During the colonial era, several Igbo communities had their names changed by the British due to difficulties in pronouncing the original names. Below are some of these communities and their original names:
Owerri -- Original Name: Owe Ere
Orlu -- Original Name: Ọlụ
Awkuzu -- Original Name: Ọkụ Ụzọ Achagbunam
Umuleri -- Original Name: Umueri
Okigwe -- Original Name: Oka Igwe
Enugu -- Original Name: Enu Ugwu (meaning “mountain town”)
Okpala -- Original Name: Ọkpụ Ala Ngwa
Port Harcourt -- Original Name: Igwe Ọcha
Opobo -- Original Name: Igwe Nga
Bonny -- Original Name: Ubani
Oyigbo -- Original Name: Obi Igbo
Abakaliki -- Original Name: Abakeleke
Mbaise -- Original Names: Agbaaja, Ahiara, Ekwerazu, Oke Ovoro, Ezinihite
Initially, these were five independent villages, but the British combined them into one community, “Mbaise,” despite their distinct cultural identities.
Asaba -- Original Name: Ahaba
Onitsha -- Original Name: Onicha
Ibusa -- Original Name: Igbo Ụzọ
Ogwashi -- Original Name: Ọgwa Ahi
This community traces its origins to the ancient Nri Kingdom.
Awka -- Original Name: Oka
Awkunanaw -- Original Name: Okunnano
Amawbia -- Original Name: Amaobia
Umuahia -- Original Name: Ọma Ahịa
These name changes reflect the impact of British colonization on Igbo communities, as the colonizers often altered indigenous names to fit their own linguistic preferences, erasing elements of the local heritage in the process.
Source: Igbo History
