Udo, Nigeria

Udo is a populated area in Nigeria.

Udo is not without folklore told to the people by their forefather and handed down from generation to generation. There are no written records starting the exact date our ancestors settled in the present location. Be that as it may, those who were verse in oral history and generation age calculation estimated it to be over 1,500 years. “Udoabia” for short called Udo, meaning Peace has come in our Community and an ancient town located East of Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area. The Community is situated at the shores of the Imo River. The Community shares border with Umunwanwa in Abia State and Obowo in Imo State. A rural agrarian and fishing community. Udo played host to early Christian Missionaries who settled by the river bank and traded in palm kernel. Our people are industrious, intelligent, well educated, peace-loving and above all hospitable. The oldest man living in Udo now in Elder merit Godson Ukaegbu at age 110 years.

Our present traditional Ruler, H.R.H, Eze M.C. Ukeje JP, Udoabia IV is one of the oldest and longest serving traditional rulers in the entire Imo State having ascended the throne in 1977. Udo is a community in Ezinihitte clan. Oral history traces the origin of Udo to Udoabia who was a direct son of Ezinihitte.

Many centuries ago Udoabia the progenitor of Udo Ancient Kingdom sojourned at the present Umuezeukwu Onicha briefly, Migrated and settled also at Eziama Onicha many years ago.

Udoabia finally left Eziama Onicha and settled to its present location. This was estimated tobe over 1,500 years ago.

This historical fact of Udoabia’s sojourn at Eziama Onicha before his final settlement in this place called Udo, gave birth to cultural ceremony of Ibo Uzo Ukwu (meaning seasonal weeding of track road Udoabia took and returned to Udo from Onicha). The ceremony is performed every November 4. Once this ceremony is performed, no pledger will be permitted to redeem his land until the next farming year. This ceremony used to be centre of attraction in that it was rotatory between Udo and Eziama Onicha. On a yearly basis, one community will weed track up to the boundary of the other and mutatis-mutandis after which there will be elaborate merriment. There is this believe that Udoabia may have left Eziama behind at Onicha that explains why Udo and Eziama Onicha cannot intermarry. While it is true that Udo and Eziama cannot intermarry, it has not been proved with scientific or historical fact as to why they cannot intermarry or whether Eziama was left behind at Onicha. When Udo was returning, he came back with his two sons namely, Umuneorie and Umuofor while he begot Uhuuala in Udo on return.

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