Neni (pronounced as ''Ne-ni'' by the natives), is an
Igbo speaking town in
Southeastern Nigeria.
Location
Neni is located in the
Anaocha
Anaocha is a Local Government Area in Anambra State, south-eastern Nigeria. Towns that make up the local government are Aguluzigbo, Agulu, Neni, Ichida, Adazi-Ani, Adazi-Enu, Adazi-Nnukwu, Akwaeze, Nri, Obeledu.
Schools
Here is the list of second ...
Local Government Area of
Anambra State. Its geographic coordinates are 6" 09' 00 North, 7" 02' 00 East.
It also hosts the headquarters of the Anaocha Local Government Area.
The present traditional leader of Neni town is Damian O. Ezeani (Igwe Ezeani Ugonabo).
Its neighboring towns are Akwaeze,
Oraukwu
Oraukwu is a town in Anambra State, Nigeria. It used to be called Ohaukwu. It is among the towns in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, and lies approximately 40 kilometers east of Onitsha along the old Enugu–Onitsha trunk ...
,
Agulu
Agulu is a large town in Anambra State, Nigeria. It is located in Anaocha Local Government Area. Agulu is under the Anambra Central Senatorial District. It is home to the Agulu Lake. Agulu community has prominent men and women in politics, indus ...
, Obeledu, Ichida,
Nimo Owelle,
Aguluzigbo {{no footnotes, date=January 2013
Aguluzigbo is a Town in Anaocha Local Government of Anambra State, Nigeria. It comprises six villages: Iruowelle, Etuleze, Ihulu, Ufa, Ifite and Nduana. It is bordered by seven towns and they are Agulu, Ora-e ...
, Adazi-Ani, Adazi-Nnukwu, and
Nri
NRI or Nri may refer to :
* Kingdom of Nri, an Igbo kingdom that flourished between the 10th century and early 20th century
* National Radio Institute, a now defunct post-secondary vocational correspondence school
* National Resources Inventory
* N ...
. Neni comprises ten villages: Umueze, Eziaja, Umudioka, Etitinabo, Ezineni, Umunri, Umuabani, Umukabia, Okofia, and Ugwudunu.
Traditional festivals in Neni community
Neni has many cultural festivals that are observed yearly:
*Igu Aro/Ogwe – performed by Okofia village on 1 January of each year at the Oye Market Square in the morning to herald the New year and its good tidings to the community.
*Masquerade Carnival – The Masquerade Carnival display at the Oye Market Square by all the villages on 1 January every year is synonymous with Neni culture as this festival attracts spectators from within Anaocha Local Government Area and environs.
*Village Days – observed on 26 December of each year such as Umueze Day, Eziaja Day, Umuabani Day, etc. It's a day mapped out by some villages to interact and celebrate the reunion of the villages with fan and fanfare. New outing of dances and masquerades are featured on that day.
*Ufejioku Umueze – this festival is celebrated on every second week of August each year to announce the maturation of new yam as well as display the new yam harvested at "ODU UMUEZE " at the market square before new yam could be sold at Oye Market Neni.
*New Yam Festival – this is celebrated on every third week in August each year at the Igwe's palace with fanfare as dance and masquerades displays are featured with Ndi Nze na Ozo and Igwe's Cabinet present, the next day is general Iwa-Ji by the community.
*Mmanka Arts and Culture– this is displayed by the "Nka Diokas" of Umudioka village at Mmanka stadium on 31 December each year. Itu Mbubu, Igbu-ichi, and Iwa-eze masquerades and dances feature in the Arts and Culture displays at Mmanka Festival. This festival attracts distinguished personalities from all over the country to Neni.
People
Neni is the ancestral home of prominent
Nigerians, including:
*
Colonel Robert Akonobi, former military governor of
Anambra State.
*
Chief Michael Okpala MON
Mon, MON or Mon. may refer to:
Places
* Mon State, a subdivision of Myanmar
* Mon, India, a town in Nagaland
* Mon district, Nagaland
* Mon, Raebareli, a village in Uttar Pradesh, India
* Mon, Switzerland, a village in the Canton of Grisons
* An ...
, also known as "Power Mike", undefeated World Heavyweight wrestling champion.
*
John Obi Mikel, Nigerian professional footballer and former
Chelsea midfielder
References
{{coord missing, Nigeria
Populated places in Anambra State