Umuagbai

The settlement known as Umuagbai was, and is still basically constituted by the children of Okweleze and Agbai, the descendants of Okobo, alongside those adopted wards, together with the Otonis believed to be the aborigines. The name of the town in times past before it was renamed by Jite Agbai (Egbe) was then known as Okobo, which was named after the forebear of the people. It is also important to add here that the name the town bears today as “Umuagbai” had its root from the moment there was an altercation in the line of succession to the throne of Onyenwe Ala of Umuagbai about the 17th century, which resulted in the emergence of Jite Agbai (Egbe) as the fourth in the series of rulers of Umuagbai. The name “Umuagbai” is derived from the words “Umu” meaning“ children” and “Agbai” the name of the man who was the father of Chief Jite. This change of name was done by chief Jite to pay homage to his father. Umuagbai was founded about the 14th century, and this probably explains why C.T.C. Ennals saw Umuagbai as one of the ancestral towns of the Ndokis. However, it is important to note that there has been no archaeological investigation carried to find out how old the village of Umuagbai.

According to some historical sources[2] Okobo crossed over to the southern bank of the Imo River into the community now called Umuagbai from Ohambele. It is speculated that he might have arrived Ohambele alongside Iduma from Abam Ohafia axis. Umuagbai tradition of origin and available documents has proved contrary to this opinion expressed by Nwogu. Again, Nwogu's version is not in accord with the thought system of Umuagbai people, which seems to be in agreement with what was reflected in the Intelligence Report of C.T.C Ennals who report thus: It would appear that the group referred to below as Umu Okobo in their origin were connected with the Ijos, though those who settled in Umuagbai, lost the ability to speak their own language and spoke the language of the Ibo(Igbo)inhabitants with whom they had come in contact with during the course of migration.[3] The implication of this harmony suggests that Umuagbai people originated from an Ijaw homeland. Why this possibility cannot be ruled out as a result of the above statement, though no precise location has revealed whether this immigration was from the Central, Western or Eastern-Delta which are the homelands of the Ijaws. But their thought-pattern, sounds reasonable in view of what C.T.C. Ennals had reported above.

While most Umuagbai people have embraced Christianity, Traditional activities related to the worship of ancient deities still goes on in tandem with practice of Christianity although the connections between these festivals and the deities have been washed down and most people participate in them in ignorance of there origins. Dances such as Ikoro, Ekpe, Nwutam are still performed annually usually close to Christian holidays such as Christmas and the beginning and the end of the year.

Umuagbai is mostly an agrarian society. A mixture of both cash and food crops is cultivated by the people these including, yam, cassava, plantain, banana, cocoa, cocoyam, oil palm etc. Livestock rearing is carried out mostly in a non-commercial manner and is limited native goat and chickens. Other traditional crafts that the people engage in include palm wine tapping, hunting, fishing, canoe building and weaving. Modern occupations such as barbing, hairdressing, tailoring, masonry, carpentry and bicycle repairs is also engaged in by a significant part of the population. Weaving in the community which is mostly carried out by the female population deserve special mention as the famous 'Akuruaku'[5] material is a product of the ingenuity of these women. These craft has evolved from the use of raffia yarn to dyed cotton and silk for producing traditional wrappers, dresses, suits, shirts, chieftaincy regalia and household furnishing.