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The Maternal Influence of Iguedo
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The Maternal Influence of Iguedo
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The Origin of Iguedo though seems to be a great puzzle to Historians than that of Eri but her importance in history of Igbo origin could not be over emphasis. Some Scholar attempted to credit her as a daughter of Eri, but this attempt failed because there was no way She could be a daughter of Eri and got married to same man or his son inorder to begat Umueri. This is tantamount to taboo or "nso ani" in Igbo Culture. The Second Group has tagged her as Eri daughter who was allowed by her father to bear children at home without been married. But the Oral tradition of the entire Iguedo clans disagreed with this assertion as it could have amount to bastardization of Culture if Eri made such a taboo as all of their tradition indicates paternal origin
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From an account of One Mrs Paulina Osakwe now deceased, an aged woman from Nando clarified that in those (ancient) days, both Igbo , Igala and Binis are one people living in Anambra Valley under the leadership of Eri. That Iguedo was from Bini lineage seems be getting wide acceptance (taking consideration of her name).
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Iguedo was said to be a very powerful woman with mysterious power. She holds a lot of power that at her demise most of the town founded by her children was known by her name. This was later to become a tradition in Umu-Iguedo and entire Anambra Valley as children are easily recognized by their Mother's name rather than that of their fathers. This was due to the polygamous nature of the society then. Because by using ones Mothers name, it would be easier to know the exact person and lineage. Hence Dabawor (founder of Umueri) was known as child of Iguedo . Dabawor (Umueri) was the 3 child of Iguedo as she had previously bore two to Nnameyi (Founders of Ogbunike & Awkuzu) before Eri took her as wife after having divorced the previous Husband. At Demise of Eri, she got married to Iru whom she bore Ndo (The founder of Nando).
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An Oral account has it that at her death, Nando invited the rest of the children of Iguedo for burial arrangement. But then there was commotion and quarrellings on where to entered her body. Ogbunike who was the eldest of the Iguedos wanted the body to be taken home (Ogbunike) for burial since they are Children of the First Child but Nando Objected on the ground that they were people that took after her during her old age. Unknown to all of them, Umueri delegates went outside for private talk and came back singing war music. They cut off her head and took it home where it was buried in Nneyi Umueri. Today the trace of her tomb is found in the Shrine of the Aro Oracle of Umueri while her body was finally buried in Nando. In order to commemorate her memorial, there was traditional annual ritual festival called "Oriri nne Iguedo" been celebrated in Nnado unto this very day. And all her Children are expected to be there for the ritual of reunion of the Iguedos.
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