Orlu

Orlu is a city and Local Government Area in Imo State, southeastern Nigeria. According to oral tradition, ancestors of the Orlu people trace their roots to Nri, the ancient spiritual heartland of the Igbo, migrating northwestward between the 13th and 15th centuries in search of fertile farmland and secure settlement. The name "Orlu" derives from the Igbo words "Ọ̀lụ̀" (origin) and "ụlọ" (home), meaning "homeland of our forebears." For centuries, Orlu consisted of autonomous villages, each governed by its own traditional ruler, until the imposition of colonial boundaries.

Around 1900, the British established the "Orlu Division," transforming the town into an administrative and missionary center. Churches and schools were founded, and Christianity largely supplanted the indigenous Odinani religion. During the Nigerian Civil War in the 1970s, Orlu served as the headquarters for international humanitarian agencies, notably those under the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), providing relief to displaced populations and earning global recognition.

Today, Orlu ranks as the second-largest city in Imo State after Owerri. It hosts the Nigerian headquarters of the British Cheshire Home and various government offices. The city maintains vibrant Igbo traditions, including the New Yam festival and masquerade performances (mmanwu). Orlu continues to function as a significant political and economic hub in southeastern Nigeria, balancing modern governance with deep ancestral heritage.