Age grade
Age grade or age group is a solidarity group of people born within a given age interval. It's a social group that cuts across kinship and family ties. In Umueri, it’s usually formed during the youthful era of a given age group and given a name that each particular age group would be called and addressed as. Such names are given due to many factors that include the circumstance of that particular period, events and often due to pride of that particular age group. The Parents tracked those born within a specific period with their children and friendship is encouraged within the age bracket. There are both Male and Female Age Groups in Umueri
Age grade/Age Group called Iru/ Ogbo respectively in the local dialect evolves gradually. Its formation is not an instant action but rather an action that is continuously deliberated and executed. It starts from Childhood during which Parents encourage their children to relate closely with people born within the same era. This friendship leads them into their youth. At the threshold of their Adulthood, they would organized a musical outing (Iwa-iru) which they would displayed in a Popular Villages Square in the town in order to introduce the group to the entire town. For Instance, Ama-Ocha Umunagu is usually the square where the people of Umunchezi Village of Umueri introduce its new age grade. Prior to the outing proper, they would send for good musical troupes that would trained them in the act of dancing the new music. It’s called Izi-egwu in local parlance. The trainers would train them for weeks leading to the day of the Age grade introduction. They would also required to have a Patron (Nna-Ogbo) or Patroness (Nne-Ogbo). The introduction or festival to usher in the age grade is indeed one of the most glamorous feasts in the land as everyone looks up to that special day.
THE EXTINCT AND EXTANT AGE GRADE IN UMUERI.
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Ochokwu na Oraofia |
1860 -1865
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Akpali |
1866 -1868
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Okpo na Otakagu |
1869 -1871
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Ojabu na Okpuchaliku |
1872 -1877
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Mgbogulu Onye |
1878 -1881
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Obalajiji na Akakamma |
1882 -1884
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Amuta Etie na Omama awo |
1885 -1889
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Ajawacha |
1890 -1893
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Ajilija |
1894 -1896
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Iruogbozi(Irugo) |
1897 -1899
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Olum na Ajili |
1900 -1902
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Epum |
1904 -1906 |
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Okpatu
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1907 -1909
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Nwike |
1909 -1911
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Mgbomgbo Ugo(Iruevio) |
1912 -1916
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Abuke |
1917 -1919
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Amuoku |
1920 -1922
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Abiakasi/Okomoli |
1923 -1924
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Ugbomma |
1925 -1927
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Osua {Enu na Ana} |
1928 -1932
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Okanna |
1932 -1934
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Okpoke |
1935 -1937
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Mgbada bu Anu |
1938 -1940
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Ukponnu |
1941 -1944
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Cha-a |
1944 -1946
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Akababa |
1946 -1947
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Tana |
1947 -1949
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Udoka |
1950 -1953
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Oganudo |
1954 -1955
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Oganiru |
1955 -1957
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Njikoka |
1957 -1959
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Igwebuike |
1959 -1961
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Anwulika/Iguedo |
1962 -1964
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Ofuobi
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1965 -1968
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Ekwueme/ Ive-adigo |
1968 -1970
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Oguebigo |
1970 -1973 |
| Ugoejiejemba | 1973 -1975 |