History of Onitsha According to - Nnamdi Azikiwe-
Prior to Nigerian independence in 1960 they were known not to have kings except perhaps for the Obi (from Oba: king) of Onitsha, hence the common saying: "Ibo enwero eze" (the Igbo has no king). Individual towns, clans and families see themselves as independent as they are very clannish. They are also known to look down on other peoples, hardly integrating with their hosts though also feigning friendliness. Not surprisingly foreigners see little motivation in investing and residing in their homeland. Indeed the name of one of their most prominent settlements, Onitsha, is said to be derived from Onini (to despise) and Ncha (others), meaning "one who despises others." Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, former Nigerian president and Igbo leader, even described the attitude as supercilious.

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



Another Source

ONITSHA: History and Acculteration


Many historical accounts exist about the origin of Onitsha people. These accounts, based mostly on oral traditions and stories passed on from generations to another, tell us about a migration led by Eze Chima, the founding king of Onitsha around the sixteenth century AD. The differences stem mostly from details of what caused the movement as well as a few facts regarding the origin of the migrants, Ile-Ife in Yoruba heartland or Benin.

All accounts,however, agree on the movement from the Mid-West parts of Nigeria with the predominant version placing Onitsha people in Benin at the time of Oba Esigie. The Yoruba accounts claim that the name Onitsha is a corruption of the Yoruba word, Orisha (a deity seen as an emissary of Olodumare - Yoruba for God). The full names, Onitsha Ado n' Idu mark a complete reference to these combined ancestry of Ado (another reference to the Yoruba) and Idu (Benin). The affinity to Benin people is most evidenct in ancient Onitsha customs and Ndichie titles which have undeniable similarities to what exist in Benin as in names such as Iyasele, Osodi, Osuma, Ozoma, Onira, Osowa, etc.

Aspects of the Benin account suggest that Onitsha people left Benin as a result of a strife with Oba Esigie orchestrated by an altercation with the Oba's mother who had trespassed on farm lands belonging to the Onitshas. The resultant unrest forced Eze Chima, the progenitor of Onitsha to move East with his family and supporters in search of a new homeland.

They travelled for years founding many settlements along the way. It was in one such place, Obior, that Eze Chima died but some of his children and followers continued, founding other places that make up the Ezechima clan in the present Delta State of Nigeria. This explains the Kinship with Issele-Uku, Obamkpa, Onitsha-Ugbo, Onitsha-Olona, Obior, Onitsha-Ukwu and so on. As a matter of fact, some Onitsha villages like Obior and Obamkpa (Iyiawu and Umuase) owe their names to these places and trace their origins to the clans across the Niger.

The modern day Onitsha, however, has become a metropolis consisting of the descendants of the original immigrants and a mixture of hinterland Igbos, the Igalla people and others attracted by the booming commerce, marriage and those whose ancestors were bonded in servitude. The acculturation that followed has resulted in the admixture of present day customs and in some cases loss of certain ethos and norms. Some traditional institutions and customs have however survived this corruption which is why Onitsha kingship remains a revered institution among first class leaders in Nigeria. Other such ancient customs include the Ndichie, traditionally the King's ministers and warlords. Aspects of Onitsha burial rights and names have also survived the cross cultural influence

http://www.onitshasummit.com/History.php

That's a well known fact. Even the ikwerres, itsekiris, ukwuanis, ekperis and ekpeyes all trace their ancestry from Benin.

Another Source:

The history of Onitsha began with the migration of its people from the Benin Empire towards the end of early part of the Sixteenth Century AD. The migration was as a result of a wave of unrest, war and displacement unleashed by the Islamic movement from North Africa.

It was during their passage through the outskirts of Ile-Ife that they acquired the name Onitsha - a corruption of the Yoruba word Orisha and Udo, the famous shrine worshipped by the people. As time went on, the combination of the two words, Onitsha for Orisha and Ado for Udo culminated in the present name , Onitsha Ado.



The people of Onitsha left the out skirts of Ile-Ife and resettled in the Benin Kingdom and soon established themselves as one of the clans in the Benin Kingdom exercising all the rights and privileges attached thereon.

As a result of a long process of acculturation in Benin, the Onitsha people jealously guarded their acquired rights particularly with regard to their revered Shrine Udo.

It was suggested that the reason why the Onitsha people quarreled with Oba Esigie, (1404-1550), of Benin was because of the slight, the Oba gave their shrine-Udo. It was customary for newly installed Oba to pay homage to all important Shrines in the Benin Kingdom by slaughtering a cow in the shrines enclave. Oba Esigie failed to do this at the Onitsha people's Udo-Shrine, hence the quarrel.

It took the Onitsha people several years before they got to Obior and Ilah and finally crossed the River Niger and established Onitsha Ado. They stopped at several places in the then Mid-West now called Delta State, places like Agbor, Issele-Uku, etc. This explains the affinity with the inhabitants of Delta State like Ilah, Issele-Uku, Obbaamkpa, Onitsha-Olona, Onitsha Ugbo, Agbo, Obior, Onitsha Ukwu and so on.


There are nine groups of Kindred, (Ebo Etenani), making up Onitsha Ado Community. site was designed solely for the purposes of history and I apologize for any error. However, if you have an update on members of this family , please send it to me and I will update it immediately. webmaster@onitshaado.com Source: 1. Eke na ubene by Chief P.O.N Egbuniwe 2. Onitsha Ado genealogy by Kpajie Ubiaike

http://www.edofolks.com/html/pub32.htm

Okay...... onitcha is part of yolloba land
Op hope u are now happy

My head don dey scratch because of this new claim

mulattoclaro:
That's a well known fact. Even the ikwerres, itsekiris, ukwuanis, ekperis and ekpeyes all trace their ancestry from Benin.

Very true. History must be protected.
D fact that texas is part of US today does not change d history of texas as a former part of Mexico.

Igbo can respect history and still achieve thier Biafra. What i dont like is when they deliberately destroy history just because of Biafra. You cant achieve biafra if d foundation is falsehood.

Kenzico:
My head don dey scratch because of this new claim

It is not a new claim. Nnamdi Azikiwe who is d greatest Igbo Man in Nigeria History also said Onitsha people are Bini

mulattoclaro:
That's a well known fact. Even the ikwerres, itsekiris, ukwuanis, ekperis and ekpeyes all trace their ancestry from Benin.

Well,we are expecting the Oba of Bini to come take his share of land in Onicha and also crown the next Obi...jehe

Scholes007:
Ignore this thread...

because you hate truth.

OdenigboAroli:


Well,we are expecting the Oba of Bini to come take his share of land in Onicha and also crown the next Obi...jehe

Dont deny true history

Sometimes, I wonder why all these people that said they migrated from Bini don't have their own language. Why do all of them speak Igbo dialect. They forget their language as they travel.

Even Enugu people are from Idoma in Benue state and igala in kogi state.

Abia and IMO people are from Rivers and Akwaibom states! The question now is who are the Igbo people

Abia state is Yoruba

IMO state is Yoruba

Ebonyi state is Hausa

Enugu state is Yoruba

Anambra state is Yoruba


Op a.k.a Land grabber are you happy

Uniben4sure:
Even Enugu people are from Idoma in Benue state and igala in kogi state.

Abia and IMO people are from Rivers and Akwaibom states! The question now is who are the Igbo people

Akwaibom state is Yoruba

Rivers state is Yoruba

Delta state is Yoruba

Cross rivers state is also Yoruba


Thread closed

Rose2014:


Akwaibom state is Yoruba

Rivers state is Yoruba

Delta state is Yoruba

Cross rivers state is also Yoruba


Thread closed

Stop running away from truth.

Rose2014:


Akwaibom state is Yoruba

Rivers state is Yoruba

Delta state is Yoruba

Cross rivers state is also Yoruba


Thread closed

I tell you!

Anything to make the op and his fellow land grabbers sleep!

In an interview with P.M.NEWS in his palace at Ijebu Ode, the monarch, when reminded of his claim in 1983 that the Ijebus are from Waddai in Sudan, said every tribe in the country migrated from somewhere.

Says Oba Adetona: “Let me tell you, there are ways of settlements, even before Oduduwa came to Ile-Ife, Ife was already in existence. All you just have to do is go to history books, you’ll see all these things there.�

Reminded that the statement is often used against the Ijebus with people regarding them as aliens, Awujale described such act as rubbish, saying “how can they use it against the Ijebus? Who is using it against them? What about others? Are they not from other areas before they settled here?�

Oba Adetona who marked his 76 birthday on 10 May, 2010 said no Nigerian has any right to use the source of migration against another as it is evident all over the world that everybody has his or her roots.

In his royal message, the Awujale advised traditional rulers to steer clear of partisan politics as it is obvious that their subjects can never belong to the same political party and a royal father must not seen to be taking sides.

He told P.M.NEWS that his memorable encounter with the first civilian governor of Ogun State, the late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, in 1983 occupies a chapter in his book that will be launched tomorrow at the grand finale of his coronation anniversary at the Gateway International stadium, Ijebu-Ode.

On the clash between him and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunabde Sijuade, Oba Adetona said: “Don’t forget, people try to say we have differences, no, not at all. I am the Awujale of Ijebuland, my instrument of office says so. Ooni is Ooni of Ile-Ife, the instrument of office given to him states so.

“All the claims he is making now are not correct, they are not tenable. The first time the Obas ever met in Yorubaland was in 1937. Before then, they never met, so I think the man is playing politics, trying to over price himself,� Awujale explained.

Asked if they’ve both met of recent, the paramount ruler exclaimed: “Where and for what!?�

He stressed that they were not competing for anything and he has no cause to go to Ile-Ife just as Ooni has no mission in Ijebuland.


http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2010/06/25/ijebus-are-from-sudan-awujale-insists/

Uniben4sure:
I tell you!

Anything to make the op and his fellow land grabbers sleep!

We are not saying Benin own Onitsha today. Onitsha is igboland today. No doubt. But that does not erase history.

Today US is d most powerful country in d world. That does not change d fact that US was colonize by Britain and most US citizens are european migrant.

acclaimed leader of Yorba nation Awolowo is a Sudanese same with Mike Adenuga says Awujale of Ijebu land

If Onicha actually means despising others, I can see how that maybe true.
However, the big question would be when did they starting this despising? As soon as they left Idu(Benin), and were virtul refugees along the way? I say no.

So it would not make any sense that those who were unable to continue the migration all the way to present day Onicha would also adopt the name Onicha along the way, even when they had nobody to despise. Onicha-Olona, Onicha Ugbo would not have adopted such names, because they had no lawless Igbos to despise even as they were struggling as refugees trying to escape from Idu.

Very interesting history though, but like all folklores, it usually doesn't stand up to critical scrutiny.

realnews:


We are not saying Benin own Onitsha today. Onitsha is igboland today. No doubt. But that does not erase history.

Today US is d most powerful country in d world. That does not change d fact that US was colonize by Britain and most US citizens are european migrant.

Ehen ! And I helped you to enumerate the other tribes that also "colonized" igboland.

Lest I forget, even Lagos, ondo, ogun , osun and ekiti people are also from Bini because the Bini empire once extended to those places!

naijaking1:
If Onicha actually means despising others, I can see how that maybe true.
However, the big question would be when did they starting this despising? As soon as they left Idu(Benin), and were virtul refugees along the way? I say no.

So it would not make any sense that those who were unable to continue the migration all the way to present day Onicha would also adopt the name Onicha along the way, even when they had nobody to despise. Onicha-Olona, Onicha Ugbo would not have adopted such names, because they had no lawless Igbos to despise even as they were struggling as refugees trying to escape from Idu.

Very interesting history though, but like all folklores, it usually doesn't stand up to critical scrutiny.

Are u christian or muslim? IF yes, it means you believe the whole world is from Adam and Eve.

Yet d chinese are completely different from Arab. And europeans completely different from Africans.

Many factora affect people culture and language over time.

If u can believe Adam and Eve as our first parents, then this will be easy to make alot of sense

Uniben4sure:
Even Enugu people are from Idoma in Benue state and igala in kogi state.

Abia and IMO people are from Rivers and Akwaibom states! The question now is who are the Igbo people

Though am not sure of your intention, but there some element of truth in your post. You only have to travel around the World to come back home to see the beauty and similarity of Nigerian tribes.

Enugu north people in Nsukka and Igbo-eze areas have so much in common with the Idomas and the Igalas that you don't need a British born anthropolist to come tell you that they are related.
Same with Umuahia people and Efiks/Annangs. Afikpo people are almost Cross River guys already. So, Onicha people, like other Igbos have distant cousins not leaving in Igboland, and probably hostile toward Igbos today!

naijaking1:


Though am not sure of your intention, but there some element of truth in your post. You only have to travel around the World to come back home to see the beauty and similarity of Nigerian tribes.

Enugu north people in Nsukka and Igbo-eze areas have so much in common with the Idomas and the Igalas that you don't need a British born anthropolist to come tell you that they are related.
Same with Umuahia people and Efiks/Annangs. Afikpo people are almost Cross River guys already. So, Onicha people, like other Igbos have distant cousins not leaving in Igboland, and probably hostile toward Igbos today!

Not only nsukka people. My own community in nkanu has its history traced to idoma people in Benue state. But like a poster here said, every tribe in Nigeria migrated from somewhere.

realnews:


Are u christian or muslim? IF yes, it means you believe the whole world is from Adam and Eve.

Yet d chinese are completely different from Arab. And europeans completely different from Africans.

Many factora affect people culture and language over time.

If u can believe Adam and Eve as our first parents, then this will be easy to make alot of sense

I prefer to look at this from a scientific perspective, and it says" All human beings originated from somewhere in the East/south African plains, then migrated north-mostly, then west, and a few south. The ones migrating north crossed into middle east , Asia, Europe, and then Russia.
Physical appearance is an adaptive mechanism to cope with various environmental changes like weather, altitude, diet, etc.

So the Igbos are even children to the Edo people . Just imagine your children having to lay claims to your property before your death. Food for thought!!!

Asaba Delta State was given the name by Edo people (BINI tribe). When they got to Onitcha river, they couldn't cross so they named the place "Aisaba" meaning "you can't".

The great Benin Kingdom inhabited many places in Nigeria.

When you're not guided by principle but emotions, confusion is inevitable.

In the end Biafra will come

Biafrans are land grabbers