Ụmụnnachi
Ụmụnnachi is is a town in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, Southeastern Nigeria.
Understand
Umụnnachi is made up of five villages: Ozzuh, Mgbuke, Umueze, formally known as Umuapiti, Nkwelle popularly called Nkwelle London and Nagbana. It shares boundaries with neighboring towns as follows: Ogidi, Umudioka, Eziowelle and Ifitedunu.
Ụmụnnachi lies in Kilometers12 old Awka—Onitsha Road.
Umunnachi people do not kill or harm python (Eke). The python is the town's sacred animal and anybody that kill or harm the sacred animal must be subjected to the traditional cleansing of the land.
It is also important to respect the local culture and customs when visiting Umunnachi.
Visitors should dress modestly and avoid public display of affection as these are considered in appropriate in the local culture.
Visitors should also ask for permission before taking photos of the town's shrine, masquerade and other sacred places.
Women do not climb palm trees in Ụmụnnachi. Women are not allow to eat gizard openly in Ụmụnnachi.
The best time to visit Ụmụnnachi is during the dry season, which runs from November to March. During this time, the weather is cool and dry, making it ideal for outdoor activities and sightseeing. The wet season, which runs from April to October, can be quite humid and rainy, which may limit some activities. However, the wet season also brings lush vegetation and beautiful scenery that can be enjoyed by visitors who don't mind a little rain.
Climate
Umunnachi like many other towns in Eastern Region of Nigeria has two seasonal climatic conditions, the rainy and dry season with shot spell of harmattan. The dry season start from November to March while the rainy season starts from April to October. Harmattan starts from December to January.
The impact of climate change is also affecting the climate of Umunnachi.
Get in
By plane
Umunnachi can be accessed through the nearest airport which is Chinua Achebe International Airport.
By road
By bus or other means of road transportation, one can access Umunnachi through Onitsha via Niger Bridge or through Awka. You can get Ụmụnnachi bus from any part of Anambra State. If you are coming from Onitsha, take a bus going to Awka through old road, you can stop at Afọr-igwe, 12th Miles or Major road bus stop depending on which part of Ụmụnnachi you are going to.
Get around
Moving around in Umunnachi is usually done by tricycle, motocycle and buses. The tricycle popularly known as Keke and Motocycle popularly known as Okada have their park at the outskirt of the town from which they carry people to the town. Such parks are in 12 Miles corner Nkwelle Umunnachi, Aforigwe Market Umudioka and Major Road Umunnachi.
See
- St Gabriel Catholic Church Ụmụnnachi. This is first Catholic church in Ụmụnnachi and where blessed Iwene Tansi once precided as a parish priest.
- Okpi Imeodu Shrine. The shrine is known throughout Anambra State and beyond for its potency. The shrine serves as a judicial arbiter in resolution of disputes. People far and near takes their disputes to Okpimeodu for resolution. Any person intending to sue another must bring colanut and keg of palm wine to chief priest of the shrine and lay down his compliant. The chief priest will then invite the defendant and fix a date for hearing of the compliant.
Do
The people of Ụmụnnachi perform many festivals annually. The period of each festival is determined by counting the appearance of the moon so that each native month has its own festivals. Festivals in Ụmụnnachi involves diverse cultural activities which all together portrays the glamour of the town’s indigenous way of life. These festivals are the anvil on which cultural unity is anchored as its celebrations and this acts as a unifying force which binds the people of Ụmụnnachi together. These festivals are occasions for merriment and it is seasoned with a purpose attached to different aspects of a town's life. It is usually a period of rest from strenuous daily activities thus, availing them quality leisure time to consume all the entertaining cultural aesthetics of the event.
The New Yam Festival, in the Ụmụnnachi community, is an important way of marking the beginning and end of the farming season. It is a celebration of life, accomplishments in the community, culture and well-being.
Ụmụnnachi is renowned for its agricultural produce and arts. One of its popular produce, yam, is hugely celebrated yearly at the harvest of new yams from the farms, in an elaborate ceremony popularly known as the New Yam Festival. The celebration attracts tourists from the country and offers a platform for the women to show their art to visitors.
he traditional ruler of the land, the Igwe of Ụmụnnachi opens the ceremony with prayers of thanksgiving for the favour of nature and the importance of yam to the community and its farmers. Royal fathers and dignitaries of other communities, especially those ones that share boundaries and affiliations with Ụmụnnachi pay respect to the Igwe of Ụmụnnachi land during the festival, and thrones, kings and dignitaries honour the festival to show solidarity and support of the people.
Investors, good deeds and accomplishments within the community are recognized during the festival. Chieftaincy titles are given to appreciate significant community contributors for creating industries and employment opportunities for locals.
The ceremony begins with a collective prayer, followed by the community partaking of freshly harvested yam. The tubers are roasted, dipped in palm oil, and washed down with the local brew.
Iri ede This is a month masquerade celebration. The peak of the celebration is the last two days when the whole town gathers in the Ilo Eke Ochie, the town square for prayer in the Shrine.
Women usually cook cocoyam with vegetable and serve their guests.
Drink
- Uju Drinking Spot situate at 12 Miles corner at Nkwelle Village Ụmụnnachi boost of all kinds of drinks both local and foreign
- Nwanyị Ukpo Drinking Spot located at Mile 12 corner Nkwelle Village Ụmụnnachi, in front of Chief Eze ude Anyadubalu's House, offers all kinds of local drinks, be it bitters, local malaria herbs, palm wine and local gin.
Eat
- Odueze Restaurant 8AM-10PM. Dine in. Take away. African dishes. Continental dishes. Dine in, take away, located at Nkwelle Village Ụmụnnachi beside Central School Ụmụnnachi.
- Okoye Restaurant located opposite Central School Ụmụnnachi along old Awka ~ Onitsha Road. Open 8AM-10PM. Dine in and take away. African dishes. Continental dishes. Assorted meat. Assorted fish pastry. Drinks. No contact delivery.
Sleep
Some of the hotels in Ụmụnnachi are:
- Ken Suite located at T - junction, Mgbuke village, Ụmụnnachi. The hotel is standard hotel with touch of luxury.
Connect
MTN (Everywhere you go), ☏ 180. Their service includes: data (internet), SMS and GPRS service. They also offer airtime bonus to new customer.
Airtel. Service includes: data (Internet), SMS and GPRS service. They used to be known as ZAIN. (updated Jun 2021)
9MOBILE, ☏ 200. Service includes: data (Internet), SMS and GPRS service. They used to be known as ETISALAT.
GLO, toll-free: 121. Their service includes data (internet), SMS and GPRS service. They are also known as grand masters of data.