History, Origin, Culture and Traditions of Ngwa Town in Abia State

 
The Ngwa Ethnic Group (also known locally as Nde Ngwa) is a subgroup of the Igbo people residing in the southern belt of Igboland. They are primarily located in what is today Abia State, Nigeria. As of the 1963 census, their population was approximately 314,840, spread across 1,328 square kilometers, making them the largest single subgroup among the Igbo population.

##Geographical Boundaries
Ngwa territory is naturally bordered by the Imo River to the west and the Anang-Ibibio ethnic groups to the east. To the south, they neighbor the Asa and Ndoki communities, while in the north, they are adjacent to Ubakala, Olokoro, and Isuorgu in the northeast.

The land is mainly flat, fertile, and agriculturally productive, with its highest point being roughly 100 feet above sea level in the Aza River basin. The area experiences a humid tropical climate, with annual rainfall between 80 to 100 inches and average temperatures around 80°F. Major rivers flowing through the region include the Imo River, Azi River (originating in Umuahia), and Oji River (rising in Nsirimo, Ubakala).

In modern administrative terms, Ngwa people are distributed across nine local government areas of Abia State: Obingwa, Osisioma Ngwa, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South, Aba North, Aba South, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa East, and Ukwa West.

##Historical Background
Ancestry and Movement:
The origins of the Ngwa trace back to the Isuama people from the Orlu region. Due to overcrowding and a quest for unclaimed farmland, some groups moved out through Umunoha, passed Ama-Igbo, and settled briefly in Ezinihitte. While some groups ventured northward, the Ngwa ancestors moved south toward the Imo River.

According to legend, upon reaching the riverbank, three brothers—Ngwaukwu, Nwoha, and Avosi—cooked and ate their yam, crossed the river, and got separated from their companions when the river swelled. They settled at Okpuala Ngwa, performing their first spiritual rites there.

It is believed they displaced the Ibibio and Ibeme people in the process, pushing them eastward. From Okpuala Ngwa, they founded eight major villages, which formed the core of ancient Ngwa civilization. These villages included Ntigha-Okpuala, Eziala-Nsulu, Amaku-Nvosi, Amauha Ovokwu, Umuokwu Mbutu, Orie-Afo Umuoha, Okpu Ngwa Ovunkwu, and Okpuala-Ngwa. The people later expanded into northeastern, northwestern, and southern regions.

By the 14th century, some Ngwa groups had settled near Ndoki, Asa, and even reached the Bonny Kingdom. Their numbers grew steadily through the 16th to 19th centuries, just before and during the Atlantic slave trade era.

##Colonial and Post-Colonial Era
The Aro people entered Ngwa territory through Okonko society—a ritual group with roots in the Efik-Ibibio region. Trade routes opened between Ngwaland, Bende, Umuahia, and Aba, facilitating commerce, especially in slaves during the era of the Bight of Biafra trade.

Some individuals condemned by traditional justice or abducted by Okonko members were sold into slavery. The British made their first formal contact in 1895, setting up a consular presence in Obegu. By 1901, following the Anglo-Aro War, the area was declared a British territory. The military and administrative headquarters, initially in Ndoki, were moved to Aba-Ngwa by 1903.

In the 2000s, Ngwa territory was organized into eight administrative regions.

##Cultural Practices
Traditionally, Ngwa society worshipped a pantheon of deities, with Chineke as the supreme being. Other spiritual figures include Ohanjoku and Amadioha. The Ekpe and Okonko secret societies acted as guardians of morality and traditional law enforcement.

Ceremonies like Ekpe, Owu masquerades, and the Ikoro performance festivals are prominent cultural expressions. In Obingwa, the Ikoro festival is celebrated in place of Ekpe, involving dramatic costuming and traditional drumming. Among the Mbutu villages, the Agwu-Ikoro is a signature event.

Young unmarried women often went through mgbede, a preparatory rite involving isolation, pampering, and fattening to prepare them for marriage. Polygamy was common, and lineage-based gatherings were strictly gendered—men discussed public affairs, while married women formed savings groups and organized household-related meetings.

Ngwa customs emphasized reincarnation through childbirth and ancestral continuity, and many still believe a child born into the family is a return of a departed relative.

##Language and Expression
The Ngwa dialect, a variant of Igbo, is rich in idioms, folklore, and oral wisdom. It is used in day-to-day interactions, storytelling, community gatherings, and traditional ceremonies. For education and official matters, Standard Igbo is more commonly employed. Linguistically, the dialect falls under the New Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Congo language family.

##Religion and Belief Systems
Before the advent of Christianity, Ngwa people worshipped their local deities. With colonization came Christian missionaries—particularly Anglican, Catholic, and Seventh-day Adventist denominations—who converted the majority. Today, most Ngwa people are Christians, though traditional religion remains active in places like Okpuala Ngwa, which is regarded as a spiritual center.

##Economic Life
Historically, the economy of Ngwa society was based on agriculture, thanks to fertile land. Yam, cassava, maize, cocoyam, palm fruits, and vegetables formed the backbone of subsistence and trade.

By the 16th century, the Ngwa were already importing iron tools like hoes and machetes. As palm oil and palm kernel production expanded in the 19th century, Ngwa became key contributors to exports. The construction of the Eastern Railway during the post-WWI years opened up access to wider markets.

The Nigerian Civil War brought further changes, with cassava emerging as a major cash crop. Palm wine tapping and local trade networks became essential sources of income.

A unique indigenous financial system known as "Isusu", a rotating savings and credit scheme, helped people raise money for businesses, marriages, and other ventures. Remarkably, this system is still in use today.