In Esale Eko we have the Eyo festival which is organized in the hierarchical structure and organization of the ancient Esan Edo army that once occupied Lagos Island. Even the name Eyo comes from Eyo-Okulo, which is the name of the Esan Edo army. Yes, the popular Lagos cultural and international tourist attraction, Eyo masquerade festival has an Esan Edo origin. Eyo is a short form of Eyo – Okulo. Okulo means war. Eyo means those who go to war. ESAN EDO soldiers are called EYO-OKULO. That explains why an Eyo masquerade carries a STICK REPRESENTING HIS INSTRUMENT OF WAR. Eyo masquerades are organized in the formation, hierarchy and structure of the ancient Esan Edo army that was stationed in Esale Eko (Camp of the Esans). The Eyo ceremony involves spiritual cleansing, spiritual fortification (Owo-egbe/Owegbe/ Iwo-egbe ), spiritual initiation, military parade, show of spiritual and military strength, honoring of fallen military heroes et al. The EYO ceremony was an ancient ESAN EDO MILITARY CEREMONY that was in vogue back in the era of the EDO EMPIRE. That the people of Lagos Island inherited the Eyo ceremony from their ancestors is a great and incontestable proof that Esale Eko people are descendants of ancient Esan Edo soldiers that occupied Lagos Island. Chief Anthony Enahoro was the last honorary Okalo Okulo (Okakulo of Edo land). That means the number one warrior (traditional Defense Minister) of Edo land. Two most remarkable things about the Eko Eyo festival is that the name Eyo from Eyo-Okulo and the structure, hierarchy and mass group organization of the Eyo festival shouts Esan Edo very loudly. The above confirms that Eko indigenes are actually descendants of Esan Edo soldiers.
It would appear that Ikeja which serves as the capital of Lagos state was a vast Edo military complex. Names of settlements in Ikeja, confirms the presence of ancient Esan Edo soldiers, and also confirms Bini Edo presence. IKEJA is from IKHEDIA meaning WATCH STATION. IKHEDE duty (watching out for the enemies) was conducted at IKHEDIA military station. OGBA pronounced OHGBA means boundary fence. OGBA indicates an ancient boundary between the EDOS and a neighboring power. Thus the Edo soldiers in IKEJA WATCH STATION were WATCHING the OGBA BOUNDARY GATEWAY.
ODO is old Esan for Ladies. IPODO means THE LADIES. IPODO is a commodities market during the day and at night, it becomes a RED LIGHT DISTRICT. Thus IPODO was originally a MAMMY MARKET that blossomed close to an ancient Edo military barrack. Akiode in Ikeja is a likely corruption of Okhiode. This line of thinking is encouraged and predicated on the presence of Ikhedia military watch station, Ohgba (Ogba) Boundary fence, and Ipodo (mammy market) in the same Ikeja. Okhiode is one of the three Uromi military divisions. Okhiode connotes, the first troops to jump into action. In modern military terms, that would indicate the Marines. The presence of Okhiode (Akiode) in Ikeja would indicate the presence of soldiers from the other two ancient Uromi military divisions nearby. Agidingbi is a prominent Bini name. Agidingbi quarters in Ikeja, is probably where Binin Edo soldiers were stationed in Ikeja. The nearby Alausa quarters was very likely Aga-Ausa (Hausa). Till this day, there is still Aga-Ausa in Uromi. We should realize that anyone carrying a Muslim praying beads or the Koran was regarded as an Ausa (Hausa) in ancient Esan Edo. Anyone wearing kaftan, fez cap or from across the Niger river, was regarded an Ausa. Thus, what is today known as Alausa (Aga-Ausa)[Hausa] was probably the Quarters traders from across the River Niger and in fact, North African traders that visited early Lagos for trade.
Mende Village Maryland is probably the evolution of Amendokhian. Amendokhian is synonymous with one of the ancient Uromi military divisions known as Obiyon. The presence of Okhiode (Akiode) persuades the perspective that Obiyon (Amendokhian) [Mende] soldiers were also quartered nearby. The Edo soldiers who were stationed in Ikeja area appear to belong to a different generation of Edo soldiers. This assumption would be reasonable, when we realize that the Edos occupied and govern Lagos for about 500 years. During those five hundred years, the Edo army that was initially restricted to Lagos Island where the pioneers Aromire (Uromire) soldiers landed and founded Esale Eko (Camp of the Esans and all the Idumus, Idus and Idis) later engaged in further conquests, occupations and community organization down to and beyond Ikeja geographical axis.
It is interesting to observe that the names of many popular locations in Lagos match perfectly with the dominant activities such places are reputed for, when such names are reversed to the Esan dialect of the Edo language. OJUELEGBA is notorious for being a haven of prostitutes. It would appear that prostitution in OJUELEGBA is as old as time itself. It would also appear that the name OJUELEGBA is a latter day yorubanization of the Esan Edo OJA-AGBILE. Ojagbile means the wonder prostitute. It should not be difficult for anyone to visualize Esan Edo soldiers coming from the ultra conservative Esan Edo country, where prostitution was strictly forbidden, encountering very independent and proud prostitutes in the Eko surburb of Suru-Lere; notoriously conducting their forbidden trade and perhaps challenging the young Esan Edo soldiers to engage them in sexual matches for fractions of the young soldiers remuneration. Thus the bewildered and aghast young and conservatively raised Esan soldiers could be visualized exclaiming “Gho Ojagbile bhe Eko” Translation: “Behold wonder prostitutes in Eko” The fact that Ojuelegba is notorious for prostitution trade is the most persuasive thinking point, that this is probably how OJAGBILE later yorubanized to Ojuelegba acquired a name based on the community’s most dominant, though notorious activity. We must also not forget that at the relevant time, the now dominant Yorubas in Lagos were not yet part of the Lagos community.
Another case in point is IGBOBI. The dominant activity Igbobi is known for is orthopedic surgery. The name Igbobi could possibly be from the Esan Edo IGBON-NONBIBI. Translation would be: A LOST SLAVE. If we recall what happened to Kunta Kinte in the celebrated movie: ROOTS, after he tried unsuccessfully to escape; wherefore, his master amputated him to prevent him from making any further attempt to escape. From the Kunta Kinte ROOTS analogy, one can easily imagine IGBOBI as a place where escaped slaves (IGBONOBIBI) but re-captured and amputated by their owners to prevent them from attempting any further escape; were taking to, for orthopedic medical attention.
Lagos quickly became a major slave trading port, thus the emergence of names like Igboshere and Oyingbo; which are possibly yorubanized Esan Edo words for House of Slaves - Oaigbon and place for sold slaves- Igbonashelen respectively. (Please not Igbo). APONGBON Lagos is possibly a corruption of the Esan Edo name AGBONGBON, Which means NEW WORLD: That could be indicative of the part of LAGOS/EKO, where the PORTUGUESE (KPOTOKINS- in Esan Edo) set up their abode. AGBON IN Esan Edo means WORLD. OGBON in Esan Edo means NEW. Thus the possibility of the name indicating NEW WORLD connoting NEW PEOPLE, ANOTHER RACE, ANOTHER CIVILIZATION. Caveat: The presence of GBON in APONGBON could alternatively be indicative of a place that had to do with SLAVES; as IGBON (Please not Igbo) means Slaves in Esan Edo.
ONIGBONGBO (ONIGBONIGBON) in Esan Edo means a slave that remains a slave. The name is a throwback to the slavery years. The root and reasons that predicated such names have since been long eclipsed with the abolition of slavery. The name ONIGBONIGBO could be a derogative name for a settlement where freed slaves were allowed to settle. Till this day in Esan Edo, ONI-GHAN which has ONI as in ONI-GBONIGBON is used to refer derogatively to someone who was once a prisoner. Oh well, I am writing about centuries gone by, not the modern ONIGNONGBO, Lagos.
IGA IDUNGARA means the Palace that is situated in the Quarters of the Igarra people (soldiers) An event that confirmed this name is the fact after Benin city fell to the British forces; the British war party launched out to attack the most feared, strongest and most dreaded Edo military forts. The only place the British army went to in Afemai Edo was Igarra. This fact confirms that Igarra was an integral part of the Edo empire war machine and probably supplied troops that were stationed in the part of Eko now known as IDUN-IGARRA (IDUNGARA) IGA is a corruption of the Edo name for palace (EGUA). Thus IGA IDUNGARA means the Palace that is situated in the Quarters of the Igarra (people / soldiers)
There is EBUTE METTA in Urohi, Esanland, Edo State. There is IDUMAGBOR in Esan South East. Perhaps these places got their names from the fact that soldiers from such Esan Edo communities were probably stationed in such locations in Eko. There is a possibility that IDUMAGBO is a corruption of IDUMU-AGBA. At the time of the founding of Lagos, the late King Agba of Uromi, who had been deified was a larger than life figure. It would be understandable, if one of the Uromi soldiers barracks was named after the late King Agba.
IDUMOTA would appear to have been originally IDUMOZA (IDUMU-OZA). Many Uromi soldiers of the era when Eko was founded were first, second and third generation immigrants to Uromi from Oza community in Benin. There is actually an IDUMOZA in Uromi.
IDI-ARABA is very likely, a corrupted form of IDI-ALUAGBA. The confirmation of this theory is the fact that the functions of the ARABA OF LAGOS are the same as the functions of the OHEN (CHIEF PRIEST) OF ALUAGBA –UROMI. Both perform the role of Chaplains for Lagos (Eko) and Uromi respectively. Beside Benin itself, Uromi appears to be the largest, strongest, most dreaded and most loyal military fort believer in the Edo Empire project. This fact was confirmed when the British army launched a war against Uromi and Uzea, in 1901 when Okolo N’Ogidigan N’aba N’Eramhen was the King of Uromi. Ogidigan means the dreaded military genius, whose name struck terrible fear in the camp of the enemies. King Okolo was reputed to be a genius in the use of the element of surprise against enemy combatants. After the fall of Benin City, the British war party felt that with the Uromi and Uzea army still standing in Esanland, Benin city could re-group; thus they launched an unprovoked and a pre-emptive war on Uromi and Uzea. This British aggression confirms that Uromi was an integral part of the Edo Empire project.
IDIMU (IDI-EMU) probably derived its name from soldiers from Emu-Esan community stationed in Idimu at the time of the founding of Lagos. IDUN-TAFA is most likely an Islamized version of IDUN-FADA (fada is the Esan Edo name for Catholic Priests). That would be indicative of where the early Catholic missionaries settled in early Lagos.
IKOYI Lagos is possibly a corruption of the Esan Edo words EKO OYI; Which means CAMP OF THIEVES. EKO OYI or IKO OYI (IKOYI) The name would be indicative of a site where an early Prison of sorts was built. Yes, some other Yoruba towns have Ikoyi. Then again, the Edos ruled some other Yoruba towns. Other Yoruba towns could have copied the Lagos Eko-Oyi example; especially as Ikoyi in other Yoruba towns means Quarter of Guards. Thus, whether used to refer to Prison or Prison Guard, Ikoyi is a Yorubanization of the Esan Eko-Oyi.
IKURAMO EKORAMO or KURAMO is possibly a yorubanization of the Esan Edo (EKO UROMI), which means THE CAMP OF THE UROMI PEOPLE/SOLDIERS. OBALENDE is possibly a yorubanization of the Esan Edo (OBANYAN-EDE or OBAYAN-EDE), which means THE OBA OWNS THE RIVER. LEKKI is possibly a yorubanization of the Esan Edo (EKI), which means) MARKET. IDUMU/IDU/IDI/EKO are without doubt exclusively ESAN EDO for Quarter or geo-territory. Bini EDO would be IDUNWUN.
An examination of Ikorodu via the instrumentality of name relics and the history of Ikorodu reveals very strong Edo presence. From the article IKORODU IN BRIEF, culled from the website of IKORODU OGA ASSOCIATION, UK chapter, we have the following excerpt: “Soon after, some large contingent of Benin migrants came by land through Iki in Ogun state (where almost the whole land belongs to the Olisa family of Ikorodu) to the area now known as Ikorodu. This group of Benin people was led by a wealthy and powerful man called Eregbouwa (now called Rebugbawa in Ikorodu) from the ancient royal family of Oliha of Benin City. In Benin language, Ere means king and Uwa means peace and prosperity, hence Eregbuwa mean king of peace and prosperity. The Benin people settled down amicably with the children of Akarigbo and the farm started to grow into a large settlement. This was about 1630. The institution of Obaship was conceded to the line of Akarigbo while the institution of Olisaship was conceded to the Benin settlers. In effect the Oba became the reigning monarch while the Olisa became the Kingmaker and the prima minister of the city-state. This high position of the Olisa as the next in rank to the Oba in the city state was borne out in his attribute or cogno men in the Yoruba metaphor: AJUWE Akoye Orulu egbin o ru’lamuren a worun meaning – a noble gentlemen who administers the town. This of course, is done subject to the authority of the Oba and it presupposes that the cordiality between the Oba and the Olisa should be impenetrable. This was the tradition arrangement. The institutions and deities such as the Osugbo, the Awo Opa, the Inomu and the Eluku were designed for the good administration and peace of the town.
Prior to the advent of the Benin people, Oga was the head of the establishment. He and Lasunwon lived in a hamlec called Agbele at the presence site of NITEL. Agbele was also called Egure and so Oga became the Elegure of Egure. Lasunwon was Odofin of Shagamu. But when the Binis came and Oga died. Lasunwon was installed the first Oloja of Ikorodu by Olisa Rebugbawe, the first Olisa of Ikorodu. Lasuwon and Eregbouwa (Rebugbawe) were therefore the first Oloja (Oba) and the first Olisa of Ikorodu respectively. There are two Ruling Houses for the Obaship namely Lasunwon and Rademo Ruling Houses. Traditionally Ikorodu is divided broadly into three for ease of representative democracy. These divisions are Ijomu, Aga, and Isele, which are represented, in Osugbo-the highest administrative organ in the town headed by the Olisa as chairman of Iwerefa (while Oluwo is administrative head). The smaller divisions called itun in the town are subsumed in the three major larger divisions.Obaship and Olisaship belong to the two primordial families of Oba (Lasunwon and Rademo) and the Olisa respectively. They are traditional and hereditable titles. ”
The above excerpt of the history of Ikorodu culled from the website of Ikorodu Association UK is loaded with much valuable information. From the Bini and Esan names in the story it is self evident that the Edos either originally founded Ikorodu or at the very least ruled the town. In fact, from the excerpt we learn that the Edos are still part of Ikorodu till this day. The excerpt contains facts that have been completely mixed up and haphazardly re-arranged. The mix up and mis-arrangement is understandable as the Bini Edo and or Esan Edo dialects of the Edo languaue have since been swallowed up by the Yoruba language that is now dominant in Ikorodu. The name EREGBOUWA in the excerpt is clearly a reference to EMPEROR ORHOGBUA. This shows that Ikorodu was either founded by Emperor Orhogbua or the Emperor appointed a ruler and military commanders and left foot soldiers in Ikorodu whose descendants are now indigenes of Ikorodu.
In Uromi and other Esan towns, Idumu Idis, Idus and Eko are still in vogue. Till this day in Uromi there is still Idumu Okojie, and Eko Imiokolo. In Uromi, there is Idumu Eka, Ukoni, Uromi. That is, the quarters of immigrants from Ika. In Uromi, there is Idisaba, that is the quarters of immigrants from Asaba. In Uromi, there is Idumu Oshodi, that is the quarters of Oshodi family members that immigrated to ancient Uromi from Benin. In Uromi, there is Aga - Ausa (Hausa) quarters of Hausa immigrants. In Uromi there is Agi-Igbo (Quarters of Igbo immigrants. Agi-Yo-Oba (Aga-Azanama) (Quarters of the Yoruba immigrants). Aga is used here like Idu, Idi or Eko i.e Aga-(Enegbode) Ga Aga Accra, Ghana; which was equally founded by the Edos.
On its official web site, the government of Lagos presented its own version of the history of the founding of Lagos Island “Until the coming of the Bini's, Lagos's geographic boundary was what is known now as Lagos Mainland. Lagos Island, the seat of the Oba of Lagos then consisted of a pepper farm and fishing posts. No one lived there though. The name Eko was given to it by its first King Oba Ado during its early history, it also saw periods of rule by the Kingdom of Benin. Eko was the land area now known as Lagos Island where the king's palace was built.”
In his piece, captioned Brief History of Lagos Island, Michael Uchebuaku, wrote on Yahoo Contributor Network “However, there is another account of Lagos before 1603 that comes from a Western visitor. In 1603, Andreas Joshua Ulsheimer, a German surgeon, aboard a Dutch merchant ship, visited Lagos. According to his accounts, Lagos was a large frontier town surrounded by a strong fence and inhabited by "none but soldiers and four military commanders, who behave in a very stately manner."
"The Lagos visited by Ulsheimer and his trading colleagues nearly four centuries ago was in many ways highly developed. Each day its four commanders came together as a court and each day two envoys were dispatched to take decisions back to their ruler in Benin. To do so, Ulsheimer wrote, was a common practice in all towns under the suzerainty of Benin…"
"Ulsheimer's accounts seem to confirm Benin oral traditions of conquest and occupation of Lagos during the sixteenth century. How Oba Orhogbua of Benin occupied the island of Lagos, established a military camp there and from that base waged wars on some people described as rebels against his authority, in the immediate interior. Ulsheimer gives the first account, documenting the transformation of Lagos from fishing camp to a trading centre, and from an autonomous settlement to a Benin tributary. Lagos Lagoon was known to European traders by 1485, when it first appeared on maps, but the town of Lagos was not included.”
“If Ulsheimer's account is correct, then it appears that the daily gathering of Lagos governors was one of military commanders from Benin, and not heads of local settlement. Gradually, however, additions were made to that body. The vehicle via which accretion took place eventually was called Ose Iga a ceremonious meeting of Lagos held at the palace every seventeen days.”
OSE-IGA as recorded by the ancient German Surgeon Andreas Joshua Ulsheimer, after his 1603 visit to Lagos is clearly ESAN EDO. OSE is from OSENOBULUA which is ESAN EDO. BINI EDO would be Osa(lobua). IGA means worship in Esan Edo. IGA is in contradistinction to EGUA (PALACE in Esan Edo) [Yorubanized in Lagos to IGA]. OSE-IGA as written by Andreas Joshua Ulsheimer, the 1603 German Surgeon visitor to Lagos means (WORSHIP OF GOD) / CHURCH in Esan Edo. OSE-IGA as used by the Edos in 1603 in Lagos is a connotation of the spiritual instrumentality of assimilation of the local Awori’s into the politburo of state leadership in the early days of the Edo tributary of Lagos. For easier understanding by the reader of the concept of OSE-IGA, we will now consider an Esan Edo alternative for OSE-IGA. ISODELNIMI which literally means knocking on the doors of the spirits is a variant of OSE-IGA. ODE means door in Esan Edo. ELINMI means Spirits. Members of Esan IGBABONELINMI (applauding the Spirits via clapping of hands) masquerade dance group, inducts new members through the instrumentality of ISODELINMI. The fact that the Esan Edo army commanders in Lagos as far back as 1603, assimilated the local Aworis into the institution of governance in Lagos via OSE-IGA and not ISODELINMI is a vindication of the success of the early Portuguese Catholic Reverend Fathers cum Missionaries, who originally settled in IDUN-FADA, Lagos, later Islamized and or yorubanized to IDUN-TAFA.
In a piece captioned Erelu Kuti : A Series Of Excerpts From The Oral Records Of Lagos, the author wrote “While Akinsemoyin was ruling, Erelu Kuti married Alagba, the high priest that had predicted that her brother would become Oba”
The Esan Edo soldiers who were invited by Emperor Orhogbua to help overcome the Awori military opposition in the area now called Eko, came with their war god called Agba and his priest was the Chief Priest of Agba. Alua-Agba means the altar of Agba. The prominence of Chief Priest Alagba in the oral accounts of the founding of Lagos as corroborated by the name in the article Erelu Kuti : A Series Of Excerpts From The Oral Records Of Lagos proves this fact. The name of Chief Priest Alagba is a latter day yorubanisation of the Uromi war god Agba. Alu-Agba in Uromi Esan means the shrine of Agba. Agba was the Uromi King that fought Oba Ozolua of Benin for about seven years till their tired and frustrated soldiers conspired to kill both the Oba and the Onojie to put an end to the war. Some historians believed King Agba of Uromi did not die immediately and that was the reason for the war between Idah and Bini under Oba Esigie. Onojie (King Agba) was deified as a God of war by the Uromi Army. The presence of Alua Agba in Eko (Lagos) is a confirmation of the fact that the ancient Uromi war machine, as an integral part of the ancient Edo empire military campaigns, played a prominent role in the founding of Lagos. Alua Agba is unique to Uromi. Based on the uniqueness of Alu-Agba deity to Uromi (god of war); it is certain that Uromi warriors were part of the reason Lagos Island acquired the name Esale Eko (Camp of the Esans) This development was the genesis of the founding of Lagos] The Uromi army had previously helped the Oba to re-conquer Akure. Esan soldiers had also previously helped the Oba to subdue and rule Ondo and gave Ondo town the title Osemawe of Ondo. Osemawe in Esan, means It is God that installed you. The Uromi army had also previously helped to defend and re-take Ekiti after an Ibadan military invasion.
To properly understand the story of Lagos, one must try to understand the meaning of all the prominent names of the key persons, events and quarters (places) in ancient Lagos. These names make no sense and are meaningless in any language, even the Yoruba language which has now become very dominant in Lagos, Awori dialect or even the Bini dialect of the Edo language. The names that have survived adulteration or pronunciation corruption indicate that the names were originally Esan Edo names. The Portuguese were the international trading partners of the Edos. A trading camp for the exchange of goods was founded and called Esale Eko (Camp of the Esans) after the Esan Edo soldiers that founded the camp. The Portuguese called the camp Lagos (meaning settlement by lakes). The Esan Edo soldiers broke up the whole area into territorial sub-divisions or quarters called Idumus, Idus, Ekos and Idis (Idumota) (Idumagbo) in the Esan Edo dialect. Till this day, Lagos is still broken up into Eko, Idumus, Idus and Idis. Till this day, Esanland, Edo state Nigeria is still broken up into Ekos, Idumus, Idus and Idis.
To have a better understanding of the military co-operation between the Esans and the Binis, that probably led the ancient Esan army to Lagos; this little snippet of history culled from the declassified colonial British intelligence report on the Esan people would be relevant.
“In 1485 during the reign of Oba Ozolua, Joan Alfonso D'aveiro, a Portuguese became the first European to reach Benin. He reported that during this time the Oba of Benin was having a great deal of trouble with his outlying districts. In fact Oba Ozolua was killed in a war against the Uzia, one of the smaller Ishan towns. On another occasion when the Oba of Benin went to war against Akure in present-day Ondo State, some Onogies in Ishan contributed warriors though some years later, during a war of succession in Benin Ishan Onogies were divided between the two combatant camps. The constant feuds among the various Ishan chiefdoms most probably created favorable opportunities for the Oba of Benin to impose his suzerainty over them and, this the chiefdoms either singly or collectively would cast off when the opportunity offered itself to reassert their independence.”
In the article “THE ISHANS (Irrua and Evbohimwin Connection); the author Professor Ademola Iyi-Eweka wrote: “Of the Edo-speaking group. Ishan/Esan is the closest to "BINI" ie the dialect of those who live in and around Benin City. In fact, when the people of Benin sneezes, those in Ishan/Esan develop hiccups, then and now. Riots that erupts in Benin politically, often reverbarates in Ishan/Esan land. Before 1897, the Ishans/Esans were the most avid defender of the Edo monarchy. It is not surprising, because Ishan/Esan women have produced most of Obas of Benin. Eheniuan, the first Ezomo of Benin, who later became the commander of the Benin/Edo Royal army is of Ishan descent.”
“Prince Erediauwa marched into Benin City, ahead of an Ishan/Esan dominated military. He was crowned Oba Osemwende of Benin in 1816. It was Oba Osewende who granted to the Enogie of Uromi, the right to inherit the estate of any person who died childless within Uromi district. This was his reward for supplying men and material in the war to reconquer Akure in 1818-20 rebellion and the battle in defence of the Ekitis against the Ibadans.”
An examination of historical names in Lagos, including the name of the widely popular Eyo festival, not excluding the names of some popular Lagosians by anyone who is sufficiently versed in the Esan dialect of the Edo language, will lead to only one reasonable and logical conclusion, that the defunct Edo empire created the geo-socio-political entity known today as Lagos State. As the names that dates back to the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries of Eko metropolitan development suggests, Lagos was an Edo mega project. Yes, the Edos and the Portuguese built a trading port on Lagos Island; then again, documented accounts, oral accounts now recently documented and name residue as relics of Edos past occupation of Lagos, which lasted for about 500 years indicates that what is today known as Lagos state was the creation of the Edos. In this regard and as suggested by the available names, still been used all over Lagos, it would appear that the Esan Edos played a very large part in the foundation and or creation of Lagos. Among the historical names in Lagos that shouts EDO very loudly as shall be explained in more details soon hereunder, are Akiolu, Oyekan, Tinubu, Opebi, Okouromun, Esan, Akiode, Ojomon, Ojuelegba, Eyo (as in Eyo Masquerade), Onigbongbo, Igbobi, Ikeja, Ogba, Ipodo (Ikeja), Iduntafa, Idumota, Idumagbo, Agidingbi, Alausa, Idungaran, Iga Idungaran, Ashogbon, Oshodi, Odibo, Idimu, Idiroko, Araba (As in Chief Araba of Lagos), Idi Araba. These names, though often time relics of the yorubanized and or Islamized versions of the original Esan or Bini Edo names, yet help to tell the forgotten story of the birth era of modern Lagos.
What is today known as Lagos state was evidently one large Edo colony cum protectorate. The history that the names found in virtually every town and village in Lagos tells shows that the Edo Empire controlled and governed Lagos for about 500 years and more deeply so within the first 300 years, at which period there was a massive immigration of young Esan Edo men among other Edos, as Edo soldiers, workers and administrators to the Edo colony and protectorate of Lagos. How else can anyone explain the deeply entrenched Esan Edo names all over Lagos State. For Esan Edo names to become so rooted in Lagos means that the people who originally deforested these settlements that have now become big urban settlements all over Lagos state originally spoke the language that gave birth to these names. Yes, as attested to by the writings of the ancient German Surgeon, Joshua Andreas Ulsheimer who visited Lagos in 1603 aboard a Dutch ship, there were towns and other communities in the place now known as Lagos state at the time of the arrival of the Edos. What however, became the game changer in Lagos and led to the institutional dominance of Esan Edo names in what is now Lagos State, Nigeria was the military superiority of the Edo army and secured Lagos for Edo and Portuguese economic activities.
Based on the very loud silence of the writings of the ancient German Surgeon, Joshua Andreas Ulshaimer who visited Lagos in 1603 aboard a Dutch ship, on the issue of slavery; it would be safe to conclude that though Lagos later descended in slave trading, Eko or Lagos was not originally founded for slave trading. Evidently, the Trans Atlantic slave trade was an accident of history that rudely interrupted the noble project of the Edos and the Portuguese in Lagos.
Names found all over Lagos apart from merely just confirming Edo Empire’s suzerainty over what is today known as Lagos state also tell another story; and that story is the prominent space occupied by the Esan army in the Edo empire’s military. In the era of the Edo Empire, every Esan town had an army. Uromi was and remain the largest of the Esan towns. During the era of the founding of Lagos Uromi had the largest Esan cotton based economy, and by implication had the largest military in Esan land. The Esan army was built and boosted by profits from the Esan cotton and textile industries. The perfect suitability of Uromi climate for cotton cultivation attracted a huge influx of immigrants seeking prosperity and better life for themselves and their families to ancient Uromi. Cotton and textiles attracted early European and Arab traders to Esan; in this regard, ancient Uromi was the Esan Edo flagship. It would appear that the very large pre-colonial Esan Edo army played a very massive role in the Edo imperial military, political and economic campaigns. It would further appear that many people who today live in many of the places that hitherto were under Edo Empire’s suzerainty are actually descendants of ancient Edo soldiers.
This man does not know what he is talking about when it comes to Oshodi. He is spewing nonsense please. Didn't Oshodi support Kosoko? Only because Kosoko was the rightful heir/claimant to the throne. By the time they were struggling for relevance, the Oba of Benin had lost control over the people he sent to set up a war camp in Lagos. The war was all about who could gain most from the British, slavery and control of trade. The Oba of Benin had no say in their wars, they were far wealthier than the Oba of Benin. At the end of the day, Oshodi got what he wanted and switched to the British side for more prominence and money. Even at that, the struggle was for kingship of Lagos Island, not Lagos State. After all, Kosoko and Oshodi went on exile to Epe. Oshodi was rewarded after negotiating with the British with a good part of land in Epetedo. Which means that they came from Epe to settle there. Oshodi was a pure mercenary and would have been as good as the Tinubu of his day.
LOL, there was no Lagos state back then bro, just Eko and the inhabitants from various origins. You should know that. Oshodi Tapa had served Oba Osinlokun before either Akitoye or Kosoko and was engaged in extensive trading that only a strong attachment to the ruling house can give allowance for. So I think your assessment of Oshodi Tapa is not complete, he was a top confidante of the ruling house and not a mere mercenary as you claim. Besides Eko paid regular tribute to Bini, so that line about Elekos being richer than the Oba is a bit off. Oba's court could exact any amount of tribute they wanted all the way from Epe to Eko you know right? Even the Lisa of Ikorodu house came from Bini, and owed allegiance to the Oba.
There is more history that is hidden than is known for sure, and that includes a lot of genealogies most people are mistaken about. For example, most of the guys commenting here have no idea Idumota, Idumagbo and all such Idu prefixed names have Edo origins, Esan to be precise. But fierce Yoruba nationalism gets in the way of history I guess
When I talk about the founding of Lagos, I do not mean the discovery of the geographical space or the topography known as Lagos. I am talking about the establishment of an ancient port by the Edos in a joint venture with the Portuguese in South Western Nigeria. The said port became the matrix cornerstone of the metropolis, known today as Lagos, Nigeria.
The Portuguese visited West Africa at a time the Edos had an empire that was very largely in control of a very vast portion of West Africa. The empire of the Edos spread from today’s Nigeria to Ghana. The Oba of Benin, back then, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Orhogbua was represented in Portugal by an Ambassador and the King of Portugal, back then King Emmanuel was represented in Edo Empire’s administrative capital Benin city by an Ambassador sent from Portugal. The King of Portugal and the Oba of Benin agreed that international trading ports should be built in some locations along the West African coast where the Oba had influence and control. The international trading ports became the matrix cornerstones for some of today's major cities along the west coast of Africa. Lagos is one of the international trading ports built then as a result of the joint Portuguese - Edo venture. The Edos called the settlement where the port was built Eko, meaning camp in Esan Edo. The Portuguese called the settlement Lagos, which means lakes in Portuguese. Back then, there was already a city in Portugal also known as Lagos.
To have a better understanding of what the Edos did in Lagos, we should consider a modern example, very near home. There were folks in Abuja and the other settlements that constitute Nigeria's federal capital territory. However, the genesis of the Abuja that we have today is directly traceable to the decision of the federal government of Nigeria under General Murtala Muhammed to relocate Nigeria's federal capital from Lagos to the present location. Thus the founder of Abuja as Nigeria's federal capital territory is the Federal Government of Nigeria. Today, the Federal Government of Nigeria runs Abuja. The Federal Government of Nigeria has broken up Abuja into districts and zones and has named the zones and districts. The Federal Government of Nigeria is running Abuja now.
The above is exactly, the story of the Edo people in Lagos. The Edos and the Portuguese settled on Lagos Island as a choice location to build an international trading port and thereafter, the Edos "possessed" the place. An ancient port was built, and for hundreds of years the Edos developed, controlled and managed Lagos. Research has actually shown that the Edos extended their control, influence, dominion and suzerainty over Eko from Lagos Island to all that area now known, called and referred to as Lagos State. Thus, the gist of this article is not about who discovered Lagos, but who founded Lagos. The era of the founding of Lagos is over now. This article is not about the ownership of Lagos, based on the Edos past occupation of Lagos. The British came after the Edos, they too have since left the scene. This article is about the aspects of the Edo founding of Lagos that have been forgotten or have been undetected by Historians radar.
The experiment of the Edos and the Portuguese in Lagos (Eko) is reminiscent of the experiments that created New York, Los Angeles, London and Chicago among many other global cities. The above named locations are all cities that were built on the platform of trading ports and exploded around such ports. These cities and many other global cities all grew exponentially as a result of the development or building of ports in such locations. Chicago did not grow into a major city until an inland water-way port was built in Chicago.
Lagos which was initially a camp (Eko) established by the Edos for the development of a trading port, has now grown into a major cosmopolitan settlement. Unfortunately, the story of the founding of Lagos has suffered severe mutilation, by many who had hitherto attempted to tell the story of the founding of Lagos with a jaundiced perspective. The oral version of the founding of Lagos has been so tampered with, that the names of places in Lagos today are meaningless in any language whatsoever. These names are only meaningful if reversed back to the language of the original founders of Lagos. The language of the original founders of Lagos is the Esan Edo language. The history of early Lagos is embedded in the names of places in Lagos. A good understanding of that language, which is the Esan dialect of the Edo language will throw open the doors to the history of early lagos.
It is manifestly obvious that the early history of Lagos Island can be very easily deciphered by an accurate understanding of the names that have remained in Lagos from the time of the founding of Lagos. Eko is not a general Edo word. Eko and Idumu as in Idumota and Idumagbo and all the Idis and Idus are all specifically Esan Edo names. They are not Bini Edo nor Afemai Edo. The Benin alternative for Idumu is Idunmwun. In Lagos we have Idumu as in Idumu-Ota and Idumu-Agbo. Thus Lagos was originally founded by the Esan Edos. However, we should recognize that while the Esan soldiers were founding Eko and many other parts of what is today known as Lagos State, under the auspices of the Edo army; the Bini army was contemporaneously founding Etin Osa, Agidingbi, Oshodi et al. (All Bini Edo names). IDU-GARRAN (Quarters of Igarra [soldiers] confirms the presence of Etsako Edos in the Eko project. Without a doubt, all the members of the Edo family i.e. Esans, Etsakos (Osakon) [meaning Dental Surgeons] were in Lagos at the invitation of Emperor Orhogbua.
---Clipped due to size Written by ANTHONY OKOSUN TonyOsun@yahoo.co.uk
Oshodi Tapa was a mercenary. He was fighting for his own bele, his wives and children. He owed no loyalty to anybody. He even later sided with the British. He was brought to Yoruba land as a slave from Kogi state, he was supposed to be sold to the white men. But his intelligence and military knowledge made his Yoruba owner to keep him. He was a prince but sold by his uncles so that they could claim his father's throne. He was not an agent of anybody.
Interesting input, but still does not address the history the man in the interview was talking about. Do you have any counter info, book or interview to back up your writeup about Oshodi Tapa? Apparently a lot of history has not been documented and it seems oral accounts by family heads are still the order of the day. Like for instance, how did you know Oshodi Tapa was not an agent of the Oba? He supported Kosoko against Akitoye right? How do we know he was not working for the Oba since he allowed Akitoye to flee safely from Kosoko? What if Oba was rooting for his vassal Akitoye and did not support Kosoko's usurpation? Knowing Kosoko could not directly claim legitimacy as Oba only recognized Akitoye, and would have to wait for authentication and staff of office from Bini? You see, there is more than meets the eye here I think. Abi how u sef see am?
Just to add to the discourse... Had to look for other opinions on this topic... Here is one, this one claims Oshodi Tapa was an agent of the Oba of Bini.
Who can verify or attest to the info in this interview? Not hearsay or "no he is wrong" kinda statements pls. Just wanna learn. Will add more links as I find them...
[s]See this one!! You rarely engage in personal peeves, but you made an exception in my case? Aw, how charming. I guess you were suffering from myopia when the issue of Lagos-Benin ownership of Lagos island came up on the 1st few pages. Your IPOB-Igbo cheerleaders were there right from the onset shouting Afonja and making other damaging insinuations about Bini-Yoruba historical claims over Lagos. You did not see comments from giftq, Shaakaboom, liberalsinnerx, MrDude, Habakus etc., trying to pitch the Bini against the Yoruba and vice versa, did you? Let me guess, you developed selective amnesia then. Later meforyou', Leez', Malawaian and others also stepped in with their usual propaganda and ethnic rhetoric. When they tried to knock the heads of both ethnic groups together, it was natural for attention to be shifted to them. Now does that answer your question of how "Igbos who were never even a part of the discussion," got into the fray? Good.
Now, back to your second point. I don't understand why you are so pained by the fact that you know nothing about my ancestry. Will such info put money in your pocket, food on your table or clothes on your back? Let me know. I have over 12,000 posts on NL so you must have done a lot of digging to come to the conclusion that "contribute no original post, comment or history, just pathetic cheerleading from the sidelines," to use your own words.
While I am flattered that someone could be as jobless as you are, could devote such time, space and energy to digging through my posts, I must confess that you did a rather poor job, of it. If you had done a good job, you would have seen some original contributions made to different threads in the Politics, Business, Properties and Auto sections. So let me give you a little assignment. Go back and read through each of my posts again. And then summarise the content of each one, and come back and share it with us on NL.
Finally, I can see you feel pained by my contributions on this board. Eeyah! I didn't realise you had such a fragile ego. Unfortunately, I can't help you. But I must admit that it gives me a perverse sense of pleasure, to see that you are so flustered, upset, disturbed and agitated by my comments. May the pain be with you. For life! [/s]
All that long grammar up there just to justify your pathetic cheerleading Haba, you can do berra than that nau I need no explanations from you cheerleader This is a forum where I come for latest info, news and history. Your cheerleading gets in the way of that... That said this one is for u
The Edo people know the Igbo inside out. Don't worry, they will not be deceived by the efforts of the Igbo internet warriors to use their propaganda, to cause divisions on this board. Benin-Yoruba relations is centuries old. The IPOB Jews cannot change that overnight, no matter how hard they try... Ovbi'edo are smarter than that!
I rarely engage in personal peeves here, but I am moved to make an exception for u. You are a pathetic cheerleader
Let me repeat that for emphasis, you are a pathetic cheerleader. Are you Hausa, Edo, Ijaw, Igbo, Yoruba or Zulu? How did Mr. Ajayi Bembe's interview rope in the Igbos who were never even a part of the discussion? Who put this "propaganda" of yours into the mouth of Mr. Ajayi Bembe? Igbos? Gerrahia you i.diat What's that bit about Ovbiedo coming from? I thought I read you exonerating Oba from the OP's interview and viewpoint? Who now made you a spokesman for the Edos? And why are you always cheerleading Yoruba forum members when they go head on with the Igbos? Everyone can see they troll each other all day, and even with that, knowledge about each other is passed. I have learnt and read histories I would never have known about just from everyone repping where they come from. You on the other hand, are either a paid or voluntary cheerleader. You contribute no original post, comment or history, just pathetic cheerleading from the sidelines, while calling for backup and support from peeps who are unapologetic about their ethnic group You are actually cheering other people commenting and telling their own stories! How pathetic
OP, do you mind elaborating on what is the actual relationship between the Europeans who emigrated to Palestine in 1914...and their historical claim to be the Biblical Hebrews or Jews?
I think the closest people's with that claim are the Sephardic Jews of Spain and Portugal... The Jews historically cannot be white people. Just like the Egyptians are now mistaken for the Arabs, Turks, Mongols and descendants of Europeans who conquered their land.
Why is so much about African and black history suppressed or at best obfuscated. Even the black moors who came from Yemen, inter married into white Europe and forgot or rather did away with their black roots. What happened? Do you care to discuss?
Do not advertise your stupidity son, Igbos own 100% of SE and still own atleast 60% of assets in every State of the Federation of Nigeria (I stand corrected). It is a strategy. Igbos have defeated every other tribe economically and they control the future of all landed assets. God is not creating new lands, so who ever holds the title of lands, control the future of the indigenous population and their rights of residency.
Every landowner today in this world, was once a visitor, then over a century the original owners are forgotten and the land owners become the new indigenes. What the Igbos have done today, will better be understood well in the next 100yrs. When they become totally in charge of all lands and they can choose to rename the towns.
Learn from history.
2 words... You're probably from Anambra... And you're very very stu.pid for what you wrote up there... Even if ur claims were correct, you have just bought a basket load of unnecessary paranoia, distrust and you have empowered the indigenes to be vigilant in making sure you and your ilk never actualize your dreams. Why do you people find it sooo easy to provoke people who are your benefactors
If you look at our history,[b] we are descendants of the great Benin empire [/b]and as the history goes, on or about 1230 AD, Oba Eweka of Benin the first sent his second son, Prince Uwade towards the Eastern part of the Benin Empire first of all to check the influx of the Easterners into the kingdom and secondly to expand the empire. So Prince Uwade came along with his wives and some delegate warriors towards the eastern part, they settled here in the present Issele–Uku. So they settled and practised the same pattern of ascension to the throne like that in Benin. So after him, Prince Uwade became Ogewade and after him, his first son took over. So, that has been our brief history. We are descendants of the great Benin Kingdom.
Another one again turning logic on its head! So how come they don't speak Bini, practice Bini traditions or customs and all their ancestors from inception have always been Igbo speaking and bearing Igbo names Were they colonized by Igbos? Hope I am not the only one seeing this absurd display of historical revisionism? Konquest, for real tho...I for one need answers, can you explain? That king there if his life depended on him speaking Edo to an audience would be a dead man. Same applies to his late father and the entire population of Issele Uku. It is a fact that if any of them speaks Bini, they learn it as a second language. So how come? Why no mention of the Igbo names, Igbo language, traditions and culture? Did the Prince Uwade meet empty land when he "came" from Bini? If the above narrative is correct, then they should be speaking Edo, bearing Edo names and at the minimum having a history of Enogies appointed by the Oba. The fact that his name is NDUKA EZEAGWUNA totally negates that narrative.
Bini is just NEXT DOOR and they have never had any invasions from Igbos ever, so how come they have always been Igbo speaking? How come they have never had an Enogie appointed by the Oba? Even the Afemais and Ishans who migrated and declared their independence from the Oba still speak core Edo dialects and have nothing in their language, culture or history that is Igbo sounding. So who is deceiving who? I totally agree, these people's identity crisis is real.
A generation of shameless, backward and braindead people. A sitting president of the so called "giant" of Africa taking a "medical vacation"...in a foreign land...for 51 days? To add insult to injury...his handlers were not even polite enough to own up to the fact that the so called president was going on medical leave! From taking a vaction...to medical leave...to surgeries...to rumours of death...to phantom calls...to party leaders paying homages to the new Nigerian capital in London The blackman truly deserves to be colonized and exploited by the better parts of humanity. No shame, no pride, no ambition. What happened to the billions budgeted for Aso Rock clinic? In other words, the Presidency has made a public vote of no confidence in the Nigerian health sector and doctors. No one could contact the numerous world renowned Nigerian medical expats abroad? What happened to the concept of flying in foreign experts and health specialists? Even worse, what are the poor masses managing the nonexistent public health facilities supposed to do?
The British should just come back and take over. A nation of animals and braindead people has no future! Spits on all things this country represents
Ibo generally has been relegated to a lower political status in Nigeria due to the arrogance and immaturity of Anambra citizens. If other Ibo states desire to regain their past glory they just need to find another state beside Anambra to sell their brand. As long Anambra is the Ibo brand, SE will continue bashing head into a stubborn and unyielding barrier erected by Yoruba and Hausa.
They brag but are cowards.
I completely agree with your observations. Do you know what's worse? They have this fantasy of being better, finer, more endowed and having a "better" culture than their fellow Igbos. Always magnifying the smallest differences to make themselves appear better. Completely uncalled for comparisons and they can't compete without rubbing it in your face. You need to experience this for yourself and you will feel sorry for them. Go easy on them, it's a form of inferiority complex.
LasGidiOwner: There is no doubt that Onitsha people are the first set Igbos to have a head start in western education. Onitsha received the first set of whitemen and missionaries that are set to spread their message in the Southeastern region. However you want to twist history no problem but bear in mind that they are still in Anambra as one monolithic state. Start facing reality for once.
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Hehehehehe How many monikers do you have kiddo? I was right, you do have issues? So even the mods have detected you post trash and banned your handles
Ok lets give you some credit, you are sounding a bit mellow after swallowing some hard facts But wait..why are you calling your Onitsha lords Igbos I mean your Onitsha Ado N'Idu emperors whom you love and worship Are you not aware of how great and bungalicious their lineage from ancient Egypt to the mighty Bini empire is And you want to compare them to those slaves, Igbos...will you si eba puo nwa onye Igbo Lets show you why your Lords will whop ur behind for posting that sacrilegious nonsense
Our history as a people should neither be a mystery nor a guess work. It must be written by us for us based on our knowledge of what was, what is and what will forever be as children of Onicha: a divine town of assured prospects; a town that was oriented and aligned to sacred stars of the immortal galaxies; a town, that was divinely inspired and strategically founded on the sacred banks of God's own river, the Niger. Onicha, the sacred abode, uniquely ordained to soar and tower above all obstacles; a town, where the immortal flame of God's own love will forever glow. Onicha-Ado n' Idu! Atulukpa Ose! Onicha, oke Ebo na eri agu! Eke nwe ovia! (The royal python that reigns in the the sacred forest!) Oke Nnunu Mmuo n' ebe n' oku!(The great mystical bird that perches on deadly flames and yet remains immuned from the inferno!) Onicha; my Onicha, our Onicha, the divine breasts whose nourishing milk has sustained all from the misty dawn of times!
How bombastic! You are truly one as I can see where the bombastic nature comes from. Aligned to the stars of the immortal galaxies That's a tall claim for a people who never discovered the planets or constellations.
Let's go on to the cream of the matter, read carefully slave and know your masters....
My immortalized and legendary kinsman, Chief Philip Okonkwo Anatogu, the Onowu Iyasele of Onitsha, once explained that the word "Onicha-Ado N' Idu" referred to the Nation of all Onicha stock that made the exodus from the Idu land. Idu was one of the names for ancient Egypt. "Idu" or "Edo" was later corrupted to Edo and was usurped by the Benin nation. The Iyasele explained that the towns of Onicha-Mmili, Onicha-Ugbo, Onicha-Olona, Onicha-Ukwu, Issele-Ukwu, Issele Mkpitima, Ezzi, Obamkpa and other towns of Benin migrational orientation were all collectively referred to as "Onicha Ado n' Idu" by the Edos! Over the years when Onicha-Mmili became very accomplished, the usage of the name "Onitsha Ado n' Idu" appeared to have been narrowed down to her. Many of our brethren at Enu Ani had criticized this as what they perceived as an attempt by Onicha-Mmili to solely assume what was a national identity of all Onicha children. Who are Ndi Onicha? Onye ka anyi bu? Ebe ka anyi sii? Anyi abu ndi Edo/Idu/Benin? However, many of our traditional titles are the same with the Edos/Binis: Onicha titles like "Iyasele" is "Iyasere" in Bini; "Ogene Onira" is "Oliha" in Benin; "Odu Osodi" is "Osodin" in Benin; "Omodi Daike" in Onitsha is "Edaiken" in Benin; "Esagba" in Onitsha is "Esogban" in Benin; the "Isama" titles are the same in both towns amongst many others. The "Obi" of modern Onitsha today is the continuation of the ancient Pharonic dynasty of ancient Kemet or Egypt. Onitsha must retrace the history of her monarchs from his imperial Majesty Obi Achebe back to the Ogiso Kings of Igodomigodo in Edo, then to Egypt; to Pharoah Tutankhamon, Pharoah Amenemhet, Pharoah Amenemes, Pharoah Amenkhuti Ra; Pharoah Khafara, and back to the first dynasty in Egypt. Enough of this tracing of our kingship to just Obi Oreze or his father Ohime(corrupted to "Chima" by his later descendants. Onicha people came from Benin or Edo land, they were also in Igbo land. I suspect that the Priests of Nri were distantly connected, that is why till date an Nri King upon consecration must bring certain sacrifial items to the Obi of Onicha and must sleep over in Onicha before assuming the Nri throne. Why would the very traditional Nri people who were(and still are) known all over the Igbo land as a holy people and the spiritual custodian of all Igbo lands, accord these rights to Onicha Kings? All these indicate that Onicha and many other tribes had had prior interactions and established certain traditional precedence which had been ongoing before the Onicha town was founded just around 700 hundred years ago. No Nri man would just concede to subject his divine King to some unknown immigrants who just crossed over from the Niger River, if that were to be the case.
So you see, you are the slave and a descendant of slaves good only for licking the feet of your self confessed lords No wonder you are picking on your fellow slaves to make yourself feel good I now understand where you are coming from, sorry for calling you out wrongly.
No amount of your rubbish can divide us as we are one.
Anambra is a monolithic state deal with it.
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Hahahaha No clever rejoinders again? Yes Anambra is a super monolithic state...here is proof...
Chief Odiari estimated that the Ibos accounted for 5 percent of Onitsha’s population and just 1 percent of the market traders who formed the backbone of the local economy. “Our greatest strength as a people is the maintenance of our culture, but our greatest weakness is the way we open our hands. It’s not a weakness as such, but people capitalize on it. We allowed the Igbos into our fold, and before we knew it they overwhelmed us.” I told him that the motto of my home state, Kentucky, was “United we stand, divided we fall,” but for ethnic groups in Nigeria the national philosophy seemed to be, quite literally, the reverse.
Here is another fine example of Anambra oneness and monolithicness
During our fieldwork, we gradually recognized that Ndi-Onicha expressions of arrogance and disdain toward “Ndi-Igbo“, while employed within the community in a wide variety of contexts, were most strongly directed outward from Onitsha Inland Town people toward those Igbo-speakers living immediately to the east and southeast, adopting that label from the perspective of their own collective historical self identification with the “Highland people” (Ndi-enu-ani) living across the River Niger to the west and who shared with them a claim of more or less direct descent from the militant precolonial kingship of Benin.
Let's see whom your Onitsha lords and their cousins actually called slaves, shall we?
Western Igbo-speaking groups called routes lying east of the Niger “uzo-igbo“, meaning (at least to some of these Western communities) “road of slaves”, referring to their sources of involuntary but economically valuable labor. Terminology of this kind evidently also characterized the slave-dealing towns of Igbo speakers located along the river itself. Research in the riverine, Onitsha-related kingdom of Aboh has shown that slaves were (and are) viewed there in sharply ethnic and disparaging terms:
“A slave is sometimes designated by the not too polite term onye igbo, or simply igbo, which means no more than ‘an Igbo’ or someone from Igbo country…. The terms osu (= oru, “domestic slave” in Onitsha dialect) and igbo are today regarded by the Aboh people as words of singular indignity and are seldom used to describe a person except in the most private conversations.”
Anambra is one monolithic state and no amount of your history twisting can divide us.
I said that Anambra do not marry Imo state people.
I equally said that Anambra people don't live in Imo state nor have anything to do with the people from the state.
I also said that Imolites like you are a slaves to Omambala people.
If these factors are paining you so much then kill yourself.
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Anambra is a monolithic state and they do not marry from Imo? Ok lets see what your Onitsha emperors have to say about that
The Onitsha Igbo discriminated against other Igbo as uncouth and unpolished people and would not associate with them preferring their daughters to marry any one else except their non- Onitsha Igbo. As a child I often heard Onitsha Igbo drive away other Igbo children who came to play with their own children (sa, nwa onye igbo pu a eba – get away you child of an Igbo man),
Let's see some more examples of Anambra monolithicness shall we?
[b] Chief Odiari explained that his ancestors—Ibos—found the Igbo people living in scattered villages on the hills surrounding Onitsha. I told him I was under the impression that Ibo and Igbo were simply different spellings of the same word. “A common mistake,” he said. “We are different. We speak a different language. We can understand a few words from what they are saying and they make meaning to you. But to have an actual conversation and follow what they are saying, no.” The Ibos, although largely Christian now, had had their own traditional religion, Ominane, which centered on one God but involved a mild form of ancestor worship. Ibos had always had traditional rulers, the Obis. The Igbos had no such rulers until the British created them so they could more easily implement their system of indirect rule. Indeed, much divided the two peoples, Chief Odiari maintained in an example of the rather depressing Nigerian habit of always seeking to differentiate among even the smallest groups. “The Igbos have no culture,” he said rather indelicately. [/b]
O me god! Even in Anambra, your lords and emperors did not even bother hiding it...not to mention distant Igbo states like Imo and Ebonyi Even the oyibo noted how rather indelicately your Onitsha lord and emperor announced your monolithnicness just like you are doing now
Want more direct examples of awesome, monolithic and bungalicious Anambra empire is?
Doug07034780891: I can't waste my precious time to read your incoherent nonsense. My point has been made, you either take it or kill yourself
Pained frustrated old clown.
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Hey stop being petty now You wanted to roll with me today right? Cmon I just realized you might be right after all...taking out all that pain can involve so many strange behavior I mean the pain of being called nwa onye Igbo by your beloved Onitsha and their cousins Or realizing you and your village might never truly belong in the right Anambra circles Eyaa I know, it can be sooo painful I won't even mention the discrimination you face as an osu descendants when those potential in-laws from Imo came to ask questions No wonder they ran away Show us more pics abeg, let's prove to the world how truly great and different ancient Anambra empire and her descendants are...
Pained? How so? We are talking about the world acclaimed greatness of the Anambra tribe abi ethnic group and here you are talking about pain? Are you not aware the British were awed at the fantastic history of the Anambra tribe when they got to upper iweka in 1729? Colonial records show that even the Sultan of sokoto and the Etsu Nupe too along with the Owerri and Imo ethnic groups had to come bow down to all the gods , demi gods and emperors in Anambra empire before they ascended their thrones In fact it was out of envy at how great and awesome Anambra was that made the Owerri ethnic group hide that history successfully. No wonder Yorubas especially mistake them for you great descendants of Anambra emperors You can see how pained they are that you are bursting their lies and presenting the authentic Anambra history of greatness, bungaliciousness and fantastico Oya go back and do a better job. You have a whole 100 years of hidden awesome history to cover!
No, you seems to be reasoning with your head up-side-down.
What I wrote was that Anambra people don't marry from Imo state. Though I am not Igbo but I have read so many places where it has happened that Anambra people don't have anything to do with Imo state people not to talk of marrying from that state. That is the point in case your empty head could not fathom that. Deal with it..
As For Zik and Ojukwu, people care to know where they come from because they have an origin and state though created but they still have to be identified by that origin. So deal with that one too.
On the flip side you need all the help you can get because you are seriously drifting to the edge. May help come to you as soon as possible.
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Kiddo come on that can't be all you got right? Go ahead show the world how great, awesome and bungalicious Anambra is pls Post 30 more pics of ur village for example...and do more comparisons with Imo for us I'm sure you don't want Yorubas and Hausas mistaking you for "them" do you? Disappointed you've not actually called me a Yoruba till now You always deliver don't you?
The same way you have issues with my state is the same way I have with your useless Imo state. Now all of a sudden you have remember that state creation is the making of the army/Hausa Fulani.
You just write so much like an illiterate. Are you cursed?
Now lemme knock this facts into your useless empty head.
One, Anambra does not marry from Imo state.
Two, Anambrans does not live anywhere near Imo state or even have anything there not talk of homes because they don't have anything to do with such place.
Owerri and entire Imo state is cursed, filthy, filled with armed robbers and commercial se.x hawkers which makes the state inhabitable and all it's people running to other states particularly the nearby Anambra to make a home.
Just like you have denied from being from Imo state, I am also not from Anambra but I am saying it the way it is. Anambra people do not have anything to do with Imolites are they see Imolites as their slaves and should not be placed side by side.
If my earlier comments so much annoyed you then hit your head on the wall to end it all because I am not gonna revert that truth because a bitter clown like you.
I have read severally here and elsewhere that Imo state people are Anambra slaves. See picture confirmation..
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That the best you can come up with kiddo Ok you are coming clean So which imo family or people denied your family members marriage in the past? Care to share? Maybe they were appalled by your crudeness and money worshipping? You know the funny fact? More Anambra women are married into Imo than the other way round But why hate in them though thought they were ur fellow Igbos? Abi they don't marry from your own part of Anambra? Or maybe you figured out you will always be considered inferior by the elites in Anambra due to where you are from right? I can tell I actually know lots of them from Anambra like you, it's a hobby I picked up, demystifying Igbos Your pathological self hating rants repulse me in every way. Sorry dude, Nigerians don't care whether Zik or Ojukwu is from Anambra or ebony. On that note, you need help cos it's clear you serious issues.
Now lemme enlgihten you pain illiterate from the cursed and worthless Imo state. Imolites have all ran away from their state to Anambra, Lagos, Enugu, Abuja etc, due to high level of kidnapping, armed robbery, commercial se.x hawking and other vices that has continued to plague the state.
Anambra has the highest population resident in the state which means more people prefer to reside there.
I will not be dragged into bringing Enugu state into this discourse as I am dealing with the matter as it concerns Imo state.
Anambra people do not live in Imo state or Owerri or any part thereof as we consider it sacrilegious and unhabitable.
1/3rd Of Imo state people are all resident in Anambra particularly Onitsha.
You can never find any Anambran anywhere near your Owerri or Imo state.
No Anambra has built or will ever built a hut in Imo state in the name of home. Deal with the truth.
I don't know how old you are but Anambra from the time of the great Zik has continued to produce the best and brightest brains and are the reason Igbos are celebrated all over the world till this month.
Go back to your history book Anambra represents excellence as they have produced the de creme dela creme of the Igbo race.
Start by telling us what your useless and cursed Imo state has produced in terms of human and capital resources of course it will always be a far cry from what Anambra stands for.
Kill yourself but the truth must not be stand on it's head...
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Hahahahaha You are the one in pain kiddo, scroll up and read the pain in your posts? Who hurt you that bad? From I'm not even Igbo to I'm now from Imo state When a kid starts using bombastic words like sacrilegious out of context...you know he's run out of talking points. Didn't know u had a problem with Owerri or is it IMO state Kiddo are you aware Anambra is an artificial construct by Hausa/Fulani military boys Well what do you know? Lemme enlighten or rather troll you more kiddo. Anambra money bags were mostly responsible for opening the real estate market in Owerri, Aba and Enugu. In fact to the detriment of awka ,Onitsha and environs. Before they moved in, it was a low key private business between land owners and private buyers. Anambra money bags changed all that. Go to Owerri and confirm You have to credit Mbadinuju for reversing that trend, and kick-starting the cleanup of Onitsha in particular. Talking of marriage, sorry kiddo Anambra women were known to not only be brazen eyed but absolutely ruthless in dealing with men. Guess you wouldn't know anything about that, would you? Guess which part of Imo state most famous Anambra born women marry into, can you? No need to troll on this one cos I've had my share of sweet Anambra ladies
Again who hurt you kiddo? Are you one of those osu descendants we hear about? Why are you so pained about your fellow Igbos?
Yes here it from a core Anambran. Anambrans do not marry from your filthy, crimimal and prostitution riddled Imo state. Owerri is a filthy home of commercial se.x hawkers. Deal with it than crying all over the place.
Yes Anambra can marry from Enugu, Ebonyi and even Abia but not your cursed filthy Imo state as we consider it sacrilegious.
Anambra people can live elsewhere but not your cursed, filthy, useless and worthless Owerri and Imo state at large known for crudeness, prostitution, armed robbery and other vices that are uncivil and dangerous to the society. No sane person would dare raise a family in Owerri as it the den of armed robbery and commercial se.x hawking which is mostly considered as the economic main-stay of imo state.
1/3rd of Imolites had fled their state to live in Anambra particularly Onitsha. Some neighbourhoods in Onitsha could be mistaken as part of Imo state because they host a large population of Imolites.
You can hardly find a single Anambran living anywhere close to Imo state but Imolites had left their own state to our own state for greener pastures.
The truth is golden. Learn to deal with it than live in perpetual denial and bitterness.
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It's a slow day so I can afford to troll all day For starters, no kid you are not a core Anambra or whatever you call yourself. The core Anambra people I know are classy technocrats or top class commercial barons. They know in a rather painful way discrimination against their fellow Igbos won't fetch them any sympathy or win them any points outside Igbo land You on the other hand are just a self hating kid with severe inferiority complex. Your ideas of superiority is not only laughable but pathetic
Now to the trolling part. Your self-confessed Onitsha masters whom I see you drooling over generally consider you inferior to them, aside from calling you "nwa onye Igbo" in a derogatory sense. You know they consider themselves better and more deserving than you, don't you kiddo? Next, your umu NRIs generally consider you and wherever you come from in Anambra to be uncultured, primitive and leaderless confused peoples. Left to them you should submit for them to teach you how to culture and tradition and how to organize and lead yourselves Next, you are probably pained by the fact that a lot of your so called Anambra elites prefer till today to build family houses in Enugu and Owerri...since like the 70s the criminality, kidnapping and crudeness of Anambra chased them all away Dunno how old you are, but most of the top class prostitutes and high class whores servicing Nigeria military elites and politicians back then mostly come from Anambra and Asaba axis. Are you pained yet Next, it's an open secret that folks from Anambra were considered primitive, having zero social skills and generally crude by non Igbos who have lived in Igbo land back then. I know
I can now see why Ikas and Aniomas reject the Igbo tag. It's not all about politics after all. Even I will reject being identified with someone like you vehemently. You lots are a nuisance to yourselves. All you respect is money and show of force. I know your type, you love to spread misery and confusion, you revel in it You love seeing chaos and disorganization Get some help kiddo and quit hating on your brothers ok? It won't win you any points.
Doug07034780891: You need help. You are actually pained by my sincere comment hence you jumped on it. If it hurts you so much end it all or deal with it.
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Sincere comment you said? How childish FYI, before 1999, lots of Anambra families in my circle lived in Owerri and Enugu and built their family houses there. They couldn't stand the heat, crudeness,dirtiness and criminality that was Onitsha and environs. And yes, lots of them married from Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi And I'm sure you know this too well. So I'm wondering where your sincerity came from.
You are just a sick little kid with a severely hurt ego trying to project superiority. Even your so called Onitsha elites won't stoop so low, I know them better than you I can also tell you and wherever you come from don't "belong" in whatever "elite" circle you are drooling over in Anambra. Kiddo get some help. You are sick.
Doug07034780891: You misunderstood me. Anambra people may even marry from the west or even north more than they would ever marry from Imo state. Anambra marries also other Igbos more than they would ever marry from Imo state. It will do us a lot of good to face reality than pay lip service to it.
Why I said that Imolites are similar to AK people, with all due respect to AK people. Imo state girls are good at flirting and are so cheap to lure. Their men are very lazy and usually settles for less. This combination makes it possible for greater population of Imo state people to be poor.
Besides the fact that Anambra people does not often marry from imo state, most of their girls ends up in their parents homes unmarried even at a very advanced age. They eventually starts having babies. Such things are sacrilegious to us. We are not the same people as them. That's my point nwanne.
You whoever you are...you are a sick sick little child If you actually believe all you wrote there, then accept my condolences as you need psychological evaluation...you might not be aware of it though. But wait, why do Igbo people generally have this inferiority complex? Your childish rants is a clear example of someone with a severe inferiority complex...any psychologist can attest to that. I can bet you are projecting either the rejection your people faced or the rejection you personally faced from the "elites" in Anambra on other Igbos What gave you away was that "we are not the same people as them bit". I am 90% sure you are an Anambra wanna be elite or want to protect your hurt ego by belittling other Igbos. Your second give away is the "we do not marry from them line" Why are you telling us? Communities, clans and tribes ALWAYS have localities they prohibit marriage from. They don't go around shouting about it. You on the other hand exhibit that feature of wannabes with deep inferiority complex who discriminate against their own kith and kin to make themselves acceptable to their perceived superiors. So it's another sure bet, you are actually related closely in fact to those places you are saying Anambra people do not "marry from". Pathetic.
And I thought it was a joke when some Igbo friends told me how Onitsha people especially look down on and openly discriminate against Obosi people and other Igbos Are you guys for real? I have confirmed it to an extent that Igbo people certainly do have issues relating with themselves and other people.
Cire80: I have tried to read and reread but still can't get the head or the tail of what he wrote. That was a real emotional ranting. Doh
Hahahahaha No you won't, cos if u did, you would never written such bombastic tripe. Move on, I get it now. It's pointless having a discussion on this topic with people of such mindsets. Difference between recitation and what again? Laughable nonsense
The kid asked me questions and I gave him answers. It was me who told him exactly what to reply.
Now I'm on the page myself go and find me there abiodun alonge the historian.
See I don't know you or what your agenda is... But this is a lame attempt at attention seeking... Or riding on tribal sentiments to make yourself appear to be the "defender" of Edo history against a phantom enemy... Just stop ok? Do something better like other posters on that forum, share and discuss history with other youths...I believe that's a pretty profitable way to contribute. My 2 cents ofcourse
Cire80: Among everything you said, let me respond to one. Maybe I modify later if I have the time. Do you know the difference between recite and translate ? Yes, I can translate any English word to Ika but that is not the same as recitation.
Dude do yourself a favour...dont bother...its pointless. Difference between recite and translate? For a guy who was busy schooling others on the finer points of Ika pronounciation, dialects, inflections and what not? Only for you boldly announce you cannot recite the Lord's prayer in the same "language" you claim to be an expert in? GTFOH A bigger favour you could do yourself, cos u sorely need it, is to go back home and ask deep questions and demand real answers. Also travel around and gain some knowledge before discussing topics you apparently are not familiar with. My 2 cents.
There are finer details in which Cire80 and I disagree, but in general, yes.
You see the problem of shameless history revisionists is analogous to that of the actor on stage. Everyone can see your back, your moves, the entire stage...except the actor who is squarely focused on acting out his script. If the actor goes out of line or misinterprets his character just a bit, there are those who can tell... The audience generally have a more holistic view of the whole play than the individual actors...
When you go around inventing tall tales and fabricating nonexistent history... maybe due to lies or fallacies you have been fed from home(happens to everyone)... You do not generally perceive anything in your narrative as being off...cos you have been consciously desensitized to it. That there are those with stronger historical perspectives and facts than yours almost always escapes revisionists... particularly those whose mandate came from their traditional narratives... It is a veritable blindspot well known to anyone who has confronted historical revisionists... usually it takes a whole lot of fact digging and public exposure of one's historical ignorance to wake up these set of people to the fact that there are indeed other narratives that are more factual and accurate than the ones they've been fed with.
That you agree in general with the load of bombastic and wholesale revision of history by Cire80 leaves little to discuss... Cos you apparently are not aware of how ridiculously funny his narrative sounds... Lemme paraphrase it for you...that history or narrative espoused by him and believed by you in general...never happened. Nothing like that ever took place, neither were there any people called "Igbos" who partook of such a history with another set of people called "Ikas". Never happened, precolonial, during the colonial times, post colonial times. Anyone who has studied the matter not just from a neutral perspective, but from even a shallow knowledge of the history of both peoples across the Niger can tell by reading that load of BS that such a thing never took place. Except ofcourse in the parallel universe of revisionists... ...where a grown man cannot recite the Lord's prayer in his own supposed language in which he claims fluency and claims to be an authority...but can recite the same in a foreign language imposed on his people. One wonders if the Lord's prayer is not available in English for translation? ...where the Annangs, Ibibios, Efiks and Ijaws who are closer to the Igbos escaped buying Igbo language, words, dialects from the Igbos when they came to trade with them...despite very very heavy intermarriage with the Igbos... but another set of people who claim to be Edos and have never had anything to do with Igbos suddenly lost their language and culture in less than 100 years...after conducting trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific trading with the Igbos. I could go on. You lots should go get some sense and quit making fools of yourselves.
Igbanke has always been in their land as PabloAfricanus said. That of Ekpon, however, is different. Ancestrally, the people were Esan-speaking but switched to Ika (Igbo) about 100 to 150 years ago. This language shift was written by a missionary in one of his books which I read many years ago. However, the people of Ekpon practice mostly Esan culture and customs but differ only in language.
If you are willing to do away with Igbo-sounding names in Edo state, what would you do to Yoruba-sounding names that exist in Edo state also which are clearly not Edoid names?
Now that's a deep question Dude just wants some traffic on his channel or blog I guess. I doubt if he's here for a meaningful discourse.
Culture / Re: Bini Are Original Owners Of Lagos, Not Yoruba – Layi Ajayi-Bembe by PabloAfricanus(m): 8:42pm On Nov 19, 2017 
But fierce Yoruba nationalism gets in the way of history I guess 
