Igbere

Igbere is a suburban town in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State of South-Eastern geopolitical region Nigeria. Also popularly known and referred to as the Igbere Ebiri, the town is the core "part of Old-Bende Division of the former Eastern Nigeria.".[1] The people of Igbere, relating to, or characteristic of Igbere or its inhabitants and heritage are called Igberian.

Igbere consists of 13 Autonomous Communities, namely: Amakpo, Amankalu, Amaiyi, Amaoji, Amaofufe, Amaukwu, Agbo, Eziama, Ibinanta, Ibinaukuwu, Okafia, Ohumola, and Umusi. These autonomous communities made up the great Igbere clan. Each of the autonomous community is governed by a King and the entire clan is governed traditionally by the "Igbere Clan Council of Kings (Ndi Eze)."[2]

"Igbere is located 66 miles from Aba the Commercial City of Eastern Nigeria, approximately 106 miles from Port Harcourt Airport 66 miles from Owerri, 26 Miles from Umuahia the Capital City of Abia State, 12 miles from Uzuakoli, 4 miles to Abriba and 18 miles to Ohafia."[3]

Igbere is one of the major clans of the Izon tribe in the present day Nigeria. Igbere is a dialect of Igbo Language. Igbere town has a land border with the following towns: Alayi, Item, Umuhu and Ozuitem (all in Bende Local Government Area) and Abiriba in Ohafia Local Government Area) of Abia State. These towns share similar traditions, though there are minor dialectic difference in language.

Just like many Ijaw communities in Ijawland, each King will have a Council of Chiefs (Amadabo) who form part of the King's cabinet and help in running and administering the community. The decision of the King in most sensitive matters are still subject to the decision of councils. Such councils may be derived from the "Igbere Age-Grade system"[4] (one of the core traditions of Igbere people)

"The Age Grade system in Igbere Clan is the vehicle of development. It is through the developmental effort of the Age Grades that Ulo Nkuma, Heath Centres, Culverts, Schools, Civic Centres, Bridges and Roads were built," Chief Solo U. Akuma (SAN) wrote in his address titled "Re-inventing Our Grades" (2008).

The Age grade system as being practiced in Igbere right from time immemorial is mainly as a convenient way for development and security of Igbere territory. “Before now, age grades formed major part of vigilante that were used to guard Igbere land both day and night to insure the safety of lives and properties of the people. More so, the age grade is a socio-cultural organization whose role includes upholding the cultures and values of the community that were handed down from one generation to another.

Whereas the age grade system as practiced by the Igbere people is as old as the Clan itself. However, based on records available, the list of Age Grades that existed within the last 100 years (1917 – 2017). (Click to See tabular Chart titled “Igbere Ebiri Age Grade System Within the Last 100 years”:[5]

“The "Ezumezu Festival"[6] affords our Clan the singular opportunity and privilege to pull out or retire the oldest age grade who served the Clan meritoriously from communal service; this is called Traditional Retirement Ceremony (IGBOTO MMA).

On the other hand, to recognize a new Age Grade. And this aspect is called Outing/Naming of a New Age Grade ('IZARAFA'). The occasion is also used to raise funds for the development of our Clan.” – Chief Solomon Ukaegbu Akuma wrote in statement delivered during the 2008 Ezumezu Festival in Igbere.

The Igbere kingdom defense system are run by certain age groups, so also are other functions. Taxes (Levies used for executing projects) are collected along such age-grade groups as well as other social works.

In the community, there are general work such as the clearing of farm roads, building of public toilets, sweeping the civic centers, going to harvest a collectively (such as palm-plantation) and so many work that involved the use of farm tools such as cutlass and hoes. All these are collectively done by all age-grades.

But once a person retires, it means the person has come of age and would need to be exempted from all such works and also to lay down the working tools which is symbolized by a ‘CUTLASS AND A HOE’ literally referred to as ‘Laying down the Cutlass’ ( Igbotomma) which is also popularly known as Traditional Retirement.

• "Traditional Retirement is equivalent to thanksgiving. Each retiree puts a canopy, cook food, hires musician or DJ for music and celebrate with friends and relatives. And in return, people give gifts, money etc to the Retiree to support them in their new age because they are now expected to work less and not go to distant farm lands."[7]
• After the retirement, the retiree ceases to do the general work, and exempted from taxes, levies and so many activities of the kingdom.