ABSTRACT
This research focuses on the history of Agbogugu from the earliest times to 2000. It examines the unique history of the town and its customs and traditions through the centuries. The work examines the town’s traditions of origin and analyses its position as a member of the Ntuegbe-Nese clan. The study traces its history through pre colonial, colonial and post- colonial times. The research reveals in detail the socio-political and economic development that has taken place in Agbogugu.The people have evolved a complex, stable social, political and religious organization, which was in balance with their character and morals. They had their cultural beliefs and activities which made up their unique identity. This work also highlights the colonial experience of Agbogugu and their reaction to the British ‘pacification’ of Igboland, the impact of British rule and its work as an agent of change in the people’s lives and the developments that occurred due to this forceful impression of culture. In the end, the study maintains that regardless of the changes that have taken place in Agbogugu during the colonial time. The town has developed into a mega socio- economic and political force to be reckoned with in Awgu local government area.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Agbogugu is one of the twenty five autonomous communities that form Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State. It is located on latitude 6.15N and on latitude 7.28E[i], on the Nigerian map. The town of Agbogugu was once a part of Udi Division. The Awgu Division was created in 1922 due, probably to the cantankerous nature of the towns of Nenwe, Mgbowo, Mmaku and Awgu which were giving difficulties to the district officer who administered them from Okigwe[ii]. Agbogugu, with Ituku, Isuawaa, Ihe, Agbudu and Ogbaku belongs to the Mbanabo Local Government which was a local government created by Shehu Shaghari administration[iii]. Abgogugu is bounded to the south by Ihe, to the east by Amuri, to the north by Ozalla and to the west by Isuawaa. Agbogugu has a wooded, level and arable land, stretching from north to south and east to west which is suitable for agricultural purposes. The famed Nvuna River serves as the boundary between Ozalla and Agbogugu. The Enugu-Awgu road runs through the middle of the town connecting it to the Enugu metropolis. The 1991 census put Abgogugu’s population at 12,767[iv].
Agbogugu town has nine villages, which are sub- divided into two wards namely. Amakpu ward comprising of Amofia,Umuoye, Obinagu,Umuobom and Shikaghom. The Eziama ward comprised of Umueveh, Umuonwo, Ohumagu and Akwu[v].
The people of this area constitute a homogenous cultural entity in the native ‘Wawa land’ (Enugu). They also occupy one of the most fertile area of the state lying deep in the center of the former east central state between Udi hills and Okigwe . There is no doubt it is the fertility of the area that made most indigenes agrarian in occupation. The period of time covered by this study will trace through the pre colonial, colonial and post colonial history of Agbogugu.
1.2 Statement of Problem
The history of Agbogugu has not found its deserved place in Igbo historiography among historian. This is partly because most works on Igbo history tend to focus on the most prominent Igbo towns like the Aro and their neighbours without due diligence to the people beyond the coastlines. As a result of this neglect, not much work has been done to reconstruct the history of smaller Igbo groups like Agbogugu. The study of the history of Igboland from earliest to 1960 has suffered from a number of problems part of which includes but not limited to the following; firstly, not much was documented on the prehistory of Igboland. Secondly, much of what we have on precolonial and colonial history of Igboland deals on a few towns like the Ezza, Afikpo, Aro etc. The final challenge is that Agbogugu is largely reflected in terms of proper documentation of the developments it has witnessed during and after colonization. It is therefore these loopholes that necessitated an enquiry into the historical past of Agbogugu.
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