Awka-Etiti, historically known as Awka-Diedo (Igbo: Ọka Diedo); later mentioned as Awka-Nkakwu (Okankaku) by colonial authors, is an affluent town comprising seven villages in Idemili South local government area of Anambra state, Nigeria.

[2] The seven villages of Awka-Etiti in order of age established are: Nkolofia, Umunocha, Ejighinandu, Iruowelle, Umudunu, Nnaba and Ogunzele.

Based on the discovery and archaeological excavation of sites dated to the first millennium AD in Igbo-Ukwu just 2 km from Awka-Etiti,[5] it is certain that the area has been populated by the Igbo earlier than the ninth century.

There existed a flourishing metallurgical industry (see Archaeology of Igbo-Ukwu) as well as an ancient and extensive trade, social and cultural contact between the area and ancient Egypt as revealed by the vast amounts of glass and cornelian beads excavated at the sites, some of which were manufactured in Old Cairo at the workshops of Fustat.

1760 and 1900, the development of Awka-Diedo was marked by an unending series of fierce wars with surrounding towns as a result of expansionist tendencies.

Nzewi explain: It was at this time that Oka-Diedo earned the nickname Oka-Nkakwu, because of the numerous tactics employed by them in warding off the enemy.

[8]It is reputed that though Nnewi spent huge amounts to secure the services of Abam and Ohafia mercenary head hunter troops to ensure the annihilation of Awka-Nkakwu, they were unable to achieve a decisive victory.

Awka-Etiti was deemed resistant to British policy and refused to comply with the demand to surrender their firearms.

(later Lieutenant Governor of southern Nigeria) H.C. Moorhouse[12] was received peacefully by Warrant Chief Ezenwosu in Awka-Etiti.

In this year a peace meeting was arranged by the British between Awka-Etiti and Nnewi, to settle border disputes.

Great was the consternation therefore when the British Southern Nigeria Regiment, led by Nnewi scouts, launched a massive pre-dawn surprise attack on Awka-Etiti.

A hastily organised counterattack by Awka-Etiti warriors against the superiorly armed and dug in British troops ended in a fiasco.

This man, an experienced General and veteran of many wars was reputed by friends and enemies alike to be completely bullet and arrow proof, a feat which he had used to good effect on many previous occasions.

His being bullet proof was attributed to a powerful magic (juju) which he had acquired from his mothers family, who were strong native doctors in Ichida.

It was therefore a most unforgettable experience when the British forces opened fire on the Awka-Etiti warriors at long range with maxim guns and heavy artillery.

The troops routed, the Ochiagha and his bravest warriors losing their lives to the British in a last suicidal charge at the enemy positions.

[11] The rest of Awka-Etiti was compelled to give up their firearms to the British at the Eke market square where they were destroyed.

While several cultural activities and festivals of old, having been associated with ancient pagan gods and rites, have ceased to be performed since the advent of Christianity (such as the Ilo Muo and Igba Ota ceremonies), there are several traditional institutions that have persisted to the present day.

It was rather a carnival with grand ceremony, feasting, as well as a display of material wealth, opulence and social status incorporating all the arts of the community in a harmonious relationship.

[18] As is typical of Igboland, the institution of traditional chieftaincy title holders, Nze na Ozo is ingrained in Awka-Etiti.

Historically, the initiation ceremony into the secrets of the Nnukwu-Ozo involved the very painful and prestigious Ichi scarification, by which these men were identified in public.

Other distinctive pieces of regalia that identify the Ozo title holder and the Nnukwu-Ozo title holder in Awka-Etiti are the red cap (with eagle feathers for the Nnukwu-Ozo), the horse tail fly whisk, the round cow hide fan and the elephant tusk.

The killing or eating of Eke snake (Python regius), and Dog ( Canis lupus familiaris), is anathema in Awka-Etiti, these having been considered sacred animals associated with local deities by the ancients.

St. Josephs secondary school was founded in 1962 by the Catholic community and later served as a refugee camp and teaching hospital during the Nigerian Civil War.

Chief Gerald A. Chukelu (Dunu Nze Afulukwe) was a pioneer and the first indigene of Awka Etiti to pass the Senior Cambridge (London) certification in 1938 and was in the first graduating class of C.K.C.

In this regard, Awka-Etiti is representative of the situation in the neighbouring towns and Igboland, where little or no government induced infrastructural development has been felt.