BRIEF HISTORY OF OSUMENYI VILLAGE AT NNEWI SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN ANAMBRA STATE

Osumenyi is one of the towns in Nnewi south Local Government Area of Anambra State.Osumenyi has hard working and well to do people who Transact businesses across Nigeria and the town is surrounded by greenery and farms with homes of nuclear and Extended families.

Igbo people living around here live in families close to each other and are Christian oriented with a very Rich Culture.It is located along Nnewi-utuh/Amichi Road.Osumenyi formally occupies the large area east of “Eke-Osu market” sharing common boundaries with Ekwulummili,Unubi and the area presently called Ogbodi.On the southern end,the boundaries are with Akwaihedi and Ezinifite,while she is bordered to the west by Ebenator and Utuh.
To the north is Amichi.Osumenyi is accessible from all corners,it is some thirty two kilometers to Awka(State capital) through Igboukwu,about eight kilometer to Uga in Aguata Local Government Area.
The villages in osumenyi Apart from the newly Created ones are;
1.Akabu
2.Amakom
3.Amihie
4.Obiofia
5.Obiuno
6.Odikpi
7.Umeugo
8.Umuka
9.Umuomam
10.Okofia
11.&Ebenator
While the Newly created Villages are;
1.ODIMA
2.EZIKE ATTA
3.UMEAKA
4.DIMALA
5.UHU-UME
6.UHU-AGU
7.OMAM
8.ENUBIO
9.OCHO
10.ELUGWU OBIOFIA
11.ELEKE
12.ACHARA AMAKOM
13.NGELE
14&OCHURU;Making it Total of 25Villages in Osumenyi.
Osumenyi has about 5 springs which are Ochi,Ngwuja,Nwota, Ahamammiri and Iyinwoku spring all of which flow into Ugwa stream,connecting ulasi river,Ezinifite town.
Osumenyi Market day is “EKE” and her Popular Market is Known As EKE-OSU”.It Stand Head and Shoulder Above every other Markets in Her Environs and other Towns’ Markets under Nnewi South L.G.A. Osumenyi town is beautified with natural green trees that shade the quiet village life from the blazing effect of the sun.Among the common trees are Palm trees,Pear trees,kola-nut trees,Plantain&Banana Trees, Rubber trees,Pineapple orchard,Iroko trees,Coconut Trees and many other fruits yielding trees.
Osumenyi is an autonomous community like every other town in Okotu clan.Osumenyi is one of the sons of an ancient warrior whose name was OKUTU from UMUONA.After numerous conquests Okotu moved downwards and settled at Okonobi in Adazi-Enu.
He married two wives.His first wife had three male children whose names in order of their birth were Adazi-Enu,Adazi-Ani and Adazi-Nnukwu.The male children of Okotu by his second wife were Ichida,Amichi,Osumenyi,Ogbodi and Ikenga.There were movements of the sons of Okotu to find plots of land for settlement.Osumenyi and his brothers decided to migrate south towards the present location she occupy.Osumenyi was a typical traditional society.The townspeople were governed by Ozo title holders.The ozo title holders had strict rules of conduct which include telling the truth all the time & keeping secrets.

TABOOS 
A taboo is something declared forbidden either for its sacred nature or to protect the people of a given community from the wrath of the gods and the leaders.it also a part of any culture and of tradition  because it brings a sense of sanity and reverence to certain things in the community.

There are many taboos(“do’s and “don’t’s”) in Osumenyi such as:

• Women are forbidden to neither climb palm trees
• Women are Forbidden to pluck kola nuts or pick kolanuts that fell down from its Tree.
• Stealing was forbidden. It was an abomination to steal.
• Unmarried female folk would not bear or rear children in their father’s houses unless if consented by their parents.
• A widow must be shaved and confined in the house for 6months.
• Snake(Eke) are never to be killed.
• Freeborn(Nwafor) are not to marry Outcast(Osu),Although recently Christianity is trying to campaign for oneness or rather make Reference to biblical injuction that there’s neither Jews or Gentiles(Equality) before God.
•  Whistling in the night: It is considered a taboo to whistle in the night because this act is considered to lure snakes into the home, and also attract evil spirits that roam the night.
•  Unblessed marriage union: It is forbidden for a woman to live with a man without the proper marriage rites or without the due approval and approval of their parents. A respectable man is expected to pay the dowry or bride-price of his wife before or shortly after starting to live together, or the woman will lose respect in the community and may face problems of poverty, retrogression, sickness and death among others.
• Committing incest: It is a taboo to have sexual relations with one’s blood relations or with sisters from the same parents. This is frowned upon by everyone in the community and must never be attempted by anyone.
• A woman blessing the kolanut: Kolanut is considered a sacred nut and must never be broken or shared by a woman. A kolanut must only be broken, blessed, and shared by a man because “he that giveth kola, giveth life,” but never by a woman because it is a life-giving nut of the gods.