A History of Ekwe in Isu Local Government Area, Earliest times to 2000, deliberately showcases similarities in culture, traditions, norms, and leaderships among Igbo communities before Colonial rule and after and their levels of Developments. The coming of the white man in Ekwe brought Christianity and division among the converts. This is to say that there was no unity
between the Catholics and the Anglicans let alone the traditional worshippers. Colonial rule did not bring good to Ekwe community by uplifting infrastructural developments which consists of Human lives, healthy and conducive environment for Ekwe people. There was extreme peace and unity in the leadership of Ekwe before the advent of the white man. Leadership and Rights were according to seniority and positions, but there have been division since the presence of the colonial master and after colonial rule. The people of Ekwe were contented with the subsistence production of foods and traded in other communities to keep the economic diplomacy burning.
The coexisting peace among Ekwe people and her neighboring communities attracted marriages, trade, transition in festivals and titles did not escalate to warfare, expansion, or inter-community fight or war. Neither did the peace making and loving people of Ekwe resisted colonialism.
Ekwe people warmly accepted the whiteman and adopted his mode of Leadership and culture.
Gifts, love affection, foods, guidance, errand boys, Lands and security were assured to the colonialist. But in returns, they left Ekwe people with antagonism, hatred, division, bitterness, resentment, ill feeling, bad blood, animosity, hostility, enmity and all levels of acrimony. The image of Ekwe was tarnished and not regarded anymore than it was before the arrival of the White man.
5.2 Conclusion
Scores of mant people have attempted to write the history of Ekwe but unfortunately only or this persons have been able to achieve seventy percent of the work due to circumstances beyond their control. But I was inspired, motivated and aroused to face the challenge squarely and overcome the task called the History of Ekwe without much difficulties. Ekwe ancient kingdom was founded by a man called Epum, the father of Nnamike Onuma and the great grandfather of Ekwe, now known as Ekwe community.
Ekwe autonomous community is now one of the most renowned largest communities in the formed Orlu Division. Three new communities were created out of Ekwe community and the people of Ekwe are predominantly farmers. But the advent of western education has placed many young men and women to higher positions in the community. The history and origin of Ekwe not written anywhere but it was handled down from generation to generation. Ekwe is geographically located on the southern part of Isu LGA of Imo State and has common boundaries with Amucha, Isu-Njaba, Umuaka and Umundugba. There are over fifty-six thousand in habitants of Ekwe community with the number of females on the least.
Before the advent of Christianity, traditional religion occupied the central place in Ekwe. But today, Ekwe people are dominated by the Christians of different dominations scattered all over the area. The tourist center in Ekwe is seen at Ishi-iyi Ekwe, the notable spring sites. This is water fall from the rock on which a slab was built to enable people fetch water without struggling for it.
The people of Ekwe are known for offering hospitality to strangers and show love to one another.
However, this work has attempted to present an overview of Ekwe history from the contemporary time to the year 2000. As shown in the chapters of this work, Ekwe people and their industrious minds and strength towards developments, warfare and relationships escaped adversity, captivity, mental enslavement, weakness, reliance on government quota system and anglo-Igbo culture rather They moved ahead to self-reforms, industrialization and self-unionism.
Ekwe woman deserve great accolades by their achievements in all ramifications towards the development of Ekwe Community. Either there establishment of Ekwe Secondary schools,
maternities, formation of Ekwe Development Union Women Wing, and their tender love to Ekwe men during the Nigeria Genocidal war against the Biafrans.
Just as in other Igbo communities, traditions, customs, belief, and norms should be regarded for prolonging Igboism.
To further illustrate the problem of leadership, antagonism, and mutual hatred among Ekwe people after the exit of the colonial Masters which also affected the rapid development of Ekwe community.
Case studies were used to examine when and how rural Ekwe is transforming into mega city by the efforts of her citizens. The case studies provided further insights on the theories of Ekwe, which constitute contentious issues in Igbo historiography. The intergroup relations that existed between the Ekwe and neighboring community as well as Igboland in general.
What is my contribution of this research to knowledge?
This work is done by a historian which took historical processes to achieve the work and to identify Ekwe community as an Igbo society that attain its development through self efforts.
Also a community that faced British colonial irregularities through leadership structures as well as in other micro Igbo communities and some African states.