Nsukka

== History ==

Nsukka is made up of [https://sunnewsonline.com/tag/nkpunano-community-in-nsukka-local-government-area-of-enugu-state/?amp Mkpunano], [[Nru Nsukka|Nru]], and Ihe'n Owerre. Presently, there is an erroneous trend of referring to all the towns under Enugu North Senatorial Zone as Nsukka. This trend could be as a result of Nsukka housing the [[headquarters]] of the now defunct Nsukka province under the colonial rule.

Nsukka is also a local government area and comprises several towns including Nsukka the host to the first indigenous university in Nigeria, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

Nsukka is an agricultural-trade centre for the yams, cassava (manioc), corn (maize), taro, pigeon peas, and palm oil and kernels produced by the local Igbo (Ibo) people. Weaving is a traditional local craft. Coal deposits have been discovered east of Nsukka around Obolo, a town on the main Onitsha-Makurdi road.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nsukka {{!}} Nigeria {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Nsukka |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

People in Nsukka speak central Igbo and Nsukka dialect, a sub-dialect of larger [[Igbo language]].

The influence of Nsukka people was felt as far as [[Idah]], the Achadu Oko Attah clan in Idah historically migrated from Nsukka.

'''Nsukka's ancient wars'''

Nsukka in the 18th and 19th century had one of the best fighting forces in what is present-day [[Enugu North|Enugu-North]] which they employed in waging war against their neighbours in order to gain more territories for their rising population and for other purposes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-21 |title=History Of Nsukka LGA, Enugu State |url=https://www.medianigeria.com/history-of-nsukka-lga-enugu-state/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=Media Nigeria |language=en-US}}</ref> Each community that made up the town of Nsukka had stationed in them a fighting force made up of people from that community.<ref name=":4" />

Nsukka's numerous wars with her neighbours were usually successful such that some surrounding communities requested help from Nsukka to protect them from their attackers.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2020-08-02|title=The Death of Arua Ugwuoke and Nsukka's War with Ede-Ọbara|url=https://ekeneugwuanyi.com/2020/08/02/the-death-of-arua-ugwuoke-and-nsukkas-war-with-ede-obara/|access-date=2020-09-19|website=Ekene Ugwuanyi|language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=August 2021}}</ref>

Another instance of Nsukka's expansionist bid was the war with Ejuona-Obukpa (a community in [[Otukpa|Obukpa]]) which eventually ended in the annexing of a part of Ejuona-Obukpa. According to D. C. Ugwu, this war should not be viewed as one between Nsukka and the entire Obukpa as Ejuona (the involved community) refused the assistance of the rest of Obukpa.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Ugwu|first=D. C.|title=This is Obukpa: The History of a Typical Ancient State|publisher=Fourth Dimension Publishers|year=1985|isbn=9789781562884|location=Enugu|pages=3}}</ref>

By the time the war ended, Nsukka succeeded in taking parts of Ejuona-Obukpa, almost wiping out one village (Umugboguru) of all its inhabitants in the process.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Ozioko|first=M. A.|title=Obukpa: Past and Present|publisher=De-Adroit Innovation|year=2005|location=Enugu|pages=55–56}}</ref>

Nsukka is the second largest town in Enugu state.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Enugu State Government |url=https://www.enugustate.gov.ng/ |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=www.enugustate.gov.ng |language=en-US}}</ref> The people of Nsukka are deeply religious and most of the indigenes of this geographical area are traditional religion adherents.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Uwaegbute |first=Kingsley Ikechukwu |date=2021-01-02 |title=Christianity and Masquerade Practices Among the Youth in Nsukka, Nigeria |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00020184.2021.1886049 |journal=African Studies |language=en |volume=80 |issue=1 |pages=40–59 |doi=10.1080/00020184.2021.1886049 |s2cid=233413569 |issn=0002-0184}}</ref> They celebrate a popular masquerade festival known as "Omabe festival" every year.<ref name=":3" /> The essence of<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-10 |title=After 25 years, Omabe Festival returns to Enugu community |url=https://newtelegraphng.com/after-25-years-omabe-festival-returns-to-enugu-community/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=New Telegraph |language=en-US}}</ref> the festival is show the indigenes' reverence for their Chi (i.e. Personal god). Also, the Omabe festival enables them to strengthen the relationship between different communities that made up of this geographical area.

The Omabe is notable for its magical and stylistic displays.