₦airaland Forum

The Lower Niger and Its Tribes.

"A still more striking example, however, is that of Onitsha. For here we find a whole community, numbering now, at the lowest computation, 100,000 souls, Ibo in every respect, who 250 years ago at the most were Bini in language as in everything else.'

AreaFada2
Ghostagain
gregyboy
UMUAZEE

Someone writing from the 20th century says Onitsha was speaking Bini 250 years ago, in the 17th century. He wasn't there in the 17th century. He didn't reference an explorer who was there in the 17th century. He just says it, and it's true because....?

But if I write now from the 21st century that Benin was speaking Yoruba 250 years ago, in the 18th century, una go abuse me. 😂

Meanwhile, the kinglist of Onitsha:
Chima
Chimukwa
Nafia
Atasia
Chimezei
Chimevi
Aroli
Chimedie
Omozele
Ezeolisa
Ijelekpe
Udogwu
Akazue
Diali
Anazonwu
Samuel Okolo Okosi
James Okosi
Okwudili Onyejekwe
Ofala Okechukwu Okagbue
Nnaemeka Achebe

For a people that were Bini in language and everything "250 years ago at the most" there is a surprising absence of Bini names among their kings. The closest we have to an Edoid name is Omozele who had an Esan name. But then Onitsha historians know that Omozele had a non-Igbo grandmother and his father Aroli was raised outside Igboland, so there's a good explanation for that.

If they were truly Benin by blood, then at-least the first 5 Kings would have bore Benin names.

It’s laughable to also think that the proud Benin royalty and people would change their language for another.

The Kingship style and titles from Anioma down to Onicha and Oguta were just copied from Benin nothing more nothing less.

You Edo folks should stop all these looking for kith and kin from other ethnicities and focus on your place. Build Edo and return it to its glory.

Cultism, Prostitution and Scam is becoming the order of day in your state and y’all are coming on here to look for imaginary relatives in different places.

Nnamdi Azikiwe: My Genealogy and Nativity

"Thus, in tracing my paternal lineage, I could say that both parents of my father are direct descendants of Eze Chima. As for me, I can trace my paternal ancestry in this wise: I am the first son of Chukwuemeka, who was the third child and first son of Azikiwe, who was the second son of Molokwu, who was the third son of Ozomaocha, who was the second son of Inosi Onira, who was the fourth son of Dei, the second son of Eze Chima, the founder of Onitsha."
SOURCE - Nnamdi A zikiwe: My Odyssey, Chapter I (Spectrum Books, 1970) "My Genealogy and Nativity" p4
http://nigeriavillagesquare.com/forum/main-square/75723-meaning-history-onitsha.html


"I can trace my maternal ancestry thus: I am the first son of Nwanonaku Rachel Chinwe Ogbenyeanu (Aghadiuno)Azikiwe, who was third daughter of Aghadiuno Ajie, the fifth son of Onowu Agbani, first daughter of Obi Udokwu, the son who descended from five Kings of Onitsha. Five of these rulers of Onitsha were direct lineal descendants of Eze Chima, who led his warrior adventurers when they left Benin to establish the Onitsha city state in about 1748 AD.
" SOURCE - Nnamdi Azikiwe: My Odyssey, Chapter I (Spectrum Books, 1970) "My Genealogy and Nativity" p5

"One day I asked her (grandmother) the meaning of the word 'Onitsha'. She explained that it had historical significance. The terminology meant one who despised another. It is a contraction of two words, Onini to despise, and Ncha meaning others. So that the two words when joined together mean one who despises others. Then I asked her why we despised others. She patted me on the back and told me that it was due to our aristocratic background and tradition. I insisted that she should explain to me the basis of this supercilious social attitude. She told me that we despised others because we descended from the Royal House of Benin and so regarded ourselves as the superiors of other tribes who had no royal blood in their veins, "

"I continued to belabor my grandmother to tell me more of the history and origins of the Onitsha people. She narrated that many many years ago, there lived at Idu (Benin) a great Oba who had many children. Due to a power struggle regarding the right of precedence among princes of the blood and other altercations, there was a civil war in Benin. One day, the supporters of one of the princes insulted and assaulted Queen Asije, the mother of of the Oba of Benin, who was accused of having trespassed on their farmland. Enraged at this evidence of indiscipline and lawlessness, the Oba ordered his war chief and brother, Gbunwala Asije to apprehend and punish the insurgents. In the attempt to penalise them, Chima, the ultimate founder of the Onitsha city-state, a prince of the blood in his own right, led the recalcitrants against his Uncle, Gbunwala. This intensified the civil war which rent the kingdom of Benin in two and led to the founding of Onitsha Ado N'Idu, , " "As the great trek from Benin progressed, some did not have the stout heart of the pioneer-warrior, and decided to settle at different places, known today as Onitsha -Ugbo, Onitsha-Olona, Onitsha-Mili, Obior, Issele Ukwu, Ossomari, Aboh, etc,
" SOURCE - Nnamdi Azikiwe: My Odyssey, Chapter I (Spectrum Books, 1970) "My Genealogy and Nativity" p 11 - 12

Davoski001:
If they were truly Benin by blood, then at-least the first 5 Kings would have bore Benin names.

It’s laughable to also think that the proud Benin royalty and people would change their language for another.

The Kingship style and titles from Anioma down to Onicha and Oguta were just copied from Benin nothing more nothing less.

You Edo folks should stop all these looking for kith and kin from other ethnicities and focus on your place. Build Edo and return it to its glory.

Cultism, Prostitution and Scam is becoming the order of day in your state and y’all are coming on here to look for imaginary relatives in different places.

Unfortunately no state or region in Nigeria is free from the bolded, the situation in the east is even worse with the activities of the unknown gunmen.

Rather than retort to insults, it would have been better if you had used the opportunity to tell the readers the reason/motive behind the claims by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and the author (Arthur Glyn Leonard) of the Lower Niger and Its Tribes. Both of them did agree on the Benin Origin of Onitsha and the timeline.

Questions:

1. Of what benefit was it to Arthur Glyn Leonard in 1906 to trace the origin of Onitsha people to Benin? Mind you, Benin had already be sacked and destroyed by the British with her Oba exiled in Calabar in 1897, where he lived until he joined his ancestors in 1914. So it's difficult to argue that Arthur Glyn Leonard was writing in favour of Benin in 1906, in 1906, Benin was perhaps Britain's number one enemy in Nigeria due to the reasons that lead to the Benin massacre in 1897.

2. Of what benefit was it to Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1970 to trace his lineage and that of his Onitsha people to Benin. In 1970, Zik had already reached the zenith of his political career, a position no Igbo till date have achieved.

Unfortunately, history is what it is, you guys should just learn to deal with it. It's too late for any modern revision.

.

Of course, as I predicted, Azikiwe's autobiography from 1970 has been invoked. That is you people's sole crutch in this endless dragging of Onitsha. No one is willing to address the fact that the account Azikiwe presented in 1930 (40 years earlier) is significantly different from what he wrote later in 1970.

Points from Zik's 1930 account (when he still went by the name Ben N Azikiwe, before he dropped his 'English' name):

1. Onitsha came from a place called "Ado N'Idu", according to Zik in 1930.
2. This "Ado n'Idu" was not the same place as Benin, but was close to Benin, and was a sub-ordinate ally of Benin.
3. "Ado n' Idu" fell out with Benin when they assaulted the Queen Mother, and this led to a war between Benin and this "Ado n'Idu". The war was fought near Igbodo in Ikaland. (In fact, the location of this war indicates that this 'Ado n'Idu' was located in the Ika area).

This was the first account according to Zik, 1930. Why do you guys never talk about this account?

[NB: Idu was not only used to identify Benin, but was also used in a general sense to identify territories perceived to be under the aegis of Benin.Thus Ado n'Idu as used by Zik in 1930 meant "The settlement within the sway of Benin"]

And since you people like early European accounts so much, why don't you ever talk about what Northcote Thomas wrote in his anthropological account of the Asaba district?

Northcote wrote that the idea of Onitsha coming from Benin holds no water, but that from his observations, Onitsha and the Ezechime communities originated from a place a few miles west of Onicha-Ugbo, before the forces of Benin drove them out. This place "a few miles west of Onicha-Ugbo" actually corresponds to the area around Igbodo in the Ika area, where Azikiwe told us Ezechime (or Chima) and Benin forces met and fought.

Unless you are a dye-in-the-wool Benin expansionist, when all the evidence has been pooled and analysed objectively and critically, the most likely scenario is that Onitsha and their Umuezechime brethren originated within the present Anioma zone. Benin imperial expansion forced them to relocate from a place within the Ika area near Igbodo and re-establish themselves in the Umuezechime area in Aniocha North and in Onitsha across the Niger.

samuk:
Unfortunately no state or region in Nigeria is free from the bolded, the situation in the east is even worse with the activities of the unknown gunmen.

Rather than retort to insults, it would have been better if you had used the opportunity to tell the readers the reason/motive behind the claims by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and the author (Arthur Glyn Leonard) of the Lower Niger and Its Tribes. Both of them did agree on the Benin Origin of Onitsha and the timeline.

Questions:

1. Of what benefit was it to Arthur Glyn Leonard in 1906 to trace the origin of Onitsha people to Benin? Mind you, Benin had already be sacked and destroyed by the British with her Oba exiled in Calabar in 1897, where he lived until he joined his ancestors in 1914. So it's difficult to argue that Arthur Glyn Leonard was writing in favour of Benin in 1906, in 1906, Benin was perhaps Britain's number one enemy in Nigeria due to the reasons that lead to the Benin massacre in 1897.

2. Of what benefit was it to Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1970 to trace his lineage and that of his Onitsha people to Benin. In 1970, Zik had already reached the zenith of his political career, a position no Igbo till date have achieved.

Unfortunately, history is what it is, you guys should just learn to deal with it. It's too late for any modern revision.

Mr Samuk , I’ll just let you know I’m not up for back and forth with you. I have seen your comments everywhere and already know the kinda fella you are when it comes to issues like this .

1. The issues I wrote concerning Edo currently, is not to spite Edo people but to let you know that there are more important things to worry about than what you go about trying to prove or argue against when it comes to the History concerning Igbo Yoruba and Benin. Yes I admit there are also issues in the East and the West, that’s why we should put more effort into that for a peaceful and prosperous living amongst ourselves.

2. I lived in Benin for 7 years and trust me when I say I know them very well. I do not hate them. I know how proud they are of themselves and their kingdom because of what it achieved centuries ago. If they are proud now , imagine how proud they must have been centuries ago. Now the question is , if they moved from Benin as Princes, Princesses, warriors , and even had some servants with them, why will they set up a Kingdom and yet we can’t find Benin names up there? Like I wrote earlier if the first 5 names had one or two trust me the story will fly well.

3. As far as I am concerned , Mr Arthur didn’t do a complete research work before writing that book. And as for the Late Azikiwe, his forefathers might have been Royalty but it was obviously not in Benin.

In that same Benin I met some members of the Ogieamen family, I have friends from the house of the Elawure of Usen, I know the stories I heard and read which came with proofs, but that’s not my business for now.

I’ll give you an assignment , if that Kings list up there is not correct , bring the correct one that has Edo names with proof and I’ll accept that these Onicha people are of Edo blood.

Davoski001:
If they were truly Benin by blood, then at-least the first 5 Kings would have bore Benin names.

That is EXACTLY what the case would have been. If you look at Ukwunzu in Aniocha for instance. They are of Yoruba descent (and today they still speak a Yoruba dialect together with Aniocha dialect of Igbo). When you look at a list of their kings, you will see that the earliest kings had Yoruba names, then later you start seeing some Benin names, reflecting a time when Benin influence there was high; then later, from the 19th century or so, Igbo names began to appear in the kinglist.

It's the same thing in Russia. The earliest Russian state was said to have been founded by the Swedish, who speak a Germanic language. And this is reflected in their kinglist. The earliest kings had Germanic names, then as they became more and more "Slavicised", Slavic Russian names began to appear in the Kinglist.

But in the case of Onitsha, you have a kinglist that is Igbo top to bottom, except for one random Esan name in the middle of the list, and these people don't want to ask themselves how that could have been so.

RedboneSmith:
That is EXACTLY what the case would have been. If you look at Ukwunzu in Aniocha for instance. They are of Yoruba descent (and today they still speak a Yoruba dialect together with Aniocha dialect of Igbo). When you look at a list of their kings, you will see that the earliest kings had Yoruba names, then later you start seeing some Benin names, reflecting a time when Benin influence there was high; then later, from the 19th century or so, Igbo names began to appear in the kinglist.

It's the same thing in Russia. The earliest Russian state was said to have been founded by the Swedish, who speak a Germanic language. And this is reflected in their kinglist. The earliest kings had Germanic names, then as they became more and more "Slavicised", Slavic Russian names began to appear in the Kinglist.

But in the case of Onitsha, you have a kinglist that is Igbo top to bottom, except for one random Esan name in the middle of the list, and these people don't want to ask themselves how that could have been so.

💯. It can’t be so hard. I feel they know these things but quest for supremacy is just what they want to achieve, but unfortunately for them it’s not in this generation. Even that Ukwunzu, I was told a story about the original inhabitants of that place, and how they began to speak lukumi, unfortunately he hasn’t given me the proof yet which he has with him. When he does, I’ll surely drop it here.

Davoski001:
💯. It can’t be so hard. I feel they know these things but quest for supremacy is just what they want to achieve, but unfortunately for them it’s not in this generation. Even that Ukwunzu, I was told a story about the original inhabitants of that place, and how they began to speak lukumi, unfortunately he hasn’t given me the proof yet which he has with him. When he does, I’ll surely drop it here.

Supremacy over who? Which one of the books that I presented between Zik and Arthur Glyn Leonard were written by a Benin person, okay, Zik claimed to be a Benin descendant which you disagree with. If you disagree with Azikiwe's Benin ancestry claim, could you then tell us how Benin is pursuing a Supremacy agenda.

History is the recollection of past events. I don't see why you guys seemed to be uncomfortable with the Benin/Onitsha connection.

.

Davoski001:
Mr Samuk , I’ll just let you know I’m not up for back and forth with you. I have seen your comments everywhere and already know the kinda fella you are when it comes to issues like this .

1. The issues I wrote concerning Edo currently, is not to spite Edo people but to let you know that there are more important things to worry about than what you go about trying to prove or argue against when it comes to the History concerning Igbo Yoruba and Benin. Yes I admit there are also issues in the East and the West, that’s why we should put more effort into that for a peaceful and prosperous living amongst ourselves.

2. I lived in Benin for 7 years and trust me when I say I know them very well. I do not hate them. I know how proud they are of themselves and their kingdom because of what it achieved centuries ago. If they are proud now , imagine how proud they must have been centuries ago. Now the question is , if they moved from Benin as Princes, Princesses, warriors , and even had some servants with them, why will they set up a Kingdom and yet we can’t find Benin names up there? Like I wrote earlier if the first 5 names had one or two trust me the story will fly well.

3. As far as I am concerned , Mr Arthur didn’t do a complete research work before writing that book. And as for the Late Azikiwe, his forefathers might have been Royalty but it was obviously not in Benin.

In that same Benin I met some members of the Ogieamen family, I have friends from the house of the Elawure of Usen, I know the stories I heard and read which came with proofs, but that’s not my business for now.

I’ll give you an assignment , if that Kings list up there is not correct , bring the correct one that has Edo names with proof and I’ll accept that these Onicha people are of Edo blood.

1. History is met to bring people together not a supremacy battle as some of you see it. If history tells us that Onitsha and Benin people are of the same ancestry, how is one superior to the other.

2. The history of Ezechima/his descendants from Benin to Onitsha through Ika land took some time, I already posted a writeup of this journey through Issele-Uku. Names and the language of the people changed along the way.

https://www.nairaland.com/7792922/issele-uku-address-obi-osemene-iii

https://www.nairaland.com/7762239/ezechima-benin-history

samuk:
1. History is met to bring people together not a supremacy battle as some of you see it. If history tells us that Onitsha and Benin people are of the same ancestry, how is one superior to the other.

2. The history of Ezechima/his descendants from Benin to Onitsha through Ika land took some time, I already posted a writeup of this journey through Issele-Uku. Names and the language of the people changed along the way.

https://www.nairaland.com/7792922/issele-uku-address-obi-osemene-iii

https://www.nairaland.com/7762239/ezechima-benin-history

Let’s just ignore the supremacy talk. I wasn’t actually referring to you in particular but some of your brothers on tik tok and in reality .

Your links are just funny. 😂😂. That video ? 😂 Eze Ikhimi.

By the way what did the Late high chief David …from Benin tell you about Eze Chima and who he was ? It clearly corroborates with what RedboneSmith been saying about the location and person Eze Chima was.

Nor worry bros. Peace be unto you.

1. I have issues with Benin/Ife connection because it lack material evidences to support it. I am yet to see any material that was written on Benin/Ife connection before 1897, the year Benin lost her independence to Britain.

2. There are plenty of material evidences to support Benin/Lagos connection. There is eyewitness written account of Benin firmly established in Lagos as early as 1602.

3. There are numerous material evidences including eyewitnesses historical accounts dating back to 1865, before the fall of Benin, to support Benin/Ika connection.

I like evidences.

samuk:
1. I have issues with Benin/Ife connection because it lack material evidences to support it. I am yet to see any material that was written on Benin/Ife connection before 1897, the year Benin lost her independence to Britain.

2. There are plenty of material evidences to support Benin/Lagos connection. There is eyewitness written account of Benin firmly established in Lagos as early as 1602.

3. There are numerous material evidences including eyewitnesses historical accounts dating back to 1865, before the fall of Benin, to support Benin/Ika connection.

I like evidences.

You CAN also watch this video BELOW about Onitsha history to know MORE about the ancestral Igala presence in thhe foundation of Onitsha:
"Reasons Why Onitsha People Do NOT Call Themselves Ibos"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvURUakH13Y


Asaba people of Delta State have Igala Father and Mother

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZj5tfoSApw
United Igala Kingdom TV - 2023


IGALA Footprints In Enugu| TrustTV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8G8SSxm744
TrustTV News - 2022



Second, the people of Usen in Ovia South West LGA of Edo State near Benin are a further evidence of the historical link between Ife and Benin.

Usen or Ode Awure originated as a farmstead founded around the 10th century C.E by indigenes of Ufe (Ile Ife) led by one Oyebo, however, the first crowned ruler of Usen was prince Afelogiyan who was the biological older brother to prince Oranmiyan. Afelogiyan was the first Oba of Usen. It was from Usen that Oranmiyan moved to Igodomigodo [present Benin] on his way to becoming the FIRST ever Oba of Benin based on the coronation video speech of the current Oba Ewuare II.

The people of Usen have NEVER denied their association with Ife [Uhe]. This is why the family salutation or greeting in Benin and nearby towns especially Usen is DELAUHE [or "How is Uhe (Ife)]. The current Oba of Usen is the Elawure of Usen and they speak their own dialect of Yoruba and also Bini based on the FACT that they have family ties with Benin through the royal palace. The Oba of Benin salutation is Lamogun [in veneration of Ogun the God or deity of War and Iron just like in Yorubaland].

Usen is also the original custodian of the deities such as Ogun, Olokun, Osun, and more that are practiced in Benin which came via Ife or Uhe.

=> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usen_people


Elawure of Usen pays thank you visit to Gov. Oshiomhole
Independent Television and Radio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szuC28a68zw
Independent Television and Radio Mar 12 2016


History Of Usen, Oba Of Benin & Itsekiris

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUfCwAlFH-8
A prominent indigene of Usen is in the video right ABOVE and HE CLEARLY explained how the Oba of Benin's paternal lineage is from Ile Ife and also how Usen is RELATED to Benin through Afelogiyan and Oranmiyan. These will CLEAR your doubts. Also the Ogiamien family have always insisted that the Oba's lineage is from Yorubaland!

99 percent of Benin Obaship tradition came from Ife

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZznZ8Cdb5aM

Konquest:
You CAN also watch this video BELOW about Onitsha history to know MORE about the ancestral Igala presence in thhe foundation of Onitsha:
"Reasons Why Onitsha People Do NOT Call Themselves Ibos"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvURUakH13Y


Asaba people of Delta State have Igala Father and Mother

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZj5tfoSApw
United Igala Kingdom TV - 2023


IGALA Footprints In Enugu| TrustTV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8G8SSxm744
TrustTV News - 2022



Second, the people of Usen in Ovia South West LGA of Edo State near Benin are a further evidence of the historical link between Ife and Benin.

Usen or Ode Awure originated as a farmstead founded around the 10th century C.E by indigenes of Ufe (Ile Ife) led by one Oyebo, however, the first crowned ruler of Usen was prince Afelogiyan who was the biological older brother to prince Oranmiyan. Afelogiyan was the first Oba of Usen. It was from Usen that Oranmiyan moved to Igodomigodo [present Benin] on his way to becoming the FIRST ever Oba of Benin based on the coronation video speech of the current Oba Ewuare II.

The people of Usen have NEVER denied their association with Ife [Uhe]. This is why the family salutation or greeting in Benin and nearby towns especially Usen is DELAUHE [or "How is Uhe (Ife)]. The current Oba of Usen is the Elawure of Usen and they speak their own dialect of Yoruba and also Bini based on the FACT that they have family ties with Benin through the royal palace. The Oba of Benin salutation is Lamogun [in veneration of Ogun the God or deity of War and Iron just like in Yorubaland].

Usen is also the original custodian of the deities such as Ogun, Olokun, Osun, and more that are practiced in Benin which came via Ife or Uhe.

=> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usen_people


Elawure of Usen pays thank you visit to Gov. Oshiomhole
Independent Television and Radio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szuC28a68zw
Independent Television and Radio Mar 12 2016


History Of Usen, Oba Of Benin & Itsekiris

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUfCwAlFH-8
A prominent indigene of Usen is in the video right ABOVE and HE CLEARLY explained how the Oba of Benin's paternal lineage is from Ile Ife and also how Usen is RELATED to Benin through Afelogiyan and Oranmiyan. These will CLEAR your doubts. Also the Ogiamien family have always insisted that the Oba's lineage is from Yorubaland!

99 percent of Benin Obaship tradition came from Ife

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZznZ8Cdb5aM

Let me repeat.

1. I have issues with Benin/Ife connection because it lacks material evidences to support it. I am yet to see any material that was written on Benin/Ife connection before 1897, the year Benin lost her independence to Britain.


All you have posted are debated ora traditions which Benin and Ife doesn't agree on.

The Oduduwa/Oranmiyan story was supposed to have happened in the 1100s.

Which of the versions between the Benin palace, that says Oduduwa was Ekaladerhan, or Yoruba version that says Oduduwa fell from the sky, or migrated from Saudi Arabia, or migrated from Egypt do you want the readers to believe.

Yoruba people don't agree on a common origin for Oduduwa. There are several versions of his origin.

1. Oduduwa fell from sky
2. Oduduwa came from Saudi Arabia
3. Oduduwa came from Egypt
4. Oduduwa came from Oke Ora

The other reasons I have issues with the Benin/Ife connection, is that there is nothing to support it in Benin artefacts that were used to record Benin history for hundreds of years. There is also nothing in European eyewitness accounts of Benin history in about 400 years (1400s to 1897) to suggest that Benin had anything to do with Ife in Osun state.

Now to Uhe.

There is another school of thought in Benin that claimed that Uhe is not the same as Ife in Osun state. There are people that believe Uhe was actually located in present day Middle Belt of Nigeria, around Igala land in Kogi state.

There are material evidences and depictions of Igala Chiefs and people on Benin artefacts and there is letter written in Benin to Europe in the 1500s about Benin/Ida war.

There are material, eyewitness and oral traditions to support the school of thoughts, that suggest that Uhe was not in Osun state, but in somewhere around Kogi state.

Do you know where they were before arriving in the Edo region an even Ile Ife?
Igbos are more ancient than you think. Older than the Israelites and even ancient Egypt.
They caused this misinformation by attempting to cover or overshadow the history of the Ejagham people whose land houses many secrets as the origin of civilization. I aslo blame the Ejaghams too because na "see finish" dey worry dem. Even the Efiks and Ibibios who try too look down on them can trace their roots and customs to this same land of origin.
I can even show you the origin of many Edo, Yoruba or Igala words and customs from Ejagham.

Stop it.

samuk:
Let me repeat.

1. I have issues with Benin/Ife connection because it lacks material evidences to support it. I am yet to see any material that was written on Benin/Ife connection before 1897, the year Benin lost her independence to Britain.


All you have posted are debated ora traditions which Benin and Ife doesn't agree on.

The Oduduwa/Oranmiyan story was supposed to have happened in the 1100s.

Which of the versions between the Benin palace, that says Oduduwa was Ekaladerhan, or Yoruba version that says Oduduwa fell from the sky, or migrated from Saudi Arabia, or migrated from Egypt do you want the readers to believe.

Yoruba people don't agree on a common origin for Oduduwa. There are several versions of his origin.

1. Oduduwa fell from sky
2. Oduduwa came from Saudi Arabia
3. Oduduwa came from Egypt
4. Oduduwa came from Oke Ora

The other reasons I have issues with the Benin/Ife connection, is that there is nothing to support it in Benin artefacts that were used to record Benin history for hundreds of years. There is also nothing in European eyewitness accounts of Benin history in about 400 years (1400s to 1897) to suggest that Benin had anything to do with Ife in Osun state.

Now to Uhe.

There is another school of thought in Benin that claimed that Uhe is not the same as Ife in Osun state. There are people that believe Uhe was actually located in present day Middle Belt of Nigeria, around Igala land in Kogi state.

There are material evidences and depictions of Igala Chiefs and people on Benin artefacts and there is letter written in Benin to Europe in the 1500s about Benin/Ida war.

There are material, eyewitness and oral traditions to support the school of thoughts, that suggest that Uhe was not in Osun state, but in somewhere around Kogi state.

Since 1981, I have had access to credible world historical research and archaeological evidence from the works of Professor Banji Akintoye and Nigeria's former Ambassador to Germany Professor Jide Osuntokun who are both respected history scholars. In 2004, Professor Jide Osuntokun did state CLEARLY in his articles on the relationship between Benin and Ife that people were already living in Ufe (Ife) and many areas of Yorubaland even before Oduduwa Dynasty started. 3 years ago, the Ooni of Ife in a Punch newspaper interview ALSO stated that the Oduduwa Dynasty in Ife is the 3rd Dynasty. So, Oduduwa was NEVER the originator of all Yorubas of today whose ancestors have been in existence for thousands of years with archaeological evidence proving this. Oduduwa who came down from the hills of his original homeland in Oke Ora (Oke means hill and Ora refers to the Yoruba deity) is just the progenitor of the current lineage of some prominent kings in Yorubaland. Contrary to oversimplistic and misleading claims that were spread by ignorant British colonialists through elementary school books, Oduduwa did NOT come from any Mecca or Egypt. That was just a lazy Islamic attempt to explain Oduduwa's origins. The Ife people have his history well documented.

Right BELOW is the Coronation Speech Video of the 40th Oba, Current Oba Ewuare II of Benin on October 20, 2016, affirming that Oranmiyan His Direct Male Ancestor Came from Ile Ife in Osun State and that Oranmiyan was the FIRST EVER Oba of Benin After the Ogiso Dynasty Ended over 800 years Ago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-q_F2zch8M?si=e6yfz-uGrRaJbPZE


Oduduwa [Odu du iwa] "Odu + Iwa" [Literally translates to "the precepts and knowledge of the mysteries of ODU Ifa and it's application to human behavior"]. Odu [knowledge of Ifa mysteries] + Iwa [Human behavior] according to the renowned historian, Professor Jide Osuntokun who is Nigeria's former Ambassador to Germany in his works. Oduduwa is NOT the ONLY Yoruba person with with ODU as a prefix in his name. The Yoruba folks who number over 60 million worldwide have Odujole, Odusola, Odutayo, Oduyele, Oduyemi, Odugbesan, Odujimi, and several other names with ODU attached as prefixes like Oduduwa. So, it's NOT true that Oduduwa was from any place called Ife in Igalaland. There is indeed an Ife in Igalaland but it got it's name from the Yoruba presence due to the part Yoruba bloodlines that make up Igala. Even some Yorubas of Ogori Magongo in Kogi State have it in their history that their forefathers lived in Idomaland in Benue State for 200 years and this is why their language or dialect is partly Idomaoid due to the FACT that Yorubas of Ife and elsewhere in Yorubaland travelled far and wide (as far as Asante Empire of Ghana, Mali Empire, Benin Empire, within Oyo Empire, Nupe country, Ibariba country, Hausaland, etc) on long-distance trading expeditions and hunting. Igala people historically evolved from the FUSION of a significant number of Eastern Yorubas, Jukuns, Edos, etc, around the River Niger and River Benue confluence. It's NOT strange that Igala language is classified as a Yoruboid language with a lot of visible Yoruba-derived words in it of up to 65 percent intelligibility. There's an Igala thread here from 2017 where you will see the CLEAR EVIDENCE of historical similarities in Yoruba and the much smaller Igala ethnicity who according to the late Attah Michael Ameh Oboni in a 2017 Punch article have Yoruba blood lines in addition to Jukun (from Wukari in Taraba State) and Edo. Igala did NOT evolve from one ethnic group but multiple people! It's indeed a historical FACT from my archives that Oba Ewuare 1 actually conquered the Igalas of Idah of present-day Kogi State in the 1500s with the help of armed Portuguese men and firearms while bringing some prominent Igalas as prisoners of war and FORCED the Igalas to pay tributes to Benin. Credible history books I have read for over 40 years CLEARLY state that Oba Ewuare 1 conquered a total of 201 towns and communities forcing them to pay tributes!

In REALITY, it's an open secret in Ufe (Ife) that Oduduwa was from OKE ORA which is just 8 miles away from Ife. He came down from the hilly region of Oke Ora and that is how the religious metaphor of Oduduwa coming from the SKY came from. In this case like in a lot of world religions that use metaphors in their liturgies, the HILLS of Oke Ora represents the SKY. Period. These FACTS are well known in Ife and this is why whenever a NEW Oba (or Ooni of Ife) is about to be crowned, he has to go to Oke Ora in Osun State (Oduduwa's original ancestral hometown) just 8 miles from Ife as part of the coronation rights. Outsiders who don't know these are the ones who keep confusing themselves because they are NOT Ife indigenes.

You did well for bringing up all the possible questions and variables here. That is how to be a logical thinker and analyst when seeking for historical TRUTH! I want you to go through my FIRST and SECOND posts here and watch ALL the videos without having any confirmation bias. Then FACT-CHECK what you have seen and read. I had already anticipated that you would bring these variables OR questions up and that is why I gave you all those videos and interviews in my FIRST post about the Usen Chief in the video on the "History Of Usen, Oba Of Benin & Itsekiris" (Watch this over 2 hours video from the 30 minute timestamp) who CLEARLY stated with FACTS that USEN people are ancestrally from Ile Ife with Afelogiyan, the OLDER brother of Oranmiyan being both biological brothers and grandchildren of Oduduwa of Yoruba descent, with USEN representing the last major frontier of Yoruba territory (though based in Ovia South West LGA in Edo State) as you get nearer to Benin City and this is why their family salutation in USEN is "DELAUHE?" meaning how is Ife? USEN also served as the point of focal contact in terms of correspondence and religious rites between Ife in the current Osun State and Benin kingdom.

NOTE that the correct dialectic Ufe pronunciation and spelling is UFE not Ife. Ife (with the letter "I" is a more recent variant of Ufe). Of course the word Uhe is just an Edonized dialectic pronunciation of the correct spelling of UFE.


The video timestamp from 09:57 to 10:30 BELOW, shows the "Esogban of Benin" explaining clearly where hIs direct male ancestor came along with Oranmiyan (Ile Ife in Osun State) and the unique salutations or ways of greeting one another in Benin based on their different family ancestral origins.

SALUTATION IN BENIN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZQZl-yyNqE

Edo Lineage Greetings Part 5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOBY3QxokR0

Konquest:
Since 1981, I have had access to credible world historical research and archaeological evidence from the works of Professor Banji Akintoye and Nigeria's former Ambassador to Germany Professor Jide Osuntokun who are both respected history scholars. In 2004, Professor Jide Osuntokun did state CLEARLY in his articles on the relationship between Benin and Ife that people were already living in Ufe (Ife) and many areas of Yorubaland even before Oduduwa Dynasty started. 3 years ago, the Ooni of Ife in a Punch newspaper interview ALSO stated that the Oduduwa Dynasty in Ife is the 3rd Dynasty. So, Oduduwa was NEVER the originator of all Yorubas of today whose ancestors have been in existence for thousands of years with archaeological evidence proving this. Oduduwa who came down from the hills of his original homeland in Oke Ora (Oke means hill and Ora refers to the Yoruba deity) is just the progenitor of the current lineage of some prominent kings in Yorubaland. Contrary to oversimplistic and misleading claims that were spread by ignorant British colonialists through elementary school books, Oduduwa did NOT come from any Mecca or Egypt. That was just a lazy Islamic attempt to explain Oduduwa's origins. The Ife people have his history well documented.

Right BELOW is the Coronation Speech Video of the 40th Oba, Current Oba Ewuare II of Benin on October 20, 2016, affirming that Oranmiyan His Direct Male Ancestor Came from Ile Ife in Osun State and that Oranmiyan was the FIRST EVER Oba of Benin After the Ogiso Dynasty Ended over 800 years Ago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-q_F2zch8M?si=e6yfz-uGrRaJbPZE


Oduduwa [Odu du iwa] "Odu + Iwa" [Literally translates to "the precepts and knowledge of the mysteries of ODU Ifa and it's application to human behavior"]. Odu [knowledge of Ifa mysteries] + Iwa [Human behavior] according to the renowned historian, Professor Jide Osuntokun who is Nigeria's former Ambassador to Germany in his works. Oduduwa is NOT the ONLY Yoruba person with with ODU as a prefix in his name. The Yoruba folks who number over 60 million worldwide have Odujole, Odusola, Odutayo, Oduyele, Oduyemi, Odugbesan, Odujimi, and several other names with ODU attached as prefixes like Oduduwa. So, it's NOT true that Oduduwa was from any place called Ife in Igalaland. There is indeed an Ife in Igalaland but it got it's name from the Yoruba presence due to the part Yoruba bloodlines that make up Igala. Even some Yorubas of Ogori Magongo in Kogi State have it in their history that their forefathers lived in Idomaland in Benue State for 200 years and this is why their language or dialect is partly Idomaoid due to the FACT that Yorubas of Ife and elsewhere in Yorubaland travelled far and wide (as far as Asante Empire of Ghana, Mali Empire, Benin Empire, within Oyo Empire, Nupe country, Ibariba country, Hausaland, etc) on long-distance trading expeditions and hunting. Igala people historically evolved from the FUSION of a significant number of Eastern Yorubas, Jukuns, Edos, etc, around the River Niger and River Benue confluence. It's NOT strange that Igala language is classified as a Yoruboid language with a lot of visible Yoruba-derived words in it of up to 65 percent intelligibility. There's an Igala thread here from 2017 where you will see the CLEAR EVIDENCE of historical similarities in Yoruba and the much smaller Igala ethnicity who according to the late Attah Michael Ameh Oboni in a 2017 Punch article have Yoruba blood lines in addition to Jukun (from Wukari in Taraba State) and Edo. Igala did NOT evolve from one ethnic group but multiple people! It's indeed a historical FACT from my archives that Oba Ewuare 1 actually conquered the Igalas of Idah of present-day Kogi State in the 1500s with the help of armed Portuguese men and firearms while bringing some prominent Igalas as prisoners of war and FORCED the Igalas to pay tributes to Benin. Credible history books I have read for over 40 years CLEARLY state that Oba Ewuare 1 conquered a total of 201 towns and communities forcing them to pay tributes!

In REALITY, it's an open secret in Ufe (Ife) that Oduduwa was from OKE ORA which is just 8 miles away from Ife. He came down from the hilly region of Oke Ora and that is how the religious metaphor of Oduduwa coming from the SKY came from. In this case like in a lot of world religions that use metaphors in their liturgies, the HILLS of Oke Ora represents the SKY. Period. These FACTS are well known in Ife and this is why whenever a NEW Oba (or Ooni of Ife) is about to be crowned, he has to go to Oke Ora in Osun State (Oduduwa's original ancestral hometown) just 8 miles from Ife as part of the coronation rights. Outsiders who don't know these are the ones who keep confusing themselves because they are NOT Ife indigenes.

You did well for bringing up all the possible questions and variables here. That is how to be a logical thinker and analyst when seeking for historical TRUTH! I want you to go through my FIRST and SECOND posts here and watch ALL the videos without having any confirmation bias. Then FACT-CHECK what you have seen and read. I had already anticipated that you would bring these variables OR questions up and that is why I gave you all those videos and interviews in my FIRST post about the Usen Chief in the video on the "History Of Usen, Oba Of Benin & Itsekiris" (Watch this over 2 hours video from the 30 minute timestamp) who CLEARLY stated with FACTS that USEN people are ancestrally from Ile Ife with Afelogiyan, the OLDER brother of Oranmiyan being both biological brothers and grandchildren of Oduduwa of Yoruba descent, with USEN representing the last major frontier of Yoruba territory (though based in Ovia South West LGA in Edo State) as you get nearer to Benin City and this is why their family salutation in USEN is "DELAUHE?" meaning how is Ife? USEN also served as the point of focal contact in terms of correspondence and religious rites between Ife in the current Osun State and Benin kingdom.

NOTE that the correct dialectic Ufe pronunciation and spelling is UFE not Ife. Ife (with the letter "I" is a more recent variant of Ufe). Of course the word Uhe is just an Edonized dialectic pronunciation of the correct spelling of UFE.


The video timestamp from 09:57 to 10:30 BELOW, shows the "Esogban of Benin" explaining clearly where hIs direct male ancestor came along with Oranmiyan (Ile Ife in Osun State) and the unique salutations or ways of greeting one another in Benin based on their different family ancestral origins.

SALUTATION IN BENIN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZQZl-yyNqE

Edo Lineage Greetings Part 5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOBY3QxokR0


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXQiuzdHBVQ?si=poemuYB8M9aIkBm3

Just incase you are not aware, let me point out few things about Benin history.

1. Most parts of Benin history were documented atleast from the 1400s, either on Benin artefacts or by Europeans explorers.

2. Benin City is littered with historical sites. I will mention some later.

3. If you get yourself the full video of the coronation speech of Oba Ewuare 2, he claimed that Oduduwa was a Benin prince, not someone from Oke ora like you claimed. Hope you can see the first problem between Benin version of Oduduwa origin and yoruba version.

Back to how major historical events were recorded in Benin history.

Take for example the Benin Igala relationship and let examine the historical verifiable materials to support such relationship.

1. The Benin Idah war was written about by one of the Europeans who were stationed in Benin in the 1500s...this is an eyewitness historical account.

2. There is statue on third east circular junction, Ikpoba hill, Benin city, to commemorate the war. It is called the Emuemue statue.

3. Queen Idia mask AKA FESTAC mask was commissioned by Oba Esigie to commemorate his mother, who was the first Benin female military general to lead a troop. The FESTAC pendant was to remember her. That is the same mask you see on the neck of every Attah of Igala till date.

4. The Ogida quarters in Benin City is were the defeated Attah was brought to and imprisoned in Benin City, hence the name Ogida which is a shortened form of the full name Ogie(king) Da (Idah) which simply means the king of Idah, this is how Ogida quarters in Benin city got it's name.

5. I already showed you Benin artefacts that depicted an Igala Chief, there are other Benin artefacts that depicts Igala messagers.


6. There is the oral traditions that support the Benin/Igala relationship.

These are some of the ways we verify historical events in Benin. When people seat down somewhere and write fairytales as history, they lack the sorts of evidences which I presented above.

I can support Benin/Lagos relationship using similar evidence as above, but the Benin/Ife relationship cannot be supported apart from contentious stories between Benin and yoruba.

Benin and Yoruba do not agree on Oduduwa origin.

1 There is/are not Benin artefacts to support the relationship.

2. There are no European eyewitness historical accounts of such relationship in the 400 years they visited and documented Benin history.

3. There are no historical sites or landmarks in Benin city to support such relationship.

4. Oral traditions also do not support the relationship, most of us, first came into contact with Benin/Ife relationship by reading it in a book, most of the elders in the villages know nothing about it. Benin/Ife connection is a story for the educated, who read it in books.

Hope you can now understand whilst I have issues with the Benin/Ife story. It a story that have no historical backing in Benin.

Historical Uhe is mentioned in Benin but, evidences point it's location to somewhere around present day Kogi state, not Osun state.

samuk:
Unfortunately no state or region in Nigeria is free from the bolded, the situation in the east is even worse with the activities of the unknown gunmen.

Rather than retort to insults, it would have been better if you had used the opportunity to tell the readers the reason/motive behind the claims by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and the author (Arthur Glyn Leonard) of the Lower Niger and Its Tribes. Both of them did agree on the Benin Origin of Onitsha and the timeline.

Questions:

1. Of what benefit was it to Arthur Glyn Leonard in 1906 to trace the origin of Onitsha people to Benin? Mind you, Benin had already be sacked and destroyed by the British with her Oba exiled in Calabar in 1897, where he lived until he joined his ancestors in 1914. So it's difficult to argue that Arthur Glyn Leonard was writing in favour of Benin in 1906, in 1906, Benin was perhaps Britain's number one enemy in Nigeria due to the reasons that lead to the Benin massacre in 1897.

2. Of what benefit was it to Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1970 to trace his lineage and that of his Onitsha people to Benin. In 1970, Zik had already reached the zenith of his political career, a position no Igbo till date have achieved.

Unfortunately, history is what it is, you guys should just learn to deal with it. It's too late for any modern revision.

Dude, if Mr. Lie takes a private jet and Mr Truth sits on the back of a tortoise to travel, Mr. Truth will one day overtake Mr. Lie.

People forget that, the movement of Prince Ikhimwin (Chima) to form the Iseluku, Onicha-Ugbo, Onicha-Olona, Onitsha and other clans, did not happen within just ten years.

They also forget that also forgot that Children in areas that had a large Igbo population arriving, were been Igbonised quite rapidly.

There a swathes of Edo people in Ondo with their Edo language and culture gone, unless you look closely and ask questions. Often, it's the kings and aristocrats who will tell you in confidence all about their Edo origins. As close as Edo is to Ondo geographically. Never mind Anambra that is far from Edo today.

If you truly love evidence, you won’t cherry pick the evidence that only supports your narratives. History doesn’t care about ego/emotions. Various accounts have agreed on the connection if truly you like evidence.

For instance the following sources all agree:

1. the oral tradition of the Ogiso in Benin (screenshot):
https://guardian.ng/features/ogiso-and-ogiamien-are-aborigine-binis-while-oba-of-benin-is-of-yoruba-descent-high-chief-esotericist-monday-wehere/

2. YouTube account of ancient archeological sources built upon several decades of research corroborates the oral tradition rendered by the Ogiso:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa0st_aMjmA&t=1s&pp=2AEBkAIB

3. This is the Obi of Onitsha reference the link between Onitsha-Benin-Ile Ife: https://www.nairaland.com/8103931/obi-onitsha-narrates-migration-ancestors

Notice that all three accounts rendered by different sources from different angles including research all agree all agree that Ile Ife is the ancestor to Benin’s royalty.

What other evidence do you want again?

samuk:
1. I have issues with Benin/Ife connection because it lack material evidences to support it. I am yet to see any material that was written on Benin/Ife connection before 1897, the year Benin lost her independence to Britain.

2. There are plenty of material evidences to support Benin/Lagos connection. There is eyewitness written account of Benin firmly established in Lagos as early as 1602.

3. There are numerous material evidences including eyewitnesses historical accounts dating back to 1865, before the fall of Benin, to support Benin/Ika connection.

I like evidences.

Most cultures have myths including Benins:

samuk:
Let me repeat.

1. I have issues with Benin/Ife connection because it lacks material evidences to support it. I am yet to see any material that was written on Benin/Ife connection before 1897, the year Benin lost her independence to Britain.


All you have posted are debated ora traditions which Benin and Ife doesn't agree on.

The Oduduwa/Oranmiyan story was supposed to have happened in the 1100s.

Which of the versions between the Benin palace, that says Oduduwa was Ekaladerhan, or Yoruba version that says Oduduwa fell from the sky, or migrated from Saudi Arabia, or migrated from Egypt do you want the readers to believe.

Yoruba people don't agree on a common origin for Oduduwa. There are several versions of his origin.

1. Oduduwa fell from sky
2. Oduduwa came from Saudi Arabia
3. Oduduwa came from Egypt
4. Oduduwa came from Oke Ora

The other reasons I have issues with the Benin/Ife connection, is that there is nothing to support it in Benin artefacts that were used to record Benin history for hundreds of years. There is also nothing in European eyewitness accounts of Benin history in about 400 years (1400s to 1897) to suggest that Benin had anything to do with Ife in Osun state.

Now to Uhe.

There is another school of thought in Benin that claimed that Uhe is not the same as Ife in Osun state. There are people that believe Uhe was actually located in present day Middle Belt of Nigeria, around Igala land in Kogi state.

There are material evidences and depictions of Igala Chiefs and people on Benin artefacts and there is letter written in Benin to Europe in the 1500s about Benin/Ida war.

There are material, eyewitness and oral traditions to support the school of thoughts, that suggest that Uhe was not in Osun state, but in somewhere around Kogi state.