HISTORY OF ITEM (pronounced EETEM)
ITEM (pronounced EETEM) is one of the communities in Bende Local Government Area in Abia State of Nigeria. It is bordered by Akeze (in Ebonye State) in the North; Nkporo in the East; Alayi in the West; and Abiriba and Igbere in the South.
Item people first settled in a place called POTOPO after a brief stay at Igede. Item people could not stay long at Igede because they could not find a precious stone known as ‘akom’. Potopo is on the Eastern side of Abam and Biakpan. Akom was a pre-historic stone used in making knives, hoes, spears and many other defensive and destructive weapons. It was in Potopo that they found ‘akom’ in a large quantity. They first arrived at Bende. While there, they could not find any ‘akom’ and because of that they decided to move away from the area. When they took off from Bende they became very weak and decided to have enough rest. While resting, the witch and native doctors treated the sick and took time off to make sacrifices to the gods. It was believed that the people must have spent many months, if not years there since they were able to build huts for some of their gods as well as huts for themselves. This resting place was known as ‘OZUZU-IKE-ITEM (meaning resting place for Item people), now known as ‘Ozuitem’ (for brevity sake). When hunters and the witch doctors could not find ‘akom’, even though the land was very fertile, they decided to abandon the area. As others were still contemplating on what to do, Okoko left in search of a better land. When they arrived at the present site, they saw that the land was not only fertile but also had ‘akom’ in abundance. The entire area stretching down to the present site where Amokwe is now located, was occupied by different people, and only force could determine if Okoko could settle there or not.
Item Community consists of nine villages: Apanu (formerly known as Akwanu), Akanu, Amaekpu, Amaeke, Amaokwe, Okagwe, Okai, Okoko, and Umuakpa.
Each village is made up of autonomous communities with Eze (King). Okpi of Item is the overall Eze for all of Item.
CULTURAL FESTIVALS & DANCES
Some of the cultural festivals are Ita Achicha, Iwa Ndi Ama, Igwa Agwu, Iri-ndi (new Yam Festival) and Ite Ikoro. Igwa Mmam is observed in May, followed by Ita Achicha between June and July. Iwa Ndi Ama is celebrated eight days before the new yam festival while Igwa Agwu comes two days prior to the new yam festival. New Yam festival comes in late August or early September. Eight and sixteen days after the New Yam Festivals, Akwanu and Amaeke celebrate Ikoro respectively.
Major cultural dances include Udunkulu, Achumpu, Ikoro, Ikerikpe Ogu (war dance), Oboni (for initiated men only), Aku (for initiated men only), Akpaoge, Mbe, Oyimara, George, Ekpe, Ojonkwu, Ilu, Ayarakata.
MARKET DAYS
In Igbo culture, a week is made up of eight days. Item people call it Izu: Afo ukwu; Nkwo Ukwu; Eke Ukwu; Orie Ukwu; Afo Nta; Nkwo Nta; Eke Nta; and Orie Nta. In Item, communities have their market days as follows: Afo Ukwu at Amaokwe; Nkwo Nta at Okoko; Eke Ukwu at Akanu; Eke Nta at Okai and Akwanu; and Afo Nta at Amaekpu.
LANGUAGES
Item people speak Igbo with a special dialect. Some of the unique words are dede or oko (used in addressing any senior male other than one’s father), mmo (used in addressing a senior female other than one’s mother); Nnawo – Nnenyi iborla. Jokwa (hello, how are you), and nnawo (good morning) are commonly expressed.It may be worthy of noting that in the greater part of the Igbo dialect, Ji means yam. However, in Item Ji means husband. Yam is called Ndi.COMMON NAMES: Ogbonnaya, Nnanna, Nnenna, Ada, Ori, Okereke, Okoronkwo, Okoroafor, Okorie, Kalu, Agwu, Oyidiya, Mgbafo, Eke, Uguru are very common names in Item.
INSTITUTIONS
Educational Institutions
PRIMARY SCHOOLS: Item Central School in Okoko was the first Primary School in Item. It had dormitories for its Standard Six pupils. Now almost every village has an elementary school and some villages have more than two. SECONDARY SCHOOLS: Item had its first High School established in Amaokwe. Currently, Okoko has a Comprehensive High School and a Technical School.
CHURCHES
The main churches in Item are Methodist Church, Catholic Church, Salvation Army, Unity Church, Jehovah Witness, Cherubim and Seraphim, Faith Tabernacle, and many more.
MEDICAL FACILITIES
Umunnato General hospital (as a joint venture between Item, Igbere, and Alayi). The first medical facilities – Maternity and Dispensary- were established in Okoko. Amaokwe now has a Maternity and a Health Center.
AGRICUTURAL INDUSTRY
Item Merchant Association, Limited, a premier pre-independence company consisting of sons and daughters of Item people established an Oil Mill in Amaokwe and a huge palm oil farm in Okai. It was a co operative venture long before it became fashionable. There is also a privately owned palm oil farm in Akanu.
