HISTORY OF EZZA NATION: SETTLEMENTS AND OCCUPATION

Ezza nation is one of the most dominant tribes in Ebonyi state and widespread in the Southeastern part of Nigeria and beyond. This article is aimed to discuss the history of the Ezza nation.

Ezza people is a sub-Igbo group, in present southeastern Nigeria. Ezza is a generic name for people of Ezza origin in the world. They speak Ezza language.
 Ezza settle predominantly in Ebonyi north, Ebonyi south, and Ebonyi Central; and spread significantly other local governments in Ebonyi State.

They live in different settlements like Ezzagu, Ezza Effium, Umuha Ali, Ukawu, Abaomege, Ezzilo, Ndeaguazu and amongst others. They also have communities in Enugu such as Nkomoru Ezza Onuogba, Ezza Nkwubo, Ezza ugwu omeh, and Ezza Ubahu; Anambra, Benue and  Cross River.  Ezzas is one most traveled and adventurous tribe in the southeastern Nigeria.

ORIGIN

 Ezzas are descendants of Ezekuna and Anyigo, his wife, Ezekuna had twelve sons that make up the twelve Clans of Ezza nation. They are Umuorugbala, Umunoko, Umugo, Umuerishi, Umuezaka, Umuugo, Umuokpo, Umunenyi,  Idembia, Izo, and Orizu.


In the past, Ezza people are known to be warriors, industrious and crafty, and embarked in a series of wars to acquire most of the places they settle outside Onueke Imoha, their ancestral home.
Ezza people resort to Onueke to offer sacrifices and consult their ancestral deities for fortune, cleansing for taboos, and clarification of omen.

They have a family with the hereditary gift of inquiry into nature and explaining mysteries. The Ngwuta family in Ndeguazu in Ezza south has the hereditary gift to explain dreams, signs, and guidelines for cleansing of taboos.



The name of the ancestral home of Ezza people, Onueke is derived from Eke Imoha,  the oldest Ezza traditional and popular market in Ebonyi state. The Eke Imoha is the hub of the socio-economic life of Ezza people.
The major occupation of Ezzas is farming, They produce different crops in abundance such as yam, cassava, cocoyam, rice, etc. They sell their farm produce and other wares in their native markets.

Ezza has four native markets; Eke, Orie, Nkwo and Awho markets. Eke Imoh and Awho Izzo are the oldest and popular markets of Ezza people.