Ekwereazu
Ekwereazu (or Ekwerazu) is a city in Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria. It is made up of six communities: Oparanadim, Mpam, Ihitteafoukwu, Umuokirika, Obohia and Ekwereazu Town.
Ihitteafoukwu has four villages, namely, Ogbor, Umueze, Umunomo and Umuchieze.
Okirika-nwe-Eke is made up of Umuevu and Akpim which previously were part of Umuokirika. The central market called Eke Okwe gives the community its name. The community residents are mostly Roman Catholics with two big churches but Igbo traditional ceremonies like Iri Ji, Mgba and Ekpe are observed. The majority of the youth reside outside the town but maintain contact with their home town. The yearly reunion is evident during Christmas season when the village can barely contain its members returning from around the world.
There is intermarriage within the community and this takes a tripartite form between Lomoma [Umuevu], Mpe na Ezeala [Umuevu] and Akpim. Intramarriage within each of the three communities is not permitted, considered a taboo, and has been so for over a century.
Ekwereazu has a government-funded secondary school and two primary schools.
Mpam is made of two parts namely: firstly Mpam Isieke consisting of Umuegwu, Nnemere and Umuaju and secondly Mpam Owere which comprises Umuohuo and Okponkume. The people are predominantly Catholic with a sprinkling of Anglicans, Pentecostal and a handful of atheists. They celebrate Iri ji Mbaise on the 15th of August every year and also celebrate the "Orururu Nnemere" festival which is an annual event every last week of the year precisely on the last Orie market day in the Igbo calendar.
Most development is from self-help community efforts. The people and their leaders usually meet every eight days at the Eke Okwe market square to deliberate on matters affecting the community.
The easiest route to the village is from Ogbe in Ahiara along the Owerri-Umuahia road which leads to the centre of the village. Other minor access roads are in from Agu na Eze, Oru na Lude, Nkwoala and Afo Ukwu around the village. The town shares boundaries with Ahiara, Ikeduru, and Obowo.
Coordinates: 5°32′33″N 7°13′45″E / 5.5425°N 7.2292°E
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