ORIGIN OF UBULU-UKU

Ezemu was a hunter of un-equalled marksmanship, a herbalist who was known just in ubulu-uku and its immediate environs but down to every corner of the one time Benin Empire. He was so famous as a herbalist that the Oba of Benin during his time invited him to Benin to prepare certain herbs for him. “Izo-Idayi”. This helped to prolong the life of the Oba and so he told his successor to invite Ezemu or his descendants to prepare the same medicine for him any time he came to the throne. Before arriving at Ubulu -UKU however, Ezemu and his brothers first settled at Ubulu-unor.

It was from Ubulu-Unor that Ezemu left for Ubulu-Uku. “Ubulu” is the name of a huge tree which today stands at the centre of Ubulu-uku. “UKU” means big or huge. It was at the foot of this tree ( which still exists today but which has experienced severe burns) that Ezemu pitched tent. A deep gulley was adjacent to the tree, and the presence of water attracted the wandering normand.

 From Afor To Ubulu-Unor
In fact Ubulu oral tradition states categorically that the grand-parents of Ezemu migrated from Israel and settled at Ife hence Ezemu was often referred to as the king with long hairs - “Ezi Isi Iyomiyo”. From Ife Ezemu and his relations migrated to Afor a village in present day Ndokwa Local Government Area of Delta State.

After a long stay in Afor, Ezemu’s parents assembled five of their namely Obodo, Ezemu, Alibo, Aniga and Ekelie and asked them to get ready to migrate and found other settlements.

Before they left Afor, their parents gave them a pot (Ududu) containing a mixture of some herbs and instructed them to settle anywhere the pot fell, each facing a different direction. While wandering from place to place they came to Ubulu-Unor, the pot fell and they settled there as their parents had instructed them. It was from Ubulu-Unor that Ezemu went to found Ubulu-Uku.

 Ezemu Moves To Ubulu-Uku
When Ezemu made up his mind to settle in ubulu-uku he went and pleaded with his sister Obodo to come and join him. She refused told Ezemu that since he, Ezemu had founded a new and bigger Ubulu ( Ubulu-Uku) their first settlement should be called a home (Ubulu-Unor).

There was also the strong argument that Obodo was never the king of ubulu-unor because she was a woman neither were her descendants kings of ubulu-unor rather they have always been and are the Okpalas of Umuata (the descendants of obodo).

 Ezemu had two children , one boy called Ijedinka-Jezie and one girl called Ozim. Since Ijedinka-Jezie was the only son, Ezemu hoped that he would succeed him on the throne and so he was grooming him with the role. He had the hope that Ozim would be given out in marriage.

Introduction
Ubulu-uku is situated some thirty kilometres (30kms) west of the River Niger in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State. Eastwards it shares a boundary with Ogwashi-Uku, westwards with Obior; northwards with Issele-Uku and southwards with Ubulu-Unor.

Ubulu Uku is sited in an undulating environment with its Enugu-Iyi and Abuedo end at the top of a long stretch of hills, while its centre, fanning out from the Ubulu tree, to Isho, Akwu, Ogbeofu, Idumu-Osume etc are located in a valley.Rolling down these hills are rivers which run through the entire clan to the sea through other neighbouring clans. Iyi Agor ( River Agor) stands out prominently among these.

Ubulu-Uku is the largest and most populated town in Aniocha Local Government Area. Topograhically it is a hilly town that could be easily compared to Agbor in Delta State, Auchi in Edo State and Ibadan in Oyo State. This hilly nature of the town accounts for the serious problem of erosion which it faces. The Problem has made some of the streets impassable especially the street leading from the major road to Ogbeofu.

On the other hand when one looks at the town from any of the hilly spots especially at night, one sees a beautiful scenery that could be said to be one of the best that nature has bestowed on this part of the earth. The town has one major stream called Iyi-Agor which was the main source of water supply before the advent of pipe-borne water. A few other minor streams like Nkpitime-Isho, Iyi-Nta, Iyi-Eko and Iyi-Ozala also serve people in various parts of the town.

Three major roads run through the town . One runs from Asaba via Ibusa to ogwashi-uku then through Ubulu-uku to Obior and Umunede. The second road branches out from Ubulu-uku to umunede road at Idumu-Osume village via Akwu village and then to Issele-Uku. The third road branches out from Ubulu-Uku to Umunede road at the post office junction and runs through Akpama, Agbonta-Udogwu and Isho village to Ubulu-Unor.

Occupationally Ubulu-Uku men are farmers, weavers, hunters, and palm wine tappers. As for Ubulu-uku women they are expert weavers. With their hand looms they produce materials that are highly treasured by both foreign and Nigerian visitors to the town.

The Union that made up Ubulu-Uku
Ezemu meets Ekei One day while Ezemu was under the “Ubulu” tree he sighted smoke at a distance. He became curious and moved towards the direction from where the smoke was rising to find out its source. On getting to the spot called Ani-Ekei which now forms part of Udo Village, he met a man called Ekei, a black -smith. He was the leader of a few settlers there.

Ezemu meets Anugwe
Just as Ezemu discovered Ekei and his people, he sighted some smoke rising from a spot in the bush around the present Abuedo village. Like the brave hunter that he was, he moved to find out the source of the smoke. On reaching the spot he saw a man called Anugwe working in his large farm. The exchanged greetings and introduced themselves.

Ezemu becomes the first king of Ubulu-uku
When Ezemu saw that he had surrounded himself with enough settlers he went up to Ekei and told him that it was necessary for the three groups of settlers to come together and that one of the three leaders should be made their king.

After listening to Ezemu, Ekei told him that he was already getting old and was not interested in being the king of Ubulu-Uku. Ezemu went up to Anugwe and told him of his proposals. Anugwe told Ezemu also that he was not interested in being a king. He asked Ezemu to become the king if he so wished. Thus Ezemu was accorded recognition by all the settlers in Ubulu-uku.

Then Ezemu went to Ubulu-unor and told Obodo that he was to be coronated formally. Obodo congratulated him and shaved his bushy hair in order to make him look neat on the coronation day. When Ezemu returned to Ubulu-uku he was crowned the king of ubulu-uku with a lot of pomp and pageantry.

source : C.E.A Ikemefunah and Obi Anene