The Association:
Onicha Ado Europe (OAE) Association is a cultural organisation which works to promote and preserve the vibrant culture of Onitsha through education, advocacy, and community-building initiatives. It is a trusted name for fostering unity among Onitsha indigenes in Europe and strives to create an inclusive space where people from all walks of life can come together to learn and celebrate the unique history and culture of Onitsha. From cultural events to workshops and lectures, we offer a range of activities for individuals and families to explore and appreciate the culture of Onitsha.
We invite you to join us in our mission to celebrate and preserve Onitsha’s culture and heritage. Whether you are a local resident, a visitor, or a student of culture, you are welcome to come together with us and be part of something special. We look forward to seeing you soon.
excos: 2020 - 2023
The Executive Management Team.
hon. ikem Obiozor
President
Nwamaka Ogbuli
Vice President
Angel Egbuji
Secretary
Nkiru Osili
Secretary II
Adiba Igwemma
Financial Secretary
Ifeanyi Azikiwe
Treasurer
Onwa Chuma Inoma
Legal Advisor
Abada Iwuchukwu
Business Development
Akulueuno Ifeatu Umunna
Public Relations I
Ernest O. Chude
Public Relations II
Steve Omenye
Welfare/DOS I
Onyechi Agunyego
Welfare/DOS II
Chuka M. Egbuche
Provost I
Ejoor Ikemefuna
Provost II
Membership
Membership in Onicha Ado Europe Association shall be open to all indigenes of Onitsha Ado n’Idu resident in the geographical area of Europe, who have attained the ripe age of 18 years and has a claim of affiliation to the kingdom of Onitsha Ado n’Idu.
Persons with a claim of affiliation to Onitsha Ado n’Idu SHALL be either by birth (parentage), marriage, or matrilineal descent.
Such a person must also identify with the objectives of Onicha Ado Europe, be willing to pay the subscription fee and abide by the rules and regulations of the Association.
Onicha Ado Europe has been a major part of our cultural organization for years now. They have provided us with a variety of services that have allowed us to celebrate and maintain our cultural heritage. We couldn't be more proud and thankful for their contributions and support throughout the years.
- Samantha Jones
Onitsha Ado n'Idu (Onicha Mmili)
Onicha is a small, original village that was later incorporated and formed the city of Onitsha on the eastern bank of the river Niger, in the geographical area currently called the Anambra state of Nigeria.
A metropolitan city, Onitsha is known for its river port and as an economic hub for commerce, hosting the largest market in Africa in terms of geographical size and volume of goods, popularly referred to as the “Main Market”. Education and industry are the next strong mark of the city which boasts of an estimated urban population of 7,425,000 in 2016.
Onitsha, also referred to as Onitsha Mmili ("Onitsha-on-water") was known as Ado N'Idu by migrants who departed from the vicinity of the kingdom of Benin near the far western portion of Igboland (near what is now Agbor) after a violent dispute with the Oba of Benin that can be tentatively dated to the early 1500s.
After their arrival on the east bank, the Onicha-Mmili community gradually became a unitary kingdom, evolving from a loosely organised group of "royal" villages to encompass "non-royal" villages comprising Igala settlers, and the native Igbos to form a more centralised entity. Eze Aroli was apparently the first genuinely powerful Obi of Onitsha and ruler of the city. The indigenous people of Onitsha, referred to as “Ndi Onicha”, speak the Igbo language.
Onitsha (Onicha) traditionally consists of nine villages otherwise known as Ebo Itenani. These are descendants of the progenitor, referred to as Umuezechima, comprise of Isiokwe, Olosi, Umuezearoli, Okebunabo, Awada (Ogbeozoma), Obikporo & Ogbeotu (which claim origin from Igala in Kogi State), Obamkpa (Umuasele, Iyiawu and Odoje Ndugbe) and Odumegwu Gbuagu (Ubulu na Ikem, Ulutu, Ubene, Ogboli Eke) and Obior. Within these groupings are six administrative wards, namely Okebunabo, Umuezearoli, Ogbeolu, Isiokwe na Ogboli Olosi, Obamkpa and Eke na Ubene.
Onitsha operates a traditional government headed by the Obi, the titular head of the town who is assisted by Ndi Ichie (titled red cap elders or chiefs). Among these are Ndi Ichie Ume, who are the First-Class Chiefs. The Ndi Ichie are classified into six, namely: Onowu Iyasele (traditional prime minister), Ajie Ukadiugwu, Odu Osodi, Onya Ozoma, Ogene Onira and Owelle Osowa. There are also other Ndi Ichie, who are ranked second class, known as Ndi Ichie Okwa and third class, known as Ndi Ichie Okwareze. The Ndi Ichie serve as Council of Advisers to the Obi who solicits their advice in major decisions he takes in the Kingdom.
When the ruling Obi joins his ancestors, the Onowu Iyasele takes charge until a new Obi is enthroned.
ONitsha Heritage
Learn more about who we are:
Monarchy
The kingship institution in Onitsha is hereditary but, only to the extent that only those who belong to the royal lineage of Umuezechima, made up of mainly Okebunabo and Umuezearoli, are privileged to ascend the throne. The Obi must of necessity be a “state orphan”, as it is only the one whose father is no more that can ascend the ‘throne of his father’. Although the mother of an Obi may be alive, tradition restrains any interference by the mother of an Obi in his daily royal functions.
The Obi of Onitsha is the custodian of Onitsha customs and traditions with the power of intercession and mediation between the living, the ancestors and the gods. The Customary/Political Constitution of Onitsha confers on the Obi such supreme religious and social powers that are only moderated by the Council of Ministers (Ndi Ichie).
As part of the Onitsha tradition and culture, the Obi cannot be deposed and cannot touch unclean things. He does no evil, is never wrong, nor could a judgment be passed against him. Above all, he is not expected to act against democratic norms.
The king’s palace is regarded as a sacred place and visitors to the palace must remove certain gears, including certain types of caps and charms, or risk bringing harm to themselves. Until recently, the Obi was not expected to go beyond his palace and would not receive nor discuss with visitors directly but through a royal spokesman.
As a demonstration of loyalty, Obi’s subjects greet the Obi kneeling before the throne and calling him various names that depict the mythical concepts of his deity.
The names include:
Agbogidi (the voice of thunder and one without anger);
Onye Nwe Obodo (the supreme and maximum ruler of Onitsha);
Aka M’elu Igbo (the commander of the victorious Onitsha army or warriors)
Ogbuefi (the one who initiates ceremony by the killing of a cow);
Okwusie Obee (the one with the final decision, the ultimate judge).
Ndi Ichie (Red Cap Chiefs):
Ndi Ichie were in ancient times warriors in their own right – military commanders of sorts – within the polity. It must be stressed that their roles then were defence and advisory because the monarch does no wrong and therefore cannot be corrected as it were.
Ndi Ichie (traditional red-cap chiefs) by Onitsha customary practice, are the only recognised chiefs. They are classified into three distinct groups with various levels of authority within the polity. They are also traditional political heads of various clans from where they emanate.
The Ndi Ichie Ume are on top of the hierarchy. They are just six in number – Onowu, Ajie, Odu, Onya, Ogene and Owelle.
CEREMONIALS
Onitsha ceremonial life involves a series of festivals, with each festival forming part of a continuum that helps to symbolically relate each aspect of social life to the wider reality. Six main festivals are celebrated in one Onitsha year. The basic sacred divisions of the year are set by the phases of the moon. The Obi proclaims each of the 28-day lunar months (ONWA) and defines the ceremonial sequences in terms of the seven four-day weeks (OGE ISA) that comprise each month.
The six main festivals are as follows:
> IFEJIOKU:
This is usually celebrated in January and is essentially a homage to the yam spirit with a view to establishing the presence of this guardian spirit of yams in each strip of farmland to be cleared and cultivated.
> AJACHI:
Normally celebrated in June, it is a sacrifice to the Almighty and involves beseeching God to guide every adult in his labour* and help his/her crops prosper.
> UMATO:
This is the first harvest festival celebrated in June at the time of the maize harvest. Umato is a 16-day festival beginning with the exclusive celebration by the Obi for a four-day period, after which the celebration of the populace takes place. Umato entails a redistribution of new consumable wealth by the nobility to lesser mortals.
> OWUWAJI:
This is the new yam festival. It is normally celebrated in September and commences 24 days after the Umato, lasting for another 24 days. The Obi performs the ritual of eating the new yam after the various sections of Onitsha must have performed the ritual.
The Obi must also during this period retire into a trance-like state for four days. This is known as INYEPU UKWU NA NLO EZE.
Sons & Daughters of Onitsha Ado n'idu
Prominent Sons & Daughters