Discover the Original Names of Igbo Communities Renamed by the British During the Colonial Era

 

During the colonial era, several Igbo communities had their names changed by the British due to difficulties in pronouncing the original names. Below are some of these communities and their original names:

Owerri – Original Name: Owe Ere

Orlu – Original Name: Ọlụ

Awkuzu – Original Name: Ọkụ Ụzọ Achagbunam

Okigwe – Original Name: Oka Igwe

Enugu – Original Name: Enu Ugwu (meaning “mountain town”)

Okpala – Original Name: Ọkpụ Ala Ngwa

Port Harcourt – Original Name: Igwe Ọcha

Opobo – Original Name: Igwe Nga

Bonny – Original Name: Ubani

Oyigbo – Original Name: Obi Igbo

Abakaliki – Original Name: Abakeleke

Mbaise – Original Names: Agbaaja, Ahiara, Ekwerazu, Oke Ovoro, Ezinihite

Initially, these were five independent villages, but the British combined them into one community, “Mbaise,” despite their distinct cultural identities.

Asaba – Original Name: Ahaba

Onitsha – Original Name: Onicha

Ibusa – Original Name: Igbo Ụzọ

Ogwashi – Original Name: Ọgwa Ahi

This community traces its origins to the ancient Nri Kingdom.

Awka – Original Name: Oka

Awkunanaw – Original Name: Okunnano

Amawbia – Original Name: Amaobia

Umuahia – Original Name: Ọma Ahịa

These name changes reflect the impact of British colonization on Igbo communities, as the colonizers often altered indigenous names to fit their own linguistic preferences, erasing elements of the local heritage in the process.