Onueke is the ancestral headquarters of the

Ezza Ezaa or Ezza is a northeastern Igbo sub-group, in Ebonyi State, southeastern Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a ...

, Ezzas are the most populous clans in the

Ebonyi State Ebonyi State ( ig, Ȯra Ebonyi) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north and northeast by Benue State, Enugu State to the west, Cross River State to the east and southeast, and Abia State to the southwes ...

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

. Ezza people live in virtually all three senatorial zones of Ebonyi State and beyond, but are concentrated in the Ezza North, Ezza South, Onicha, Ishielu, and

Ohaukwu Ohaukwu is a Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The postal code A postal code (also known locally in various English-speaking countries throughout the world as a postcode, post code, PIN or ZIP Code) is a series of letters or d ...

Local Government Areas. The Ezza people in Ohaukwu dominates in Effium community inhabiting the Minor communities of Inikiri Umuezeoka, Umuezeokaoha, and Kpakpaji. Traditionally, Ezaas in all walks of life return to Onueke to offer sacrifices to the graves of their progenitors: Ezekuna and his wife, Anyigo Ezekuna. Coincidentally, Sacred Heart Parish, Onueke, also serves as the headquarters of Christianity for Ezaa Catholics. All saints parish, Onueke, also the headquarter of Ezza presbytery "Presbyterian Church of Nigeria". Other Pentecostal denominations present at Onueke include Foursquare Gospel Church Nigeria. Onueke has been quite important politically speaking. It used to be the headquarters of the old Ezzikwo Division. It was also the headquarters of the old Ezza Local Government Area. Right now, it doubles as the headquarters of the Ezza South Local Government Area and Ebonyi Central Senatorial Zone comprising the Ezza South, Ezza North, Ishielu, and Ikwo Local Government Areas.

Etymology

Onueke derives its name from the famous Eke Imoha, one of the oldest and biggest markets in Ebonyi State. The Eke Imoha market is central to the economic life of Ezaa people. This is where the people sell their rich agricultural produce. Mainly farmers, the Ezaas produce yams, cassava, rice, cocoyams, and many other crops in abundance. These food crops, along with many other modern wares, are bought and sold in the Eke market, which is held every four days. The other markets in the Ezaa area include Awho, Nkwo, and Oryie. Eke is considered the first and biggest of these markets.

References

External links

* http://www.ebonyionline.com/category/places/towns-and-villages/onueke/ Onueke and its environs * http://abakalikidiocese.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=121:sacred-heart-parish-onueke&catid=2:names-of-parishes&Itemid=10.Sacred Heart Parish Onueke Populated places in Ebonyi State {{Ebonyi-geo-stub