Okoli Ijeoma was a prominent 19th-century merchant warlord from the Aro settlement of Ndikelionwu, located in present-day Anambra State, Nigeria. He gained notoriety for recruiting the militaristic Ada people from the Cross River area to fight against his enemies or for those who paid for his services. Okoli Ijeoma was the grandson of Ikelionwu, the founder of Ndikelionwu in the 18th century.
The Origin of Ndikelionwu
Ikelionwu, also known as Ikelionwu Ufele, was born in Ifite Öka and was recognized for his noble ichi marks. He hailed from the family of Eze Oshie and was known as an mgburuichi, a title granted to men with ichi marks symbolizing nobility. The name Ikelionwu, meaning “strength does not conquer death,” reflects his resilience.
According to one account, Ikelionwu was kidnapped by the Amantogwu and later purchased by a wealthy Aro woman named Ufere Mgbokwa, who treated him as her son and freed him from slavery. Some versions of the story claim that Eze Oshie was the one sold, while others suggest that an Aro warlord named Ufere Mgbokwu Aka enslaved Ikelionwu. Regardless, Ikelionwu eventually established his lineage in Ndikelionwu, in the Omogho area, as part of the Aro settlement network, which spread across the north-central Igbo area (modern-day Anambra State).
Ikelionwu and the Aro Influence
Ikelionwu played a crucial role in helping Öka during a protracted war with Amantogwu, the group responsible for his earlier kidnapping. His use of guns, introduced to Igbo communities by the Aro, contributed to Öka’s victory. The Aro were instrumental in introducing European firearms to the region, facilitating their trade networks and bolstering their influence.
Prior to the intensification of the transatlantic slave trade, Igbo society was dominated by ritual specialists, including blacksmiths, from centers such as Nri, Öka, and Abiriba. However, as the slave trade grew, merchant warlords like Ikelionwu emerged. The Aro, with their stronghold in the oracular network, transformed ritual paths into slave-trading routes, absorbing refugees and migrants into their colonies.
The Okoli Ijeoma War and the Ada Mercenaries
Ikelionwu’s descendant, Okoli Ijeoma, became a feared warlord and expansionist. In the late 19th century, Okoli hired the Ada, a group of mercenaries from Eda, Abam, and Ohafia, to attack Öka in what became known as Agha Ìbenne, the “war of relatives.” The term ‘Ada’ was commonly used by north-central Igbo communities to refer to mercenaries from the Aro region.
The Ada ambushed Öka by hiding in nearby bushes. However, monkeys, likely mona monkeys, inhabiting the area, were startled by the Ada’s presence and fled, alerting the Öka people to the impending attack. The Öka militia, known as the Egbunoji, quickly assembled and, outnumbering the Ada, defeated them.
The Sacred Monkey and Imoka Festival
This event contributed to the sacred status of monkeys in Öka. Monkeys, particularly the Enwe Imoka (mona monkeys), are revered during the Imoka Festival and considered sacred to the Imoka, a feminine divinity central to Öka’s spiritual life. Although monkeys may have been considered sacred before this war, the encounter with the Ada further solidified their significance. Many Igbo communities refrain from eating or harming animals deemed sacred.
The Legacy of Okoli Ijeoma and the Ada Raids
The activities of the Ada mercenaries led many communities, including those in the north-central Igbo region, to build high walls, trenches, and stockades around their settlements for protection. The Abam, Ohafia, and Eda mercenaries were known for their headhunting practices and ambush tactics, which forced communities to adopt new defensive strategies.
Okoli Ijeoma continued his campaigns until his death in 1905, shortly before the British began their colonial incursion into the Öka region. His war against Öka was one of the last major conflicts involving the Ada before the arrival of British forces.
