INTRODUCTION.
It is somewhat worrisome, and a big threat to our cultural identity and originality if various names are being assigned to our town, and various spellings are being interchangeably used for our villages, kindreds and families today.
Akpo Town as it is supposed to be called, is no longer only being called a town, but at times called, Akpo City, and in another, Akpo Ancient Kingdom. Still in another, it is called Akpo Village.
In the same vain, the six villages in Akpo, namely: Agbaelu, Uhuala, Ogbo, Umueze, Amaife and Udo are no longer consistently spelt, but stylistically presented. The kindreds are not even spared. Everything has become a situation of "ahiazuba." But unfortunately, that is not how it is supposed to be if really we want to maintain our cultural identity, and to bequeath a legacy of originality to our upcoming generations.
Nevertheless, a town is a town, a city is a city, and an ancient kingdom is an ancient kingdom. Also, a village is a village. They are all different from one another. Cities tend to be larger, more populous and more economically diverse than towns. Ancient kingdom has to do with kingship or monarchical systems. A village is a small human settlement, typically rural, with a small population less than that of a town.
Likewise, the names of villages and kindreds are supposed to be consistent in terms of the spellings in order not to alter their meanings and the intentions of the owners of such names, and by extension confusing the future generations.
It is a well-known fact that if this trend is allowed unattended to for a long period, it can constitute not only a threat, but lead to a loss in our cultural identity and originality.
This piece therefore presents a brief historical background of Akpo with it's villages, looks at the current trends as regards the subject matter, the consequences of such inconsistencies, viz: confusion, wrong communication, loss of cultural identity and originality, difficulty in record keeping and difficulty for visitors in locating our community. The way forward include: standardised naming, documentation and preservation of names, consistent spellings and education/awareness of community members. It then concludes with the leaderships at all levels joining hands with the people to correct if not to resolve the entire problems.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION.
Our town is Akpo, one of the fifteen (15) towns in Aguata Local Government Area, and as well as one of the one hundred and seventy-seven (177) towns in Anambra State. It has six villages, comprising namely: Agbaelu, Uhuala, Ogbo, Umueze, Amaife and Udo. Under these villages called "Ogbe," there are several kindreds called "Umunna," of which some of them have further split to form more kindreds, due to possibly, increase in population, disagreements and other reasons. Even under these kindreds called "Umunna," there are semi "Umunna" called "Imenne." Still under this "Imenne" is the immediate family, which is called "Imeulo." All these take their various names, and are recognised by such names.
It was possibly after the civil war, i.e., after the 1970s, when great learning, awareness and better life entered into our town that people began to play with names and words, by way of modernization, hence all these changes in our community's nomenclature. Akpo instead of being called a town is either called a city or an ancient kingdom, and at times, a village. Likewise, the villages, kindreds and larger families, their names have been rewritten in styles different from how they should have been done. All these have contributed to what we are witnessing today.
CURRENT TRENDS.
In recent times, everything has changed. People are becoming more confused as whether Akpo is a town or a city or an ancient kingdom or even a village. But again, the truth remains, that Akpo is what it is - a town with six villages!
Agbaelu is being written as "Agbaenu," "Agbelu" and "Agbenu," Uhuala in some cases is written as "Uhualla." Ogbo seems to be annexing "r," changing it to "Ogbor." For Amaife, in some cases, one sees "Amife." For Umueze and Udo, only God knows whether they will soon change theirs to "Umuezeh" and "Udoh" respectively. Even on letterheads, belonging to some organisations in our different villages, they commit this misplaced identity. That simply means that something is wrong where different names and spellings are used for the same place.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH INCONSISTENCIES.
When any community is not consistent in it's nomenclature, the followings are the consequences:
1. Confusion: When different names and spellings emerge for the same name, there is bound to be confusion in the minds of the community members and outsiders as regards the actual name and it's spellings.
2. Wrong communication: Inconsistent nomenclature or naming can lead to misunderstandings and wrong communications, particularly in official matters, e.g., government.
3. Loss of Cultural identity and originality: What a community is known and remembered for can be lost overtime because the name sounds differently. The originality is lost.
4. Difficulty in record keeping: Where inconsistencies exist, to keep records using different names and spellings for same thing becomes difficult. Example, Agbaelu and Agbaenu or Uhuala and Uhualla might sound as two different brothers respectively in future, hence records keeping difficulty.
5. Difficulty for visitors in locating the community: Visitors might at times find it difficult in locating a place that has several spellings and names for same place.
WAY FORWARD.
Now, how do we solve the above problems? The way forward include the followings:
1. Standardised or normalised naming system: For example, Akpo should be Akpo Town and not Akpo Villa or Akpo City. That standard should be maintained.
2. Documentation and preservation of names: Names of various villages, kindreds and others should be written down and preserved for posterity.
3. Consistent spellings: Consistent spellings are highly required to avoid any ambiguity in future.
4. Education and awareness: The community members should be made aware of the dangers inherent in distorting the names.
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion, it is obvious that inconsistencies in community's nomenclature or naming and spellings can bring about loss in cultural identity and originality. It is therefore important that the leadership at various levels of our town, Akpo, the villages, the kindreds and the families should join hands together to make sure that all the above recommendations for the way forward are duly observed, to be able to resolve the issues.
Peace!
Authored By: Jerry Amuzie Okpalanedu, Lagos.
August 2025.
