Ukwuani
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ụkwụànì (sometimes spelt Ụkwànì) is a language spoken in parts of Delta and Rivers States in Nigeria notably Abbi, Aboh, Afor, Akoku, Amai Nge, Amai Ndoni, Anuabo, Ashaka, Ebedei, Emu Obiogo, Emu Uno, Ejeme Aniogo, Ezionum, Eziokpor, Igbe Ogume, Kwale, Ndemili,Obiaruku, Owa Alizomor, Obetim Uno, Obiakambu, Obikwele, Ogbe, Ogume, Owa Alidima, Sovie Umuekum Amia, Umuekum Amai, Umuleke Ossissa, Utagba Uno, Utagba Ogbe, Umutu, Utue Ogume, Umuebu, Umuseti, Ushie, Uchie, and Utagba.
Contents |
[edit] People
The people in general are also known as Ndokwa people. Ndokwa is supposed to be, in its real sense, Nde Okwa, now known as Ndokwa, meaning kingly people; high people; people of the king; noble people; chiefly people.
The word Ndokwa came into existence to rename the then Aboh Division. The name was derived from the two districts comprising Aboh division, namely Ndoshimili and Ukwani.
[edit] Language
 |
The neutrality of this section is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page. |
The language is studied in schools of this distinct towns. The word Ụkwụànì is a concatenation of the words Ukwu, meaning the waist, or the leg (literally the ankle), and Anì, meaning the ground; below; beneath.
It probably has its roots in their culture of dancing with waists down, as a symbol of Ụkwụànì dancing expertise. Anyone who dances with their waists stiff or rigid is considered a non-expert and an inexperienced fellow in dance, according to the Ụkwụànì culture.
The Ụkwụànì language is related to several languages in the Niger Delta region which are collectively called Delta Ibo. However, it is advisable to have it behind the mind that this may produce serious or severe controversy, since the majority of the Ukwuani assert to the fact that their origin is undisputably and undividedly linked to the ancient ethnic chain of the Urhobo people who are their "next door" neighbours. And truly, the Ukwunani community, as a whole, ubiquitously surround this people (the Urhobos) from where they claim ascendency. It is the Igbo bent ascented people of the Asaba region and western side of Delta State that the Ukwuani majority agree to be originating from the closeby Igbo States and boundaries which are being shared by the Deltans and their "on-the-other-side" indubitable Igbo denizens. Although there are similarities with the Igbo language and the Ukwuani language, just as same similarities abound between French and Latin, or between Spanish and Portuguese or as between most Asian nations as India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. However, and on that awareness, a handful of Ukwuanì people would not deny being Igbo while the rest majority would strongly and arguably claim otherwise - as already said: they still choose to cling on to their believed and widespread-amidst-themselves Urhobo descent.
THE POLITICISATION OF THE IGBO IDENTITY IN POST-WAR NIGERIA
The irony of the recent worldview of the Ukwuani is that prior to the Biafra-Nigeria civil war, the greatest Igbo nationalists like Chief Dennis Osadebay who founded the "Ibo state union" was from the Anioma area of Delta state.
The late Major Kaduna Nzeogwu who led the Jan.1966 first coup that was tagged an "Igbo coup" and subsequently led to the counter coup and civil-war was also from the Anioma area of Delta state.
With the end of the war,defeat of Biafra and subsequent loss of influence of the Igbo in the political equation of Nigeria, it suddenly became in vogue for Igbos situated on the periphery outside the 5 Southeastern states to disclaim their Igbo identity in order to seek relevance with the largely anti-Igbo establishment, not minding that some of the finest officers of the ersthwhile Biafran army came from the Anioma area.
Many groups trace their origin outside their present ethnic group. Some Isoko's trace their origin to the Igbo. The vast majority of the Urhobo trace their origin to the Edo etc but in all this cases none of these groups have disclaimed their present identity just because they traced their origin elsewhere.
No Urhobo or Isoko has ever been known to claim to be less Urhobo or Isoko just because their origin was traced elsewhere. In the same vein the Yoruba who also have a historical origin have never been known to claim to be less Yoruba because their origin was traced somewhere else.
Curiously it is only people of Igbo heritage situated in peripheral areas like Delta and Rivers states who hurriedly disclaim their Igbo identity on the notion of having a separate origin. This reinforces the believe that most of such denials are politically motivated, moreso when there was no such disclaimers prior to the civil-war, when the Igbo was very influential politically.
Language similarities in the context of ethnology are clearly different from a dialectical cluster of the same language. Any language that has more than 60% similarities is automatically a dialect of the larger language group. In this regards the Ukwuani constitute not just a similar language but a direct dialect of the Igbo language cluster which is recorded in internationally recognised ethnologue reports on Igbo language widely available on the world wide web and in professional linguistic circles.
Ironically while the Ukwuani claims to be more Urhobo than Igbo, it is unlikely the Urhobo is ever going to accept them as such. The Ukwuani will continue to face marginalization and discrimination from the Urhobo on tribal grounds (this has been the trend in Delta state) in spite of the claim of an Urhobo origin by the Ukwuani. It is impossible for the Urhobo to see the Ukwuani differently from what they are today which is Igbo, their origins nothwithstanding.
In democracies where every group struggles to be with the majority in order to be more politically influential, it is curious that the Ukwuani has chosen to identify more with the Urhobo who are themselves minorities, rather than with the Igbos who are majorities in Nigeria. Only one reason can be responsible for this; and that is the loss of political influence by the Igbo albeit temporarily in post-war Nigeria.
[edit] Economy
The Ukwuani people are notably peasant farmers, growing crops like cassava, yams, plantain, mellon, okra etc. Those living in communities transversed by rivers and creeks are additionally engaged in fishing.
Rubber and palm oil extraction have been the major source of huge income for the Ukwani speaking people since the colonial era till date. These activities are drastically dwiddling due to falling market prices, huge migration of productive youths to major cities like Warri, Port Harcourt, and Lagos, and increased hydrocarbon exploration and production activities in the areas. However the areas boast of the presence of one of the biggest agricultural field in Delta and Rivers States that is the Utagba Uno rubber plantation presently managed by Michellin.
Italian giant AGIP has built and commissioned the first Idependent Power Plant (IPP) by an oil producing company in Nigeria at Kwale. The people pride themselve with the peaceful environmental that enabled the successful installation and commissioning of the plant. Indeed the Ukwuani people have been known to be one of the least hostile host communities in Niger Delta.
Indegeniously, the people are also involved in weaving of baskets, foundring and sculpture (known as Okpu-Uzo).
The Ukwuani are widely known for their Ukwani Music, with artists like King Ubulu, Rogana, Harmony Kings, Orji Moore, Eric Enuma etc, that entertain a wide spectrum of Nigerians from the border states of Cross Rivers to Lagos and to the northern states of Abuja and Kano. The Ukwuani Music can be arguably described as the biggest influence the Ukwuani people have over their neighbours, as some of these neighbours adopt Ukwuani Music as their known and acceptably traditional music.
[edit] Social
Ukwuani people are very social among themselves forming community unions and clubs to creat forum to frathernise with each other where ever they live even in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Festivals and celebrations are widely held by communities, unions, clubs, and age grade associations.
Marriage and burial rites are also often highly celebrated like other Nigerian groups.
[edit] Religion
They are mostly Christians; huge Catholic congregations are found in Obiaruku, Ashaka, Obinomba, Umutu and Kwale where Catholic missionaries established churches and elementary schools in the colonial era. Protestant faithfulls are similarly present.
Traditional pagan worshippers still exist in nearly all the communities, while they are few or no Muslims among the Ukwuani people.
[edit] External links
idol worship 65%, catholicism 20% Protestants 10%, others 5%
