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Abiriba
—  City  —
Abiriba Location in Nigeria
Coordinates: 5°42′N 7°44′E / 5.7°N 7.733°E / 5.7; 7.733
Country	Nigeria
State	Abia State
LGA	Ohafia
Time zone	WAT (UTC+1)

Abiriba is a city in Abia State, Nigeria, geographically southeast, traditionally an Igbo land, and containing oil/petroleum. Abiriba is in Ohafia Local Government.

Contents 1 Naming traditions 2 History 3 Small London 4 Cuisine 5 Political Organization 6 Special tree 7 References

[edit] Naming traditions

Common Abiriba names include: Kalu, Emole, Nnenna "Nina", Nwanne, Oyediya, ihudiya, okpan, Onuma, Agwu, Agbai, Opie, Ugbelu, Aluba, Akwari, Nnanna, Ogwo, Otisi, Mang, Ndukwo, Obasi, Ukegbu, Nduka, Jombo ,Inyiri, Dike, and Ikwuagwu. It is a common Abiriba naming tradition for parents to name their first rightfull son "ie if u married the mother as tradition demand" after their father and the first daughter after their mother.

While naming traditions are paternal-oriented (naming children towards their paternal lineage), Abiriba is a matrilineal society where descent is traced through the mother's family like-wise the line of inheritance whereby, children do not inherit their father's property but rather the mother's side.

[edit] History

The people who occupy the territory known as Abiriba have a historic descent from the Igbo and Efik people of Calabar. They migrated from the upper Cross River area centuries ago led by a certain Nnachi Oken, from whom the title "Enachioken"(the monarch) originates. Initially, they occupied a smaller territory which expanded when the Abiriba people routed the surrounding Nkporo people and took over their lands. The Abiriba people were very war-like and quickly established themselves in the area.

[edit] Small London

Abiriba is popularly known as Small London, a name it derived from the abundance of very modern, aesthetically and architecturally excellent buildings it boasts and the BIG BEN TOWER opposite the Post Office, which was modelled after the London Tower.The London tower(BIG BEN) is built in Abiriba by the Ojighirindu Age Grade.

The Abiriba people are known to be industrous both in crafts and merchandise, this could be attributed to their arid lands which makes it tough for agriculture to flourish. These made them so popular amongst the Igbo people of Nigeria. As a matter of fact, in the history of the Igbos of Nigeria, Abiriba is reckoned for her pre-historical black smithing and sculpture artifacts (IKPU UZU). These ancient occupation of the Abiriba people later on metamorphosed into what is today the trademark of the people - Trading (or better merchandise) popularly known among Abiriba People as 'IKPU UZU'. Since the people where predominantly merchants, that made them to be widely travelled both within and outside the shores of Nigeria, and as result, they are very prosperous and exposed. Being so exposed and prosperous, the people have enough information about vogue and money that made them transform their locality from the normal village setting, as is common with the surrounding villages, to a model sub-urban but purely residential setting with some of the most exotic building in the Igbo land, even in Nigeria as a whole. The Abiriba people take great pride in the serenity and aesthetic value of their landscape, consequently shunning attempts by government or individuals to set up factories in the town, and seeing same as attempts to "pollute" their land.

[edit] Cuisine

The people are known for some of their unique dishes. Among other foods such as rice, yam, beans, and garri (cassava), "Asusu" is a very common dish among the Abiriba people. It is made of corn starch. Grounded with salt and pepper, wrapped with a local leave call akwukwo asusu and steamed with water covering all the raps, asusu is eaten with a popular vegetable soup called Ugbogho. "Oto"(grounded water-yam porridge) is also very popular.

[edit] Political Organization

Abiriba is governed using a monarchichal system. The "Eze" (The King or Monarch) is called Enachioken. This office is currently occupied by EZE KALU KALU OGBU. The people of Abiriba have experienced little direct impact of the government in their development and governance except in very recent times. In the instances when government has actively involved itself in the life of the town, there is a consensus that the effects have been rather detrimental. Abiriba has a well developed and active age-grade system, in fact, one of the most effective in Igbo land. Some Age-Grades include:Akahaba, Erinma I, II, Akpankuma I&II, Onyiba, Isimini, Okezie etc. which maintain offices in all countries of the world where Abiriba people reside. These age-grades have been the main agents of development in the town, especially those in the diaspora. They also play the traditional role of policing the community and punishing offenders, regardless of age and status. It is often witnessed where a notable and wealthy member of the age grade was whipped publicly due to an offense.

[edit] Special tree

At the heart of Abiriba--the very center of the town--is a large, ancient tree "Okpu Achi" (Achi tree). The tree is both symbolic and spiritual in nature; and many believe that in the event of its fall, water from Okpu Achi would engulf the entire Abiriba land. Legend also has it that the Ishimokoto River^[1] is so mystical that when foreigners tried to leave town with a bottle of water from the river--the bottle broke apart and the water flew miles back to the river.

[edit] References

[1]. Newsbearer Weekly Vol. 6. No. 11. July 16, 2007 pages 33 - 37.

• http://aciu.org/ourhistory.html

v • d • e Locally Governed Areas and communities of Abia State Capital:Umuahia LGAs Aba North · Aba South · Arochukwu · Bende · Ikwuano · Isiala Ngwa North · Isiala Ngwa South · Isuikwuato · Obi Ngwa · Ohafia · Osisioma Ngwa · Ugwunagbo · Ukwa East · Ukwa West · Umuahia North · Umuahia South · Umu Nneochi