History, Origin, Culture and Traditions of Mbaukwu Town in Anambra state

 
Mbaukwu, initially known as Ebeteghete, is a town with a rich history. It was once part of a larger community with Umuawulu, which eventually split. Mbaukwu went its own way, while Umuawulu established its separate path. Mbaukwu was originally made up of five villages: URU, AKABOR, NAMKPU, OGBA, and OVOLLO. URU was the first village, and OVOLLO was the last. In the beginning, Mbaukwu did not have a king; instead, it was led by a chief named UCHENDU. However, during General Gowon’s presidency, when it was decreed that all Igbo communities must appoint a king, Mbaukwu chose its first monarch, His Royal Highness Igwe Peter Anugwu, who still holds the throne today. Recently, the five villages of Mbaukwu were further subdivided into smaller settlements. For example, AKABOR now includes two villages: Umuoba and Umuezeunne. Mbaukwu’s kingship is rotational, meaning each village takes turns in ruling, rather than the position being passed down through inheritance. The king’s Offala festival, which is celebrated at a time of his choosing, has been held three times by the current monarch, Igwe Dr. Peter Anugwu.

In the past, Mbaukwu practiced the killing of twins, a tradition that was abandoned after Rev. Fr. Ebedeagu, the first priest of Mbaukwu, rescued a twin. This twin grew up to be the father of the current catechist of St. Dominic Catholic Church, Mbaukwu. The churches that later arrived in Mbaukwu also played a role in halting the twin killings. The Catholic Church first came to Mbaukwu in 1933, followed by the Anglican Church. Prior to this, the people of Mbaukwu were idol worshippers.

Mbaukwu has its own distinct culture, beliefs, and traditions, which are deeply rooted in its history. The community also had various occupations, particularly in earlier times. 

These included:

Farming

Gunpowder production

Trading

Palm wine tapping

Blacksmithing

Handcrafts such as basket weaving, mat making, and broom production

The creation of local soap and palm kernel oil (ude aki)


##Festivals
Mbaukwu celebrates several traditional festivals, the most prominent being:

New Yam Festival: Formerly known as Eri Isi Ji in the past, this festival is now referred to as the New Yam Festival. It is celebrated on the second Saturday of September every year. The first ritual of the day is the rusting of yams, followed by the king’s homage paid by community leaders, village executives, friends, and well-wishers. Villages then gather in their respective squares for celebrations. The festival lasts for two days, Saturday and Sunday, and includes masquerade displays.

Eri Ede Festival: This festival is primarily celebrated by idol worshippers and is marked by village-specific celebrations, unlike the New Yam Festival, which is celebrated by all five villages together. Eri Ede is observed according to the Igbo four-market-day cycle, with each village taking turns to celebrate. Masquerades also participate in this festival.

Ajukwo Festival: This festival is held during the night of the Eri Ede festival, where masquerades come out to parade. Women are prohibited from seeing certain masquerades, and some men are also forbidden from viewing them.

##Traditions and Beliefs
In Mbaukwu, pythons and tortoises are not killed or eaten. Pythons are regarded as sacred and ancestral spirits, and if one is killed accidentally, the responsible person must perform rituals, including burying the python as if it were a human, though the church does not conduct any rites for it. Similarly, tortoises, if killed, must be replaced by the person responsible.

When an elderly man dies, masquerades are believed to circle the grave, a practice that some modern-day members of the community oppose. The church also condemns this, suggesting that it should only take place for idol worshippers’ graves, not for those of Christians.

In the past, if a Mbaukwu woman lived with a man who had not paid her bride price, any children they had would carry the woman’s father’s name rather than the man's, since the bride price had not been paid. If a person committed suicide, they were not buried but instead thrown into the "evil forest," as suicide was considered taboo. Similarly, if a person died with a swollen stomach, they would not be buried.

Wealthy men in the past were sometimes buried with human heads as part of their burial rites. Furthermore, when a married Mbaukwu woman passed away, her husband’s family would bring her body back to her own family for identification and confirmation before the burial, and her cause of death would be explained.

##Traditional Marriage
In Mbaukwu, the marriage process begins with an introduction. When a man is interested in marrying a woman, he visits her family with his people, bringing a bottle of hot drink and four large kola nuts to seek approval. The woman is also consulted to ensure she agrees to the union. If both families accept, the man prepares for the bride price and traditional marriage.

The bride price does not have a fixed amount, and the family may choose to return any excess money, stating that they are not selling their daughter. Once the bride price is paid, the traditional marriage ceremony takes place. If not done on the same day, the marriage is still valid as long as the bride price is paid, as it is believed that once a man pays the bride price, the woman automatically becomes his wife.