Our Story
The Bisike family’s story is a remarkable saga of providence, resilience, and unity, tracing back over 600 years to our first known ancestor, Ihuo, born around AD 1390 in what is now Eziukwu, Umuozu.
At the heart of our tale is Bisike Nwoke, a man destined to defy the odds. Facing a future without male heirs, Bisike’s life changed through a providential union with Nwa Duruemezuo, the young daughter of his friend Nze Duru Emezuo. Described as a “strange chemistry of love,” this marriage—imbued with an Abrahamic hue—birthed five sons: Okoroafo, Awuzie, Iberosu (Ibe), Utoagwu, and Ezeogu.
This event reversed what had seemed like the end of a lineage, marking the beginning of a divinely favored family, revered and admired by neighboring clans. The once-fragile branch of Bisike flourished, becoming a symbol of hope, resilience, and sacred destiny.
The Miracle of
Bisike Nwoke
Bisike started from a humble beginning has been in existinece for more than a century the most beautiful thing about it being its ability to pin-point it’s history.
Born into a family teetering on extinction, Bisike (c 1749) grew into a respected elder, yet he carried a heavy burden: he, too, had no sons. His brothers shared his fate, and despair loomed.
But destiny intervened in the twilight of Bisike’s life. A close friend, Nze Duru Emezuo, offered his young daughter, Nwa Duruemezuo, in marriage—a gesture of profound trust. Though unconventional, the union was sealed with a promise whispered by the ancestors: “This house will not fall.”
Against all odds, Nwa Duruemezuo bore Bisike five sons: Okoroafo, Awuzie, Iberosu, Utoagwu, and Ezeogu. Their births were hailed as a miracle, a divine reversal of fortune. Neighbors marveled, calling them “Umu Chukwu” (Children of God), for it was clear this family was touched by grace.
These “giant killers” reversed a family trend of female offspring, transforming Bisike’s lineage into a “patently divine family.” Revered by neighbors, our divine origins became a cornerstone of our identity, cementing our role as natural leaders in the Isu community.
A Brother’s Legacy and a Mother’s Courage
Bisike’s generosity extended to his brother Okoroike, who died without sons. In line with tradition, Bisike took Okoroike’s wife, Ujunwa, fathering Onyeaghala—meaning “never abandon your blood”—and Akuagwu, whose sons Agubosum and Anumnu carried the Bisike name. While Onyeaghala’s line faded amid tragedy, including leprosy and loss, Agubosum and Anumnu’s lineages flourished under Bisike’s favor. After Bisike’s death around 1850, his four other brothers—Onyeatu, Mbaneto, Agusubo, and Alokalam—plotted against his eldest son, Okoroafo, following an accidental killing. .
Their treachery was thwarted by Nwa Duruemezuo, our grand matriarch, who hid her sons from harm. The brothers’ subsequent deaths affirmed our divine protection, and Nwa Duruemezuo’s return with her sons in 1852 solidified our legacy
The Holy Covenant of Grace
Nwa Duruemezuo, born around 1802 and passing at 98 in 1900, was the pillar of our family. After raising her sons to prosperity, she bound them with a “holy covenant of grace”—a vow of unity, love, and loyalty. This covenant, meant to endure across generations, shaped our family’s ethos, fostering a bond so strong that neighbors marveled.
Though tested by time and modern shifts, her vision inspires us still. Our traditions, like inheriting a brother’s wife to secure lineages, reflect this commitment to family—seen in Awuzie’s care for Okoroafo’s widow and beyond—though such practices have waned today.
Nwa Duruemezuo passed away in 1900 at the age of 98, leaving behind not only sons and land, but a legacy of leadership and love. Her covenant remains a living flame, quietly illuminating the path of each generation that carries the Bisike name.
Whether spoken aloud or felt in our hearts, the Holy Covenant of Grace is our enduring promise — to remember who we are, honor where we came from, and ensure that no one in our family ever walks alone.
The Legacy
Throughout history, the Bisike family played vital leadership roles in the Isu Clan, guiding and shaping their community through wisdom, strength, and spiritual grounding. Even after the clan’s political disintegration following the civil war, the reverence for the Bisike name has endured.
Today, with over 1,000 descendants worldwide, we remain a people of honor and pride, our story preserved by elders and griots, and meticulously documented by Ozioma Ezeogu, son of Pa Rufus Unaegbu Ezeogu, the first literate son of Nze Ezeogu Bisike. Authenticated by the Bisike Family’s History-Review Committee in 2019, this narrative is our gift to posterity.
Our unity lives on through the Bisike Family Meeting, a local association uniting male members of a certain age. Led by a chairman and executives, this “central government” of our family gathers annually in June to discuss issues, collect dues, and strengthen our bonds. Now, as we bridge our past with a global future, this website extends the Meeting’s reach, connecting our diaspora to Umuozu’s sacred soil.
From Ihuo’s humble beginnings to a worldwide clan, the Bisike story is one of divine favor and enduring strength. We invite you to explore our roots, join our community, and add your voice to our countless stories—preserving 600 years of sacred lineage for generations to come.
All information refrenced from :
“Bisike Family Ancestry” by Ozioma Ezeogu
Cardinal Families
Bisike Family
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