The Untold Secret Of Ngwa And Ohafia People Of Abia State
Cannibalism is the practice of humans eating the flesh of another human being. The practice may have some spiritual connotations, for example in some parts of the world a tribe uses the ashes of their dead relatives to cook and eat so that the spirit can be at peace.
However, legend has it that in the state of Abia in eastern Nigeria, the Ngwa people used to feed on human flesh long before the arrival of the white people.
Some people still believe they still practice it to this day, but not as loudly as before. Although some swear by it, this has not been thoroughly verified.
Ohafia in Abia State is also a town that had this practice a long time ago, but it has now ceased due to colonization and the advent of Christianity. Well known and feared throughout the Igbo lands, Ohafia was the most powerful land with great warriors at the time. Their war dance, called ” ikpiri kpu ogwu” , is a dance when the warriors of the village dance with the heads of their defeated enemies.
It was said about An Ohafia man was involved in a motor accident, and lost a leg; an Ngwa woman, who was in her farm, picked the leg and fled, shouting, ” anumgbo” (my own meat).
Although, people called her back, she refused to come back. A lot of this, and more stories about the Ohafia and Ngwa people have been heard.
Most people from ohafia call it ” Ikpirikpi ogu” but of a trut!l, it does not exist anywhere around Ohafia anymore. Though the dance still exist for ceremonial purpose and entertainment.
What do you think about it? Are you from Abia, please tell us in the comment section how it was before Civilization eventually came.
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