By Amadi Ekwutosilam Njoku
For generations, Amasiri in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has stood as a symbol of unity, love, and an enduring spirit of hospitality. Comprising five autonomous communities–Ezeke, Ohaechara, Ihie, Ndukwe, and Poperi–Amasiri is a cultural mosaic woven together by ancestral ties and mutual respect.
Yet, some neighboring communities have, over time, spun a false and dangerous narrative–one that accuses the Amasiri people of disunity and self-hatred. This claim is not only unfounded but a deliberate attempt to undermine a people whose peaceful disposition is too often mistaken for weakness.
There are whispers–ill-informed and ill-intentioned–that Amasiri is vulnerable to external aggression due to a lack of unity. But those who have walked our red earth, danced in our festivals, and eaten from our pots know this is a gross misrepresentation. Ours is a town that welcomes strangers with open arms and treats outsiders with such warmth that even those from distant lands soon feel like kin. Sadly, this same generosity is sometimes weaponized against us.
Take the case of Ada Mgbeze. The Agba-eze family, originally from Item, found a home in Amasiri where their hotel business flourished. Ada, their daughter, was not only free to roam but was embraced as one of our own. However, after repeated warnings, she overstepped a sacred boundary–interfering with Ogo, one of our revered traditional institutions.
Her actions were met not with hatred, but with collective disapproval, for in Amasiri, respect for tradition is sacred. Desecration–whether by friend or guest–is never taken lightly.
From that incident emerged the phrase “Nne Ada-Mgbeze”, now immortalized in our traditional “Egwu Mgbom” songs. It stands today as both a cultural lesson and a cautionary tale: while we are welcoming, we draw the line when our heritage is dishonored.
The ongoing land dispute with the Edda people is yet another example. These are settlers who were graciously allowed to live and thrive on Amasiri lands. Now, in a stunning betrayal, they seek to claim as theirs what was never given in ownership. But kindness should not be mistaken for cowardice.
We wish to stress again that Edda people are not our neighbours. Rather we share boundaries with Akaeze and Nkporo. Our hospitality towards Edda is almost costing us Our Land. Did we do wrong to lend a helping hand?? No. Would we do such a mistake in future ? Never again.
As our elders say, “The gentleness of a lion is not weakness,” and truly, “A tigress does not shout about her tigritude.” We do not make noise about our strength; our unity and resolve speak for us.
What other community can you find where men still drink from the same cup–without suspicion, without fear? In Amasiri, this is tradition. One glass is passed from hand to hand among brothers, friends, and kinsmen. That unspoken trust is not just a ritual; it is the embodiment of unity. Contrast this with our neighbors, where even in merriment, each man watches his drink being poured, eyes sharp with caution. In Edda, a man might say “Gbaihe, biko”–“pour more, please”—but his gaze stays fixed on the pourer, wary of harm.
Such is not our way.
We may not shout, and we do not boast. But when duty calls, when one of us is in danger, or when our values are threatened, we rise as one. In times of joy, sorrow, or strife, Amasiri stands with one voice, one heart, and one spirit.
So to those who say we are divided–come. Sit in our village squares. Share our meals. Join us in song. Witness the strength of brotherhood that binds us beyond clan and boundary.
Amasiri is not just a town. Amasiri is a bond–unbroken, unshaken, and unyielding. AMASIRI is an Institution. A people who love unconditionally and extremely hospitable to a fault.