SOME OBOWO DIALECTS & FACTUAL FACTS THAT CAN BE USED TO IDENTIFY OBOWO/OBOWOANS ANYWHERE.

By: Antiquity Prince.

Frankly and factually speaking, no one in Imo State can doubt it that the best Governor of Imo State remains, His Excellency Chief Dr. Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe (of the Blessed Memory). According to an Igbo adage, “A baa na Nna, e ñree na Nne”…. Chief Sam. Mbakwe, was from Obowo Local Government Area (L.G.A), therefore, Obowo L.G.A is one of the happening L.G.As among all the 27 L.G.As in Imo State, I call Obowo, “A Decision-making L.G.A, in Imo State”, in all ramifications.

From the little explanations above, let me at this juncture say that, Obowo L.G.A is known to have enough palm wine, palm trees and other things, “a naghi e bu mmanya mmiri a ga Obowo”. In addition, let me enumerate some dialects that can be used to identify Obowoans, because, Culture is the totality of people’s way of life, including language, which differentiate them from others. Although these dialects can be spoken normally by Ihitte/Uboma people (of old Etiti L.G.A) and Mbaise people, our neighbours. As we can use “Ótu Ócha” to authentically identify an Mbanó man (both Ehime and Isiala), it is there national anthem, we can equally identify an Obowo man with dialects like:

1. Go and sit down = Gaa kporuo ala.
2. Have you come back? = i yohuole?
3. Will you come back to the house? = i ga-ayóghachi n’uyo?.
4. House 🏠= Ūyò
5. Did you fetch firewood? = i gara kpaa nku?
6. Do not fart/mess here. = A nyukwala ahu ngaa.
7. Here = Ngaa.
8. Have you gone to bed/sleep? = i labala/i lakpuole?.
9. This orange 🍊 is sweet. = Epe a na-achó úchó.
10. Orange = Epe.
11. Sweet = Úchó.
12. Only you cannot come here.= Nani gi a gaghi a biali ngaa.
13. You have a big head. = i nwere isi ábādābà/isi ukwu.
14. You have a big eye = i nwere anya okpokoto/ukwu.
15. You are ugly = i jóró njo.
    15b. You are too ugly = i jófuru nshi.

…. Others include:

16. He who pursues an innocent child, will definitely fall while the child will run away. = Ó chu nwa Ókukó nwe a da, nwa Ókukó nwe mbó-mbó ósó. (Mr. Ibu will say…, “Chasing chicken, fallen fallen, chicken juggling juggling, running running”).
17. This cap fits you very well. = Okpu a mara gi nma n’isi ikpu… /Okpu a ga ibah gi isi.
18. Live and let live = Ègbé bere, Ugo bere, nke si ibe ya e bele, nku kwakwaa ya.
19. If you work, you eat. = Aka aja aja na-evute ónu mmanu mmanu.
20. Carry = vute
    Carry this for me = vutere m ihe a.
21. Lift that thing by yourself = Jiri aka gi mavuru ihe ahu.
22. Do not urinate/wee on your clothes.= A nyukwala mamiri n’uwe ghi/n’efe ghi.
23. Clothe = uwe/efe You = ghi.
24. I was here yesterday = A biara m ngaa echi gara aga.
25. He is stooling seriously = Ó na-anyu nshi Afó ósisa / Ó na-anyu nshi otorororo.

SOME NOTABLE JUNCTIONS/BUS STOPS AND DAILY MARKETS IN OBOWO.

👉 Ugwumabiri bus stop.
👉 Achingali junction.
👉 Ogwoghoroanya junction.
👉 Nwokeisiama junction.
👉 Seven and half junction.
👉 Onuimo bus stop.

🤜🏻 Onuimo Malaysia market.
🤜🏻 Orie Umulogho market
🤜🏻 Ekeja Ehume market.

SOME FACTUAL FACTS ABOUT OBOWO.

Obowo has 14 original villages, now 15, including Umuagu, but a total of 23 Autonomous communities; 10 electoral wards, 4 Police stations (2 dead, 1 in incubation, 1 fully in existence, very active, plus the DSS modern office opposite the L.G.A headquarters), etc. Obowo has over 10 hospitals, excluding health centres in almost all the 14 original villages, two functional mortuaries (Mercy & Erico morgues), secondary schools in all the 14 original villages, two big slaughter sites/Abattoirs, over 10 hotels cum guest houses, five big markets, and numerous smaller markets. The headquarters of Obowo Local Government Area is called Otoko.

It has the strongest and most recognized group/body, known as O.D.A = Obowo Development Association (federated), though no longer very active as a result of unnecessary inconsistency in the normal activities, O.D.A has branches in all the 36 states in Nigeria, plus Abuja, that has the most vibrant branch, including in some foreign countries. The longest served Chairman of Obowo Local Government Area is Hon. Chief Ray Emerenini, the last L.G.A Chairman is Hon. C.C Ihejirika (2020 to 2022), while the incumbent Chairman, 2022 to date/2023, is Hon. Pius Uwaleme (Chupo). Among all the over 15 L.G.A former chairmen of Obowo, only three were women, but no woman has been elected as the Chairman of Obowo Local Government Area.

The most favoured in terms of acquisition and use of power and authority in Obowo, is, Amuzi Community. Currently, the incumbent Chairman of Obowo Local Government Area is, from Umuariam Community, the incumbent House of Assembly member representing Obowo State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly is from Umuokeh Community, the most developed or busiest Community is, Old Ikenanzizi, the most modernly designed Community with almost all the roads tarred, is Umulogho Community, the first son (Ópara Obowo) is Ehume Community, the most stubborn and agile Community is Umuariam Obowo (they are developed too, and at the centre of Obowo), the father of Obowo (reincarnated father) is Umuosochie Community, the India of Obowo is Odenkume Community, the last born of Obowo is Umunachi Community, the smallest Community (in size) is Umuagu Community, the only Community with tertiary institution and more than ten schools in all, is Umulogho Community, the most developed communities are, Ikenanzizi, Avutu, Okenalogho, Umuariam, Umungwa and Ehume Communities. The first and second Catholic parishes to be dedicated in the whole of Okigwe Diocese are Secred Heart Parish Alike Obowo and St. Peter’s Catholic Parish Umulogho Obowo, respectively. The oldest serving Reverend Father in Okigwe diocese retired in Umulogho Obowo.

Apart from the statutory positions, like L.G.A Chairman and Councilors, Obowo L.G.A has politically produced a Governor, Senators, House of Representatives member, Minister, Commissioners, Ambassadors, etc. Obowo L.G.A shares same boundaries with Umuopara Umuahia, Ihitte/Uboma L.G.A, Mbanó L.G.As, and Mbaise L.G As. Obowo is a peaceful place, a home of harmony and hospitality. Obowo has countless Philantropists. Obowo has annual and other festivals, viz., Mbomuzo, iwa-akwa, Ntumaka, Nkwaji, Ègbé Nkwu, Ezumezu, etc. All the 15 Villages have solid Age-grades.

Obowo has more than 7 notable Rivers, especially in Umulogho, Okwuohia, Umuokeh, Umungwa, Avutu, and others.

It is spelt OBOWO in English language, while it is spelt OBOWU in Igbo language. The people of Obowo are purely Christians, dominated by Catholics, followed by Anglicans and other Churches/Church members. The largest family in Okigwe zone, (if not Imo State) is from Umulogho Obowo, Nwankwo Anöwii Eligwe Royal Dynasty, 35 wives, 104 children, 429 grandchildren, countless great-grandchildren & great great grandchildren.

Obowo is a typical example of No place like home. It is a blessed and an unavoidable/inevitable Local Government Area in both Imo State and Nigeria, originally in one L.G.A known as Etiti L.G.A (Obowo and Ihitte/Uboma), now on its own, independent as/like a sovereign Local Government Area.

If you have not been to Obowo, you are missing a lot.

Written, compiled, arranged and shared without any book, elder, research, not even social media research, but as a young custodian of culture , by Rotn. (Anchor) Antiquity Blue Blooded Prince A.A.A Nwankwo.

Antiquity with positivity & simplicity, ambiguity, dignity, uniquity & integrity, plus tranquility, without iniqutious iniquity or inimical indignity.

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