The Izzi people is said to cover the area of about 2264 Square
kilometers. The density of the
population is medium, the whole people of Izzi levy in the
cross- river plain in
between the Enyimu and Ebonyi
River which are both tributaries of the
cross –river. It is a flat undulating land scrape, some 120-180 metres above
sea level sloping gently to
the east. Erosion has exposed some volcanic rocks like the legede hild out Abakaliki. In the northern side, the Izzilies between latitude 450 and 76o of the
Greenwich meridian and between
50o-45o north of the equator Izzi is
also about 144-837 kilometres north of the atlantic ocean and
has an area of about 86.14 square
miles and 723.1 square kilometers (Chima 1982)
The Izzi people experience the equatorial types of climate. The rainfall
is 1800-2000mm perineum. There
is along wet season from mid-march till July. Then a short dry spell come in
September and October. But from November till march follows the long dry season. The average temperature is
27 degree Celsius. The natural
vegetation of Izziis guinea savannah. It would have been high forest, but the
destruction of trees for many centuries
has caused the transition from the forest of the south to the savannah in
the north. Moreover, in the northern part, the Izzi people share common boundaries
with Abakaliki. In the southern part, The Izzi people share a common
boundaries with cross – river people while in the eastern part, the Izzi people share common boundaries
with
the Benue people and finally, in the western part, the Izzi people share
common boundaries with Ikwo people.
According to nico van steensel in
his book titled “ the Izzi, their history and geographical location of Izzi,
he states that the elders of Anmegu, the
mother town of Izzi, says that ekumenyi
is the father of Izzi. That his tomb can
be found in anmegu. He did not come
from any other area, but
originated from anmegu where his father came
from they did not know. His tomb is not located so, none of the three sister tribes is to calim
his (Izzi, ezza, and ikwo)
The Izzi people were told elsewhere to have come from heaven at anmegu, during the period both heaven and earth
were very close and enyi came from heaven along a rope. But when the
man did something bad, the rope fell down and man could not climb up to
heaven again. That is how the first Izzi
people came to live at Anmegu. The fact that
enyi live to anmegu is supported by the
three sons. The oldest son was Ezekune, the second son was Ekuma and the
youngest son Noyo. Ekuma enyis wife ugbala gave birth to Nnodo, hence the Izzi desend from Nnodo and the Ezza from Ezekune and the Ikwo from Noyo.
According to history, they believed that when Nnodo was sent to his own
domain with his two wives which is the Anmegu Izziin the east. He had nine (9)
sons which include the following :
inyimagu, Mgbomeze,Nkaleke, Agbaja, Unuphum Itumo, Nwigbegu, Nwenyida and Nwida
. as they grew up each dispersed to different habitations as below
mentioned; Inyimagu to Inyimagu, Mgbomeze
to Isheke, Nkwaleke of Abakaliki, Agba Unuphy, Nwigbegu to Igbeagu
Unuphu, Nwenyigba to Enyiagba and Nwida to Ida. The account of origin and dispersal went further to content that
their father gave them his daughter,
each based on his own capacity to communicate in Izzi today. Moreover, as their population
increased problem arose in virtually all
the families. The father paid a
visit to
them and addressed them to elect
from each family (making up each
community two prominent persons to lead
them. In accordance with the
system, Igbojima and Nnwueru were
selected. Both the Igbojima and Nnwueru were
further advised to select four prominent persons from among them to form
committees. Those committees were to
take charge of any problem that may arise. Indeed, they were
charged specifically with
the responsibility of settling disputes
among their different communities.
The selection was conducted by Igbojima and Nnwueru as followed (Igbojima
Ameze Nwophor) Egbe, Opoke
and Oricha were chosen. However, it
was the selection that became
the basis along which the Izzi people live
to date. Each was to serve as a
representatives of a group. Each of these groups became what is popularly known as /PFU. But today,
there are two major IPFU which are “Igbojima” and “Nnwueru” and eight sub- IPFU of Ameze
(Nweze) Nnwu Ogbe, Nnwuopoke, and Nnwuoricha . while other are Nnwu Ajagbo, Nnwu Nshog, Nnwugo and
finally Nnwuekuma
Occupation of Izzi people
The major crops growth in Izzi land
are yam, rice, and cassava
in that order of importance and abundance. The
main crops growth are pepper, sweet potato, bambara nut, melon, banished
vegetable and cocoyam. These are growth
for their subsistence and commercial uses.
Fruit trees like citrus,
mango, bush mango, pawpaw, and pears are grown for their commercial and subsistence uses. Farming still remained the major occupation of Izzivaries depending on species and growing condition,
when matured for harvest, the kola nuts
pods are exposed to sunshine for at
least a day before breaking and removing of the nuts.
In most cases, it contains 10-12 seeds in each pod. The seeds of the kola
nuts take irregular shapes
When removed from the pods