One Ancestor, Many Stories? The Ugbe Debate in Ibusa - Part One

 One Ancestor, Many Stories? The Ugbe Debate in Ibusa - Part One

Emeka Esogbue

There is a tradition in Umuezeagwu, an Ibusame quarter that speaks of an ancestor named Ugbe. The people descended from him are known as Umugbe, which is today also called Umuisor. According to this tradition, Ezeagwu had three sons namely Ugbe, Nnamusom, and Nwaese and these Umugbe people trace their origin to Ugbe.

In this Ibusa area in Umuekea, there is also another account of a patriarch named Ugbe. Ugbe was married to Afene, the daughter of Ezeazu. Ezeazu is regarded as the founder of Umuezeazu in Umueze. Their descendants are known as Umuafene, although in some places this name is now used interchangeably with Umugbe. The marriage of Ugbe and Afene, Ezeazu's daughter is the biological relationship of the people of Umuafene and Umuezeazu today.

There are also differences in how these names are used across communities. In Umezeagulu, Umugbe is called Umuisor, while in Isieke, Umuafene is referred to as Umugbe.

This brings up an important question: are these two references to Ugbe talking about the same ancestor whose story has changed over time, or are they about two different individuals who happen to share the same name?

It is also important to note that Ezemese was the grandson of Umejei and Umejei was one of the early founders of the Ibusa settlement. This Ezemese is said to be the patriarch of Umuekea, which includes Umuafene (in Isieke in modern terms). In the same tradition, Ezeagwu is described as his first son (of Ezemese).

Given these overlapping family lines and changing names, what is the true relationship between these groups? Do they share a common origin, or are these separate histories that later became connected?