HOW NATIVE IGBOS FROM NGWA', ARO, DELTA AND OHAJI/EGBENMA MIGRATED TO IGWE OCHA AND BECAME IKWERRE:
The Ikwerre (natively known as Iwhuruọha are one of the Igbo Subgroups in Rivers State.
Traditional history has classified Ikwerre into seven groups called "Ikwerre Essa". They are Elele, Isiokpo, Rumuji, Emohua, Choba, Aluu Igwuruta and Obio group.
Some Ikwerre people migrated from Ika, a subgroup of Igbos in Delta State and Edo state while some migrated from Ngwa, Arochukwu and Ohaji/Egbema.
The Aro first came into the Ikwerre area through Ozuzu-Etche, settling at Isiokpo, Igwuruta, Omagwa, etc. As expected of pre-literate African societies, the history of the people is wrapped in myth and mystery.
This presupposes that historians may have to resort to oral tradition for the justifiable/credible reconstruction of the people's history.
When Port Harcourt was conquered by Nigeria during the Biafran War and the Igbo people from other parts of Igboland fled the territory,
The Ikwerres decided to claim that the Ikwerre were non-Igbo for convenience and safety and they became officially recognized as a separate group in the 1979 Nigerian Constitution.
It was about that time that names of places and those of some individuals began to change to reflect a new era in the Ikwerre history.
Examples are:
Umu changed to Rumu,
Mu na chi changed to Manuchi,
Nwike changed to Wike,
ObiAkpo changed to ObiakpO,
Chidimma changed to Chiburuoma,
Nwa changed to Nwo.
Ezenwa changed to Ezenwo.
Nwaekpa/Nwekpa changed to Wekpa etc.
Before these repudiatons Chiolu, an ikwerre community had a king known as "Eze Diala" and another community had a king called "Eze Okehi". All these names were Igbo, not any other nation.
"The Ikwerre of the present Rivers State were made to underline this point after the end of the Biafra war by the simple process of prefixing a capital "R” to the names of their towns.
In this way. Ụmụkurushi became Rumukurushi, Ụmụigbo became Rumuigbo and so on in the hope, rather than the belief, that this would make other Nigerians forget they are or ever were IGBOS.
Traditional Ikwere dressing includes:
Men: Loincloths or wrappers with intricate patterns and designs, paired with a sleeveless shirt or a flowing robe.
Women: Colorful wrappers and blouses with elaborate head ties and adornments.
Insignia and symbols include:
The "Nyamba" symbol, which represents the Ikwere people's connection to the earth and their ancestors.
The "Ori" symbol, which represents the sun and the light that guides the people.
The "Uku" symbol, which represents the sacred python and the people's connection to nature.
These symbols and dresses are worn during important ceremonies and events, such as the "Ikwere Day" celebration, which showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Ikwere people.
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