NGOR: A Historical, Cultural, Political and Socio-Economic Analysis by Jossy Nkwocha, PhD

Title: NGOR: A Historical, Cultural, Political and Socio-Economic Analysis

Author: Jossy Nkwocha, PhD

Pagination: 120 pages

Publishers: Igbo Heritage Foundation Publishers Inc.

Reviewer:  Chikodi Okereocha

As a history graduate and a journalist, I was quite curious to read this book titled NGOR: A Historical, Cultural, Political and Socio-Economic Analysis, authored by Dr. Jossy Nkwocha, former General Editor of Newswatch magazine. Books of this nature are usually very controversial because to x-ray the historical, cultural, political and socio-economic analysis of a community will involve stepping on many toes.

In a very crafty manner, Jossy meandered the minefield of Ngor history and politics. As a senior journalist, Jossy deployed seductive prose to make the book quite compelling to explore his community, Ngor, one of the 28 autonomous communities in Ngor-Okpala local government area of Imo State and the ancestral headquarters of the Ngor-Okpala people, the acclaimed food basket of Imo State.

I must confess that after reading the book, I came to the conclusion that Jossy Nkwocha wrote a great book that has the potential to transform Ngor community positively. The book is divided into three parts, namely the historical, cultural and socio-economic analysis; historical events to remember; and a 13-pont roadmap for development.

Part one begins with a map of the community --- the first of such. From the historical perspective, the author traced about 500 years of Ngor’s existence to show that the ancestors were brave warriors that were feared by neighbors. This gave rise to the saying, “Onye je Ngor nga chi jiri”, meaning “who will go to Ngor at night to commit crime.” Ngor was so prominent that it became the foundation stone of naming the clan called Ngor-Okpala.

The book showed why Ngor people are self-esteemed people who usually introduce themselves as “Nwa Ngor Eze-Ogboro”, meaning “prince or princess of the Ngor royal dynasty.” The book also brought out, for the first time, the history of Umuneke Ngor, the headquarters of Ngor-Okpala-Okpala, which is fondly called “Ekeneze” --- a people known for their aggressive lifestyle.  

From the cultural viewpoint, the book projected the rich cultural heritage of the Ngor people. It threw up an intriguing ceremony called “Akaraka Ngor” an annual event at which a jar of palmwine goes round the entire celebrants of about 350 persons.

The political dimension is likely to arouse the greatest interest of most readers. Jossy depicted Ngor community as being politically backwards, and suffering from dire political exclusion. He extrapolated his thesis to include the fact that Ngor-Okpala is supposed to be three or four LGAs as some other clans in Imo State.  A map of Ngor-Okpala vis-à-vis that of Imo State provided in the book is eloquent evidence that indeed Ngor-Okpala is being marginalized politically.

In the social sphere, Jossy’s book explored the traditional marriage system in the community, the traditional criminal justice system, resolution of disputes, and security through community policing. The author proved that in the olden days, Ngor people had a good social system that ensured peaceful co-existence.

Part two of the book, chronicled the emergence of Christianity and western education in the community, the Biafran war as it affected Ngor people, the Umuohie-Umuanyika wars tht claimed many lives in the community and the biography of a great man called Okere-Onyeoma whose single-handedly built a road to link Ngor to Aba-Owerri highway.  

Part three of the book is perhaps the greatest contribution of Dr. Jossy Nkwocha to the Ngor community. He outlines 13 areas of intervention needed to transform the community economically, politically and socially.  According to him, these include functional education, entrepreneurships development, a positive mindset, community mobilization, market development, the power of diaspora indigenes, and so on. Jossy concluded by proposing what he calls Ngor community anthem, dripping with fervent Ngor spirit and consciousness.

Finally, the book contains some historical photographs that would certainly excite many Ngor people, especially the pictures of their first university graduates, the man whose action stopped the Umuanyika-Umuohie war and the legendry Okere-Onyeoma.

The book, NGOR: A Historical, Cultural, Political and Socio-Economic Analysis exposes Jossy’s deep sense of Ngor-ness in him, his uncommon love for his community, and his rare capacity for research and seductive prose. With this book, Jossy Nkwocha has put his Ngor community on internet and global literature. Apart from a few typographical errors, I find Jossy’s book quite readable, and commendable to all and sundry. Indeed, Ngor will surely be better!