Documented history of Mbaise (1899 to 1941): Cross section of the ‘Nzes’ during the 2015 ‘Oji’ Mbaise cultural festival held at Udo, Ezinihitte Imo State on 1/1/2015. (Udo Top Gist)
Mbaise is an amalgam of indigenous, autochthonous clans, connected by intermarriage, and situated in approximate area the heartland of Igboland. It occupies an area of 404 square kilometers. The quiddity of Mbaise is that this homogenous group of more than 1000 persons per square kilometer is the most densely populated area in West Africa. The population of Mbaise as at 2006 was estimated to be 611,204 people (Agulanna, 2008).
As at 1890, there was neither a place known and called Mbaise, nor were the people who inhabited the vast areas that extended from Ekwerazu to Ahiara down to the banks of Imo River in Ezinihitte and southwards up to the Azaraegbelu valley known as Mbaise people. The term Mbaise was an artificial creation of circumstance.
The British colonial government had no control over ‘Mbaise’ people until the turn of the 20th century and their coming into contact with Mbaiseland was also circumstantial. In 1901, during the Anglo-Aro war, the British military headed by Captain Douglas needed a short cut to Ohafia hills where Ohafia Warriors encamped fighting for the Eze Aro. The natural way was for them to cut through Owerri down towards Umuahia, and in doing so, they came in contact with Mbaise people.
With this discovery, they hastened to impose their authority on Mbaise people, and that was not without minor scuffles of resistance in 1901. As the Aro War raged, they moved through Mbaise throughout that period, which gave them opportunity to know the hinterlands better in preparation for a more organized take over after the Aro Expedition.