THE WAY WE WERE

THE WAY WE WERE, sample chapter

By Williams I. Eke

 

 

THE BENDE IGBO

 

The areas of Igbo land defined as the Bende district during the British Colonial Administration was from Ikwu-Ano  L.G.A. [Local Government Area] in Umuahia, extending through Umunnato L. G. A., which comprises (a) Alayi;  (b) Item; and (c) Igbere. It combined Abiriba, Ohaffia/Ohafia, Umuhu and all the confines of Bende L. G. A. It terminated at Arochukwu.

 

THE PLACE CALLED ALAYI

 

Alayi is one of the Igbo-speaking communities of southeastern Nigeria. Currently it is one of the autonomous communities in the Bende Local Government Area of Abia State. Alayi is located in the northernmost part of the old Bende division in the formal Owerri Province of eastern Nigeria. It is bordered in the north by Akaeze, in the south by Ozuitem, in the west by Isu-ikwu-ato and Isu-umu-imenyi, in the east by Item and Igbere. Its traditional administrative headquarters was Amaeke Akoliufu and its county assemblies were held at the present location of eke Amaeke Akoliufu. In its traditional setting, Alayi consists of four major boroughs: Akoliufu, Amankalu, Ezeukwu and Ugwueke. However, in 1971 Ugwueke and Ezeukwu peacefully became autonomous communities...