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Edem is known for having indigenes that live very long. It is usual to find lots of people over a hundred years old. It has been debated whether this is due to the quality of life or some other reason.<ref>Oldest Man in Nigeria http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2006/oct/25/national-25-10-2006-04.htm</ref>
Edem is known for having indigenes that live very long. It is usual to find lots of people over a hundred years old. It has been debated whether this is due to the quality of life or some other reason.<ref>Oldest Man in Nigeria http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2006/oct/25/national-25-10-2006-04.htm</ref>


Christianity is the main religion in Edem. It has to be said that amongst all the denominations, the area is largely dominated by the Catholic Church.<ref>Catholic Church in Edem http://www.thecatholicchurchinnigeria.org/nsukka.htm</ref> Regardless of this, almost all the major christian denominations have a presence in Edem.<ref>Anglican Church in Edem http://www.anglican-nig.org/NigerP_nsukka.htm</ref> This is a change from Edem of old which was known to have priestesses and idol worshippers to the goddess [[Adoro]] which some people still do till today.<ref>Adoro Priestess Nwando Achebe: Farmers, Traders, Warriors and Kings: Female Power and Authority in Northern Igboland, 1900-1960, 978-0-325-07079-7.</ref><ref>Achebe, Nwando, 1970-: Igo Mma Ogo: The Adoro Goddess, Her Wives, and Challengers--Influences on the Reconstruction of Alor-Uno, Northern Igboland, 1890-1994, Journal of Women's History - Volume 14, Number 4, Winter 2003, pp. 83-105, E-ISSN: 1527-2036 Print ISSN: 1042-7961, DOI: 10.1353/jowh.2003.0001</ref>
Christianity is the main religion in Edem. It has to be said that amongst all the denominations, the area is largely dominated by the Catholic Church.<ref>Catholic Church in Edem http://www.thecatholicchurchinnigeria.org/nsukka.htm</ref> Regardless of this, almost all the major christian denominations have a presence in Edem.<ref>Anglican Church in Edem http://www.anglican-nig.org/NigerP_nsukka.htm</ref> This is a change from Edem of old which was known to have priestesses and idol worshippers particularly to the goddess [[Adoro]] which some people still do till today.<ref>Adoro Priestess Nwando Achebe: Farmers, Traders, Warriors and Kings: Female Power and Authority in Northern Igboland, 1900-1960, 978-0-325-07079-7.</ref><ref>Achebe, Nwando, 1970-: Igo Mma Ogo: The Adoro Goddess, Her Wives, and Challengers--Influences on the Reconstruction of Alor-Uno, Northern Igboland, 1890-1994, Journal of Women's History - Volume 14, Number 4, Winter 2003, pp. 83-105, E-ISSN: 1527-2036 Print ISSN: 1042-7961, DOI: 10.1353/jowh.2003.0001</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 09:39, 2 February 2010

Edem
Country Nigeria
StateEnugu State
Government
 • TypeKings Council
 • KingHis Majesty, King Christopher Nwabueze Ezea II
 • Onyishi EdemDimanyi Thomas Ugwu
 • Igwe of Akpa-EdemIgwe Boniface Eze
 • Igwe of Ozi-EdemIgwe Hyacinth Ezema
 • Igwe of Edem-AniIgwe Sunday Asogwa
Population
 (2006 est.)
 • Total100,000
Time zoneUTC+ 1 (WAT)
Post Code
410[1]
Area code042

Edem is an ancient kingdom located in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. It has been an autonomous Kingdom irrespective of the fact that some clans migrated from different parts of Nigeria down to Edem. It is made up of three zones, in order of seniority they are namely: Akpa-Edem, Ozi-Edem and Edem-Ani.[2] These zones have been granted autonomy by the government but are still one in terms of a King, culture and traditions. All development and traditional functions are still performed as one by the three zones.

It is approximately 30 to 40 square kilometers and has lots of hills providing wonderful views from certain points. The current population of the Edem is estimated to be around 200,000 but nearly half of this number live outside Edem.

Edem has common borders with Obimo on the South, Nsukka on the East, Ibagwa Ani on the North and Nrobo on the West. Other border towns include Okpuje near Owa and Egu Amegu, Abbi near Egu Amegu Abbi, Ugwuoke Ugwuinyi near Egu Amegu and Ero Uno near Edem Ani.

The inhabitants of Edem are originally people from the Igala ethnic group but live today as Igbo's since the division of the country into states and geo-political zones resulted in them being located in the South-East of Nigeria. As a result of their origin, they are referred to as Northern Igbo's because of their closeness in ancestry and location to Northern Nigeria and also their location in the northern part of Igboland.

The current King and Paramount Ruler of Edem is His Majesty, King Christopher Nwabueze Ezea II, Eze Edem XIX.[3] He is from the Ezea Ugwuoke Royal Family. He is the youngest King in the history of the Kingdom and currently one of the youngest Kings in the World. He ascended the throne on the 16th of July 2009.

Each zone of Edem also has its own government recognised traditional chiefs but are still subject to the Eze Edem's authority.

Economy

The main economic activity in the Kingdom is agriculture. The people practice shifting cultivation/crop rotation because of the enormous land mass of the area and outstanding fertility of the land.

Cash Crops: Kolanuts, Oil beans, Bread fruit, Black-eyed beans, Brown beans, Yam, Coco-yam, Cow peas, Maize, Cotton and Ground-nuts.

Fruits: Oranges, Cashew, Avacado pear, Guava, Paw-paw, Pineapples, Bananas, Watermelon, Mangoes, Pears, African star apples, Black apples, Blue apples, Showasho.

Vegetables: Light green ameranth, Dark green amaranth, Ahihara, Water-leaves, Bitter-leaves, Pumpkin, Garden egg, Fluted pumpkin, Okro, Red pepper, Yellow pepper and Black pepper

Another significant economic activity Edem is known for is the production of large quantities of gravels, stones and sand for building houses and construction of roads.

A body with members from Edem and other parts of the world on its board has being created to improve the social welfare, infrastructure and economy of the Kingdom, it is called Edem Investment and Development Authority.[4]

Tourism

Edem serves as a tourist destination where visitors can see the Akatakata Waterfalls from ‘Ugwu ovo’ (Ovo hill) down to Igoro Agbo, Okpu cave/stream in Nkawushi, a great valley from Amaho down to Owa all in Akpa Edem.

One other major tourist attraction is the all year round hunting. The Kingdom is blessed with large and thick forests where all types of wild animals can be hunted. These forests have some amazing trees that are over a hundred years old.

As is typical in Africa, Edem has a lovely temperature all through the year. The lowest temperature is 19°C (66F) and the hottest is 33°C (91F) whether in the rainy season or dry season.

Festivals

The four main festivals celebrated at different times of the year and in some cases on a zone by zone basis are:

1. Onunu Edem 2. Omabe (celebrated in the three stages: Uda Omabe, Ulo Omabe, Okiti Omabe) 3. Egba Chukwu 4. Edem Week

Composition of Edem

These are the 37 communities that make up the Kingdom of Edem:

A.AKPA-EDEM ZONE

1. OWA-EDEM 2. UWENU NA UWANI OBEKE 3. DIMUNAZU 4. AMANKWA 5. IGORO UGWU 6. IGORO AGBO 7. AMADIMOGO 8. ISAMANI 9. AMA OBA 10. OKITI 11. AMADIMBA 12. NKAWUSHI

B.OZI-EDEM ZONE

1. UMUOKO 2. UKPARA 3. AMAUKPA 4. AMAMKPUME 5. AMAUKWA 6. IKWE EZIKE 7. AMABUNEGU 8. UMUEYI 9. AMA UWENU 10. UMUOJI 11. OBINEGUN II

C.EDEM-ANI ZONE

1. AMAENU-EDEM 2. AMAOGWU 3. ISU 4. ODOJO 5. OWERE-UGWU 6. OWEREAGBO 7. NKOFI 8. UWANI-EDEM 9. UMUCHIAGWU 10. UMUCHIOKE 11. OGBODODU 12. AMAEZUMESU 13. UBOGIDI 14. OZARA

Others

Edem is known for having indigenes that live very long. It is usual to find lots of people over a hundred years old. It has been debated whether this is due to the quality of life or some other reason.[5]

Christianity is the main religion in Edem. It has to be said that amongst all the denominations, the area is largely dominated by the Catholic Church.[6] Regardless of this, almost all the major christian denominations have a presence in Edem.[7] This is a change from Edem of old which was known to have priestesses and idol worshippers particularly to the goddess Adoro which some people still do till today.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ Nigerian Postal Service. "Postcode Map". Retrieved January 19, 2010.
  2. ^ Edem Zones http://www.ebeano.org/LocalGovernments.html
  3. ^ Eze Edem http://www.realtid.se/ArticlePages/201001/08/20100108085811_Realtid530/20100108085811_Realtid530.dbp.asp
  4. ^ Economy http://www.afribank.com/LocateBranches.aspx
  5. ^ Oldest Man in Nigeria http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2006/oct/25/national-25-10-2006-04.htm
  6. ^ Catholic Church in Edem http://www.thecatholicchurchinnigeria.org/nsukka.htm
  7. ^ Anglican Church in Edem http://www.anglican-nig.org/NigerP_nsukka.htm
  8. ^ Adoro Priestess Nwando Achebe: Farmers, Traders, Warriors and Kings: Female Power and Authority in Northern Igboland, 1900-1960, 978-0-325-07079-7.
  9. ^ Achebe, Nwando, 1970-: Igo Mma Ogo: The Adoro Goddess, Her Wives, and Challengers--Influences on the Reconstruction of Alor-Uno, Northern Igboland, 1890-1994, Journal of Women's History - Volume 14, Number 4, Winter 2003, pp. 83-105, E-ISSN: 1527-2036 Print ISSN: 1042-7961, DOI: 10.1353/jowh.2003.0001


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