By Uduma Kalu
Good morning, house.
I know that some of us Ohafia may not know the connection between the Oso people now wrongly called Oso Edda and Ohafia.
We know about Ututu and why they are situated there. As is Ututu so is Oso. Well, not exactly.
In those years of yore, when the Ohafia were in migration mode from Ibeku and found themselves in what's today Ohafia, there were also among them non Ohafia bloodline allies. One of them was called Oso.
Oso was a warrior. And he followed Ohafia to the many wars the people engaged themselves in.
As the Ohafia and their Abam, Edda, Ututu, Lokpa etc siblings started apportioning settlements among themselves, Oso asked for his.
In that gathering of Ohafia elders, chiefs and elders, Oso was apportioned a settlement between Afikpo and Edda.
The settlement was strategic. Like Ututu.
The Ohafia settlements were anchored on military warfare. The main settlement was surrounded by outposts that acted like sentries to the main settlements. So, Ututu was settled between Aro and Ihechiowa. Several Ihe towns are Ohafia too. Aro was warned that if anything happened to Ututu, they would hear from Ohafia.
Aro has obeyed this, though they have also abused it. But that's another story.
The Ututu strategy was what was replicated all over the places Ohafia fought wars. Buffer towns were established to ward off attacks on the main settlements or camps.
That was how Oso came to be where they are today. Courtesy of the Ohafia.
But Oso wanted more. He didn't forget his Ohafia origin. He was also at every Ohafia meeting and warfare. He wanted to be integrated fully as Ohafia person.
One day, at another of Ohafia meeting, Oso was there. And as is the tradition, Ohafia elders began to salute the town in their style of three bellows:
Ohafia kwen.
Wo.
Ohafia kwen.
Wo.
Ohafia kwen.
Wo.
After the salutations, Oso stood up and saluted the gathering also.
What he said tore the heart of the gathering. There and then, the Ohafia elders, chiefs and warriors integrated Oso as part and parcel of Ohafia.
When Oso stood up, he asked the Ohafia gathering.
Is there something left for me to do as Ohafia person that I have not done to be considered Ohafia person? I have fought battles with you. I have journeyed with you. I have suffered with you. In always with you in your meetings. Yet, whenever you salute in your meetings, I'm ignored. Is there something left for me to do for you for me to become Ohafia that I have not done, tell me, I will do it,?" Oso said.
The gathering started to mutter. The leaders put their heads together. They reached an agreement, and spoke.
Today, we shall no more ignore Oso in our salutations.
We shall now have four bellows, instead of three. This is how we shall salute from now onwards.
Ohafia kwen.
Wo.
Ohafia kwen.
Wo.
Ohafia kwen
Wo.
Ma Oso.
And that has come to become Ohafia mode of salutations till now.
Over the years, sadly, generations have come and gone on both sides of Ohafia and Oso. Only few tell this story in the two places.
The new generations, wondering what Oso meant in the Ohafia solutions, changed it to Osu, saying it meant, Ma Osu, warning that in case it happens in Igbo.
But they are wrong. It's Oso. And the Oso are a people founded in history, and they are linked to the Ohafia.
In this moment of fracticidal war between the Oso and the Amasiri, another of our bloodline, it behoves on the Ohafia to sue for peace between Oso and Amasiri. Because we are one.
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