UGBODU PEOPLE OF THE ODIANI CLAN

     UGBODU PEOPLE OF THE ODIANI CLAN

The Odianis are located in Aniocha North local government area of Delta State, Nigeria.They are referred to as "Delta igbos" ,Anioma people or Odiani people. The Odianis of today are in no way Yoruba people,as they dont share any similarity in culture or tradition,and also way of life. Apart from them being bilingual,they are very much Proud sons and daughters of Anioma and west igbo land.They occupy eight communities west of the Niger river, and are together known today, as the Odiani clan in Aniomaland.[1] Ugbodu town is considered the traditional headquarters of the Odiani people and is traditionally headed by the Oloza(Obi) of Ugbodu. The present oloza is H.R.M Obi Ayo Ochei Isinyemeze,who is the traditional head of the Aniocha north council of kings.[2] Odiani villages select leaders through the okpala obi system, which was a borrowed feature from their neighbors, and is a fusion of the Obi (Kingship) rulership system gotten from Benin, and the Okpala (Gerontocracy) system gotten from the Igbos.

                                           Geography

The Odianis occupy an area just west of the Niger River's right bank. The area is rich in Chalk and Kaolin deposits which is known as "Nzu" in Igbo, which has been traditionally mined and used by the people of the area for various cultural purposes. Except on the Northern flank where the Olukumis share a common border with Edo state and Esanland, they are almost completely surrounded by Enuani communities. They are located in Aniocha North L.G.A of Delta state

Etymology The word Olukumi means "My confidant" or "My friend"

Ugbodu means : I have found solace in this land.

Odiani Towns and Communities s/n Town Origins
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1 Ugbodu (Ugbodu-uno) Founded by early settlers from Akure and Owo axis.

2 Ukwu Nzu Ile-Ife via Usen (Usehin) After the founding of Usen town in Edo state by people from Ile ife, Agbe, the founder of Ukwu-Nzu is said to have come from there.

3 Ubulubu People from Ugbodu and Eko A relatively late Olukumi town said to have been founded in 1800 by some Ugbodu people later joined by others from Ukwu nzu.
 4 Idumu Ogo
 5 Ugboba (Ugbo Oba)
 6 Ogodor
7 Ogbe Onei (Obomkpa) Owo
8 Anioma

Non Olukumi villages of Yoruba Origins s/n Town Origins
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9 Onichaku (Ubulu Uku) Ilesha Was founded by a warrior called Jowasoro who migrated from Ilesha in Osun State.

10 Ogbekenu villages of Onicha-Ugbo Ikare-Akoko Founded by people from the Akoko area of Ondo state.

History
   There has always been igbos in ugbodu before the arrival of the warriors from Akure,sent by the then Oba of Benin wen he was in pursuit of the fleeing igbos from the Benin kingdom. Those warriors getting to ugbodu,settled....and called the igbos there "olukumi" meaning my friends because the people were peaceful and friendly and also ruled over them for some period of time before the the Edos took over and then the igbos took back kingship.The original tittle as used by the government for the king of of ugbodu is "OBI" ,you can confirm from just recently court case on the obiship stool. So ugbodu was an igbo town by inception hence the use of igbo language along side the yoruboid language(olukumi). You cant separate ugbodu from her igboness.

what I am saying is dat ndi igbo is part of the foundation of Ugbodu Kingdom and was never 100% yoruba origin and Anioma in general so when we are speaking of fore father's and birth right,that should be in mind too coz actually,the warriors were the ones who "came in" and settled ,meeting pre existing igbos . So one can decide to identify as onye igbo from Ugbodu in Anioma delta state and also those who feel they are Yorubas or olukumi can also identify as one.

The formulation and conscious deduction of this from history is more political,As those who know,know. Even the Obi stool but won't talk much on that for reasons. If you go to Ugbodu kingdom today and other Odinani (odiani) clans(Ukwunzu,Ugbodu,Ubulubu,ogodor,ugboba,idumuogo),you will observe and feel the igboness very much present. 

 9 . They have also participated in every activity in the Anioma Zone,for example,the Ekumeku war,which affected the whole of Anioma.

PRESENT DAY ODIANI CLAN
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THE ODINANIS OF TODAY ARE FULL BLOODED NDI ANIOMAS AND BY EXTENSION MAKING THEM NDI IGBOS OF THE WEST. THE OBI OF UGBODU IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF OBIS IN ANIOCHA. THEY ARE ABOUT THE OLDEST TOWN IN ANIOCHA NORTH LGA

ALTHOUGH SOME MAY CLAIM NOT TO BE WESTERN IGBOS,BUT THAT IS JUST AN EFFECT OF IDENTITY CRISIS WHICH THIS PAGE IS SET TO CORRECT.

THE UNIQUENESS OF THE UGBODU PEOPLE IS THAT THEY ARE BILINGUAL,SPEAKING BOTH THE ENUANI DIALECT AND OLUKUMI DIALECT WHICH THEY ARE TRYING TO PRESERVE. THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES ANIOMA RICH IN CULTURE AND HERITAGE.Aniocha North

Notable Odiani People Nduka Ugbade - (Former Nigerian football star and coach) Helen Anyamelune - (Former Miss Nigeria)See also Enuani people Anioma people

HISTORY AND PRESENT OF THE ODIANI CLAN BY UGBODU ANIOMA THE HISTORY AND PRESENT DAY ODIANI CLAN IN ANIOMA.

UGBODU ANIOMA.

Ugbodu kingdom is a bilingual speaking community,in Aniocha North area of Delta state. The speak both Enuani and olukumi languages fluently. The present oloza(king) is H.R.M Obi Ayo Ochei Isinyemeze.[1] Olukumi villages select leaders through the okpala obi system, which was a borrowed feature from their neighbors, and is a fusion of the Obi (Kingship) rulership system gotten from Benin, and the Okpala (Gerontocracy) system gotten from the Igbos.

Geography Located in the heart of Anioma land in Aniocha North L.G.A of Delta State are the bilingual people Who speak Olukwumi and Enuani(igbo dialect) perfectly.

In recent times due to the seemingly extinction of the olukwumi language ,most of the youths speak just the enuani dialect and the purest form of the olukwumi dialect is only spoken by elders in the community. Although they are measures being taken to preserve the unique Olukwumi dialect. 
They partook in every activity during the Ekumeku war,and others. 
  These Anioma son's  occupy an area just west of the Niger River's right bank. The area is rich in Chalk and Kaolin deposits. 

Present day odianis are Ndi Aniomas and by extension Ndi igbos igbos of the West.

Notable Odiani People Nduka Ugbade - (Former Nigerian football star and coach) Helen Anyamelune - (Former Miss Nigeria)

See also Enuani people Anioma people

1. ^ Anioma towns and villages
2. ^ Ekumeku war
3. ^ Anioma people
4. ^ Anioma towns and villages
5. ^ Ekumeku war
6. ^ Anioma people