History From the archives....Afikpo (Ehugbo)

History From the archives....

Afikpo (Ehugbo)

Afikpo is an ancient Igbo town in present-day Ebonyi state with history dating back to Neolithic Age 3000BC. 

The oral historical accounts was told by chroniclers and elders.

According to Ottenberg and Ebonyi online,the present inhabitants are descendants of two groups, Nkalu and Ego(or Egu), who were the very first setlers at Afikpo. 

Afikpo  owe its culture and tradition to Ego,the very first to settle.The leader of Ego was a man called  Anuma Ugwu,who settled  in an area now occupied  by Ezi ukaka Amaha Amaizu.Another tradition has it that the indiginous people of Afikpo went to war and defeated Ego (indiego) Who were originally Somewhere between Abakaliki and Ahoazara and took many of them prisoners to Afikpo.

 According to research  done by Prof.   D.D Talbot in 1996 at Ezi Ukwu rockshelter Human settlement was dated between  5000BC to 3000BC. 

Afikpo was an important trade route linking the non- igbo speaking people on the Cross-river with the hinterland igbos.

It has a famous Eke Ukwu market named after the day on which they meet and is also connected to other important market centres like Akpoha and Eke Imoha markets,Ahia okpu ugwueguelu,Ahia Ogo in Amachara,Ogbanja at Ndibe,Nkwo Ozizza in Ozizza,and they generally meet on different days on the four days of igbo week.people came from neighbouring communities like Edda, Ohafia ,Ikomoro and Enna Ohia to buy pottery,fish,salt and palm produce

""According to Ottenberg (1968 ) ,He noted that Afikpo traders were active,shipping yams and other foodstuffs and pottery (made by Afilkpo women)south and European goods north by Canoe"" .

Oral tradition  traces pottery  to Ego(indiego).Indiego were great artists, craftsmen and knew much about  pottery, blacksmithing, weaving and carving. 

Those that settled at ohaozara were great blacksmithers, while those that moved to ishaigu  and afikpo were potters and carvers. The historical  linkages  between  Afikpo  and Ishiagu reveals the existence of identical  pottery  tradition  in Ishiagu and its believed to be same pottery  origin  that spread to Okigwe, Awgu,igbo ukwu. 

Photo:Afikpo village, Eastern Nigeria 1951.

Culled From Simon Ottenberg

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THE FIRST RECORDED HUMAN VOICE IN HISTORY, 164 YEARS AGO

Exactly 164 years ago, on April 9, 1860, the earliest known intelligible recorded sound of a human voice was recorded when a

Frenchman Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville

recorded someone singing the song "Au Clair de la Lune" ("By the Light of the Moon") on the device known as phonautograph.

The device would play a role in the development of the gramophone by Emile Berliner.

Today, you need only a click, and your favourite music is playing. Each time you enjoy your music, drama, etc. on a recorded device, or any technology, remember that it was made possible by humans like you who discovered and developed their talents.

Even to date, people are still being born with talents and abilities that will solve most of the problems bothering us today.

This is why we need to make sure that every child attends a primary and secondary school. This is why we have to make sure that all our schools function properly.

Stop expecting God to do for you what he has given us the ability and resources to do. Anyone still saying 'receive your miracle' is nothing but an enemy of society.

Keep all children away from such people. Those whose brains have been completely damaged by such people can continue visiting them, but please keep your children and all children away from them.

There are still millions of devices waiting for us to discover them.

Fada Angelo Chidi Unegbu

HOLY SPIRIT, ENLIGHTEN, AND SANCTIFY US"

⏰Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter (09 April 2024)

📕Acts 4:32-37; Ps 93:1abc, 1c-2, 5 (R.v.1a); John 3:7b-15

🎤"HOLY SPIRIT, ENLIGHTEN, AND SANCTIFY US"

Do you really understand this drama between Jesus and Nicodemus? Consider what Jesus said to him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand this?" (John 3:10).

Notice that Jesus did not call Nicodemus a teacher of the Jews but Israel. Israel is the identity of the chosen people of God, whereas 'Jews' refer to a race. The Pharisees claim to uphold the Laws of Moses and save it from adulteration. The Laws and the Prophets are the major components of the Hebrew Bible, which the Jews believe would lead them to God.

Hence, we see the Johannine Irony (a major character of the Gospel of John) at play in Jesus' question to Nicodemus above. Well, the report that Nicodemus came to Jesus at night already points to the fact of him being in the darkness of knowledge.

As a teacher of the people of God, he ought to have known better about the things of God, but he didn't. But the message that Jesus came with is not a canal message but one that needs the Spirit for its articulation. Anyone who wants to understand must possess the Spirit.

We, too, are leaders of God's people in our different capacities as pastors, parents, civil leaders, school teachers, etc. People look up to us to lead them to the glory of God.

Unity and mutual love are some of the ways to give God that glory, as we see from Acts 4:32-37.

Do you really understand what your role is? Do you rely on your human intelligence alone, or have you asked for the assistance of the Holy Spirit?

May God assist us not to mislead the people who are looking up to us for guidance. Amen.

Have a fruitful day under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you.

http://www.fadajbcezeonwumelu.com/holy-spirit-enlighten-and-sanctify-us/

HOW TO HAVE PEACE IN YOUR MARRIAGE

1. BE BEST FRIENDS

Marry your best friend. And when you are married, deliberately stay best friends. There is peace in close friendship

2. HAVE A LOT OF SEX

Making love releases the tension and brings about intimacy. With intimacy comes peace

3. BE RIGHT WITH GOD 

The more your relationship with God as individuals and as a couple grows; the more peaceful you will be

4. MAKE GOOD FINANCIAL DECISIONS 

Don't go into debt, live within your means, don't misuse money or cause your spouse to feel financially overburdened. Even when you are in financial problems, come up with a plan. Financial strain can bring stress

5. START EACH DAY RIGHT 

Start with a blessing, a prayer, a kiss, warm words; it sets the tone of the day

6. HELP EACH OTHER OUT

Do everything as a team. Share responsibilities. It lifts the burden bringing peace

7. RESOLVE ISSUES QUICKLY 

Don't dwell on issues. Apologize when you wrong, forgive when wronged. Making up maintains peace

8. CONTROL YOUR TEMPER

Learn to keep calm when angry. Pray

9. PLAY WORSHIP MUSIC 

Let worship surround the home. Where God is worshipped there is peace

10. KISS MORE, TOUCH MORE

Cuddling makes you less moody and grumpy

11. DO NOT HAVE AN AFFAIR 

This is the quickest way to destroy peace

12. DON'T DO ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS 

Refrain from doing anything that might make your spouse doubt you or be suspicious of you. You may not be doing wrong but make sure your spouse gets no impression that you are

13. LAUGH

Watch comedies, laugh, play games, enjoy a sport, have constructive debates. Be fun

14. COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER 

Tell your spouse how good he/she is or looks. When people are made to feel good about themselves, they are peaceful

15. SAY "I LOVE YOU" TO EACH OTHER 

These thee words calm the heart, they come with peace

Tumininu Adunni 💛

EWII_Nocturnal animal

EWII

We know the species of rabbit or rat called Ewii in Igbo language. I don't know what it is called in other African languages. See the picture below.

Ewii is a nocturnal animal, that is, an animal that moves better at night. It lives in underground burrows or holes.

They are born and raised undergrond. This means they mainly grow without setting their eyes on the sun; and whenever they accidentally come out during the day or come into contact with the sun, they are dazzled by it.

Ewill loves darkness. It sees clearer at night. Thus darkness, gives it more security, freedom and peace.

Each time I think about how our people get irritated with knowledge, I remember Ewii. Like Ewii, many of us were born into the darkness of ignorance, grew up in ignorance, and matured to love ignorance.

Consequently, whenever they come in contact with knowledge, they are dazzled by its light. They are uncomfortable with it. They see the bringer of knowledge as an enemy that has come to destroy their peace and security. 

Do you know how many private messages I get every day telling me that our people are not yet mature for the knowledge we share here?

The question none of them has been able to answer till now is: Are our people mature for ignorance?

If you find yourself uncomfortable with knowledge, do not worry. It is not your fault. It is the environment in which you were born and raised.

If you were born in a different environment, you would have been different. However, you can help yourself by reading educational books, watching educational films, and interacting with men and women who love knowledge. Remember to open your eyes to see the wonders of nature. 

As you search for knowledge,  remember that there are PhD holders of darkness. Having a PhD does not mean that one is out of the cave. Some are developing in intellectual darkness. Avoid them.

Come out of the cave of ignorance. Remember, it will be difficult at first, but practice makes perfect. Destroy that cave of darkness so that you can appreciate who you are and where you are. 

Come out of that hole. You are not ewii.

Fada Angelo Chidi Unegbu

Tortoise 🐢 Daughter

Once upon a time in Southern Nigeria, there lived a tortoise with a beautiful daughter. The tortoise was proud of his daughter's beauty and wanted her to marry the king. He devised a plan to make this happen.

The tortoise approached the king and said, "Your Majesty, I have a daughter so lovely that she would be a perfect match for you. Please consider her as your wife."

The king was intrigued and agreed to meet the tortoise's daughter. When he saw her, he was indeed impressed by her beauty. He decided to marry her, and the tortoise was overjoyed.

However, the tortoise's greed knew no bounds. He wanted more than just a royal connection. He asked the king for riches, lands, and power. The king, annoyed by the tortoise's demands, decided to teach him a lesson.

The king summoned the tortoise and said, "You are too greedy. I will grant your wishes, but there's a condition. You must bring me the magic drum that plays beautiful melodies."

The tortoise accepted the challenge and set off on his quest. He traveled far and wide, facing dangers and overcoming obstacles. Finally, he found the magic drum guarded by spirits deep in the forest.

As he tried to take the drum, the spirits woke up. They warned him, "If you take the drum, you must never play it for yourself. Only play it for others."

The tortoise agreed, but couldn't resist the temptation. He played the drum secretly, and its enchanting melodies made him dance uncontrollably.

The spirits appeared and scolded him, "You broke your promise! Now you'll pay the price."

They took away all the riches he had made from the king. The tortoise was left poor and miserable. He learned that greed leads to downfall and that promises must be kept.

And so, the tortoise became a cautionary tale, reminding everyone that honesty, humility, and contentment are virtues to cherish.

Remember, my friend, every folktale carries a message.

👇👇👇

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