Ogidi, Anambra State
| Ogidi | |
|---|---|
 Ogidi
|
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| Coordinates: 6°9′N 6°52′E / 6.150°N 6.867°ECoordinates: 6°9′N 6°52′E / 6.150°N 6.867°E | |
| Country |
 Nigeria
|
| State | Anambra State |
| LGA | Idemili North |
| Population (2009) | |
| • Total | 70,418 |
| • Ethnicities | Igbo |
| • Religions | Christianity, Odinani |
Ogidi is an Igbo town, the headquarters of Idemili North Local Government area, Anambra State, Nigeria. It has an estimated population of 70,000 and has as its neighbours Abatete, Ṅkpọr, Ụmụnnachị, Ụmụoji, Ogbụnike and Ụmụdiọka. Ogidi is best known for its mid-July annual Nwafor Festival, and for being the birthplace of author Chinua Achebe. Other attractions include the famous Iyi-Enu Hospital and Aforigwe market. The people are known for not killing pythons, as the creature is regarded as a deity. Ogidi means pillar.
Ogidi has a very rich history that dates over 450 years. The founding father of the town, Ezechumagha (born c.1550) married Anum-Ubosi and they had a son in 1580 named Inwelle. Inwelle married and had a son in 1611 named Ogidi (meaning strong pillar because he was a great warrior). Ogidi had 2 wives: (i) Duaja whose children were Akanano, Uru, Ezinkwo, Umu-Udo, and Ama-Okwu; and (ii) Amalanyia whose children were Ikenga, Nne Ogidi, Uruagu and Achalla Ogidi. After the migration of five of his children, the remaining four sons (Akanano, Uru, Ezinkwo and Ikenga) formed the present Ebo Ino (four quarters) of Ogidi.
History has it that Umu-Udo migrated to present day Umunya (in Oyi Local Government of Anambra State). Ama-Okwu was either sold off into slavery or got integrated into other parts of Ogidi, especially Odida in Ikenga. Nne Ogidi was married off to Agulu and is a thriving village in Agulu. Uruagu migrated and settled in Nnewi although present day Uruagu Nnewi people deny any claim with Ogidi, and Achalla Ogidi (a great elephant hunter) migrated to present day Okija (derived from Oka Ije Achalla Ogidi).
Of the four sons who stayed back in Ogidi, Akanano had 2 wives. The first wife had Ire and Abo, while the second had Ezi-Ogidi and Umuru. Uru (born c.1643) had 8 children: Ntukwulu, Ajilija, Adazi, Umudoma, Uru Ezealo, Uro Oji, Umu Anugwo, and Ogwugwuagu. Ezinkwo had 2 sons: (a) Ogidi-Ani who had Ogidi-Anu Ukwu and Ogidi-Ani Etiti; and (b) Nkwelle Ogidi who had Ezinkwelle and Uru Owelle. Ikenga had 2 wives: (a) Aghaluji Ejebe Ogu who had Obodo Okwe and Anugwo; and (b) Ezenebo who had Nanri and Odida.
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