Umualor (Umuero) locally called Umuero is one of the five communities that make up the present Isi-Uzo local government area which are Umualor, Eha-Amufu, Ikem, Neke and Mbu. It consists of three villages Umuezuboke, Aliyi and Umuezeogbu. Umualor lies in the valleys of two streams ljogwu and Eme. It is situated on the North East by Ngelefi and North West by Neke, on the South east by Obegu in Ishelu L.G.A., on the East by Eha-Amufu and on the West by Ugwogo Nike.
HISTORY
editORIGIN OF UMUALOR (Umuero)
Umualor (Umueroeze agbomji eze nshi) came from Nri in Agukwu. Hundreds of years ago, five brothers left Nri, one settled at Nsukka now called Umeeze ogudo ezenshi in Nguru; the other settled at Eha-alumona now called Umueze Okpaka Ezenshi; one settled at Orba; the other moved on towards Idah and the last but not the least settled in Umualor as Umuero Eze Agbomji Ezenshi(Ezenri). Each of these people with their children sent annually to Umueze in Eha-alumona- a year-old cock, oil, and lime stone. Umueze in turn send them directly to worship Ogba in Agukwu Nri.
Religion
editThe people of Umualor have love for their traditions. People are greeted according to their titles. The highest greeting is made to the highest title holder: - if a man is greeted as "Igwurube" meaning the man's wealth is countless, while if a woman it is "Ogbayaru" meaning above all women in wealth. We have other greetings accorded to men folks such as:- Olinya, Ogbuzuru, Amusi, etc. For the women folks, we have Oshianu, Ebam, Oliefi, Ogbunagodo. Umualor people believe in personal achievements. None of these titles are hereditary. Wrestlers and boxers are not left out. They have also their own titles eg. "Agu".Masquerade is a very important aspect of the culture of Umualor people. Every age grade, and village compete for supremacy on this. There are different kinds of masquerades:
Egwugwu, Otake, Ekpe etc. they come out on feast days and during burial ceremonies. We cannot end without mentioning "Omaba". Omaba is the link between the dead and living.
The dead is believed to come to see the living every two years through the Omaba.
The people of Umualor are mainly agriculturists. They produce yams, cassava, cocoa-yam, water-yam, beans and rice. Many are hunters. They kill different kinds of animals eg: bush cow, lions, crocodiles, antelopes and grass-cutters etc. They have also palm produce in abundance. Some are traders and others are crafts-men eg: Carpenters, masons, tailors.