Ezema Atita, Ukpai Ezema Atita, Otutu Ezema Atita, and Uduma Ezema Atita. Uduma Ezema Atita, the last of these sons, in turn, had 4 sons as his father and these are (again in order of seniority): Ezema Uduma Ezema, Chieze Uduma Ezema, Olori Uduma Ezema, and Uduma Uduma Ezema.

In line with our topic above and for the purpose of this write-up, we shall concentrate on communities whose founding fathers are sons are from Ohafia and from the above genealogy and therefore descendants of Ohafia. They are as follows:

1. UTUTU: Ututu was founded by Otutu Ezema Atita the third son of EZEMA ATITA AKPO. UTUTU is in Arochukwu LGA, Abia State.

2. UMUCHIEZE: This great community, Umuchieze was founded by Chieze Uduma Ezema the second son of UDUMA EZEMA ATITA. Umuchieze consists of Lokpaukwu, Leru, Lekwesi and Lokpanta. Umuchieze is in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.

3. ONOLI EZE: Onoli Eze (a corruption of Olori Eze) was founded by Olori Uduma Ezema the third son of UDUMA EZEMA ATITA. Onoli Eze is in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

4. ODUMA: Oduma is another great community founded by the great warrior, Uduma Uduma Ezema the fourth and last son of UDUMA EZEMA ATITA. Oduma is in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State.

5. OROFIA: Orofia community, Abagana in Anambra State is said to be founded by Chima from Ohafia Uduma Eze.

In his Foreword to the book “Mben Clans and Communities of Igbo Land”, Prof. Onwuka Njoku, a Professor of History and one of the many great sons of Ohafia in the academia said that “It is therefore up to Ohafia leadership – traditional and modern – to start fashioning out means of building bridges of fraternal understanding and re-union with these communities in Diaspora”. I am in total agreement with him. This mainly is the essence of this write-up!

Expatiating on the call above, may I humbly appeal to our fathers and custodian of our rich and enviable heritage, the Ohafia Council of Traditional Rulers, chairman by His Royal Paramountcy EZIE (Prof.) E. U. L. Imaga, Udumaezema of Ohafia to consider seriously the advice of our son, Professor Onwuka Njoku.

Ohafia Improvement Union (OIU) should champion this worthy cause. Every Ohafia Uduma Ezema body (they are many) should be involved in achieving this our son’s advice.

Our youths, in view of their strategic position as leaders of GREATER OHAFIA of tomorrow and recipients of this great heritage bestowed upon us by our great conquering fathers, should in line with the current globalization trend, heed this advice and take up their mantle of leadership in this direction.

The National Association of Ohafia Students – NAOS (an umbrella body of Ohafia Students in all tertiary institutions in the country) should be at the forefront of building these bridges of fraternal understanding and reunion with the various National Students Associations of these Communities from Ohafia in Diaspora.

Our (OHAFIA) sons and daughters, great and small, in diaspora (they are many globally in pursuit of academic laurels, career excellence, and greener pastures) should join in giving these our sons (communities) a sense of belonging. Blood is thicker than water.

What do you think? Ohafia sons and daughters at home and diaspora, your comments and contributions are highly welcome.

Ohafia Nde Oma, kaa ni wo. Umu Ohafia, Mba ukwu, Udo a Chineke nonyiri unu. Mben kaa!

Curled from Udumeze Ukwu’s Facebook Wall (c) 10/5/2019