osemwengie1:

SOME WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOST THEIR REAL ORIGIN.
BUT JUST DO YOUR THOROUGH RESEARCH YOU WILL COME TO KNOW THE TRUTH OF THIS HISTORY YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ.

Who are the Edo people?

EDO, is what you can describe as the "generic name given to a group of people who have a common ancestor and have a common language, with some different variants, depending on the distance between the group and the " tap root, " resident in and around the present day Benin City. In short, the land, the political state, the people, tribe, language and the principal city -Benin City is called EDO. At a point in the history of these people, another name called BENIN came into use. These Edo-speaking people are divided into the following clans today:

a) " BINI " derived from the word Benin for people living in and around Benin City, in Edo State. People living in and around Benin City, are gradually accepting the word BINI, as descriptive of their clan. Otherwise, they prefer to be simply called EDO.

b) ESAN/Ishan-for the immediate neighbor to the north are people living in around Irrua, Orhodua, Uromi, Ubiaja, Ewu, Ewatto, Igueben and the almighty Evbohimwin (Ewohimi))" the city by the big river " or " the city of Ikhimwin trees " etc.

c) The Afemais known as IVBIOSAKON by those living in and around Benin City to the north of Ishan/Esan clan.

d) Akoko-Edos based in Igarra, Ibillo and its environs to the north of Afemais.

e) The Owans-ORAS occupying Eme, Sabogida-Ora, Afuze, etc. Uhobe (SOBE) and Ifon in Ondo State.

f) Ekas-to East of Benin. A sizeable chunk of the Edo speaking people flow across River Niger and ending at ONITSHA.

g) Isoko, Urhobo, Itsekiris and about 70% percent of western Izon (Ijaws) in Ndegeni and its environs

h) A sizeable chunk of the Edos is found in River States and Balyesa States e.g. Ogba land and Diobu, Port Harcourt.

i) A sizeable chunk has been " Yorubanised in Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos and Ogun States. The descendants of Edo soldiers stationed in Akure are referred to today as ADO-AKURE (Edo ne ’kue) There are many Edos in Ekiti land, Idoani, Idanre etc going through life in Nigeria with Yoruba names. Acculturation has taken place. You are either a Yoruba man or you go nowhere.

j) The ILAJE community at OKITIPUPA and its environs.

k) The Edos who conquered and settled far way land like Dahomey, Togo and Ghana.

The Edo language is part of the Kwa-Niger group of languages according to Linguist. These people have lived were they are now for " Thousands of years." The monarchy centered in Benin City is about 6000 years old, including pre-ogiso and Ogiso era of history. All the clans had various functions, which they perform at the palace. For example, the Ishans/Esans were principally the medicine men and warriors of the ancient empire. They were the medical practitioners. The chieftancy groups responsible for the Oba's well being are dominated by Ishan/Esan descendants. The Ivbiosakon (Afemais) were the dental surgeon of the palace. That is the origin of the name IVBIOSAKON. Oba Esigie assigned that function to them in the c1500's.

The Owan/Ora people were the propitiators of the physical earth for the Oba of Benin. It was their responsibility to prevent things like earthquake, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanoes and anything associated with geological disturbance to occur in Benin. In short, they were the geologists and weathermen of their day, forecasting and preventing physical calamities. Those we call BINIS today, were the traditional bureaucratic administrators and military generals. The Izons (Ijaws) were the " OZIGUE" -SAILORS The Ekas were farmers. They were in charge of the royal farms.

The Ibos across the Niger call the Edos, IDU, the name of the progenitor of Edo race, the Yorubas call us ADO, which is a corruption of the word EDO. However, the Itsekiris, another sub group in the Edo clans call us UBINI. Tradition asserts that it is derived from ILE-IBINU, which is descriptive of the exasperation and frustration encountered in Benin City, by Prince Oranmiyan of ILE-IFE. A further research may prove that, it was the Itsekiris who gave that name, to the people living in and around Benin City. The Itsekiris told the white man of the powerful overlord living in Igodomigodo. It was the Itsekiris who told the Whiteman that the name of the tribe of this powerful king was UBINI- a term which Whiteman corruptly wrote down as Benin. For example, the name of the eldest daughter of Oba Osewende, the mother of the OSULAS and the AIWERIOGHENES is today known as AGHAYUBINI. A closer examination of that name would reveal that the name is an Itsekhiri phrase-" The Ubini Lady or woman " i.e. the woman from Benin. Aghayubini was a very wealthy trader among the Itsekiris, from whence she got the money she used, is getting the throne for her brother, who became Oba ADOLO. An Itsekhiri descriptive phrase has simply over powered her original Edo name, to the extent that nobody knows anything about it now.

The ancient Edo/Benin Empire covered the whole of Bendel, parts of Bayelsa State and I repeat Balyesa State. The second son of the Enogie of Brass, popularly known as IYASE NE OHENMWEN became the Iyase of Benin under Oba Osewende. Iyase Ohenmwen is the ancestor of the OTOKITIS, THE OKEAYA-INNEH AND THE AIWERIOGHENES of Benin today. It also covers the IGBO-speaking areas of Delta State stretching to Onitsha. People hardly know that the actual title of the Obi of Onitsha is AIGBOGHIDI. The historical Chief Agho Obaseki of Oba Ovoranmwen era and later the Iyase of Benin under Oba Eweka II, was a descendant of the second son of Enogie of NSUKWA now in Delta State. It extended to the whole of Ondo State, parts of Ekiti and Ogun State and the whole of Lagos State including BADAGRY. It stretched to southern Dahomey (Republic of Benin) and on to the coast of Togo and Ghana.

THE OWANS /ORAS:

Oba Ozolua is traditionally regarded as the ancestor of the Owans/Ora. He was known as Prince Okpame before he became known as Oba Ozolua. He had sought refuge in Uwokha in Ivbiosakon areas in c1473. From Uwokha, Oba Ozolua founded Ora and other villages. Oba Ozolua was a warlord. He beat the people of Uzea near Uromi to a pulp when there was a revolt. He extended his carnage to Uromi when the Enogie was reported to have been rude to his messengers. He went up through Akoko land, wandering into Nupe lands where he acquired a lot of sophisticated weaponry then. He attacked the Igallas and Igbirras in the present Kogi and Kwarra states. After spending the greater part of his life in ORA, he left behind his son UGUAN and returned to Benin City.

But before he left, he proclaimed everybody free men and free women, entitled to enjoy the privileges of Edo princes and Princesses, for all the services they had rendered in his military campaigns. That is why the Oras call themselves today, the CHILDREN OF OZOLUA. Besides being in charge of propitiating the physical earth, they are responsible for ritually exorcising any harm that might come upon the EDO NATION-the land due to violation of sexual or other taboos. Their GUILD, quartered at EVBORHAN quarter in OGBELAKA in Benin City by Oba Esigie, demands steep fines from the culprits for their services.

A few years ago, the Oba of Benin created an Ogie-Duke-traditional rulership for the Oras because of popular demand.

Ademola Iyi Eweka. Look
The green color is the true map of Edo territories make this campaign know to the unknown
Edo is not a minority in their Land. EDO is an umbrella that cover all.

vicadex07:


The edo tribe is the most confused lot in modern history. You don't know whether to claim south south or south west. Whether to claim ancestry from Yoruba or to Join igbo wailers down south. Igbo people disown and detest you while the Yoruba has never for once aknowledged your existence, nor penchant for fallacious twisting of history.

You claim Yorubas are your descendant according to your history...hahaha...laughable. How can the most minute tribe in Nigeria claim patrimony to the almighty yoruba.

vicadex07:


The edo tribe is the most confused lot in modern history. You don't know whether to claim south south or south west. Whether to claim ancestry from Yoruba or to Join igbo wailers down south. Igbo people disown and detest you while the Yoruba has never for once aknowledge your existence nor penchant for fallacious twisting of history.

You claim Yorubas are your descendant according to your history...hahaha...laughable. How can the most minute tribe in Nigeria claim patrimony to the almighty yoruba.

Till date, the heads of your dead obas are still sent to ile ife as a tribute to the fact that we own you. You are just offsprings of a long lost brother who chose to establish his kingdom at the borders of the Yoruba empire.

what do you mean.. ..

vicadex07:


The edo tribe is the most confused lot in modern history. You don't know whether to claim south south or south west. Whether to claim ancestry from Yoruba or to Join igbo wailers down south. Igbo people disown and detest you while the Yoruba has never for once aknowledge your existence nor penchant for fallacious twisting of history.

You claim Yorubas are your descendant according to your history...hahaha...laughable. How can the most minute tribe in Nigeria claim patrimony to the almighty yoruba.

Till date, the heads of your dead obas are still sent to ile ife as a tribute to the fact that we own you. You are just offsprings of a long lost brother who chose to establish his kingdom at the borders of the Yoruba empire.

erunz:
You are right on the Esan part of the article, till date all the herbalist in Obas palace are Esan men, u are also right wen u called them warriors becos that's who we are.
Esan Oyeeee--- Oyeeeee
Akugbe Ahu
Oba'gha topeee ...... Isee

atbu1983:


You are d one who is confused not edo. The Benin Empire was a large, powerful and well organised empire b4 the British came and scattered it. The Benin Empire was d last empire conqured by British in today Nigeria. Benin Empire extend to Kogi in today North central, d whole of south south except akwa ibom and cross river, part of ondo, ekiti, d whole of lagosand part of ogun state in today south west and Onitsha in today South East. Even Nnamdi Azikiwe clearly stated it in his book that Onitsha are descendant of Benin base on what his mother told him.

scholes0:


what I think he meant is the Edo stance in modern Nigerian political atmosphere.... not some historical fables.

atbu1983:


History is not fables but fact. In modern political atmosphere, we have just Nigeria,religion, individual interest and political parties and nothing else.

scholes0:


can you explain why , according to you Aniocha, Ijebu, Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos, Onitcha, Western Ijaw, We all once under Benin, but today, none of them have Edo culture or speak Bini?
If anything, the only thing that took place between the Yoruba kingdoms and the people of Benin, are cultural exchanges, and nothing else

atbu1983:


You are d one who is confused not edo. The Benin Empire was a large, powerful and well organised empire b4 the British came and scattered it. The Benin Empire was d last empire conqured by British in today Nigeria. Benin Empire extend to Kogi in today North central, d whole of south south except akwa ibom and cross river, part of ondo, ekiti, d whole of lagos and part of ogun state in today south west and Onitsha in today South East. Even Nnamdi Azikiwe clearly stated it in his book that Onitsha are descendant of Benin base on what his mother told him.

vicadex07:


The edo tribe is the most confused lot in modern history. You don't know whether to claim south south or south west. Whether to claim ancestry from Yoruba or to Join igbo wailers down south. Igbo people disown and detest you while the Yoruba has never for once aknowledge your existence nor penchant for fallacious twisting of history.

You claim Yorubas are your descendant according to your history...hahaha...laughable. How can the most minute tribe in Nigeria claim patrimony to the almighty yoruba.

Till date, the heads of your dead obas are still sent to ile ife as a tribute to the fact that we own you. You are just offsprings of a long lost brother who chose to establish his kingdom at the borders of the Yoruba empire and like most traditions in the world, a dead mans corpse is usually sent back to his indigenous community for proper burial no matter how many years he has lived in foreign lands.

So you see, our ancestors weren't foolish. They knew a day like this would arise hence the symbolic tradition of sending the heads of dead benin obas to ife, their indigenous roots

atbu1983:


We are discussing hisory of over a thousand years and you are using language as ur only parameter? language undergo modification and changes base on interaction with closest foreign culture and continue to change with time?

atbu1983:


Obhio, iriò wo nò. Bò diaye? Ju wè da vae bhe esan?

scholes0:


can you explain why , according to you Aniocha, Ijebu, Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos, Onitcha, Western Ijaw, We all once under Benin, but today, none of them have Edo culture or speak Bini?
If anything, the only thing that took place between the Yoruba kingdoms and the people of Benin, are cultural exchanges, and nothing else

osemwengie1:
frt page : lalasticlala

vicadex07:


Comparing the benin to the Yoruba is like comparing an ant to a giant.

According to Yoruba history, benin people are off shoots of the Yoruba race, hence the similarities in some aspects of tradition and nomenclature.

Yoruba people has existed thousands of years before the formation of the more recent benin empire you're yapping about. Our population across the world attest to that. We number in 100s of millions or even billions while your people cannot boast of at least 5% of that. So which fake empire are you talking about. There are many countries all over the world where you can find bits and strands of Yoruba culture and tradition. Even cities in south american countries like Jamaica and brazil are named after the Yoruba people. Where around the world has the benin people ever established prominence...tell me.

In nigeria politics of today, of what impact is the edo nation or better put the infamous edo empire. You all should quit yapping nonsense whenever you wanna quote history again and never compare yourself to Yoruba people...eewo. We are you big brothers.

osemwengie1:
SOME WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOST THEIR REAL ORIGIN.
BUT JUST DO YOUR THOROUGH RESEARCH YOU WILL COME TO KNOW THE TRUTH OF THIS HISTORY YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ.

Who are the Edo people?

EDO, is what you can describe as the "generic name given to a group of people who have a common ancestor and have a common language, with some different variants, depending on the distance between the group and the " tap root, " resident in and around the present day Benin City. In short, the land, the political state, the people, tribe, language and the principal city -Benin City is called EDO. At a point in the history of these people, another name called BENIN came into use. These Edo-speaking people are divided into the following clans today:

a) " BINI " derived from the word Benin for people living in and around Benin City, in Edo State. People living in and around Benin City, are gradually accepting the word BINI, as descriptive of their clan. Otherwise, they prefer to be simply called EDO.

b) ESAN/Ishan-for the immediate neighbor to the north are people living in around Irrua, Orhodua, Uromi, Ubiaja, Ewu, Ewatto, Igueben and the almighty Evbohimwin (Ewohimi))" the city by the big river " or " the city of Ikhimwin trees " etc.

c) The Afemais known as IVBIOSAKON by those living in and around Benin City to the north of Ishan/Esan clan.

d) Akoko-Edos based in Igarra, Ibillo and its environs to the north of Afemais.

e) The Owans-ORAS occupying Eme, Sabogida-Ora, Afuze, etc. Uhobe (SOBE) and Ifon in Ondo State.

f) Ekas-to East of Benin. A sizeable chunk of the Edo speaking people flow across River Niger and ending at ONITSHA.

g) Isoko, Urhobo, Itsekiris and about 70% percent of western Izon (Ijaws) in Ndegeni and its environs

h) A sizeable chunk of the Edos is found in River States and Balyesa States e.g. Ogba land and Diobu, Port Harcourt.

i) A sizeable chunk has been " Yorubanised in Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos and Ogun States. The descendants of Edo soldiers stationed in Akure are referred to today as ADO-AKURE (Edo ne ’kue) There are many Edos in Ekiti land, Idoani, Idanre etc going through life in Nigeria with Yoruba names. Acculturation has taken place. You are either a Yoruba man or you go nowhere.

j) The ILAJE community at OKITIPUPA and its environs.

k) The Edos who conquered and settled far way land like Dahomey, Togo and Ghana.

The Edo language is part of the Kwa-Niger group of languages according to Linguist. These people have lived were they are now for " Thousands of years." The monarchy centered in Benin City is about 6000 years old, including pre-ogiso and Ogiso era of history. All the clans had various functions, which they perform at the palace. For example, the Ishans/Esans were principally the medicine men and warriors of the ancient empire. They were the medical practitioners. The chieftancy groups responsible for the Oba's well being are dominated by Ishan/Esan descendants. The Ivbiosakon (Afemais) were the dental surgeon of the palace. That is the origin of the name IVBIOSAKON. Oba Esigie assigned that function to them in the c1500's.

The Owan/Ora people were the propitiators of the physical earth for the Oba of Benin. It was their responsibility to prevent things like earthquake, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanoes and anything associated with geological disturbance to occur in Benin. In short, they were the geologists and weathermen of their day, forecasting and preventing physical calamities. Those we call BINIS today, were the traditional bureaucratic administrators and military generals. The Izons (Ijaws) were the " OZIGUE" -SAILORS The Ekas were farmers. They were in charge of the royal farms.

The Ibos across the Niger call the Edos, IDU, the name of the progenitor of Edo race, the Yorubas call us ADO, which is a corruption of the word EDO. However, the Itsekiris, another sub group in the Edo clans call us UBINI. Tradition asserts that it is derived from ILE-IBINU, which is descriptive of the exasperation and frustration encountered in Benin City, by Prince Oranmiyan of ILE-IFE. A further research may prove that, it was the Itsekiris who gave that name, to the people living in and around Benin City. The Itsekiris told the white man of the powerful overlord living in Igodomigodo. It was the Itsekiris who told the Whiteman that the name of the tribe of this powerful king was UBINI- a term which Whiteman corruptly wrote down as Benin. For example, the name of the eldest daughter of Oba Osewende, the mother of the OSULAS and the AIWERIOGHENES is today known as AGHAYUBINI. A closer examination of that name would reveal that the name is an Itsekhiri phrase-" The Ubini Lady or woman " i.e. the woman from Benin. Aghayubini was a very wealthy trader among the Itsekiris, from whence she got the money she used, is getting the throne for her brother, who became Oba ADOLO. An Itsekhiri descriptive phrase has simply over powered her original Edo name, to the extent that nobody knows anything about it now.

The ancient Edo/Benin Empire covered the whole of Bendel, parts of Bayelsa State and I repeat Balyesa State. The second son of the Enogie of Brass, popularly known as IYASE NE OHENMWEN became the Iyase of Benin under Oba Osewende. Iyase Ohenmwen is the ancestor of the OTOKITIS, THE OKEAYA-INNEH AND THE AIWERIOGHENES of Benin today. It also covers the IGBO-speaking areas of Delta State stretching to Onitsha. People hardly know that the actual title of the Obi of Onitsha is AIGBOGHIDI. The historical Chief Agho Obaseki of Oba Ovoranmwen era and later the Iyase of Benin under Oba Eweka II, was a descendant of the second son of Enogie of NSUKWA now in Delta State. It extended to the whole of Ondo State, parts of Ekiti and Ogun State and the whole of Lagos State including BADAGRY. It stretched to southern Dahomey (Republic of Benin) and on to the coast of Togo and Ghana.

THE OWANS /ORAS:

Oba Ozolua is traditionally regarded as the ancestor of the Owans/Ora. He was known as Prince Okpame before he became known as Oba Ozolua. He had sought refuge in Uwokha in Ivbiosakon areas in c1473. From Uwokha, Oba Ozolua founded Ora and other villages. Oba Ozolua was a warlord. He beat the people of Uzea near Uromi to a pulp when there was a revolt. He extended his carnage to Uromi when the Enogie was reported to have been rude to his messengers. He went up through Akoko land, wandering into Nupe lands where he acquired a lot of sophisticated weaponry then. He attacked the Igallas and Igbirras in the present Kogi and Kwarra states. After spending the greater part of his life in ORA, he left behind his son UGUAN and returned to Benin City.

But before he left, he proclaimed everybody free men and free women, entitled to enjoy the privileges of Edo princes and Princesses, for all the services they had rendered in his military campaigns. That is why the Oras call themselves today, the CHILDREN OF OZOLUA. Besides being in charge of propitiating the physical earth, they are responsible for ritually exorcising any harm that might come upon the EDO NATION-the land due to violation of sexual or other taboos. Their GUILD, quartered at EVBORHAN quarter in OGBELAKA in Benin City by Oba Esigie, demands steep fines from the culprits for their services.

A few years ago, the Oba of Benin created an Ogie-Duke-traditional rulership for the Oras because of popular demand.

tonychristopher:
what about the igbanke..are they edo or igbo...they are at the cross roads