Otamiri - the mystery River
By Ebere Inyama
First published in Oct 10th 2010
 |
| River Otamiri |
Have you been to ‘Aja
nzu’ farmland located in Oforola community in Imo State?
Did you notice the whitish
sand and small concrete stones scattered inside the bowel-shaped expanse of
land that make up the farm?
According to a
popular legend, the Otamiri River was originally not situated at its present
location in Ihiagwa, rather it migrated from a different location in response
to a sacrifice offered to it many centuries ago.
According to the
story, the people of Oforola, having defeated their neighbouring Communities in
battle namely, Obinze, Avu, Umuokanne, Obosima and Ohuba and secured a greater
portion of farmland many centuries ago, woke up one morning to discover that a
large portion of the ‘Aja-nzu’ (clay sand) farmland which they had hither-to
cultivated, had been submerged by water.
So unexpected was the discovery that the Council of elders in Oforola called an emergency meeting of all the males in that Community with a view to deciding how best to handle the matter so that the river would settle in the new location since the entire Community is land-locked. They ended up at the shrine of Ota-kpuru (an oracle) then worshipped by the people of Oforola. After chanting some incantations, the priest of the oracle announced to them that river will settle in their land if they come to the shrine of Ota-kpuru with ‘a partridge in their hands’ and present a ‘male and a female’ for sacrifice.
Meanwhile, a man from Ihiagwa Community who came for a courtesy visit to his in-laws living in Oforola had seen the river and had heard the request made by the oracle. He quickly hurried back home and informed the elders of his home Community (Ihiagwa) of the discovery. The elders of Ihiagwa wasted no time in calling a meeting of their men-folk and after some consultations, decided to go to the shrine of Ota-kpuru by 3am the following day and present the oracle with two live lizards (male and female), the aim being to attract the river to their land since their community was also landlocked
On the other hand, the elders of Oforola misinterpreted the language of the oracle by reasoning that the oracle required them to not only come with a live partridge in their hands in the literal sense of the words, but also to bring human beings (boy and girl ) for sacrifice. To this end therefore, they sent the youths out early the next morning to catch a partridge while they consulted among themselves to decide whose daughter and whose son to be used for the sacrifice.
So unexpected was the discovery that the Council of elders in Oforola called an emergency meeting of all the males in that Community with a view to deciding how best to handle the matter so that the river would settle in the new location since the entire Community is land-locked. They ended up at the shrine of Ota-kpuru (an oracle) then worshipped by the people of Oforola. After chanting some incantations, the priest of the oracle announced to them that river will settle in their land if they come to the shrine of Ota-kpuru with ‘a partridge in their hands’ and present a ‘male and a female’ for sacrifice.
Meanwhile, a man from Ihiagwa Community who came for a courtesy visit to his in-laws living in Oforola had seen the river and had heard the request made by the oracle. He quickly hurried back home and informed the elders of his home Community (Ihiagwa) of the discovery. The elders of Ihiagwa wasted no time in calling a meeting of their men-folk and after some consultations, decided to go to the shrine of Ota-kpuru by 3am the following day and present the oracle with two live lizards (male and female), the aim being to attract the river to their land since their community was also landlocked
On the other hand, the elders of Oforola misinterpreted the language of the oracle by reasoning that the oracle required them to not only come with a live partridge in their hands in the literal sense of the words, but also to bring human beings (boy and girl ) for sacrifice. To this end therefore, they sent the youths out early the next morning to catch a partridge while they consulted among themselves to decide whose daughter and whose son to be used for the sacrifice.
By the time the
youths of Oforola had caught a partridge and their elders decided on the human
beings to be used for the sacrifice, the elders of Ihiagwa had arrived at the
Ota-kuru shrine and presented the oracle with a male and a female lizard.
At about midnight same day, the mysterious river moved from the Aja-nzu farmland in Oforola to its present location in Ihiagwa. Ota-kpuru existed in Oforola until it was destroyed by Christian crusaders in December 1999.
The Otamiri watershed covers about 10,000 square kilometres (3,900sq miles) with an annual rainfall of 2,250 – 2,500 millimetres and is mostly covered by depleted rainforest vegetation.
At about midnight same day, the mysterious river moved from the Aja-nzu farmland in Oforola to its present location in Ihiagwa. Ota-kpuru existed in Oforola until it was destroyed by Christian crusaders in December 1999.
The Otamiri watershed covers about 10,000 square kilometres (3,900sq miles) with an annual rainfall of 2,250 – 2,500 millimetres and is mostly covered by depleted rainforest vegetation.
The river runs south
from Egbu past Owerri and through Nekede, Ihiagwa, Eziobodo, Mgbirichi and
Umuagwo to Ozuzu in Etche, Rivers State from where it flows into the Atlantic
Ocean.
One important
attribute of the Otamiri river lies in the fact that it flows through an
alternating sequence of sand, sandstones and clay shells. Random sand samples
from the bank of Otamiri river between Chokocho and Umuanyaga , Etche Local
Government Area of Rivers State shows that 86% of the sand particles are within
the ideal range for glass making.
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Ibini ukpabi : The pride of the ancient Igbos
By Ebere Inyama
Published January 4th 2012
Ibini Ukpabi ( Ibibio : Drum of the creator God)) was a famous
oracle of Aro Confederacy of what is now South-Eastern Nigeria. It was known among the British as the 'Long Ju-ju'. During the pre-colonial era in Nigeria, precisely in the
late 17th and 18th centuries, the Igbos practiced a system of traditional
religion that was anchored on fetish beliefs and tradition called ‘Odinala’.
 |
| Priest of Ibini Ukpabi and his servant |
During that time, Ibini Ukpabi was used to settle cases, particularly those of
murder, witchcraft, poisoning and family disputes in the Niger Delta area. The two parties concerned during dispute settlement were
expected to visit the oracle by 3am on a specified market day. The accused were
expected to come with a live fowl which was often placed before the oracle.
Then the priest of the oracle usually performs rituals after which the two
parties, including their witnesses watched the bird for some minutes. If the
bird slumped and died within few minutes of being observed, the interpretation
usually becomes that the accused is guilty. But if the bird lived, then it
means that the accused is innocent.
This process of dispute settling was so effective and so popular that visitors form far and near were often seen coming to the shrine for one purpose or another.
This process of dispute settling was so effective and so popular that visitors form far and near were often seen coming to the shrine for one purpose or another.
Towards the end of the18th century, a certain
group within the Igbo tribe called 'Aro' became a major economic power in the
entire region. This was achieved through their doggedness in trade, social
relationships with non-Igbos and their affiliation with the famous ibini ukpabi, an oracle which was
celebrated within and outside Igbo land for its efficacy and accuracy of
judgment.
The Aros were the first in Igboland to establish contact with European slave traders. They were initially traders in household goods and merchandise, but later became notorious for slave trading probably due to the huge profit they made from selling slaves.
The Aros were the first in Igboland to establish contact with European slave traders. They were initially traders in household goods and merchandise, but later became notorious for slave trading probably due to the huge profit they made from selling slaves.
Ibini ukpabi remained the major oracle in the entire Igboland until the
early stages of the British colonialism in Nigeria.
However, at the peak of the era of slave trade, some priests of the oracle were reported to have engaged in collection of bribe from people to facilitate the judgment of the oracle to their favour. This issue did not go down well with the people such that when the Christian missionaries arrived in the area, many of the indigenes switched their faith to Christianity.
With time, formal education became established
in the area and the once mighty Ibini
Ukpabi ceased to be patronized by the majority of the people. Nowadays,
only a few people visit the shrine of ibini
ukpabi while majority of the people have been converted to Christianity.
Ibini Ukpabi ( Ibibio : Drum of the creator God)) was a famous
oracle of Aro Confederacy of what is now South-Eastern Nigeria. It was known among the British as the 'Long Ju-ju'. During the pre-colonial era in Nigeria, precisely in the
late 17th and 18th centuries, the Igbos practiced a system of traditional
religion that was anchored on fetish beliefs and tradition called ‘Odinala’.
 |
| front view of the shrine |
During that time, Ibini Ukpabi was used to settle cases, particularly those of
murder, witchcraft, poisoning and family disputes in the Niger Delta area. The two parties concerned during dispute settlement were
expected to visit the oracle by 3am on a specified market day. The accused were
expected to come with a live fowl which was often placed before the oracle.
Then the priest of the oracle usually performs rituals after which the two
parties, including their witnesses watched the bird for some minutes. If the
bird slumped and died within few minutes of being observed, the interpretation
usually becomes that the accused is guilty. But if the bird lived, then it
means that the accused is innocent.
This process of dispute settling was so effective and so popular that visitors form far and near were often seen coming to the shrine for one purpose or another.
This process of dispute settling was so effective and so popular that visitors form far and near were often seen coming to the shrine for one purpose or another.
Towards the end of the18th century, a certain
group within the Igbo tribe called 'Aro' became a major economic power in the
entire region. This was achieved through their doggedness in trade, social
relationships with non-Igbos and their affiliation with the famous ibini ukpabi, an oracle which was
celebrated within and outside Igbo land for its efficacy and accuracy of
judgment.
The Aros were the first in Igboland to establish contact with European slave traders. They were initially traders in household goods and merchandise, but later became notorious for slave trading probably due to the huge profit they made from selling slaves.
The Aros were the first in Igboland to establish contact with European slave traders. They were initially traders in household goods and merchandise, but later became notorious for slave trading probably due to the huge profit they made from selling slaves.
Ibini ukpabi remained the major oracle in the entire Igboland until the
early stages of the British colonialism in Nigeria.
However, at the peak of the era of slave trade, some priests of the oracle were reported to have engaged in collection of bribe from people to facilitate the judgment of the oracle to their favour. This issue did not go down well with the people such that when the Christian missionaries arrived in the area, many of the indigenes switched their faith to Christianity.
With time, formal education became established
in the area and the once mighty Ibini
Ukpabi ceased to be patronized by the majority of the people. Nowadays,
only a few people visit the shrine of ibini
ukpabi while majority of the people have been converted to Christianity.
............................................................................................................TEN WEIRD FACTS ABOUT MARIJUANA
published Feb 20th 20131. Marijuana is NOT Hemp!
Although both marijuana and hemp are weeds, have a similar leaf shape, and are subspecies of the Cannabis sativa plant, they are in fact very different.
Marijuana has flowering buds with a high content of THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) the stuff that makes you feel “high”. Hemp, on the other hand, has a very low THC content, can be grown closely together, and it can be used to make a variety of useful products. (You cannot get high from smoking hemp.)
Hemp and marijuana were once considered separate entities. The 1937 Marihuana Tax act was focused on the THC-producing variety. It wasn't until 1970, when the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act took over lumping hemp and marijuana in the same category, making both illegal, and creating confusion in people's minds to this day.
2.It Used To Be Patriotic To Grow Hemp
While America was still just 13 colonies, a 1619 law REQUIRED farmers to grow it. Hemp was used to make rope, clothing, and sails.
Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson owned hemp farms, and Jefferson wrote a draft of the Declaration of Independence on hemp paper. Also, what about the flag Betsy Ross sewed? You guessed it: made of hemp.
3. The US Government Used It To Fight The Nazis
During the height of World War II, the US produced a film entitled “Hemp for Victory” praising the many uses of hemp, and encouraging farmers to grow it to help with the war effort.
The existence of the film was denied by the Government for many years until 1989, when marijuana advocate Jack Herrer donated a VHS copy to the Library of Congress. It is now in the Public Domain, and can be seen on YouTube – watch below!
4. Medical Marijuana Has Been Around For Thousands of Years
In Ancient China, the plant, known as Ma, was used for food, fuel, clothing, and medicine going back to 6,000 B.C. But the oldest existing reference to medical marijuana dates to 2737 B.C. when the Red Emperor Shen Nung is credited with writing The Herbal, a listing of medicinal properties of various herbs, including Ma, to alleviate rheumatism and gout pain. In 2 A.D. Hua T'o is recorded as having used Ma-yo (the female plant) and red wine as an anesthesia while he performed painful surgeries including organ grafts and loin incisions. Yeah, you'd probably want to be high for that.
5. Marijuana is actually GOOD for your lungs!
That's right, a recent study of 5,000 pot smokers by UCSF and University of Alabama showed that those who only smoke a few joints a week actually had stronger lung capacity and external blowing force than non-users.
A 2005 UCLA paper also shows that marijuana smoke might actually help to PREVENT lung cancer.
Unlike tobacco, which contains nicotine and is a known carcinigen, marijuana contains cannibinoids and THC, which seem to discourage cancer. It is also impossible to die of an overdose. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
6. The Indian Government Declared Marijuana Harmless in 1894
While use of cannabis was primarily medicinal in Ancient China, over in India they liked to party with it.
It was a common substance, used in religious ceremonies and to help people chill out. It was often ingested as a drink, boiled with nuts and milk called Bhang. It made people happy, so much so that the British Colonial Government was concerned it might be driving the population insane.
They commissioned a study and issued a report entitled The Indian Hemp Drugs Commission Report of 1894. It not only concluded that mainstream usage was harmless, but also that a ban on it might actually prove more detrimental.
7. 14.4 Million Americans Smoke marijuana
8.Where Did The Name Marijuana Come From? No One Knows
There is a lot of speculation when it comes to the origin of the name marijuana. Folklore has it that it is a hybrid of the names Maria and Juana, slang terms for a prostitute.
Another theory is that it is derived from the word maraguanquo, which means “intoxicating plant.” While a variant of the word appeared as early as 1873, the plant was known mostly as cannabis.
It wasn't until the demonization of the drug in the 1930's and 40's (used to suppress minorities) that the word Marihuana was associated with “Reefer Madness.” Over the years, hundreds of nicknames have been coined, including grass, weed, dope, pot, and kush. What's your favorite?
9. The Use of Hemp Could Save Our Planet
Uses of the hemp plant fiber itself are numerous. It can be made into rope, paper, clothing, canvas, eaten as a food, and its seeds can be used for fuel. It's also good for the planet.
A study by McGill University in Canada estimated that 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 million acres of industrial hemp would take care of all of our oil needs. In addition, unlike tobacco, which destroys the soil after every crop, planting cannabis actually improves it.
It is legal in Uruguay, Peru, India, and even in Iran for it to be grown for food/fuel. Legalization of both hemp and marijuana would produce thousands of jobs, take care of world hunger, cut back on greenhouse gases, and help people cope with the pain of AIDs, glaucoma, and cancer. It turns out that getting “high” from it is just an added bonus.
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