DISCOVERING ISUIKWUATO THROUGH TOURISM PROMOTION: ENRICH YOUR KNOWLEDGE WITH THE ISUIKWUATO PROVERB CENTERED ON THE AROs

The Proverb is:

• “Ejiwu enya oma aga ehru “Aro” ((Isuikwuato Dialect)

• “Ejighi anya oma aga Aro" (General Igbo translation)

 

• Going to Aro, is never a pleasant or pleasure trip (English translation)

 Note: Ehru or Aro stands for Arochukwu, one of the prominent communities in Abia State.

 Explanation of the Proverb

The narrative below makes for increased knowledge and better understanding of this piece by the reader. The proverb which is centered on the Aros, reminds the elect and teaches the ignorant the historical role of the Arochukwu people, whose exploits in the 19th Century, were not only remarkable, but also legendry.

Let us therefore briefly via into the role the Aros played that made them popular, strategic and very visible, especially, in the time of old, now and in this piece.

By the 19th Century, the Aros had managed to dominate the Niger Delta hinterland religiously and judicially. They had an oracle known and referred to as Ibini–Ukpabi (Long Juju) that dealt with judicial and fertility issues and challenges. A deeper explanation of the activities and role of the oracle, Ibini–Ukpabi, will provide greater insight and make for better understanding of this Isuikwuato proverb that has over the years lingered and transcended generations, but still used almost on daily basis by Ndi-Isuikwuato, including the youths and teens, and kids occasionally.

• Ibini-Ukpabi was prominent in the settlement of disputes, particularly high profile ones: murder, witchcraft, and poisoning, including family disputes.
• The party that loss a case brought before Ibini-ukpabi, was traditionally destroyed by the oracle, according to reports.

Another indication of prominence of the Aros, was the emergence of overseas slave trade in the 18th century, which encouraged the Aros to exploit the links they had with other people, and equally created the opportunity for them to hone their commercial interests. Operating with their hired raiding parties from Abam, Ohafia and Ada, the Aros, according to reports menaced the Igbo hinterland. Those days an Igbo man never went to Aro on friendly visits except for the following reasons:

Religious ground: To obtain justice or fertility for a barren woman.

Economic ground: If carried by force or sold into slavery, hence Ndi-Isuikwuato and the Igbos by extension (learning from Ndi-Isuikwuato), will whenever forced into acts and sacrifices beyond their power, will console themselves with the proverb “Ejiwu enya oma aga ehru “Aro”: (Isuikwuato Dialect), “Ejighi anya oma aga Aro: (General Igbo translation) and for the non-Igbo speakers, let me also represent the English translation: Going to Aro, is never a pleasant or pleasure trip.

By way of further explanation of the proverb, whenever it surfaces, the speaker is in a simple parlance saying or explaining that: 

Though he/she had accomplished the task, he/she realized before wading into it that “Going to Aro is never a pleasure trip”.

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Nnabugwu Chizoba