The Age Groups And What They Did For Eke During The War And Their Relevance Today
The Age Groups And What They Did For Eke During The War And Their Relevance Today
By Collins OkoloChukwu Obodo; Deputy Corps Commander Rtd
DEFINITION OF AGE GROUP
An age group is an assemble of individuals born within a defined range, usually within a 3-year range, in a particular community.
COMPOSITION OF AN AGE GROUP
An age group is made up of individuals born within an identified age bracket of not less than 3 years but above 4 years range, in a given community.
Age Groups are the strongest bond of affinity among non biologically blood related individuals in any community. The groups form definite sets or sub units of a community
ROLES OF AGE GROUPS IN A COMMUNITY
1. Age groups are the oldest identifiable divisions or subgroups of a community.
2. The groups enable community distribute, share, allocate and assign tasks equitably in a community.
3. Enforcement of law and order are better executed more effectively on age groups basis.
4. Without age groups it may be difficult to differentiate between the old and new generations. This is because the groups are the basis for generational shifts for major social reforms.
5. The groups are the most effective and reliable way to execute joint community tasks in most orderly and peaceful manners
6. They help to ensure safe and peaceful coexistence of the people in a community.
7. They force members to adhere strictly to the existing norms and tenets of the community.
8. They impose severe punishment on members who get involved in criminal and antisocial acts detrimental to the unity, good image, peace and harmony in the community.
9. Age groups sometimes sponsor important events in the community such as Football, sports, dancing, school debates and other competitions.
10. They sometimes offer scholarships to the children or sponsor some vital developmental projects in the community.
HOW AGE GROUPS HELPED EKE TO SURVIVE THE CIVIL WAR
Without the use of Age Groups it would have been difficult if not impossible for Eke to freely survive the impacts of the Nigerian Civil War in Ogui-Agu Community. The teeming population of refugees in that little village far outnumbered the Community. There became urgent need for prudent management of available resources, facilities and others such as water, accommodations, markets, farmlands, securities, conflicts, etc
To do that there was strong understanding between OguiAgu the host and the refugees of Eke origin. They formed a united front and used 3 Age Groups known as Ogbanito to execute the Win-the War issues. The 3 Age Groups span between 20 – 28 years of age range.
1. The Ogbanito most Senior Age Grade was Ogba Okongwu, aged between 26, 27, 28 years. They were basically assigned to Land matters, family disputes, conflicts, peaceful resolutions, imposition of fines on offenders and others.
2. The Ogbanito Middle Age Group was the Ogba Peter, which I may call the Action Age Group then. They were at their prime during the war, aged between 23, 24, 25 years old. They carried out all security duties including guarding the Entry and Exit points of OguiAgu. They handled issues relating to violation of use of Firearms, illegal entries into the community and protection of Eke people engaged in Afia-attack and those who went to harvest crops from their abandoned farms. They handled violent crimes as rape, robbery, fighting and others. Notable among Ogba Peter the Action Age Group readily to my mind were:
From Umuoyibulu: Late Patrick Magbo, the Bulldozer
From Umugwuagu: Late Andrew Ebunoha aka Satchmo
From Amonicha: Late Anthony Offiah aka Offensive Waggon
From Umuneke: Late Edmund Nwabuisi aka Wold-man Bosco
From Amankwo Eke: Late Fabian Oyeama
From Oma Eke: Late Gabriel Ngwaka
From Ogui Imezi: Late Chally Chigbo
3. The Ogbanito Lower Age Group was Ogba Ngwueke, aged between 20, 21, 22 years old then. They were basically assigned to manage the Okwanda Spring Water equitably and in fairness to everyone in the community.
Suffice it to say that all the above lived up to the expectations of the people both the hosts and the refugees alike. Refugees outside Eke Kingdom resident in OguiAgu then were not involved in any duties. There were those from Ngwo, Egede Affa, Nsude, Ebe, Nsukka, etc, though in the minority. If our people could organise their affairs so effectively to sustain such mammoth crowds as far back as 58 years ago, it becomes a big challenge to us today in this 21st century Computer and Information Technology Age, with all our bags of Certificates and Degrees, if we cannot harness our age groups to our own advantage.
THE PLACE OF AGE GROUPS IN HANDLING OUR PRESENT DAY CHALLENGES
Eke Town Union as well as the Village Unions may begin to keep accurate data of Age Groups. There are always 3 most vibrant age groups who are at their peak at any point in time. The use of such Peak Age Groups to execute emergency services are becoming increasingly necessary nowadays in view of the present insecurity challenges in our society today. For example, the cases of Kidnapping require massive radical approaches. Hence today many communities have started massive combining of their forests to flush out the criminals. The most effective way of doing this is by mobilisation of the Youths and the best way to mobilise vibrant youths is through ages groups. Through age groups all the forests and the adjoining neighbourhood could be covered in two to three days. That would be best way to ensure there is no hiding places for the criminals, for how can our people continue to meet up with the payment of the millions of naira demanded as ransom whenever our people are kidnapped? It was for such effective massive mobilization to comb forests that led to the recent call for Igbo Town Unions Joint Taskforces.
Just recently our State Government announced plans to establish Farm Estates one in each 260 Political Wards in the 17 Local Government Areas. Each Farm Estate may take up to 200 Hectares of land. Clearing, monitoring and maintaining such project may be quicker and more cost effective if carried out by Age Groups. To do this the Groups need to be motivated by the Unions. Any member who may not be disposed to be physically present may pay a Labour Charges in lieu. Luckily, our great Eke Kingdom with Six Villages shall be having only ONE Farm Estate when our closest neighbour of Oghe Kingdom also with Six Villages shall have FOUR.
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THE BENEFITS OF AGE GROUPS TO MEMBERS
1. They help reform the deviant, erring and the nonconformists among themselves, ensuring they live within the armpits of the laws of the land
2. Encourage members to earn their livings lawfully.
3. Assist members by jointly raising funds to support their marriages, weddings, etc.
4. Comfort distressed members in times of sicknesses, deaths, burials, etc.
5. Offer morales and financial supports to their late members wives or children.
6. When a member dies, the group exercise exclusive responsibility to ensure that the deceased got befitting burial.
7. The exclusive duty of interment is one of the greatest allegiance to their members.
8. This act of last respect age groups is the strongest bond of relationship for people not sharing blood relationship.
9. This bond of affinity makes it a serious offence for one to be absent during a member’s burial.
10. The saying that “Ogba bu une” is a confirmation of deep sacred bonds that unite Age Groups.
SENIORITY AND SHARING ORDER IN AGE GROUPS
1. Members of an age group share things in order of their seniority by birth.
2. When two members were born on the same day, the seniority goes to the one who first emerged from the womb.
3. Above also applies when twin males are from same mother. The one who saw the sky first is the elder of the two. This is called “Oyihu anya igwe”.
4. By rule, the most senior member of an age group is the dead member. As a general rule, the dead is a Spirit, hence older than the living. The dead is an Ancestor to the living.
5. It is the same reason the age grade members honour the dead mate. They must remove their head wears while paying last homage to the deceased member lying in a state to be buried.
6. Also same reason the Uniform personnel pay Compliments to the dead colleagues.
7. A General laying a Wreath at the graveside of a fallen colleague gives a Salute to honour the dead, irrespective of differences in ranks.
SCOPE OF AN AGE GROUP OR BOUNDARY
In most of the Igbo communities an age group generally span across a period of 3 calendar years before the next group begins. However, some age groups extend beyond 3 years. This is due to membership Spillovers. There are usually two types of age membership spillovers, namely the Upper Spillovers and the Lower Spillovers. The Upper Spillovers are the age grade members who were old enough to belong to the immediate senior age group, but decided to step down to the immediate junior age group. On the other hand, the Lower Spillovers are the members who were young enough to belong to the immediate junior age group but decided to jump up to the immediate senior age group. As a result of these two borderliners, it has not been easy to maintain a clear-cut 3-year age group brackets in a community. The Upper spillovers usually clinch the Eldership positions in a Group (Ndi isi Ogba). The Lower Spillovers often run errands, share things and arrange venues.
CAUSES OF BORDERLINE MEMBERS IN AGE GROUPS
1. Improper or absence of documentations of child births by parents.
2. Age grade Fathers’ or Sponsors eagerness to assemble greater number of children under his own name.
3. Improper composition of age group range or boundaries.
4. Parents deliberate intention not to disclose their children actual ages or birthdays.
5. Parents preferring a particular Father or Sponsor for their children
6. Absence of accurate central coordinated Birth Registration Database.
REASONS PEOPLE STEP DOWN TO LOWER GROUP
1. When a male child is comparatively too small in size to his age mates due to stunted growth, he may decide to step down to a lower group.
2. A boy whose immediate senior male sibling had refused to join his appropriate age group may have no option than stepdown to lower group.
3. When a mother does not space up her childbirths, two of her children could fit into one age group, forcing one to step down.
4. Eagerness to clinch the Onye isi Ogba position.
REASONS PEOPLE JUMP TO UPPER AGE GROUPS
1. When a boy is the first child of his parents he has the chance to move up to the senior group
2. When a boy is the first male child he has the liberty to move up to the senior group
3. When a boy follows a female sibling he can move up to the senior group
4. If a senior male sibling dies at childhood his immediate male junior could climb up to occupy the gap
5. If a boy has a rapid growth ahead of his mates he may feel too big to his age mates.
6. When a boy is the only child of his parents he has the liberty to belong to a higher age group.
AGE GRADE SYSTEM AMONG THE MAIDENS
It should be noted that the Maidens, also known as the Umuada, also belong to identified age groups. As a matter of fact, the Umuada of every community recognise and also give respect their seniors and elders. They maintain their seniority order very strictly when sharing things among themselves. However, the age group system among the Maidens have not been accorded the same emphasis and attention enjoyed by their male counterparts. This unequal attention did not base on gender disparities, inferiority or discrimination against the girl-child, but on the Maidens early exit from their homes and their departures to their various places of matrimonial homes. Sometimes they are married outside their communities, States or countries of origin.
ONUZULIKE
21/02/2025
The Age Groups And What They Did For Eke During The War And Their Relevance Today
