By SAM EYOBOKA

A WEEK long activities marking the centenary celebration of 100 years of Christianity in Ezeoke-Nsu in Ehime-Mbano Local Government of Imo State which started with rallies, expositions, workshops, life transforming testimonies, music and lots more with Bishop of Okigwe South Diocese, the Rt. Rev. David Onuoha as the chief host. It is expected to end with a thanksgiving service on Sunday.

A statement by the chairman of the Centenary Anniversary Committee, Mr. Emeka Eked-ebe gave reasons why the community opted to celebrate the centenary, saying:  “This is in appreciation of the fact that some few individuals suffered and paid for what we have today as Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Ezeoke-Nsu. We salute the resilience and visionary spirit of our forbearers. Ezeoke-Nsu will go agog for the centenary celebration of the advent of Christianity in the land.

“It will serve as a home coming for all Ezeoke sons and daughters. A lot of communities have unarguably benefitted from Anglicanism which started from Ezeoke so it is expected that in-laws, well wishers, friends, past bishops, priests, top government officials, captains of industry, notable personalities will converge in Ezeoke to honour this 100 years of Christian faith in Ezeoke-Nsu,” he explained.

Narrating the advent of Christianity in Ezeoke, the chairman said: “In 2 Kings 5, God used a slave damsel under captivity and bondage in the land of Aram, an aborigine of Israel to introduce God of Israel to a powerful valiant Aramean soldier and a king, who subjected the people of God under servitude and bondage. The Advent of Christianity in Ezeoke-Nsu shares a close similarity with that of Aram in the Bible.

“In the case of Ezeoke-Nsu, one Madam Nwangborie Iwundu born on Orie day, the second market day in Igbo land was renowned as a woman who God used to introduce and advance Christianity in Ezeoke land and neighbouring towns. She was sold into slavery, waiting to be transported to the western world to serve in tobacco and sugar cane plantations,” he stated.

As history has it, he continued, men from Ezeoke-Nsu notably oil merchants but nicknamed “Ndi Potokiri” (Ekeoba, Duru Ochie etc) travelled to Arochukwu to sell palm oil to the Portuguese; while these men were in the market, they came in contact with a woman called Nwangborie who spoke Igbo with Nsu accent. Through some interrogations, these men discovered that Nwangborie Iwundu was a native of Umuezeala-Nsu, a neighbouring town to Ezeoke-Nsu. She narrated that, she was sold into slavery by her own people as she then resided in the king’s palace as one of the king’s concubines.

Consequently, the men from Ezeoke-Nsu informed Madam Nwan-gborie that slavery had been abolished in their land and Madam Nwan-gborie showed immense interest to return home and settle with her people. She was given directions on how to locate home.

Madam Nwangborie in her discussions with her brothers, Duruoshie and Ekeoba, told them about how the people of Arochukwu worshipped a heavenly God (Obasi bi nelu).

The return of Madam Nwangborie to Umue-zeala–Nsu was received with mixed feelings as her people queried the foreign religion she brought to their land. She was not deterred though. She rather convened her people, brought in the village heads and enlightened them on her new found religion—Christianity; that where  she was coming from, the religion has given them development, education, peace etc.