Ikwere: Igbo or Edo; An Insight into the History of Ikwere People

By

Maazị Ogbonnaya Okoro

The issue of identity is personal. Devoid of political sentiments, this article is an academic research conducted and carried out for the purpose of knowledge and preservation of historical information. Interviews in form of participate observation, were conducted. Different opinions were put into consideration. So, by no means, anyone's throat is forced with an identity neither this research is recruiting people to join any tribe or group.

Now let us make the move...

Are the Ikwere Igbo or Edo?

Before we go into this, the first question we would like to ask is this: what year did Ikwere become a recognised separate group in Nigeria?

1979

9 years after the genocidal war ended. That means, prior to this time, Ikwere had been an Igbo group, undoubtedly. The fictional works of Elechi Amadi, the characters and characterizations depict Igbo society. This group separation is political.

Afigbo (1980, p. 122) opined that: "the links which bind the peoples are as ancient, deep and varied; and therefore, as important as the links internal to each state". With this in mind, this research is more of discussing the yesteryears and not today. We want to research on how things were, life as it was before war and politics played their own game.

About the origin of Ikwere, many scholars regard them as southern Igbo tribe. This is as a result of migration and settlement that took place prior to the time foreign authorities arrived.

The people we know as Ikwere today migrated from different places and settled there. Some migrated from Ọka (Awka), Ọlụ (Orlu).

Even before the civil war, which its after effect changed everything, there was still a widespread belief, even amongst the Ikwere and still those historically informed now, devoid of political motivation that Ikwere is made up of migrants from Owere, Ọrata, Ọhaji, Ngwa, Echie (Etche), Arọ, etc.

The Arọ formed many communities. Any Ikwere man who is historically conscious and aware know about a man called Okpo Ngwagidi. Okpo Ngwagidi was the leader of the Ikwere tribe, an Arọ man for that matter.

The first Arọ settlers migrated through Ozuzu-Echie (Ozuzu-Etche) and settled at places we now call Isiokpo, Igwuruta, Ọmagwa, etc.

Have you asked yourself why all these places speak Igbo language, even when they deny being Igbo? Their dialects are mutually intelligible.

Let me not go into today. Let's still dwell in the past.

Ahịa Oshimini was a major market along the Sombreiro River and New Calabar River were in the past, the Ikwere exchanged goods with people from Okrika, Ụbanị (Bonny) and Kalabari.

There was Ahịa Ụzọ/Apa where the Ikwere traded with the Ekpeye, Etche, Abua etc. Both markets—Ahịa Oshimini and Ahịa Ụzọ served for the purpose of slave trade, also.

The Ikwere would later have contact with the Kalabari in the business of fishery and buying and selling, especially in the Ikwere part of Iwofe, Choba, Ọgbakịrị, Emohua, Ndele. The contact yielded intermarriage and concubinage. The same go with Okrika and Ikwere contact through Diobu and Ụmụokwurushi.

There was still Ahịa Elechi.

It was in 1913 that Igweọcha became an economic hub. That territory was originally known as Igweọcha and was named after a British man known for all vices, by name Lewis Harcourt. The Port there was named after him, hence Port Harcourt. The name automatically changed from Igweọcha to Port Harcourt.

The Obio is another Ikwere clan, one of the Ikwere Esaa (7 clans that made up the Ikwere land) The Ikwere Esaa include: Elele, Isiokpo, Rumuji, Emohua, Akpọ, Aluu Igwuruta and Obio group. The Obio traced their orijin to Ozuzu-Echie (Etche)

The markets the Ikwere and Echie (Etche) trade include:

Ahịa Ọdụnwe-Etche in Igwuruta, Ahịa Igweọcha in Port Harcourt, Ahịa Ozuzu in Ozuzu, Ahịa Nwonti in Ụmụechem, Ahịa Eke in Egwi, Ahịa Inim in Elelenwo, Ahịa Eketa in Igbodo, Ahịa Aluu and Ahịa Rukpokwu.

Why originally, these markets were known as Ahịa and not anything else related to Bini dialectal word for market?

Let me not digress...

Back to an aspect of origin and Arọ influence, the Arọ traded in palm oil centuries before the arrival of the colonists. Also during the slave trade they migrated and settled in Ikwere through Ozuzu Etche. It could be said that some Obio who claim Ozuzu-Etche origin have Arọ blood. The Arọ who came through Ozuzu-Echie settled in Igwuruta, Isiokpo, Elele, Rumuekpe, Ubima and Aluu.

During the colonial government era, Nwocha Amefule and Osundu Oyo were made warrant chiefs representing Ọmagwa, Ozuaha, Omademe and Ipo at Choba. They were both Arọ men.

In the side of Obio, Okorie Mbeke became the first headman of Ụmụ Evo Aros and Iburaikwu Apara became the head of Ụmụapara Aros. In Elele, there are communities named: Arọ-Omuodu, Arọ-Omodukwu, Arọ-Omuma, Arọ-Ogbogbu, etc. The historical presence of the Arọ cannot be written off.

Let us consider the following names of some towns and villages under Ikwere and also check how they sound: Edoid or Igboid?

Adanta, Agbaọga, Àgwà, Agwara Ahiniri, Akpabu, Aluu, Apani, Ekuche, Elele, Ezeogo, Igwuruta, Igwuruta-Alị, Imogu, Ipo, Isiokpo, Itu, Mbunta, Mgbaọgba, Mgbo, Mgbodo, Mgbu-Ahana, Mgbuanyuri, Mgbuefitibịa, Mgbuhie, Mgbumini, Mgbuodo, Mgbuodukwu, Mgbuogidi, Mgbuokiri, Mgbuokwukwu, Mgbuonyi, Nkaralua, Obelle, Obiti, Obo, Oborum, Ọganira, Ọgbasara-Imea, Ogboda, Okperekpe, Omadene, Ọmagwa, Ọmakụ, Ọmaraike, Omereku, Omesiobi, Omihua, Omizua, Ọmọawa, Omobiri, Omuadị, Omuagụ, Omagubịa, Omuagwewirie, Omuahunwo, Omechagọ, Ọmụchima, Ọmụchetụ, Ọmụchi, Ọmụchinwo, Ọmụchiọlụ, Ọmụdagwa, Ọmụdarị, Ọmụdịda, Ọmụechem, Ọmụegwa, Ọmụehịa, Ọmụehie, Ọmụeke, Ọmụle, Ọmụeze, Ọmụgbala, Ọmụigwe, Ọmụigwe-Ọmụte, Ọmụikega, Ọmụopi, Ọmụketai, Ọmụkiole, Ọmụkpiriku, Ọmụkume, Ọmụkwosi, Ọmụmini, Ọmụma, Ọmụngbe, Omukpu-Omute, Ọmụnkwọ, Ọmụnobo, Ọmụnwọnjọ, Ọmụọbaa, Ọmụọdụ, Omuoduku, Omuoporo, Omuohechi, Ọmụọhịa, Omuohie, Omuokiri, Omuokirika, Ọmụoko, Ọmụọkpa-Omukolosi, Omuolori, Omutu, Omuonua, Ọmụọparaga, Ọmụosi, Ọmụọta, Omuotiua, Omuovim, Omutogbule, Omuueka, Ọmụwehiei, Omuwonini, Omuzua, Onwali, Orua, Ozuaha, Ụmụekpe, Ụbaba, Ubima, Ubiti, Ụbọdụ, Ụmụchi, Ụmụkine, Ụmụkpuru etc.

Some places in Port Harcourt such as Ụmụeme, Ụmụokoro, Ụmụokwuta, Ụmụibekwe, Ụmụigbo, etc are now written as Rumueme, Rumuokoro, Rumuokwuta, Rumuibekwe, Rumuigbo, respectively, with the belief that they are rewriting their history which the Igbo bastardised when they dominated and colonised them.

Did Igbo colonised Ikwere?

In the history of mankind, the Igbo have never for once colonised anybody, impose his culture or history on anyone. How can Chukwuemeka whose language is Igbo claim that he is not Igbo but Bini, when asked why he has no Bini name or language, the only lame excuse turns out to be that the Igbo dominated him? Did they force you to take their names, culture and language? Did they do that by using guns and bombs? Can we also say that the names of these markets that existed centuries before the white man came were forced down by the Igbo, to the throat of Ikwere by calling them Ahịa Ụzọ and Ahịa Oshimini?

When Igweọcha was still under Eastern Region, Micheal Ọkpara industrialised the city we know as Port Harcourt today. Trans Amadi Industrial area was the brain child of Dr. Micheal Ọkpara. The Hotel Presidential also. Port Harcourt was built by the coal dug from Enugwu. The Government of Eastern region developed the region, massively.

When the colonists documented everything, and by that time, the Igbo had no infuence over anything, the Ikweres recognised themselves as ndị Igbo. Take for instance in 1957, the Ikwere leaders met before Sir Henry Willinks Commission to present their case before him, Wobo—an Ikwere leader stated that the Ikweres are Igbo and Port Harcourt to Ọnịcha are Igbo land. Prior to 1979, the Ikwere remained the Igbo until the constitution gave them as different group, following the state creation of Rivers, hence the denial which of course is as a result of politics, instead of fact. Colonial documents till date present Ikwere as Igbo. The dialect of Ikwere is an Igbo dialect just as we have Nsụka, Abakaliki etc. There is mutual intelligibility.

Why is it that there is no trace of Bini in the name, language and culture of the Ikwere despite the power old Bini kingdom wielded? Isn't it laughable to say the least, that the Ikwere migrated from Bini? Isn't that a rhetoric, devoid of historical, academic and oral traditional presentation? Why is it no cultural semblance between the Ikwere and Bini? Till date, one bears Amadi, Chijioke, Chibụike, Amaechi and still stretches that he's Edo.

Like I said from the outset, the issue of identity is personal. Having that in mind, the following notable personalities are of the Ikwere origin, they never for once denied their Igbo origin and identity. They were/are Igbo nationalists to the core. See them:

1. Barr. Uche I. Okwukwu— Secretary-general, Ọhaneze Ndị Igbo.

2. Dr. Obi Wali— First Ikwere man to hold PhD, minority rights activist, distinguished senator, literary scholar. The only Ikwere man in the 1978 Constituent Assembly and one of the 50 Wise Men to draft the 1979 constitution. Until death, he fully indenfied himself as onye Igbo and defended it at all cost.

3. Chief Joseph Wobo— member of the Council of Chiefs of Eastern Nigeria. He's an Ikwere man and always proud of his Igbo heritage.

4. Chief Isaac Wonwu— An Ikwere man from Elele who served as Secretary-General of Ọhaneze Ndị Igbo.

5. Sir Jackson Mpi—the first and last Ikwere man to be conferred with Knights of the Order of British Empire, OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in England, 1960. He's from Isiokpo and identified himself as onye Igbo. He worked for the advancement of Igbo course.

6. Chief Jackson Womenazu— He's a member of the Elders of Council, Ọhaneze Ndị Igbo. From Rumukrushi in the Evo quarters.

7. Emmanuel Aguma— the former Mayor of Port Harcourt. The first Ikwere man to head a college. The first Ikwere man to be made a minister in 1979. He's a member of the Ọhaneze Ndị Igbo. Very proud of his Igbo Identity.

8. Okogbule Wonobi—the first Ikwere man to be a university registrar; first Ikwere man to be a poet and Paramount title holder of Eze Ohiaemeru. Hé remained a member of Ọhaneze Ndị Igbo and Nzukọ Igbo.

In conclusion:
The Issue of identity is personal, but then, truth will never be swept under the carpet forever. The general truth of identity. Politics has brought about divide-and-rule system that has made people of the same blood look into their eyes and lie to themselves. Self-deceitfulness is the worst sickness on earth as well as identity crisis. The Igbo had never colonised or imposed their ideology on anyone. The British who colonised us did not zap everything in us. We still retain our culture, language, worldview and names. How can people said to have been colonised by the Igbo forgotten their original sense of self if there was any? They still bear Igbo names, speak the language and lie to themselves that they belong to another tribe where there is no trace of cultural semblances. That sounds ridiculous.

However, a handful of Ikwere people still know their root and stick to it, while some have decided to stick to the fallacy, living in denial of who truly they are because of political factor of Nigerian state. Just from 1979 of yesterday. Just after the genocidal war. The Igbo race was positioned for extermination in all angle. Physical war. Historical distortion and what have you. Rivers State was created and all the Igbo people in that axis carved to the new state. A new song of history was sung. For political gains, identity was bruised.

But till date, Port Harcourt speaks more Igbo than English— from the market, bus driver, keke. The Ikwere land speak Igbo. Bear Igbo names. Even the state creation couldn't change that. Even the ridiculous Bini rhetorics couldn't change that. Elechi Amadi, who was contracted to write off his people from Igbo couldn't also write off his name and his children. Still Igbo name. Elechi Amadi has no meaning in Edo language but Igbo. You cry domination and colonization where it didn't exist and still have no other identity than your identity—Igbo. How can you say you dominated yourself?

Now...

The Ikwere: Igboid or Edoid?

You know the answer.

© Maazị Ogbonnaya Okoro

Source > mobile.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=295471905960649&id=100064935263593&refid=17

SlyDev:
Na fraudulent old Eastern region cause am, most of tribe grouped with igbo in old Eastern region were not igbo but as time goes on igbo later dominate them because they are much in number.

Look at the former western region too, Delta and Edo were part of Western region, during that time it was Yoruba hymm book they were using, some even borrowed Yoruba name that they are still using till now, this was the result of Yoruba dominance.

Igbo is an identity that not even up to 100 years.

SlyDev:
Na fraudulent old Eastern region cause am, most of tribe grouped with igbo in old Eastern region were not igbo but as time goes on igbo later dominate them because they are much in number.

Look at the former western region too, Delta and Edo were part of Western region, during that time it was Yoruba hymm book they were using, some even borrowed Yoruba name that they are still using till now, this was the result of Yoruba dominance.

Igbo is an identity that not even up to 100 years.

SlyDev:
Na fraudulent old Eastern region cause am, most of tribe grouped with igbo in old Eastern region were not igbo but as time goes on igbo later dominate them because they are much in number.

Look at the former western region too, Delta and Edo were part of Western region, during that time it was Yoruba hymm book they were using, some even borrowed Yoruba name that they are still using till now, this was the result of Yoruba dominance.

Igbo is an identity that not even up to 100 years.

ifiokjohn:
wasn't Akwa ibom part of the eastern region? How come it didn't lose it identity too?

BKayy:

I don't care about what Ikwerre people choose to identify as but I can't help but set straight your confusion.

The only ethnic group that is a modern Identity in Nigeria is Yoruba
I don't need to go too deep in history but bring to your notice that out of all the groups related to the majority found in Western Nigeria, only in Nigeria does the group go with the name "Yoruba" which arguably is a corruption of the Hausa word "Yáriba" of not more than 200 years ago unlike Igbo that is visually in the name of the communities and settlements of the people eg "umu-Igbo" which the Ikwerres now call "rumu-Igbo" in their domain in Rivers state. Different spelling, same meaning and the community has been there for centuries.

Hausa has been known as Hausawa for centuries, but only one identity in Nigeria sometimes pass as insult and that is Yoruba. You dare not call someone related to those in SW Nigeria in Benin Republic or Togo Yoruba. To them is an insult.
Some go with the name Anago/Nago, language as Edekiri.

So my dear, Nobody is ignorant to the fact that "Yoruba" as an identity is an insult turned identity and is not up to a century in acceptance unlike Hausa or Igbo that is inscribed in both the people, their settlement and everything about them.

BKayy:

I don't care about what Ikwerre people choose to identify as but I can't help but set straight your confusion.

The only ethnic group that is a modern Identity in Nigeria is Yoruba
I don't need to go too deep in history but bring to your notice that out of all the groups related to the majority found in Western Nigeria, only in Nigeria does the group go with the name "Yoruba" which arguably is a corruption of the Hausa word "Yáriba" of not more than 200 years ago unlike Igbo that is visually in the name of the communities and settlements of the people eg "umu-Igbo" which the Ikwerres now call "rumu-Igbo" in their domain in Rivers state. Different spelling, same meaning and the community has been there for centuries.

Hausa has been known as Hausawa for centuries, but only one identity in Nigeria sometimes pass as insult and that is Yoruba. You dare not call someone related to those in SW Nigeria in Benin Republic or Togo "Yoruba". To them it is an insult.
Some go with the name Anago/Nago, language as Edekiri.

So my dear, Nobody is ignorant to the fact that "Yoruba" as an identity is an insult turned identity and is not up to a century in acceptance unlike Hausa or Igbo that is inscribed in both the people, their settlement and everything about them.

Investigative:
This Ikwere confusion was a cunning construct of the British tondilute and water down Igbo strength and control after they suffered harshly in the hands of Jaja of Opobo.

Before then, the entire South Sourh was 60-70 % Igbo all the way to Bonny. Bonny has a string Indigenous Igbo people. Even Ijaw and Bayelsa. All of Port Harcourt, etc.

Now what is divide and rule?

Divide and rule is a cunning way of making inciting hatred among blood brothers so as to cause infighting and suspicion and thereby weaken them

If you do not know...the entire Igbo land..from Nsukka I to Kogi..from Ebonyi into Calabar..Ikom, Akamkpa, Bonny, Omoku, PH, Kalabari, are largely Igbos who had different migratory routes. Just as you have the Obigbo region mainly guys from Imo River areas, etc.

The Brits smartly would lie to everyone that Igbos are domineering and all what not, to make them hate each other and fight themselves.

Also the psychological effect of slavery and civil war.

When you're being killed bevmcause of your name..you have to change it to survive.

It happened in the Mid West where the Igbemudia, and others who are Igbos of Ika ancestry suddenly said they're not Igbos. Even Ukwuani,l who are clearly Igbos, Some parts of Benin, and Agbor..umunnede who's Igbo origins are even stringer than those in Enugu would all wake up and deny their identity.

Remember in those days there were no boundaries as such. Groups of persons can wake up and travel to a foreign empty land and begin to farm and fish. Al these confusion was created by the Brits to dilute the strength of a United Igbo nation.

Records would shock you to discover that Igbos are the largest number of ethnic Africans in the entire world. We're everywhere. Even in Panya. Guinea. Almost ubiquitous. The ones suffering from shame and identity is just transient cos once the rise of Igbo happens again, they'd all come rushing back to claim their place as sons of the soil.

Don't worry yourself so much about their amnesia. They know who they are. They know they're Igbos.

DubaiLandLord:


[s]Wail from now till tomorrow, Ikwerre is not ibo.[/s]

GodIsBiafran:


Ikwerre is 100% Igbo. Wike is just one man out of the entire Ikwerre population. Until the entire Ikwerre population deny their Igboness, then you are just wasting your time.

DubaiLandLord:
[s]Numerous Ikwerre have deny they are ibos.Nah why IPOB no fit dey try rubbish for Ikwerre land.I'm sure you still remember how IPOB miscreants were massacred in Oyigbo[/s].

GodIsBiafran:


Yoruba man nothing like numerous. Wike is just one man. I am still waiting for the NUMEROUS you are claiming

DubaiLandLord:
Numerous Ikwerre have deny they are ibos.

Tranquill:
[s]They have started again with their Ikwerre stupidity.
Ikwerre have never identified as Igbo not before independence and not even before the war when Igbos were running the Eastern government.

All the childish 'umu Igbo' being charged to 'rumu igbo' after the war is the most stupid lie I have seen you Igbos peddle and unfortunately even people who ought to know better still contribute in pushing that imbec.ilic narrative as if that would make Ikwerre to become Igbo.

Even in Ikwerre language, in their various dialects, there's nothing like 'umu' so how would their towns or villages be called 'umu'. The 'Igbo' in Rumuigbo has nothing at all to do with Igbo as a tribe unless you want to claim that Ejigbo in Lagos or 'Igboho' refers to Igbo.

You guys should leave Ikwerre people alone. You can not force identity on anyone. Ikwerre is neither Edo nor Igbo but Ikwerre recognized by the Nigerian constitution, the United Nations etc. You guys should focus on your Igbo identifying people and let Ikwerre people be.[/s]

jmoore:

Facts don't need majority to prove it.

100,000 lions looking in the mirror and declare they are turkeys is nothing else but IDENTITY CRISIS.

DubaiLandLord:
[s]Go and ask for evidence in Port Harcourt.
If you dey come, come with your fellow IPOB miscreants, you will all end up like your fellow miscreants in Oyigbo. No bring your IPOB madness come Ikwerre land... Be warned Okoro[/s]

DubaiLandLord:
I no get time for long talk.
Igbo land start and end in the South East.

DubaiLandLord:
[s]I no get time for long talk.

Igbo land start and end in the South East. [/s]

Tranquill:
They have started again with their Ikwerre stupidity.
Ikwerre have never identified as Igbo not before independence and not even before the war when Igbos were running the Eastern government.

All the childish 'umu Igbo' being charged to 'rumu igbo' after the war is the most stupid lie I have seen you Igbos peddle and unfortunately even people who ought to know better still contribute in pushing that imbec.ilic narrative as if that would make Ikwerre to become Igbo.

Even in Ikwerre language, in their various dialects, there's nothing like 'umu' so how would their towns or villages be called 'umu'. The 'Igbo' in Rumuigbo has nothing at all to do with Igbo as a tribe unless you want to claim that Ejigbo in Lagos or 'Igboho' refers to Igbo.

You guys should leave Ikwerre people alone. You can not force identity on anyone. Ikwerre is neither Edo nor Igbo but Ikwerre recognized by the Nigerian constitution, the United Nations etc. You guys should focus on your Igbo identifying people and let Ikwerre people be.

GodIsBiafran:


Fulani man, keep kwayet. Ikwerre are Igbos from now till eternity.