Hello my wonderful friends and fellow steemians , greetings to you all from my end. It is a wonderful thing to talk about my favorite city which is not where I am currently residing. It is my dream city, where I will say that I started loving since my childhood. This contest by @steemwomensclub has made me to start thinking about my early years in life when I found myself close to that particular city. I know that at this juncture, you are eager and willing to learn about this my favorite city. Haha, please keep reading let me take you on a journey to my favorite city.

my favorite city is ONITSHA In Anambra State

Onitsha is a city located on the eastern bank of the Niger River, in Nigeria's Anambra State. A metropolitan city, Onitsha is known for its river port and as an economic hub for commerce, industry, and education

Founding and settlement

Onitsha Mmili was originally known as Onitsha Ado na Idu. These Igbo migrants traveled eastward from Western Igboland and eventually emigrated across the Niger River to establish the Onitsha community.

After their arrival on the east bank, the community gradually became a unitary kingdom, evolving from a loosely organized group of "royal" villages to encompass "non-royal" villages.

Modern history

Onitsha gradually become an important trading port for the Royal Niger Company in the mid-1850s following the abolition of slavery and with the development of the steam engine when Europeans were able to move into the hinterland.

Trade in palm kernels, palm oil, and other cash crops on the coast of the Bight of Biafra increased around this river port in the 19th century.

The famous Niger River and Niger Bridge defines Onitsha as the gateway to the Igbo heartland

River Naija Bridge

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In 1857 British palm oil traders established a permanent station in the city with Christian missionaries joining them, headed by the liberated African bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther (a Yoruba recaptive) and Reverend John Taylor (an Igbo Recaptive).

In 1900 Onitsha became part of a British protectorate. The British colonial government and Christian missionaries penetrated most of Igboland to set up their administration, schools and churches through the river port at Onitsha.

In 1965, the Niger River Bridge was built across the Niger River to replace the ferry crossing. This has helped to grow trade routes with western Nigeria and created significant economic linkages between Onitsha and Benin City and Lagos particularly.

People and culture

The Ofala Festival held once a year is a celebration of Onitsha tradition and culture.

Onitsha traditionally consists of nine villages, otherwise known as Ebo Itenani. These are descendants of the progenitor Umuezechima comprising Isiokwe, Olosi, Umuezearoli, Okebunabo, Obikporo and Ogbeotu which claim origin from Igala in Kogi state, Awada (Ogbeozoma), Obamkpa comprising Umuasele, Iyiawu and Odoje Ndugbe and Odumegwu Gbuagu, Ubulu na Ikem, Ulutu, Ubene, Ogboli Eke, Obior and Ogbeotu. Within these groupings, there are six administrative wards namely Okebunabo, Umuezearoli, Ogbeolu, Isiokwe na Ogboli Olosi, Obamkpa and Eke na Ubene.

Onitsha operates a traditional government headed by the Obi, the titular head of the town who is assisted by Ndi Ichie, titled red cap elders or chiefs. Among these are Ndi Ichie Ume, who are the First Class Chiefs. The Ndi Ichie are classified into six, namely: Onowu Iyasele, Ajie Ukadiugwu, Odu Osodi, Onya Ozoma, Ogene Onira and Owelle Osowa, with Onowu Iyasele as the traditional Prime Minister. There are also other Ndi Ichie, who are ranked second class, known as Ndi Okwa and third class, known as Ndi Ichie Okwareze. The Ndi Ichie serve as Council of Advisers to the Obi who solicits their advice in major decisions he makes in the Kingdom.

When the ruling Obi joins his ancestors, the Onowu Iyasele takes charge until a new Obi is enthroned.

Once a year in October the kingdom of Onitsha holds the Ofala Festival which coincides with the traditional New Yam festival held in many parts of Igboland. It is a way for the people of Onitsha to keep their culture alive and it has become a major event that draws visitors from far and wide to the city.
The people generally are very friendly and welcoming.

Geography

Onitsha lies at a major east–west crossing point of the Niger River and occupies the northernmost point of the river regularly navigable by large vessels. These factors have historically made Onitsha a major center for trade between the coastal regions and the north, as well as between eastern and western Nigeria. Onitsha has one of the very few road bridge crossings of the mile-wide Niger River and plans are in place to add a second bridge near it.

Rapid urbanization in recent years negatively affects natural vegetation and local landscape

Urbanization

In the early 1960s, before the Nigerian Civil War, the population was officially recorded as 76,000, and the town was distinctive in a number of ways. For instance, The great Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe (born and raised in the contiguous town of Ogidi) characterized it as harboring an "esoteric region from which creativity sallies forth at will to manifest itself," "a zone of occult instability"

Indeed, Onitsha has played a creative role in the transformation to urban life in Eastern Nigeria famous as the setting for Onitsha Market Literature and as one of the hubs for the financing and distribution of Nollywood films.

Economy

Harbor Industrial Layout of Onitsha

In 2012 the state government, through a joint venture, attracted SAB Miller to invest in Onitsha Brewery, which started production in August. It was the first large-scale investment in Onitsha since Premier Breweries, makers of the Premier Beer established production in Onitsha in the early part of the 1980s. In January it was announced that upgrades to the value of $110 million would triple the output of beer and malt drinks

Notable people

The Onitsha people were among the first Igbo to embrace western education, producing notable people like Bishop Alphonsus Chukwuma Onyeabo, Order of the British Empire, 1879–1954, and the main contributor to English to Igbo bible. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Owele of Onicha, Zik of Africa, and the first president of the post-independent Nigeria.

Ben Enwonwu, painter and sculptor
Louis Mbanefo, lawyer and justice
Chike Obi, mathematician
Ukpabi Asika, politician
Emmanuel Ifeajuna, a former army major and high jumper - first Black African to win gold at a major international sports competition
Olisa Agbakoba, lawyer and human rights activist
Henry Onyekuru, footballer
Alex Iwobi, professional footballer, Everton forward

Native food in Onitsha

It is there native foods that made me to like this city so much because, I like exploring. Their foods and taste are top notch. Even till today, If I enter any eatery house and I feel like going traditional, their food is what I look out for specifically the ones listed above. They are my favorite.

1. The delicious Ofe Onugbu
   
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As with any southern soup, Ofe Onugbu(Bitter leaf soup) is basically heaven sent. You can have it with any swallow but I recommend pounded yam!

1. Ofe Akwu

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If you love Banga soup, you’ll love Ofe Akwu even more. The Onitshas typically serve it with yam or boiled plantain.

1. The all-mighty Nkwobi

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If you don’t try this tastefully prepared cow-leg and sauce combo in Onitsha

1. Let’s not forget the crispy and delicious Abacha

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The first time I tried this, my taste buds literally exploded with delight. Plus it’s so light-as in, African Salad- that you can eat as much as you want.

1. We can never leave out Ukwa

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Made with African Breadfruit, this meal is rich in protein and can be prepared in a plain way or in a jollof way.

Traditional attire

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CONCLUSION

dear friends, welcome back from the Journey to my favorite city. I believe you have seen why it is a city of my dream? Hope you will like to visit this city soon to explore more? Thank you all for agreeing to this journey, I appreciate you all.