Mbieri


Mbieri is a town in southeastern Nigeria and one of the indigenous Igbo clans that conquered parts of the old Owerri province. Mbieri is in Mbaitoli council of Imo State and it is the biggest of the original nine towns of Mbaitoli.Mbieri is blessed with abundant hydrocarbon that traversed the Obazu, Amaulu, Achi, Eziome and Umuagwu axis.
Mbieri town is made up of the following villages: Achi, Amankuta, Amaulu, Awo, Ebom, Eziome, Obazu, Obokwe, Ohohia, Ubakuru, Umuagwu, Umuahii, Umudagu, Umuduru, Umunjam, Umuobom, Umuomumu and Umuonyeali. Currently Mbieri is divided into the following autonomous communities; Amaike-Mbieri,Awo-Mbieri, Ezi-Mbieri, Ihitte isi-Mbieri, Obazu Mbieri, Obi-Mbieri and Umueze-Mbieri. It has boundary with the following communities; Iho, Akabo and Amatta, Umuoba, Owalla, Orji, Amakohia, Akwakuma, Ubomiri, Ifakala, Orodo and Ogwa. Works-layout Owerri is in Umudagu Mbieri
It is about 8 km north of Owerri.
Festivals:-. The fish festival or Emume Azu, in local parlance, sits prominently on the calendar of the residents. Once in three years, the people of Obazu Mbeiri in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State gather to celebrate, dressed up as though it were Christmas. The traditional ruler and the elderly come out in their colourful reach-down attires topped off with hats. The women are no less gaily clad. For it is the Fish Day.The Emume Azu is a unique event among the Obazu. The people, at home and in the Diaspora, attend in their numbers, with quite a sizeable number of tourists joining them, some from far beyond the borders.
Why will a land-locked community without any river or pond choose to honour an aquatic animal?
The answer is not farfetched. The community derived its name Obazu or calabash of fish, from the huge fish trade that flourished there during the pre-colonial era.
Obazu was a fish port and the founders were great fish merchants, making great wealth from the trade.  Such was prominence the business brought that they dedicated a particular day to fish. That day is one to be merry, eat giant fish and savour not just its nourishment but also the fame that has come with it.
The festival is a seven-day event that is characterized by visitations, kindred meetings, cultural dances and masquerade display. During the period, issues bordering on the security, welfare and development of the community are discussed and possible solutions proffered. On the day of the festival climaxes, people from the seven families that make up the Obazu Mbieri assemble at the village square various delicacies made of fish are served. Different sizes and species of fish are prepared and one's affluence and generosity is measured by the size of fish he presents.
The fish is served in diverse forms; some are simply smoked, while others are grilled, fried or cooked and there is always enough of it that the visitors will eat to their satisfaction and still have enough to take home