Umunya is an Olu Town and one of the five communities that make up Oyi Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State Nigeria.
The boundaries are naturally demarcated by streams except at the border with Nkwelle-Ezunaka where an expanse of Umunya heath namely, Oli-Omoto, Ogwugwu-Obo, Ugwueze, etc.
Umunya is a town of ten villages namely Ezi-Umunya, Okpu, Ojobi, Umuebo, Amaezike, Ajakpani, Odumodu-Ani, Isioye, Odumodu-Enu and Ukunu.
These villages are sub-grouped into Ezi, Ifite and Ikenga sub-divisions, the tri-partite heritage of all Gadite H/Igbos commonly referred to in anthropological history as ERI-AKA Igbo.
[2] The founder of Umunya is called Nya who was the son in-charge of the fleets of ERU, the progenitor of the Igbos of Guinea Forest West Africa.
The story has it that on a certain Eke day, as Nya was ferrying fishermen and farmers across the stupendous Isi-Ogwugwu water course, he was struck by a moving flash in the river that followed an unusual wave swirl.
The remarkable nature of the 'whirl and twirl' of the flash made Nya to suspend work in reverence to a river goddess, who he believed was passing to Eke market, in the west.
[3] The first of the attacks was seen as a conspiracy from within and it was responsible for the whittling down of the precursor villages of Ezi sub-group namely, Adagbe-Mpo, Mponenem, Oviabuzo, Ezi-Oli and Okpuru.
By the turn of the 16th century, Umunya became introduced to the Nri installed style of Leadership with Igboegbuna Odezulu-Igbo Onenulu I, instituting the Hebraic Ozo Tradition[citation needed].
Formerly, it was the exclusive reserve of the “bold and prepared” men who were ready to keep the sublime truths, making them to be addressed as Nze (one who avoids evil).
As a peace-loving community, Umunya has been blessed with good leaders beginning with the warrant traditional ruler, Chief Nwanegbo Okocha, whose reign was from 1909 - 1930.