Isiala Mbano

Isiala Mbano is a Local Government Area in Imo State, Nigeria. It is made up of three clans: OSU, UGIRI and MBAMA. When it was carved out of the old Mbano LGA in September 1989, there were 28 Autonomous Communities namely: Osuama, Ezihe, Anara, Osu Owerre, Umuduru, Ikwuano, Ezumoha, Isiama,Umunchi, Umuelemai, Luwenneiri, Nneato-Nweafor, Dikenaofeiyi Ugiri-nna, Obollo, Ogbor Amaukwu-obollo, Umuozu, Ibeme, ibeme-Amaise, Umuneke, Oka, Umunkwo, Amaraku, Amato-Amaraku, Aku-Amaraku, Amauzari, Ekwedim, and Umuenyi.

Presently there are 38 Autonomous Communities, broken down as follows:

OSU: Osuama, Ezumoha, Ikwuano, Eziama, Anara, Amano Anara, Osuowerre, Mbeke, Ezihe, Umuaro II, Isiama, Ihim, Umunchi, Isiala Umunchi, Dike na ofeiyi, Umuduru, Nneator Nweafor, Luwe Nneri, Isiebu, Umuelamai.

UGIRI: Obollo, Ibeme, Oka, Umuneke, Umuozu, Ogbor, Ugirinna, Umuneke nta, Ofordim Umuneke, Amaukwu Obollo, Ibeme Amise, Umuebi.

MBAMA: Amauzari, Umunkwo, Amaraku, Amato Amaraku, Umuenyi, Ekwedim.
Isiala Mbano Local Government Area (LGA) headquarters is situated at Umuelemai Town; along Okigwe - Umuahia federal Road. It has an area of 166 square km and a provisional population of 210,000. It is located north-east of Imo State capital, Owerri. It has boundaries with Onuimo and Nwangele Local Govt. Areas in the North, Ehime Local Govt. area in the East and Ikeduru and Mbaitolu local Govt. areas in the South.

Subsistence farming, animal husbandry and petty trading are the main economic activities within the area. Among the popular crops in Isiala Mbano are yams ji, three leaved yam una, cassava ji akpu, cocoyam ede, okoriko cocoyam ede, fluted pumpkin ugu, local pear ube, Oil bean ugba, African breadfruit ukwa and of course the ever present oil palm tree nkwu. Within the cocoyam species, Okoriko is the dominant variety. These agricultural products were and to a certain extent, still are the main sources of income to the people. Most of the communities do have weekly ancestral market days; however with economic developments most of them do have daily activities while retaining their ancestral weekly market days; with Orie Amaraku, located along Owerri - Okigwe federal Road, one of the most popular markets.

In Isiala Mbano, there is a large Clay deposit at Umunchi autonomous community; which probably accounts for the large volume of Pottery of different size and shape found in the various weekly ancestral markets within the area
Ofe uha and mmanyi ngwo are the predominant soup and wine in the area.

Cultural Practice:

Eze: Isiala Mbano, like most Igbo Communities do not have a centralized polity, rather each autonomous community is governed by two arms of administration – the Ezeship Council headed by the traditional ruler (Eze) of the community and the Town Union headed by the President of the Town Union. On the kindred level, the Amala is the head and representative of his kindred in the community.
The Eze is the traditional and cultural head and also the chief security officer of his community. In some of the autonomous communities, the Ezeship is hereditary. 

Ekweji (New Yam Festival): One of the many cultural practices or festivals in Isiala Mbano is the New Yam Festival Ekweji or iri ji or nrim ji. It was and is still customary that the Ekweji heralds the harvesting of the New Yam in Isiala Mbano. It is usually celebrated starting on the third Orie Amaraku market day in September. The Ekweji festival usually lasts for more than a week, and this is because the various autonomous communities celebrate on their ancestral market days within this period. In Ugiri clan, the Ekweji is heralded by the "Nta feast". The Nta feast is a minor feast that signified the approach of the New yam period.
During this period also, different kinds of special food delicacies like Ugba agworo agwo native salad, ofe araga, Ji ahuru ahu roasted yam, akpu fermented cassava, pounded yam, to name a few of the food items and together with mmanya nkwu or mmanya ngwo native palm wine, are prepared and served to family members and friends . In Umuozu, a very rare soup, ofe agbaragba is prepared during this time. Ofe agbaragba is prepared only once throughout the whole year because the ingredient opi ede, that is part of the required ingredient, only blossoms this time of the year
Mmanwu (Masquerade): Almost all communities in Isiala Mbano, as in all Igbo land, do have one form of Masquerade Mmanwu (masked spirit) or the other with different names, shapes and form. They feature prominently during cultural festivals like Ekweji and other recreational festivals to mark the end or beginning of the year. You have to be initiated Ima mmanwu to be odukwu and to be part of these masquerades groups and any ogbendu the non-initiated, has to be very careful when approaching these masked spirit.
One of the majestic and magnificent display of masquerades in Isiala Mbano, can be seen during the Anara Day Celebrations. The festival is usually celebrated on the 26th day of December and had been in existence before the colonial rule. It is an elaborate festival as many masquerades from different parts of Isiala Mbano, and beyond, attend the festival.
Ibo Ama or Mbom Uzo: Before the advent of tarred roads, the people of Isiala Mbano significantly observed the practice of clearing all roads in their various communities on their ancestral market days and major festivals like ekweji.

Egwu onwa Moonlight dance: used to be one of the recreational activities within the area. However this fun loving activity is gradually fading or has faded away in most of the communities.

Traditional Marriage (Aja ishiobi - Igba Nkwu): Traditional marriage rites in Isiala Mbano, as in many communities in Igbo Land, is an elaborate and long process that involves the kinsfolk and lots of wine presentations ibu mmanyi. In any of the steps or stages, that involves visits, palm wine mmanyi nkwu/mmanyi ngwo has to be presented and if during this period of ibu mmanyi, the jar of wine falls and breaks; the marriage is called off as it is a sign of bad omen.
Aja ishiobi used to be the last rite in Isiala Mbano traditional marriage rites. In recent years however, it has metamorphosed into Igba Nkwu.
Most of the traditional marriage rites follow the stages below once the man informs his parents of his intensions and the woman he wants to marry.

Step 1 – Iku aka Knocking On The Door. The first Introduction of both families.
Step 2 – Family background investigations (done mainly by the bride parents).
Step 3 – Ije di abali ano Bride four day visit.(Bride stays with his mother in-law).
Step 4 - Ije di abali asato Bride eight day visit
Step 5- Aja ishiobi - Igba nkwu The Dowry negotiations/payment and traditional wedding ceremony.
Aja ishiobi: On this festive and final marriage rite, the man with his parents and kinsfolk visits his in-laws (bride parents and kinsfolk); settles the marriage list that has been given to him, pays the bride price/dowry (both parents only and in private) and goes home with his bride at the end of the feast. The presence of the bride kinsfolk is for them to be aware that "their daughter" has been given away in marriage ike di.
As mentioned earlier, Igba Nkwu, has taken over the name, customs and ceremonial activities associated with Aja ishiobi in many of the marriage rites in Isiala Mbano. This may be as a result of the negative understanding of the word aja, in Aja ishiobi.

Religion: Before the advent of Christianity, religious life for people around Isiala Mbano was dominated by the belief and worship of the Supreme God, Chi, through minor deities. There were communal deities like the mbaa deity Dimolushi in Ugiri or ezeala anayanwu deity in Obollo. However, there were smaller deities found in almost every compound serviced by the Opara or di okwara, the eldest son of the family and having the ofor as a symbol of authority. These beliefs and practices, as with the egwo onwa are now nonexistent in many communities or families; the remnants are gradually fading away as Christianity takes hold.