The Living Legacy: Echoes of Yaya Through Omeonu-Uwa II

Aug 5, 2025

My name is Uba Iwunwa, a proud royal queen from ancient Monarchy of Yaya in Igbo land. I am not just a granddaughter. I am the living incarnation of Lolo Omari Yaya Obioha Chinyere – the Lioness of Nkwerre. My story begins amidst the echoes of conflict, born in Ogbor-Hill, Aba as the Biafran war drew to a close. Yet, my true roots delve deep into the sacred earth of Nkwerre, Imo State, Nigeria, to the ancient Oke-Ozo Iwunwa Obioha lineage – a lineage of royalty, honor, and quiet power carried in my blood.

My father, Elder Sir Josiah Achunulo Chinyere, known throughout his life as Omeonu-Uwa II, was the embodiment of this proud heritage. He was “Achinulo Nwa Omari,” the cherished last son of the formidable Yaya. His pride wasn’t merely filial; it was the pride of a born Ezenwanyi, a royal daughter of the revered Oke Ozo Iwunwa Obioha of Okwaraosa Kindred.

Imagine a Time of Kings:
Long before modern governance, the Ozo titled men were the ruling council, the highest honor in Igboland. This was the sacred royalty my grandmother, Yaya, carried like a torch into her marriage to Nze Chinyere. Though the Ozo title itself was abolished in Nkwerre generations ago, its spirit remained a silent, powerful current within our family.

A Legacy Woven in Royal Cloth:

• Yaya’s Pride: Even as a wife, Lolo Omari proudly bore her father’s name – “Omari Obioha” – a testament to the unbroken royal bloodline she represented.
• My Father’s Sacred Vow: Deeply connected to his maternal roots, my father’s pride in his Ozo lineage was unwavering. He safeguarded a profound secret: his burial Ajii cloth, hidden beneath his bed. This wasn’t just fabric; it was the symbol of his royal birthright. Thanks to his loyal friend Nze Emeto, nephew Chief Mark Anyiam, and Chief Onuoha Ihim, his final wish was honored. He was laid to rest in the sacred Ajii.
• A King’s Homage: The significance resonated beyond our family. The late Eshi (King) of Nkwerre, Eze Ugochukwu, personally paid tribute. He placed Ajii cloth around my father’s waist, cushioned his head with it within the casket, and marked his burial site (“Ima nbazu”) – a rare honor for the grandson of an ancient Ozo titleholder. This rite, orchestrated by Nze Emeto and the eldest of our Okwaraosa lineage, ensured Yaya’s legacy was respected, even as traditions faded.

Raised in the Mantle of Yaya:
My childhood was steeped in this heritage. My father ensured I knew my lineage – Obioha, Uju, Okparaocha, Achonu. Visits to our ancestral home meant gifts and the profound respect of elders, now ancestors, who saw Yaya reborn in me. He taught me to understand and revere the sacred royalty flowing through my veins, a lineage respected across Igboland.

The Secret of the Akpa Ajii:
This legacy continued through my uncle, Chief Engr. Mark Onwuka Anyiam (son of Yaya’s youngest daughter, Nwa-Amuka). He bore a sacred trust: the Akpa Ajii Onye Ozo` – a royal bag given to Yaya by her father as a bridal gift, a secret kept by my father and his nephew. It was a tangible link to our regal past. Today, as the last known incarnation of Yaya, I feel the weight of this history. I engrave my footprints in the sands of time, raising my hand in eternal gratitude to my forebears.

Marked by Royalty:
From infancy, I bore the signs:

• A brown thread from the sacred Akpa Ajii was tied around my ankle by Late Dem Nzewuba, marking me as a true-born Ezenwanyi.
• Antique red ankle beads, passed down directly from Yaya through my father, were my constant adornment in Nigeria – a visible badge of my ancient lineage.

The Lioness’s Smile & The Eternal Promise:
My father poured culture and tradition into me, binding me to Yaya’s spirit. But deeper still was an extraordinary bond: a promise made by Yaya to my father on her deathbed – that they would be mother and son for seven lifetimes. This vow shaped my path, filling me with an inner peace and radiant love that shines wherever I go. My very smile, revealing my side gap teeth, was his greatest joy – a direct echo of Yaya, known affectionately as “Omari Ezeagu” (Omari the Lion’s Teeth) for her distinctive dentition. Her spirit lived in my grin.

“Nwa agu anaghi ata aghigha”:
My father left me with this Igbo proverb: “Nwa agu anaghi ata aghigha, The daughter of a Lion does not eat grass.” I walk firmly in the vibrational footprints of my ancestors, carrying the honor, pride, and dignity of my bloodline as a daughter of Igboland. The echo of my grandmother Yaya resonates in my voice and my being, driving me to uphold her legacy of shamanic healing and service to humanity.

Omeonu-Uwa II: The Man and His Lineage:
My father, the first son of Nze Aghumnu Chinyere (Omeonu-Uwa I), proudly carried his father’s title. He was blessed with siblings:

• From his mother, Yaya: Late Madam Ihekwere-Eze Ikpo, Late Mazi Osu-Ekwu Chinyere, Late Madam Nwa-Amuka Anyiam.
• From his father: Late Lolo Martha Akwaja Akanno, Late Da Jane Chinyere, Late Mazi Jonathan Chinyere, Da Nnenna – nee Chinyere.

His Enduring Light:
Elder Sir Josiah Achunulo Chinyere was a pillar: instrumental in founding the Qua Ibo Church in Nkwerre and Amaifeke Orlu, a covenant guiding me still. A local businessman and relator, he was a legendary peacekeeper with the Ekpe cultural group and a force for community development. His honorable legacy endures.

A Message from the Heart:
Through my father’s story, I lay down this legacy for generations unborn. The Monarchy of Yaya is a resonance of love and greatness across lifetimes – a sacred kingdom built on peace and service. May my ancestors guide my steps.

To you reading this: May the spirit of my grandmother Yaya, carried in these words, inspire you. My blessings flow to every mother. My prayers embrace women yearning for children, and I affirm to those with daughters: “Nwanyi bu Nwa” (A Woman is a Child of Great Worth). I reach out to every woman. My father gifted me the unshakeable pride of a Queen born to rule, a daughter proven worthy of any height, on a mission to spread Yaya’s legacy of peace, love, and service to the glory of God.