This is the preferred name of the town by the indigenous. The nickname of the town is however "Isu na mba Ogu" (Warriors from Isu) or colloqually Igbuzo-Isu (The Igbo-uzo(r) from Isu). Ibusa is uniquely addressed with different names and even made noticeable with different spellings such as Ibusa, Igbuzo, Igbuzor, Ibuzor and Ibuzo. This is believed to have been necessitated by the strategic location of the town along the busy roads.
Ibusa played a prominent role in Ekwumekwu movement (1898-1910) an uprising directed against the British imperialism and attempts by the Royal Niger company to impose trade and taxation on the people. Ibusa was to play very prominent roles in prosecuting the wars in favour of Anioma and was the first of such Anioma towns to engage the British in the war in 1898. Fearing what befell the great Benin Empire in 1897; Ibusa fiercely came all out to defend itself and other towns against the British Royal Niger Company forces commanded by Major Festing. Ibusa was though subjugated after long standing battles but the British forces sustained casualties this led to the emergence of "Ibusa" in the Dictionary of the British parliament as what punitive measures to mete to the town was for weeks debated in Britain
The people of Ibusa celebrate several festivals such as 'Iwu', 'Ine', 'Ulor', 'Ichu-Ekwensu' but 'Iwu festival' annually celebrated by the Umuadafe and Ogbeowelle Quarters of the town is the most popular of them all. That of Umuadafe is celebrated annually in December (around the Christmas period) drawing the attention of numerous people from far and near to the town. The festival is aimed at cleansing and purifying the Ibusa town as a whole and songs and to thank the Almighty God for abundant harvest which the farmers of the town may have experienced all through the year. During this festival, traditional songs are also composed to ridicule defaulters of the norms traditions of the society no matter their social standing in the town. Ohene (chief Priest) and Eze-Iwus are expected to perform some rituals the cleansing of the town to properly take place.
For many centuries, Oboshi, Atakpo, Oduche, Asiama streams etc have remained major sources of water to the people of the town but Oboshi and Atakpo stand out as streams venerated and held as deities. While Oboshi is believed to be a goddess, Atakpo is held as a god. These two streams are venerated because of the powers with which they have protected not only the people but the town in entirety in the belief of the people. The priest of Oboshi is “Ohene” popularly called Ohene-Umuogwo (he Priest of Oboshi) still living.
The indigenous people of Ibusa appear to have unexplainable special closeness, bond and love for themselves which create very high level of trust and relationship among them. This would reflect in the policies and ways of life of the natives, for instance, surrounding the house or any structure with fences in the town is forbidden. In the recent past, arresting a fellow Ibusa man or woman with the police was banned and only recently did the town take reconsideration and allowed its natives to dispose off personal landed properties situated in the town to non natives. Some natives of the town though still consider arresting fellow Ibusa natives with the police or resorting to the court of law as taboo. The reason being that the town was established by a family. The way of life in this town has been described as closely knit, a legacy which continues. The Ibusa people refer to themselves singly as "Onye-Igbuzo," "Nwa-Onye-Igbuzo-Isu" collectively as "Ndi-Igbuzo" and traditionally add the prefix "Nwa" before family-names, clans, Quarters as the case may be.
It is also highly forbidden for an Ibusa native to eat or come any where near "Eyi" (Rabbit) Bringing the animal anywhere near an Ibusa man or woman may also be taken as a serious slight, abuse of rights or an act to particularly undermine him/her. some Quarters of the town such as Umuekea and Ogbeowele may also forbid "Nmanya Nkwu" (Palm wine) perhaps because it is forbidden by the Oboshi stream.
Ibusa Proverb
The elephant and the tiger do not go hunting on the same pasture. Read
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