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THE ORIGIN OF OGWASHI- UKU, ANIOMA AND THE
REST OF DELTA IBO: By Chris Okafor


“What really is the point of trying to teach anything
to anybody?’ This question seemed to provoke a
murmur of sympathetic approval from up and down
the table. ‘What I mean is that if you really want to
understand something, the best way is to try and
explain it to someone else. That forces you to sort it
out in your mind. And the more slow and dim-witted
your pupil, the more you have to break things down
into more and more simple ideas. And that’s really
the essence of programming. By the time you’ve
sorted out a complicated idea into little steps that
even a stupid machine can deal with, you’ve
learned something about it yourself.’

- <b>Douglas Adams</b> , Dirk Gently’s Holistic Agency
Detector
Thus, I have chosen to write this article prior to
recent election of Chief Ralph Uwaechue, an astute
Ogwashi –Uku son of the soil and by contrast, an
Anioma man as the President General elect of
Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo as well as the Newspapers
report by the former that “The Origin of Delta Igbo is
Indisputable”. Some of the reactionists include
Sunny Ofili, the publisher of thetimesofnigeria.com,
a United States-based internet news websites.
What follows was an Armageddon, an avalanche of
people through newspapers and magazines both in
Nigeria and Diasporas engaging in endless
arguments as regards the aforementioned issues.
Interestingly, some has resorted to adding rhetoric
in order to buttress their fact less points.

Of all these argument about the origin of Delta Igbo
or Ibo, the only one I found completely unacceptable
is the statement credited to Chief Ralph Uwaechue
and it run thus “It is ridiculous for people who speak
Igbo and who properly know their ancestral home to
say they do not know their origin again or for
another person to begin to give inaccurate facts," he
told Saturday Independent in an interview.

"We have people in Anioma and they form one-third
of the population and that has also reflected on the
number of local government areas it commands.
The entire Delta may not trace their origin to the
East (Igbo) it is not contestable but the people of
Anioma traced their origin from the East and there
is nothing bad in joining Ohanaeze Ndigbo”. The
constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria is clear
on freedom of associations and so anybody has the
right to join whatever organisation he/she so
wishes the last statement that the people of Anioma
(generalization) traced their origin from the East is
something like, Sunny Ofili, I bluntly refuse to
accept.

The points here is that if you are making a
reference such as Ndi Igbo or Ndi Yoruba or
Hausas, you are definitely referring to entire Igbo,
Yoruba or Hausa nations. The reference or
assertion such as Anioma people can trace their
origin to the East is therefore wrong. Unless if he is
quoted out of context. Statements like, some Delta
Ibos can trace their roots or origin to either Eastern
Igbos or the great Benin Empire is, to the best of my
knowledge, a formidable fact because the entire
Ogwashi-uku where Chief Ralph Uwaechue hails
from cannot be said to come from the East.

A chronological history of early settlements in
Ogwashi-Uku can authoritatively portray the
following facts that the Ikelike people from the Bini
kingdom were the first to settle in Ogwashi-Uku
(see Ben Nwabua, Ogwash-uku Kingdom, 1000
Years of Traditional Democracy and Cultural Life,
950-1914)..

Both traditional and empirical sources gives
credence that Ikelike people were the first set of
immigrants to settle in the present Ogwashi-Uku as
against the notion that Adaigbo who purportedly
came from Nri in present Anambra State today is
the founder of Ogwashi-Uku. So far, no counter
claim has been made on this. According to
Ogwashi-Uku intelligence report by Mr. J.E Hull, the
then Assistant District Officer dated on the 9th of
April 1936, the Ikelike people from all indications
migrated from Benin to settle where they are found
themselves today, because of a reign of wanton
persecution of subjects by the then Benin Monarch,
Oba Eweka 11. The story further goes that at the
head was Odigie Ikelike with his younger brother
Ado who later founded Adonta, a relatively small
village close to Azungwu in Ogwashi-uku today.
The Ikelike migrants were said to be politically
averse and could not, therefore evolve an orderly
method of governance even though there were
small in number. Jull`s report further went on to
point out that because of such indisposition towards
an effective means of governing themselves, it cost
them the political leadership they were first to settle
in. Rather, Adaigbo, the prince from Nri later came,
controlled the situation and imposed leadership
based on Igbo customs and tradition on them and
what later became Ogwshi-Uku kingdom. Adaigbo’s
imposed of republican system, however, later gave
way to the hereditary system of the Binis.

There are nine federating units that make up what is
today know as Ogwashi-uku kingdom sometimes
refers as Ogwashi Ebo Iteneni. These nine
federating units are: (1) Ikelike (2) Azungwu (3)
Umudei (4) Ogbe Ubu (5) Ogbe Aho/Ogbe Ani (6)
Agidiase (7) Agidiahe ( Ogbe Umu Okwuni and (9)
Ogbe Ihago. This arrangement was and still is for
the traditional governance in the kingdom and each
of these units could, without doubt trace their origin
to Benin or Eastern Ibo. For instance, Umu Ochele
people in Ogwashi-Uku came from Benin during the
reign of Oba Ovonramwen and so is the people of
Umu Olu Ishiekpe Ogbe Ihago and others too
numerous to mention.

In life, if you know the right questions, you can find
the right answers. Did Ogwashi-uku derive its
present name from Eastern Ibo or from Bini Empire
or is the language entirely that of Ibo. Let’s consider
the following theories. By the turn of 9th century, the
Ogiso dynasty had come into being with
empowerment of their kings as the paramount
rulers of the land. (Read P26 Ben Nwabuwa
Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom). However, the Bini people
became disenchanted with all the Kings that ruled
the empire under the Ogiso dynasty and by 1121
A.D, Oba Ogiame had sent emissary to OGWANHE
(Nshi Adaigbo) to ascertain the strength of the
emerging entity. The emissary was said to have
met Adaigbo, the Prince of Nri and they interpreted
Ogwanhe as that of Bini.

Filled with joy that he met a good friend indeed,
Adigbo commended the disposition of Oba`s
emissary who went further adding Uku which in Bini
language means “great” The subsequent
interpretation of this therefore means a place of
greatness. And since the great meet, the place
came to be known as Ogwanhe Uku while the Igbo
pronunciation has it as Ogwashi-Ukwu which is
also called Ogwanri Adaigbo or Ogwashi Adaigbo.
Traditional source gives credence to the Ikelike
Aborigines as having christened the entity Ogwanhe
after the Bini tradition of building a small house
known as OGWA at the front yard of a natural ruler.
In Bini tradition, an Ogwa means royal palace or a
royal people of destiny and to some extent; this
historical claim could be justified since the culture
of building an Ogwa in Bini kingdom is still popular
even to the present day.

Ogwashi-uku share some acceptable relationship
with present day Igbo bi nuzo, igbuzo or Ibusa
which is entirely based on the same sickening
stories of Adaigbo, the Prince of Nri who defiled one
of the fathers wives and was sent out with his
brother Ogboli and some slaves. Around 1091 A.D
on this journey to nowhere, Ogboli pot was said to
have fallen and his brother Adaigbo had instructed
him to settle there. However, there is a different
twist to this assertion which is practically based on
oral history between Ogwashi-uku and Igbuzo.
Some oral history suggest a different scenario
which further attest why the subject paid some
certain homage to Ogwashi-uku during the reign of
the erstwhile monarch Obi Izedunor. I will reserve
my comment on this topic for now.

Over the years, I have read a lot of trash from some
unscrupulous elements that cannot deduce facts
from fictions neither can they make a proper
research or investigation towards a given
phenomenon before writing and publishing rubbish
in the internet. This is not only annoying but an
extraordinary frame of reference for agile minds.
Most stories from these elements attributed to the
founding of Ogwashi-uku are often frivolous,
baseless and has no single foundation. It is quite
difficult for me to believe any story that is not
supported by 5 W`s and one H, i.e., What really
happened? Where did it happen? When was it? Why
and Who were involved and finally How did it
happened? Of course, I know how desperate most
of these miscreants are to have their names in the
media. That`s Ok but when it comes to writing what
you have not truly investigated, I think extra care
need to be taken so that whenever that writing is
FLORG ( Facts, Logic, Rhetoric’s and Grammar) the
message one is trying to convey would be justified.
As a writer, you can only write what you know
about and as a historian, you can tell what you are
familiar with rather than relying on unverified
information you gathered from the internet for
people’s consumptions. As such, I dare anyone that
has contrary opinion to the above claims to go back
to Ogwashi-uku for proper verification. Ikelike
people are still in Ogwashi-Uku today and so are
Ishekpe and other people that have their origin right
from Bini kingdom. They need to be interviewed and
after this, I will need a proper conviction that the
entire Ogwashi-Uku came from the Igbo East of the
Niger or that Adaigbo is the founder of Ogwashi-
uku.

On the issues of language, how are you sure that
the Ogwashi-Uku language is that of Igbo and not
that of ANIOMA and even if it is Igbo, the fact that
English language is being used freely in United
States and some other countries today does not
make America an English country. Of all the names
of the nine federating units that make up Ogwashi-
Uku almost all as you can see above were Ogbe
which means quarter in Bini language.

Still on origin of Ogwashi-Uku, an Anioma town.

My
quest for personal identity began when I was
growing up as a child and that was sometimes in
early 80s, I was in secondary school and had gone
to Onitsha main market from Ogwashi-Uku in
company of friends to buy clothes in preparation for
children day disco party. There in the market
somebody had listened to our conversation, held
our hands and dragged us to his shop and had said
something like “don’t buy from Ndigbo, buy from
me for we are brothers”, I didn’t get it because I did
not understand why someone from Igbo Onitsha, an
igbo city would be making such reference. Two
days after the trip to Onitsha, I had told my
grandma whose formidable memory at 83yrs then
was unbelievable. The only explanation I got from
her was that Onitsha people are not truly Igbos.
In the university, I had the opportunity to read Dr.
Nnamdi Azikiwe, My Odyssey and there and then,
the great Zik of Africa was able to trace his origin to
the Ezechima via Bini Kingdom. In fact, Phillip
Emeagwali, a Nigerian-American computer whiz kid
was more apt on his roots. The following is
Emeagwali in his own words, “I am a Yoruba by
birth (born in Akure, western region) and Igbo by
heritage. As a native Onitsha Igbo, I trace my
ancestry to Eze Chima, a prince who rebelled
against the Benin royal dynasty and emigrated from
the kingdom. Other Igbos that trace their lineage to
Eze Chima include Onicha-Ukwu, Onicha-Olona,
Onicha-Ugbo, Obior, Issele-Ukwu, Issele-Mkpima,
Issele-Azagba, Ezi, Abeh and Obamkpa.Native
Onitsha’s speak a dialect of the Igbo language with
several
Benin/Yoruba words such as "Obi" (of Onitsha) and
"Oba" (of Benin). In fact, the word Onitsha (Onicha)
is a corruption of the god "Orisha." The bini name
for River Niger is Ohinmwin. The Onicha Igbo call it
"Orinmili." In a few years, we will have DNA tests
that proves (or disapproves) the Onitsha-Benin-
Yoruba connection.”.

Thus, the above example from these two great men
from Onitsha an Igbo extraction is an example of
people who have successfully traced their roots
and origin. The big question now from the above
analysis is, is the origin of Onitsha an Igbo city
indisputable just because they speak Igbo? You be
the judge! Is the origin of Ogbaru, Oba, Akwukwu
Obosi, Ozubulu and Oraifite in present Anambra
state indisputable? Or is the origin of Oguta in Imo
state or the Ndoni and Ogba people of Rivers State
indisputable? They are all Anioma people who were
balkanized after they lost the Ekumeku war of
resistance against the British imperialism in 1914.
Surprisingly, no attempts were made thereafter by
the people of this region to reclaim these lost
territories into the Anioma home of Delta state.
Anioma people just like every other tribe, villages,
towns or ethnic groups in Nigeria today cannot be
said to come from one particular area. This is not
what is at stake. What is at stake is that we, the
ANIOMAS are over due for the immediate creation
of our own State. My main purpose of this writing is
to set the record straight that all the Aniomas or
Delta Ibos are NOT Igbos just because we speak
Igbo. The Aniocha, the Ndokwa, the Ika and the
Oshimili which form the acronym for ANIOMA can
authoritatively trace their roots or origin to Benin or
Igbo across the Nigeria; again, this is not
indisputable.

Those who has been able to trace their roots to
either Benin or Igbo is just for record purpose
because I know deep down my heart that no
Anioma sons or daughters would prefer to join the
Benin or the Igbo across the Niger just because our
origin could be traced there. We have been
unforgivably been betrayed by these people and
this is about the only time that we should stand up
on our own and fight so that Anioma state could be
created.

There is this popular saying in Ogwashi-Uku which
says that “onye nwa ju adi aju onwe” meaning
(whenever you have been forsaken, you probably
be the last person to forsake yourself) I couldn`t
agree more than Kunirum Osai. Ph.d and erstwhile
National President of Anioma Association in United
States submission that “Ethnic identity exists
because individuals include among their repertoire
of social roles one or more culturally defined
uniqueness. The conscious sense on the part of an
individual that he/she belongs to a given collectivity
is the basic building block of identity. Our Anioma
ethnic identity derives from our common set of
symbols and cognitions shared by our people.

Aniocha, Ndokwa, lka and Oshimili, share the same
cultural space and delimited physical geography.

They dress alike. They dance alike. They use the
same musical instruments. They speak the same or
similar languages. They show the same deference
to their elders and women. They respect character
and integrity. They are not exploitative. Money is
not everything, character is everything. In short,
they have the same worldview. Our Anioma ethnic
identity is cultural self-definition and philosophical
affirmation of our self-determination as a people
who see themselves at the crossroads of the
contemporary Nigerian state. Anioma provides for
us the physical and cultural space that defines the
necessary locus of our highest fulfilment as a
people.”

What more do I need to add to Dr. Osai`s
dispositions over a journey that hitherto began since
1951 when Chief Dennis Osadebe (Oshimili) F.H
Utomi (Aniocha) Hon Obi of Akumazi (Ika); Hon.
Frank Oputa Ututu (Ndokwa) and Hon Oki (Ndokwa)
jointly moved a motion in the then Western House of
Assembly to seek "a separate province" for our
people, who had been balkanized and merged with
Benin and Warri provinces by the colonialists. There
is no doubt that Anioma remains the oldest state yet
to be created in Nigeria today. Its agitation has been
on since 1951 but unfortunately most people with
whom we have relied on are neither there nor here
.
Here in Ireland, I have consistently and repeatedly
told various Anioma organizations that it doesn’t
matter whether it is Anioma Progressive Union, Izu
Anioma or Otu Anioma provided we have one
common objective. We need to know ourselves,
understand ourselves and possibly project a
common front for urgent actualization of Anioma
State so that the ideas and views of those pioneers
that started it would not be in vain. We can do this
through constant meetings and interactions devoid
of any acrimony. This is the only way we can
emancipate ourselves from mental slavery
.
Agitation of state creation in Nigeria federation is a
very tricky one. Those that ask for a creation of a
particular state in most cases have absolutely
nothing to sustain the state. Their target is the 15%
Federal allocation courtesy of oil in Niger Delta.
Unlike the Anioma people, we have what it takes to
be self reliant. The records are there.

I understand that most people are not conversant
with certain history that brought them to fame and
as such, what you do or say as a role model in
cause of fighting for a particular reform matters
because if you are not judged by humans, you will
be certainly judged by posterity in no distant future.
The Anioma people in Ohaneze Ndi igbo could join
whatever association they deem necessary if it is
the only way they could convince the Iwuanyanwus
that we need our own state. Anything contrary to
this is unacceptable.

http://seemynaija.com/2015/11/origin-ogwashi-ukuanioma-rest-delta-igbo/

K

in a multitude of words, there are lies! - bible

I'm sure the OP didn't read this epistle, he just copied and paste.. Pls give me one reason why i should read this

The writer is dubious...
Twisting fact just to drive home his point...very selfish...

THE ORIGIN OF OGWASHI- UKU, ANIOMA AND THE
REST OF DELTA IBO: By Chris Okafor

The Ikelike people of Ogwashi-Ukwu were the aboriginal Igbo of the land before Odaigbo from Nri came. From all indications, the Ikelike people were Igbo, and they were part of the early Eri subgroup of the Igbo people who occupy the stretch of land from Omambala area in the East to Agbor area in the West. That is to say, the autochthonous people of the Enuani area of Anioma are of the same lineage as the autochthonous people of Anambra area. They all belong to the same Eri subgroup of Igboland. Their dialect and culture, the elaborate tradition of Nze/Ozo titles and Okpala system of leadership, clearly show that these people on both sides of River Niger are of the same stock. River Niger was not a barrier; rather, it was an open access that allowed these people to spread out on both sides.

The Ogwashi-Ukwu kingship (Eze/Obi) is found in one of the villages that trace their origins from Nri, while the actual traditional right of leadership is held by the "Okpala" of Ikelike. The elders of Ikelike, the first inhabitants of the land, said they were practicing the Okpala system of leadership before the Odaigbo group arrived from Nri. This is a clear proof that the Ikelike people were Igbo. Any attempt to falsify the origin of the Ikelike people will be seen as a deliberate attempt to re-write history, and that will not be accepted by the elders and academics of the Igbo world.

outsiders and nonentities have been falsifying our history.

The writer is dubious...
Twisting fact just to drive home his point...very selfish...

Complete falsehood just to claim Benin roots. Complete distortion of information.

I hope say this Bini people no dey carry their witchcraft syndrome enter my hometown sha? cause we are not Ika people with their confused DNA that you can play that your minority expansionist madness with, any attempt to encroach on Enuani territory from Ibusa-Akwukwu-Igbo down to Asaba... na for inside calabash we go donate your Oba head. We're unapologetically Igbos and we will never infect the purity of our genes with some Binin rubbish.

NwaAro:
I hope say this Bini people no dey carry their witchcraft syndrome enter my hometown sha? cause we are not Ika people with their confused DNA that you can play that your minority expansionist madness with, any attempt to encroach on Enuani territory from Ibusa-Akwukwu-Igbo down to Asaba... na for inside calabash we go donate your Oba head. We're unapologetically Igbos and we will never infect the purity of our genes with some Binin rubbish.

No part of Delta state will be ceded to Biafra. Biafra start and end in the south east. Is either you leave Delta state and go to Biafra (made up of the 5 south eastern states) or you live peacefully in delta(Bendel) state, FRN.

BabaOwen:
No part of Delta state will be ceded to Biafra. Biafra start and end in the south east. Is either you leave Delta state and go to Biafra (made up of the 5 south eastern states) or you live peacefully in delta(Bendel) state, FRN.

Who be this tozo and who's talking about Biafra here? na you go force us to belong to your useless Bendel state? too many clowns full Nairaland sha . Bros when the time for the inevitable dissolution of Nigeria comes, every ethnic group will drift along its linguistic and cultural ties, no part of Igbo speaking territory is staying with a bunch of minorities who are envious, bitter and naturally Igbophobic towards my people. Get that into your thick skull!

As an Urhobo man, I don't know if what you wrote is the truth or not. That is none of my business but I want to point out something to the writer. Urhobo, which is my tribe has 24 kingdoms. Most of the kingdoms migrated from Bini but my kingdom which is Evwreni migrated from Igboland. Notwithstanding, we mingled with the other kingdoms that migrated from Bini to form the Urhobo nation. We now have the same customs, traditions and what have you.

What I am trying to say is that, where you came from shouldn't be the Koko but who you associates with or what you want to be addressed as. In Evwreni, nobody will tell you he is Igbo because our founder came from Igboland, rather we see ourselves as Urhobos. pure Urhobos.

Most tribes evolved from other tribes. Like the Igbo say they are Jews from Israel. Should we now say they are Jews and not Igbos which they have chosen to identify as? Are the Onicha people who came from Bini then say they are not Igbos because their origin is traced to Bini when they have decided to associate with the Igbo people and to be addressed as such? See, no need to fight over irrelevant things. We all should stop this tribe grabbing mentality and let everyone decide for themselves. Afterall, there are much similarities among French, Portuguese, Italian and Spanish. If na Nigeria now, one for don dey claim the rest.

Lastly, I say the Aniomas abi Delta Igbos abi whatever are confuse. You have an active ethnic association and one of your own is heading another you claim is different from yours! Is that not confusion? Like an Urhoboman going to head a Bini or Igbo ethnic group! Na wa oh. Make una even get una Anioma state self. Una dey tire person.

NwaAro:

Who be this tozo and who's talking about Biafra here? na you go force us to belong to your useless Bendel state? too many clowns full Nairaland sha . Bros when the time for the inevitable dissolution of Nigeria comes, every ethnic group will drift along its linguistic and cultural ties, no part of Igbo speaking territory is staying with a bunch of minorities who are envious, bitter and naturally Igbophobic towards my people. Get that into your thick skull!

Nah because of that my small comment you rant reach like this

I'm glad you're pained bro

BabaOwen:
Nah because of that my small comment you rant reach like this

I'm glad you're pained bro

Bini man you no reach the level of the sh*t wey I offload this morning, pain kee you there!
Ozuor

BabaOwen:
Nah because of that my small comment you rant reach like this

I'm glad you're pained bro

u dey here dey rant meanwhile sikilu wakili has seized two villages in the SW cesspit nd his bororo boys are fcking ur scratched face women with reckless abandon nd have refused ur cowardly weakling fathers from going to there farm..

baba owen abi baba olaniyi ur attention is needed in iganga to chase the herders away if u are lucky u might cum bck alive but if ur chi decides u gonna unfortunate u gonna end up like afonja or ur ears nd fingers removed from ur worthless body.ozuia

BabaOwen:
No part of Delta state will be ceded to Biafra. Biafra start and end in the south east. Is either you leave Delta state and go to Biafra (made up of the 5 south eastern states) or you live peacefully in delta(Bendel) state, FRN.

As a true Deltan and a Niger Deltan, I rebuke you. We want this union called Nigeria to die a terrible death. Proudly Urhobo. Proudly Niger Delta strictly with the 6 Southern States in the Southern region of Nigeria.

Oghene1st:
As an Urhobo man, I don't know if what you wrote is the truth or not. That is none of my business but I want to point out something to the writer. Urhobo, which is my tribe has 24 kingdoms. Most of the kingdoms migrated from Bini but my kingdom which is Evwreni, migrated from Igboland. Not withstanding, we mingled with the other kingdoms that migrated from Bini to form the Urhobo nation. We now have the same customs, traditions and what have you.

What I am trying to say is that, where you came from shouldn't be the Koko but who you associates with or what you want to be addressed as. In Evwreni, nobody will tell you he is Igbo because our founder came from Igboland, rather we see ourselves as Urhobos. pure Urhobos.

Most tribes evolved from other tribes. Like the Igbo say they are Jews. Should we now say they are Jews and not Igbos which they have chosen to be identified as? Are the Onicha people who came from Bini now say they are not Igbo because their origin is traced to Benin when they have decided to associate with the Igbo people and to be addressed as such! See, no need to fight over irrelevant thing. We all should stop this tribe grabbing and et everyone decide for themselves.

Lastly, I say the Aniomas abi Delta Igbos abi whatever are confuse. You have an active ethnic association and one of your own is heading another you claim is different from yours! Is that not confusion? Like an Urhoboman going to head a Bini or Igbo ethnic group! Na wa oh. Make una even get una Anioma state self. Una dey tire person.

My Urhobo brother to address the highlighted, when it comes Anioma and the whole Igbo identity saga, you've got to understand the basic socio-cultural as well as political dynamics and factors at play. To keep it simple, the only part of Anioma you will experience the Igbo denial heavily is the Ika/Ukwani axis... which is understandable cause they are half Benin and half Igbo, but they tend to lean more to their Benin side cause they share common boundaries with their Edo neighbors. Although I've interacted with most of my Ika folks and most of them though somewhat alienated from their Igbo identity, still somewhat understand the complexities of their situation and just choose to remain a distinct group called IKA to avoid all the wahala. Now when it comes to us the Enuani part of Anioma, we've never (maybe save for a tiny negligible minority) NEVER denied our pure and undiluted Igbo identity. When Enuani heavyweights like Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Pat Utomi, JJ Okocha, Peter Emelieze, Ned Nwoko, the Late Hannibal of Biafra Col Joe Achuzie, Ned Nwoko, the Asagba of Asaba and numerous other top personalities boldly come out and proudly say they are Igbos, then there should be no doubts about our identity. So when these Benin clowns start to inundate their expansionist lies that Anioma is Edo... I just laugh at their stupidity cause dem no reach, na Ika people wey no sabi who dem be dey give the Benin clowns too much liver to talk rubbish.

So Ika- are the ones that identify either with Benin, Igbo or just choose to remain neutral

Enuani- have never denied their Igbo heritage and never will.

Oghene1st:
As an Urhobo man, I don't know if what you wrote is the truth or not. That is none of my business but I want to point out something to the writer. Urhobo, which is my tribe has 24 kingdoms. Most of the kingdoms migrated from Bini but my kingdom which is Evwreni, migrated from Igboland. Not withstanding, we mingled with the other kingdoms that migrated from Bini to form the Urhobo nation. We now have the same customs, traditions and what have you.

What I am trying to say is that, where you came from shouldn't be the Koko but who you associates with or what you want to be addressed as. In Evwreni, nobody will tell you he is Igbo because our founder came from Igboland, rather we see ourselves as Urhobos. pure Urhobos.

Most tribes evolved from other tribes. Like the Igbo say they are Jews. Should we now say they are Jews and not Igbos which they have chosen to be identified as? Are the Onicha people who came from Bini now say they are not Igbo because their origin is traced to Benin when they have decided to associate with the Igbo people and to be addressed as such! See, no need to fight over irrelevant thing. We all should stop this tribe grabbing and et everyone decide for themselves.

Lastly, I say the Aniomas abi Delta Igbos abi whatever are confuse. You have an active ethnic association and one of your own is heading another you claim is different from yours! Is that not confusion? Like an Urhoboman going to head a Bini or Igbo ethnic group! Na wa oh. Make una even get una Anioma state self. Una dey tire person.

nice write up bro, an urhobo friend of my mine have told me similar stories abt a particular clan of urhobo that migrated from the east. well every man has an independent to self-determination and self- identity,they are Igbos who migrated from benin in the east e.g onitsha,obosi and oguta. we still have Igbo tribes that have mixed ancestry with igala,idoma,efik,ejagham,ibibio nd even some tribes from cameroon migrated to Igbo Land, so i think at the end ur language,culture and traditions plays a bigger role in setting out wat ethnicity u belong to, u can't be speaking Igbo,bearing Igbo names,ur towns having Igbo names nd also having same physical appearance and body structure with the Igbos nd u still deny being Igbo..

that madness i'd say.

NwaAro:

My Urhobo brother to address the highlighted, when it comes Anioma and the whole Igbo identity saga, you've got to understand the basic socio-cultural as well as political dynamics and factors at play. To keep it simple, the only part of Anioma you will experience the Igbo denial heavily is the Ika/Ukwani axis... which is understandable cause they are half Benin and half Igbo, but they tend to lean more to their Benin side cause they share common boundaries with their Edo neighbors. Although I've interacted with most of my Ika folks and most of them though somewhat alienated from their Igbo identity, still somewhat understand the complexities of their situation and just choose to remain a distinct group called IKA to avoid all the wahala. Now when it comes to us the Enuani part of Anioma, we've never (maybe save for a tiny negligible minority) NEVER denied our pure and undiluted Igbo identity. When Enuani heavyweights like Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Pat Utomi, JJ Okocha, Peter Emelieze, Ned Nwoko, the Late Hannibal of Biafra Col Joe Achuzie, Ned Nwoko, the Asagba of Asaba and numerous other top personalities boldly come out and proudly say they are Igbos, then there should be no doubts about our identity. So when these Benin clowns start to inundate their expansionist lies that Anioma is Edo... I just laugh at their stupidity cause dem no reach, na Ika people wey no sabi who dem be dey give the Benin clowns too much liver to talk rubbish.


So Ika- are the ones that identify either with Benin, Igbo or just choose to remain neutral

Enuani- have never denied their Igbo heritage and never will.

nwanne keep the good work God they with u..

bro na u still dey use anioma moniker?

NwaAro:

My Urhobo brother to address the highlighted, when it comes Anioma and the whole Igbo identity saga, you've got to understand the basic socio-cultural as well as political dynamics and factors at play. To keep it simple, the only part of Anioma you will experience the Igbo denial heavily is the Ika/Ukwani axis... which is understandable cause they are half Benin and half Igbo, but they tend to lean more to their Benin side cause they share common boundaries with their Edo neighbors. Although I've interacted with most of my Ika folks and most of them though somewhat alienated from their Igbo identity, still somewhat understand the complexities of their situation and just choose to remain a distinct group called IKA to avoid all the wahala. Now when it comes to us the Enuani part of Anioma, we've never (maybe save for a tiny negligible minority) NEVER denied our pure and undiluted Igbo identity. When Enuani heavyweights like Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Pat Utomi, JJ Okocha, Peter Emelieze, Ned Nwoko, the Late Hannibal of Biafra Col Joe Achuzie, Ned Nwoko, the Asagba of Asaba and numerous other top personalities boldly come out and proudly say they are Igbos, then there should be no doubts about our identity. So when these Benin clowns start to inundate their expansionist lies that Anioma is Edo... I just laugh at their stupidity cause dem no reach, na Ika people wey no sabi who dem be dey give the Benin clowns too much liver to talk rubbish.

So Ika- are the ones that identify either with Benin, Igbo or just choose to remain neutral

Enuani- have never denied their Igbo heritage and never will.

Funny enough, we Urhobos see the Aniomas as Igbos. Na them know where them get Anioma from! Even the Ikas, we see them as Igbos.

Na them know their wahala. Funny enough there is no tribe as Anioma in Nigeria.

unshakablejihad:



nwanne keep the good work God they with u..

bro na u still dey use anioma moniker?

Nwanne na me ooo, that moniker got permanently banned cause I was tormenting this yeye Benin people and their yoruba cousins

Oghene1st:


Funny enough, we Urhobos see the Aniomas as Igbos. Na them know where them get Anioma from! Even the Ikas, we see them as Igbos.

Na them know their wahala. Funny enough there is no tribe as Anioma in Nigeria.

No be lie my brother, with time we go sort out these conundrum of identity crisis wahala.

unshakablejihad:


nice write up bro, an urhobo friend of my mine have told me similar stories abt a particular clan of urhobo that migrated from the east. well every man has an independent to self-determination and self- identity,they are Igbos who migrated from benin in the east e.g onitsha,obosi and oguta. we still have Igbo tribes that have mixed ancestry with igala,idoma,efik,ejagham,ibibio nd even some tribes from cameroon migrated to Igbo Land, so i think at the end ur language,culture and traditions plays a bigger role in setting out wat ethnicity u belong to, u can't be speaking Igbo,bearing Igbo names,ur towns having Igbo names nd also having same physical appearance and body structure with the Igbos nd u still deny being Igbo..

that madness i'd say.

The thing tire me. The writer was saying something like they don't like money, that their culture was not built on that. Maybe them hate money for Anioma I nor understand. I known someone from that Ogwashi-Uku wey cheat dead man. Make them let us rest.

NwaAro:

My Urhobo brother to address the highlighted, when it comes Anioma and the whole Igbo identity saga, you've got to understand the basic socio-cultural as well as political dynamics and factors at play. To keep it simple, the only part of Anioma you will experience the Igbo denial heavily is the Ika/Ukwani axis... which is understandable cause they are half Benin and half Igbo, but they tend to lean more to their Benin side cause they share common boundaries with their Edo neighbors. Although I've interacted with most of my Ika folks and most of them though somewhat alienated from their Igbo identity, still somewhat understand the complexities of their situation and just choose to remain a distinct group called IKA to avoid all the wahala. Now when it comes to us the Enuani part of Anioma, we've never (maybe save for a tiny negligible minority) NEVER denied our pure and undiluted Igbo identity. When Enuani heavyweights like Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Pat Utomi, JJ Okocha, Peter Emelieze, Ned Nwoko, the Late Hannibal of Biafra Col Joe Achuzie, Ned Nwoko, the Asagba of Asaba and numerous other top personalities boldly come out and proudly say they are Igbos, then there should be no doubts about our identity. So when these Benin clowns start to inundate their expansionist lies that Anioma is Edo... I just laugh at their stupidity cause dem no reach, na Ika people wey no sabi who dem be dey give the Benin clowns too much liver to talk rubbish.

So Ika- are the ones that identify either with Benin, Igbo or just choose to remain neutral

Enuani- have never denied their Igbo heritage and never will.

True, rarely have I ever seen any Enuani man deny being Igbo. Some Ika's deny being Igbo abd thats understandable as Ika is in close proximity to Edo state and has an Edo minority

But it is funny that Agbor that us nextdoor to Edo state, speak the Ika dialect of Igbo and have a king, Ikenchuku Keagborekuzi, who has an Igbo name and surname

NwaAro:

Nwanne na me ooo, that moniker got permanently banned cause I was tormenting this yeye Benin people and their yoruba cousins

lolzzzzzzzzzzzzz guy u wan kill them no be say u talk, them tire for ur mata ..

i dey proud of u bro walai. i live in asaba nd i can say for sure Asaba are proudly Igbos anytime any day same with ndi okpanam.

the last time i was at ogwash i was really surprised the way these guys were promoting the Igbo culture,every nook nd cranny u stepped ur fit into atleast u gonna see young guys putting on "okpu agu" with so much pride,infact they dnt hide there Igboness those guys are pro-Igbos, ah swear benin wuldn't dare bring there madness to enuani..u guys shuld keep it up we dey una back.

Oghene1st:
As an Urhobo man, I don't know if what you wrote is the truth or not. That is none of my business but I want to point out something to the writer. Urhobo, which is my tribe has 24 kingdoms. Most of the kingdoms migrated from Bini but my kingdom which is Evwreni, migrated from Igboland. Not withstanding, we mingled with the other kingdoms that migrated from Bini to form the Urhobo nation. We now have the same customs, traditions and what have you.

What I am trying to say is that, where you came from shouldn't be the Koko but who you associates with or what you want to be addressed as. In Evwreni, nobody will tell you he is Igbo because our founder came from Igboland, rather we see ourselves as Urhobos. pure Urhobos.

Most tribes evolved from other tribes. Like the Igbo say they are Jews from Israel. Should we now say they are Jews and not Igbos which they have chosen to identify as? Are the Onicha people who came from Bini then say they are not Igbos because their origin is traced to Bini when they have decided to associate with the Igbo people and to be addressed as such? See, no need to fight over irrelevant things. We all should stop this tribe grabbing mentality and let everyone decide for themselves. Afterall, there are much similarities among French, Portuguese, Italian and Spanish. If na Nigeria now, one for don dey claim the rest.

Lastly, I say the Aniomas abi Delta Igbos abi whatever are confuse. You have an active ethnic association and one of your own is heading another you claim is different from yours! Is that not confusion? Like an Urhoboman going to head a Bini or Igbo ethnic group! Na wa oh. Make una even get una Anioma state self. Una dey tire person.

SCHOLARLY....

Oghene1st:
As an Urhobo man, I don't know if what you wrote is the truth or not. That is none of my business but I want to point out something to the writer. Urhobo, which is my tribe has 24 kingdoms. Most of the kingdoms migrated from Bini but my kingdom which is Evwreni, migrated from Igboland. Not withstanding, we mingled with the other kingdoms that migrated from Bini to form the Urhobo nation. We now have the same customs, traditions and what have you.

What I am trying to say is that, where you came from shouldn't be the Koko but who you associates with or what you want to be addressed as. In Evwreni, nobody will tell you he is Igbo because our founder came from Igboland, rather we see ourselves as Urhobos. pure Urhobos.

Most tribes evolved from other tribes. Like the Igbo say they are Jews from Israel. Should we now say they are Jews and not Igbos which they have chosen to identify as? Are the Onicha people who came from Bini then say they are not Igbos because their origin is traced to Bini when they have decided to associate with the Igbo people and to be addressed as such? See, no need to fight over irrelevant things. We all should stop this tribe grabbing mentality and let everyone decide for themselves. Afterall, there are much similarities among French, Portuguese, Italian and Spanish. If na Nigeria now, one for don dey claim the rest.

Lastly, I say the Aniomas abi Delta Igbos abi whatever are confuse. You have an active ethnic association and one of your own is heading another you claim is different from yours! Is that not confusion? Like an Urhoboman going to head a Bini or Igbo ethnic group! Na wa oh. Make una even get una Anioma state self. Una dey tire person.

That's it
Everyone in Enugu Ezike of Enugu State knows that we were from igara of kogi State, our tittle must come from there we answer their names but nobody can say that we are not igbos, some of our tradition are not even practice by many igbos we still keep up to date but no Bleep can separate us from being igbos
I can see that anioma or whatever they called themselves are very ignorance for saying they are not igbos because they are root was not from Anambra or abịa
No place is called igbo, and no man was called Igbo and no ethnic group has one ancestor, their must be visitors that were treated as their brothers the same thing with my own ancestor, the asadu(I won't call them Igbo separately because we are also Igbo) People of Igbo gave peace, security and all these characters enjoyed by igbos alone such Igbo apprenticeship, the world is your home ideology, nobody is your controller except your chi( personal god) and many more
I believe anioma for falling at Fulani trap

But which clans in enuani trace their origin solely from the east