Eze Chima was an Aro native doctor. In pursuance of the role of the Aros in the Atlantic Slave Trade quoted…from Michael Crowder’s story of Nigeria, Chima left Arochukwu to Benin to set up as an agent of the Aro Long Juju, for the usual purpose of collecting slaves from Benin.

Whenever, in the olden days, a native doctor travelled to a place, he by custom would, on arrival, report himself to the local chief or to the head of the society of native doctors of the land. He is either the guest of the head chief of the clan or puts up with head of the local society of native doctors. Accordingly, when Chima arrived Benin he reported himself to the Oba of Benin who accepted him as his guest. In time Chima settled down and set up practice as a native doctor and agent of Aro Oracle. He impressed the Oba of Benin so much with his magical art that he became very influential over the Oba. In consequence, the Oba installed Chima a chief in the palace of Benin. Thus the plain blunt and ordinary native doctor who left Arochukwu to establish an agency of the Long Juju, earned a chieftaincy title and became Chief Chima or Eze Chima.

Having found his feet firm in Benin, Eze Chima sent for his brother Ekensu and other relatives from Arochukwu, and also set up an Aro settlement in Benin similar to those Aros had set up within the description of Michael Crowder, in other areas throughout former Eastern Nigeria.
With the march of time, Chima’s practice in Benin expanded down to Niger Delta. Among the Urhobos and Itshekiris also the fame of the Aro Oracle spread and clients from those areas trooped to him to consult the Oracle. The greatest index of Chima’s influence on culture in Benin Kingdom is found in the fact that Benin people adopted the Igbo days of the week – Eke, Orie, Afo and Nkwo – on which Chima made one sacrifice or the other or observed his abstinences and spiritual disciplines, as names also of Benin week days. And till today the Binis have, as the Igbo, Eke, Orie, Afo, Nkwo – as names of their week days.
According to Mr Wellington Igunbor a Benin historian, who on the mother side, belongs to one of Benin’s traditional chieftaincy families (Chief Gaius Obaseki’s family – Gaius Obaseki who was the Iyase or Prime Minister of Benin in 1947) – the settlement of Eze Chima in Old Benin was established in the area through which Siliku Street runs in the present-day Benin city. As Eze Chima’s influence increased so did population of his settlement expand. So influential was Eze Chima and so completely absorbed in the society was he and his clan that there was hardly a thing he and his people could not do on the basis of equality with Benin indigenes.

How Chima left Benin:
At the time Eze Chima lived in Benin, the mother of Oba of Benin was Asije. The Oba’s brother who also was the Oba’s War Lord was called Gbunwala. One day, Asije the mother of both the Oba and Gbunwala, the Benin War Lord went into a farm belonging to Eze Chima’s people and collected firewood. Eze Chima’s people then caught Asije the Oba’s mother, and beat her thoroughly for taking wood from their farm without permission. Back home, Asije reported to her children – the Oba of Benin and Gbunwala, the Benin War Lord, her bitter experience with Eze Chima’s people. Red with anger, Gbunwala, the Oba’s brother and War Lord, took some of his soldiers, went to Chima’s settlement, set upon Chima’s people – beat them thoroughly and killed some of them.

From that day, Gbunwala began to harass Eze Chima and his people. In the circumstance, Eze Chima decided to quit Benin with his people and return to the East whence he came to rejoin his Igbo kith and kin – or, in the alternative to find new settlements for himself and his people in places far and safe beyond the reach of Oba of Benin.

This story was told in Igbo Primer popularly known as “Azu Ndu”, approved by Government Education Department for infant classes of primary schools in the Igbo Provinces of then Eastern Nigeria, now Biafra, since the beginning of the 20th century.

On their way out of Benin, some of the Eze Chima’s people settled at Agbo (Agbor), 44 miles away from Benin City which they considered far, and out of reach, molestations and influence of the Oba of Benin and his brother, Gbunwala. Others went beyond this distance and settled at Isele-Uku, Onicha-Olona, Onicha-Ugbo and Obio. When they reached the West bank of the Niger, some took a canoe and paddled down the River to Abo and settled. Led by Oreze, the eldest son of Eze Chima, the balance of Eze Chima clan crossed the River Niger to the eastern bank and settled among Oze people – the original inhabitants of what is today the big and prosperous commercial and education centre in Biafra – Onicha (Onitsha). On page 73 of his story of Nigeria, Mr Michael Crowder believed that the migration of Onicha (Onitsha) people – this is of Umu Eze Chima clans – from Benin took place in the 17th century.

Benin-Igbo Exchange of Culture:
Having lived for some years in Benin as one of the chiefs of the palace of the Oba of Benin, Eze Chima, the Aro agent of the Aro Oracle in Benin and his people had learnt Benin chieftaincy institutions and titles and so adapted the Benin system to the administrative structures and customs of the place where they settled among other West Niger Igbo and in Onicha (Onitsha) on the east bank. But as Eze Chima took away from Benin a copy of their chieftaincy institutions, so did he deposit in Benin, and the Binis adopted it, Igbo weekdays – Eke, Orie, Afo, Nkwo – which are vital in the determination of appropriate days for abstinences , spiritual religious cultures of the Igbo and Bini too. In other words, the West Niger Igbo borrowed from Benin in chieftaincy, traditions, just as the Binis borrowed from the Igbo in religious traditions—through the agency of Eze Chima.”
End of quote!
(Reference is: Pgs 171-174 of THE IGBO AND THEIR NEIGHBOURS by Professor Adiele Eberechukwu Afigbo. Published in 1987).

Need the book to know more? Chat me up. Let the conversation begin!
©Chijioke Ngobili, 2018

Are you trying to tell us that what we thought to be ordinary tales was true that any part of Igbo land you go you will see an Aro man?

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Ofodirinwa:
Idk if he was 'aro', but I read the documents of a colonist visiting Benin in the 15th century who said that the Oba of Benin was forcing people with bigger houses than him to give him their wealth and passing a decree that nobody can have a bigger house than the oba. One person refused and his house was destroyed which caused and insurrection in the town where many were killed. That person went east and came back with an army that he used to razz a great part of the city before being repelled by the oba's forces. He chose to settle "two days east from Benin". Which is exactly where Asaba Agbor and Onitsha are located today.

That man is Eze Chima
The Aro are stubborn
They are fighters
And this aptly describes Eze Chima


Aro and Abia zones bear Chima while Anamra and Anioma bear Chuma...Eze is a popular name in Abia , Imo and River zone..In Anambra and Anioma zone it is Igwe or Obi


as you can agree even the name points to Aro zone

excellencyabia1:
Are you trying to tell us the what we thought to be ordinary tales was true that anyart of Igbo land you go you will see an Aro man?

Well not every Igbo land but they have settlements in all 5 eastern states and beyond.

I don't think the Benin kingdom will readily absorb the culture of a visitor that easily.

lastempero:


Well not every Igbo land but they have settlements in all 5 eastern states and beyond.

Not every part of Igbo land but they have in 5 Eastern states and beyond

excellencyabia1:
Are you trying to tell us the what we thought to be ordinary tales was true that anyart of Igbo land you go you will see an Aro man?

Of course Aros are spread everywhere in igbo land

Aro boy in the building, Aron-dizuogu to be precise.


And yes we are known to be warriors

lastempero:


Well not every Igbo land but they have settlements in all 5 eastern states and beyond.

Even in the five state, they have sections by section. Like in abia state most local governments have one or more settlements of aro. If you need places then quote me again and will give to the best of my knowledge thanks

mabea:
Of course Aros are spread everywhere in igbo land

Most of them hardly go back. And one spectacular thing about them is that they will tag the Aro name to the name of the village making sure that their identity will be magnified

Good story. I've learnt a lot already. I'll get the book.

excellencyabia1:

Most of them hardly go back. And one spectacular thing about them is that they will tag the Aro name to the name of the village making sure that their identity will be magnified

Not all.....we have many Aro villages in Anambra and they don't tag Aro to their names

ariesbull:


Not all.....we have many Aro villages in Anambra and they don't tag Aro to their names

most not all like here in abia state you will be hear Aro Ngwa, Aro ayama etc.
note most not all

excellencyabia1:

most not all like here in abia state you will be hear Aro Ngwa, Aro ayama etc.
note most not all

Even Aro Ikwerre ....also

lastempero:


Well not every Igbo land but they have settlements in all 5 eastern states and beyond.

The descendants of Aros are in every Igbo state. There are indigenous Aros in Rivers (Aro Ikwerre), Imo, Abia, Enugu, Delta, Anambra. In the olden days Aros where paid mercenary fighters who were contracted to fight during clashes between communities.

The Otolo people of Nnewi paid Aros to fight against surrounding neighbours like Awka Etiti, Nnobi, Nnewichi. Some of these Aros later settled within these communuties they fought for till today.

There is aro-ulo and aro- agu in Nsukka and one part of these aro is good at juju. There oracle (adoro aro) acts similar to the quote below.



'Aros, centred around Arochukwu were able to manipulate their central oracle, Ibn Ukpabi (Long - Juju) in such a way, that it became the judicial machinery in every Igbo community. Trusting in the efficacy of the oracle, people in dispute went to settle their scores. The guilty victims became a property of the gods. They were eventually sold as slaves or retained as domestic property of the Arb Priest.'

ariesbull:


Even Aro Ikwerre ....also

if you are from any Aro settlement in any part of Nigeria, identify by stating you village and your knowledge about it
i know of Aro-Okporoenyi in bende local Govt.

The aros were one of the reasons ibos dint really dominate nigeria in the olden days.

They were renowned travelers ad warriors that knew so much about ruler ship..Why dint they use dia experience ad power to unify all igbos,by doing so they will have more fighters to take on ad defeat larger empires ad expand there territory.

Well maybe expansionism,oppression ad domination wasnt an ibo mans thing back then.

ZorGBUooeh:
Dis aros were one of the reasons ibos dint really dominate nigeria in the olden days.

They were renowned travelers ad warriors that knew so much about ruler ship..Why dint they use dia experience ad power to unify all igbos,by doing so they will have more fighters to take on ad defeat larger empires ad expand there territory.

Well maybe expansionism,oppression ad domination wasnt an ibo mans thing back then.

True talk.
Am wondering why they dint build empires with there experience ad power.
Oyo was afraid of the binis in the east and nupes in the north instead of challenging them they moved west ward and down south to establish there empire.

If the binis were already in control of west..I wonder why the aros dint move north,east and south to expand dia territory.
They were the perfect igbos that would have built an igbo empire.

I represent Aro Aguobu owa in Enugu state.

But for some reasons i had to buy and build my house in Arochukwu.

Aros are great people.

Read the history of the world, aro is mentioned there.

Read the history of Africa, Aro is specifically mentioned.

But the greatest sin of the Aro man was slave trade.

That accounts for their dispersal far and beyond.

Do you know that the slaves sent back to Liberia and sierra leone after the abolition of slave trade are mainly aros?

The centinery war of 1901 and 1902 also contributed to the dispersal of Aros. Infact stories has it that without the Long JUju (Ibini ugbabi)

there would be no Arochukwu today. The British were hell bent on exterminating the Aros. But Long Juju fought to ensure that did not happen.

When I"m less busy i will give you details of these with documentary evidences, including how two brothers: Izuogu and Iheme, left arochukwu to settle in the place in Imo state known today as Arondizuogu.

Just stay tuned.

absolutely right

DocHMD:


The descendants of Aros are in every Igbo state. There are indigenous Aros in Rivers (Aro Ikwerre), Imo, Abia, Enugu, Delta, Anambra. In the olden days Aros where paid mercenary fighters who were contracted to fight during clashes between communities.

The Otolo people of Nnewi paid Aros to fight against surrounding neighbours like Awka Etiti, Nnobi, Nnewichi. Some of these Aros later settled within these communuties they fought for till today.

FIrst of all, Eze Chima was not an Aro man for the following reasons.

The Nris were crowning the Obis of Onitsha up until the 1960s. Onitsha monarchs claim to be descended from Eze Chima. Nris don't crown Aro people.

Nris own the shrines Eke, Oye/Orie, Afo and Nkwo so these shrines can never be installed by Aro people. It can only be installed by Nri people, so the fact that Benin people make use of these market days/shrines is wholly because of the Nris.

Benin is older than Aro, so there is no way Benin will accept any Aro supremacy over them. Nri is way older than both Igodomigodo and Benin, and various anthropological reports by the British colonialists and expeditions by ancient Portuguese explorers have already identified the Nris as being the cultural and religious guardians of Benin.

This is yet another rubbish to deny Nris some of their heritage. Aros don't own the Igbo market days/shrines

OfoIgbo:
FIrst of all, Eze Chima was not an Aro man for the following reasons.

The Nris were crowning the Obis of Onitsha up until the 1960s. Onitsha monarchs claim to be descended from Eze Chima. Nris don't crown Aro people.

Nris own the shrines Eke, Oye/Orie, Afo and Nkwo so these shrines can never be installed by Aro people. It can only be installed by Nri people, so the fact that Benin people make use of these market days/shrines is wholly because of the Nris.

Benin is older than Aro, so there is no way Benin will accept any Aro supremacy over them. Nri is way older than both Igodomigodo and Benin, and various anthropological reports by the British colonialists and expeditions by ancient Portuguese explorers have already identified the Nris as being the cultural and religious guardians of Benin.

This is yet another rubbish to deny Nris some of their heritage. Aros don't own the Igbo market days/shrines

Tell them. One said that Anambra people bear Chuma as if Anambra existed prior to 1970s. Arọ that was founded yesterday

Always getting kicked out over their foolishness .

You had the nerve to beat the queen mother of your host community and you expected what in return ?

Igbo foolishness is always compounded by their arrogance.

BigBabyJesus:
Always getting kicked out over their foolishness .

You had the nerve to beat the queen mother of your host community and you expected what in return ?

Igbo foolishness is always compounded by their arrogance.

In as much as I don't condone beating of women or any other gender at all but that woman stepped out of line. She knew that Eze Chima is a hot tempered man but decided to tempt him and he showed her why they call him Eze Chima.
No apologies here

Bkayyy:

In as much as I don't condone beating of women or any other gender at all but that woman stepped out of line. She knew that Eze Chima is a hot tempered man but decided to tempt him and he showed her why they call him Eze Chima.
No apologies here

So tough guy beats an old lady .

Said tough guy gets his ass handed back to him from where he fled Benin .


I see how tough your tough guy Eze was.

A bloody arrogant goat who got his ass buttfcked .

BigBabyJesus:


So tough guy beats an old lady .

Said tough guy gets his ass handed back to him from where he fled Benin .


I see how tough your tough guy Eze was.

A bloody arrogant goat who got his ass buttfcked .

The most important thing in the event is the he made his point that he is not somebody to be toyed with by beating some sense into that troublesome woman and the world respect him for it

Bkayyy:

Tell them. One said that Anambra people bear Chuma as if Anambra existed prior to 1970s. Arọ that was founded yesterday

Names such as Chima, Chuma, Chukwuma are born by Anambra people, which includes Umunri.

Aros have no chance in hell, of claiming Eze Chima. Otherwise, the Aros would have been involved in crowning Eze Chima and the subsequent Obis of Onitsha, and there will be no Nze na Ozo title holders. Aros would have flooded Onitsha with MAZI, NWAMAZI and ADAMAZI, none of which exists in Onitsha today, as I write.

Today, there is a very vibrant and ancient Nze na Ozo society in Onitsha, which clearly points to their Nri (Eze Chima) past. You cannot make a claim without showing evidence left in the cultural tapestry of Onitsha.

Everyone is now trying to claim Nri exploits, but on closer investigation, the false claims crumble