OTAMKPA, LAND OF MY BIRTH, I YEARN FOR THOSE YOUR FOOD, WONDER WHERE YOUR VISITORS HAVE GONE

Otampa, presented with the name hoisted on her by the colonialists, is one of the Wards in Isuikwuato, in the present day Isuikwuato Local Government Area (LGA), Abia state.

A time there was, when the very quiet, cute, rural and scenic space Otamkpa, corrupted as Otampa by the white supremacists, also called the colonial masters, was a center of commerce, social and economic activities, up to the 80s. The community, was reputed far and near, for her widely acclaimed good conduct and generosity; inviting behaviour and enduring disposition, liveliness and deep seated love for residents and visitors, in addition to high level economic activities. These attributes endeared Otampa, to her citizens, numerous residents and visitors.

Though a very small community, Otampa, through qualities she glaringly manifested, attracted large presence of the young and old, male and female none indigenous residents and visitors. Part of the residents, were public servants, posted as staff of the Nigerian Railway Corporation. Other public servants, were primary and secondary school Teachers, in and around Otampa. Among the residents also, were the private sector  business operators. The major center of business activities, apart from the two markets was the Railway Station.

The other category of visitors to Otampa, were those that came to savour the rich local delicacies of Otampa, among which were: bush meat, ugbaa and palm wine. Oho, oruru, akparata, mixed proportionately with achara, egwusi, ukazi, oligbi: bitter leaf, akwukwo-oho, spiced with the appropriate quantity of uzuza: a scent leaf, supported with a sizeable chunk of a carefully mixed ngbaringba-ahu; and enriched with decently prepared, properly packaged and nicely served foofoo to aid transportion, and ease the escort home of what is consumed, as well as quicken digestion, for better circulation and increased health.

 

Egusi soup with ukazi and Ngbaringba ahu

Ngbaringba-ahu, already mentioned above, is used in "soup", and equally prepared in another very unique way. When prepared in this form, Ngbaringba-ahu, is consumed as a snack, served in different sizes, eg: small, medium and large, etc. 

There is another very delicious delicacy, Otampa is noted for "Ji Mmiri oku" or yam pepper soup. The ingredients include uda, uyaghuya, osinkita: scent leaf and ojo. One other local spice, out of the many that are not yet mentioned, and very prominent for the preparation of "Ji Mmiri oku" is utazi, a medicinal leaf that has a bitter taste. Either the leaf, or the stem can be used. This is dependent on what a particular service provider wants to offer. Ji Mmiri oku" is served with a separate mixture, very rich in local content. The mixture is known by the locals, as he-ndori, or nchichi oso, specially prepared with nwankiri pepper. It is taken simulteneously with the yam and watery soup, mmirioku. 

Eborebo jaakwu (cassava), sliced the way Otampa makes her own, is consumed as snack, with either palm kernel, coconut or groundnut. It is another highly cherished item that was of very high demand by especially passengers on board the train to their various destinations, passing through Otampa.

Egusi cake: Ngbaringba Ahu, 

The Cassava Powder, Garri is well known in Nigeria, but Garri Otampa, is considered so special and widely sort after, and therefore, attracted people to Otampa (those buying for resell purposes, and those for own use), from distant and nearby communities. 

Orie Ukwu and Ogwumabiri markets in Otamkpa, still standing, use to be a beehive of commercial activities. Though, some people consider them small markets, but the volume of trading and other business transactions at the markets, in the period under review, was remarkable. These markets, were saturated with locally made foods, drinks, crops and fruits. People, visit these markets to buy those items either for personal use, resell or to receive the body treat, that the already prepared delicacies of Otampa offered. 

Uncooked Odudu

The best of Palm wine was sort for, and traded in the two markets, alongside other items, such as the local beans: odudu, Red oil, pears and cassava tubers, Ugbaa and others. The two markets were of course melting points, and Otampa the beneficiary.

Unfortunately, today, Ogwumabiri and Orie Ukwu markets, are dominated by canned foods, and many other forms of industry processed chemical saturated food items, large chunk of which are imported.

I look forward consistently, yearning and searching, hoping to witness, the return as staple food, and regular menu, the rich and enticingly medicinal foods of Otampa. I wonder in pain, cry silently in desolation, not knowing the gains of abandoning what my community, Otamkpa was reputed for, that which attracted large number of none people to Otampa, provided many of my people, with livelihood opportunities and in various ways stimulated different levels of other commercial ventures.

BY ANGELA IHAMEFULA (NEE OGUGUA)