₦airaland Forum

chucky234:
The History of the Ndokwa/Ukwuani
people is as interesting as that of any
other African tribe. This is because no
written account of it is available. Much
of what is known of it, are facts handed down through oral traditions or some scanty detail and accounts as recorded by early European visitors to the area.
The most inspiring thing about our
history is the fact that I have never
come across any Ndokwa/Ukwuani man or woman that believes s/he came from Mecca as is the case with the Bayangida and Oduduwa lineages in Nigeria. Sadly, such tribes in Nigeria that see no folly in propagating such myths are in fact some of the largest black tribes in Nigeria (and Africa).
Further, the Ndokwa people have not
claimed Israel as their ancestral home,
as another big tribe in Nigeria would
want us to believe. To highlight the
flaw in the desire to seek glory
elsewhere, we introduce excerpts culled from the history page of a neighbouring town –Ubulu Ukwu – in
Anioma local government in Delta
State, Nigeria. See the quotes below.
“From Afor to Ubulu-Unor: In fact Ubulu oral tradition states categorically that the grand-parents of Ezemu migrated from Israel and settled at Ife hence Ezemu was often referred to as the king with long hairs – “Ezi Isi Iyomiyo”. From Ife Ezemu and his relations migrated to Afor a village in present day Ndokwa Local Government Area of Delta State.”
From www.ubulu-uku.com/
mysite/origin.htm
. Ironically, no Ndokwa town - including Afor - has corroborated this account of history. First and foremost, we are pure Africans and do not seek to establish our origins elsewhere. If the origins of mankind is in Africa as scientific evidence has shown, with pride and humility, the Ndokwa/Ukwuani people would want to be counted as one of the custodians of these primordial genes.
Rather than fabricate our history, the
Ndokwa people would want to concur
with patterns described by Omole
( www.lagosforum.com/comment.php):
“The term “autochthonous” means
native, aboriginal, indigeous, original.
The available anthropological and
archaeological evidence at our disposal makes it clear that the settlement of the Southern West Africa region is a recent event, going back not more than 5000 years.” And, from the early history of Nigeria( www.countrystudies.us/nigeria/4.htm): “The earliest known example of a fossil skeleton with negroid features, perhaps 10,000 years old, was found at Iii Ileru in western Nigeria and attests to the antiquity of habitation in the region. Stone tools, indicating human settlement, date back another 2,000 years. Microlithic and ceramic
industries were developed by
pastoralists in the savanna from at
least the fourth millennium B.C. and
were continued by grain farmers in the stable agricultural communities that subsequently evolved there. To the south, hunting and gathering gradually gave way to subsistence farming on the fringe of the forest in the first millennium B.C. The cultivation of staple foods, such as yams, later was introduced into forest clearings.”
Having put the history of the Ndokwa in the context of early Nigerian history,let’s now turn our attention to Ndokwa specifically. It is relevant to point out here that the portmanteau word "Ndokwa" generally used to refer to the people of the locality is a recent
coinage. The word Ndokwa has the
morphemes: NDO from the word "Ndo-simili", the people of the Niger and KWA from the word “Ukwuani”, for the Ukwuani speaking people of the lowland. The two peoples reside in the same proximity and share a near
common history. They were both
together during the ABOH division days in the then Midwest state of Nigeria (1960s-1970s). Recently, both regions were under one local government area (LGA) before the splitting up into Ndokwa West, Ndokwa East and Ukwuani LGAs. It is very confusing for those of us who grew up when we had one Ndokwa LGA to conceptualise the emerging distinction introduced by referring to some of the people in the region as "the Ukwuanis" and "the Ndokwas" as if they are totally different entities. Is there any justification in saying that someone from Utagba-Ogbe is an Ndokwa man while someone from Umutu an Ukwuani man? We must be wary of how we present this issue, lest an unnecessary distinction be introduced.
Originally, the people (all) were referred to as the Southern-Ika people before the creation and the re-creation of the local governments of the modern era.
Our northern cousins where called the
Northern Ikas and our neighbour/
cousins from the Ika LGAs have held on to this name till date. Before the advent of the white man, the Ikas, Oshimilis and Aniochas –all in Delta State, Nigeria - were all called the "Enu-Ani" people (Upland people) and the "Ukwuani "(Lowland people) is used to refer to the Ukwuanis/Ndokwas. Prof. E. Isichie in one of her works referenced this fact.
Realistically, the inhabitants of the
Ndokwa/Ukwuani areas are a mix of
different peoples some with a strong
claim to Benin/Edo ancestry while
others lay claim to different origins. The Benin connections, a view held by a majority of Ndokwa/Ukuani clans
cannot be rejected. Although, some
intricate and complicated dimensions
such as linguistics can be brought in,
to test these claims. One must not
forget the fact that the languages in
Aboh (an Ndokwa town) and Benin are
not related.
The Abohs and some other clans in the region claim to have left Benin around the 16th century or earlier, in the same wave of migration that established most of the Igbo-speaking towns west of the Niger and even Onitsha in the east. Egharebva, writes of a period in Aboh (circa 1730 -1750) where the ruling families had to accept emissaries from the Oba (King) of Benin during a dispute.
Surrounding, the Ndokwa/Ukwuanis are other Edoid groups i.e. the Urbobos,the Isokos, the Ijaws. Their influence is palpable amongst the Ndokwas/Ukwuanis socially and culturally. By the same token, it is not out of place to notice that some individuals in a number of clans claim lineage to these neighbouring tribes mentioned above especially those on the border. Group of towns sharing borders with
neighbouring tribes including Abbi,
Emu, Onyia, Ushie and Obiaruku have
inhabitants tracing their origins to
Urhobo,Isoko, Ijaw lands.
Furthermore, a good number of
Ukwuani/Ndokwa towns of including
Afor, Emu, Amai, Utagba-Uno, Onicha-
Ukwuani claim to have been founded
by immigrants from Benin. Onicha is a
variant of the word "Onitsha" and is not a coincidence to have the original
inhabitants of Onitsha (in Anambra
State) holding on to the same story of
King Chime from Benin as its forebear.
There are four Onitshas known today
i.e. Onicha-Olona, Onicha Ugbo,
Onicha-Ukwuani and Onitsha mili (the
popular one). They all share the Benin
migration story. What should be of
import to us is, when did these
migrations take place, and the second
question: Did these new arrivals meet
some other people indigenous to the
land/locality? If so, who were they? It is indeed a tall order to to try to establish these facts because there is an innate aberration in history known that man would always, at all costs, seek to associate with greatness, fame, glory and so on. This, in our case might have robbed us of the information that might helped us pieced together our past history more accurately.
The powerful nature and conquering
role of the old Benin Empire might have influenced many clans favuoring this connection, in the process, either
knowingly or otherwise suppressing
some vital information. As one author,
Rev. Okologu (History of the Ukwuani
people) pointed out in his work, there
are however different extractions in our land – Ndokwa area. For example, some sections of the Abohs believed that they are direct descendants of people from Benin while others look across the Niger into the Igbo hinterland as their origins; yet, some even look far up the Niger to Igala homeland as their ancestral land. It is worthwhile to bring this fact to the fore. What cannot be disputed is political power that the Aboh kingdom held in the past. The kingdom stretched from the fringes of Agbor town (Ika) in the present day Delta State to Ogba (Rivers state), also covering all the Ogbaru region of Anambra State. At the height of its power, the Kingdom of Aboh even had emigrants leaving to populate other parts of old Nigeria. There are quarters in Itsekiri land that claim to have forebears from Aboh town.
__________________

Oga lecturer what is the meaning of ndokwa and ukwuani pls

Also what do you call God , land and your market days

tonychristopher:
Says who ?
How are they related

They are not. Happy now?

bokohalal:
They are not. Happy now?

No

Explained pls

tonychristopher:
Says who ?
How are they related

Abraham begot Isaac who begot the twin brothers Esau and Jacob. The descendants of Esau are collectively called the Edom, while the descendants of Jacob are collectively called Hebrews (Israel). It is likely that the original Edom are the Edo/Idoma/Igala/Igbira people, while the original Hebrews are the Igbo. We need deeper intuition and serious intellectual research to unravel these historical connections. The Edom invaded parts of the Igbo territory that was the Urhobo/Isoko area, while the Yoruba intermixed with parts of the Edo territory that was the Igala area. In the Middle East, Israel and Edom are neighbours, and interestingly, the Igbo and Edo are neighbours in Nigeria. (Here, my use of the term "Edo" implies the Edo/Igala/Idoma/Igbira as they occupy the same stretch of contiguous territory and are direct neighbours of the Igbo). Many writers and historians have tried to explain the Igbo/Edo connections to Israel/Edomites, but they have not really used deep instinct to connect the whole dots. Very possible that the original home of the Hebrews and the Edomites was the present-day Igboland and Edoland respectively before their descendants made a planned migration and founded Israel and Edom areas of the Middle East. I have a good theory that explains these historical debates. We cannot rush to conclusions yet...

https://books.google.com/books?id=libxCQAAQBAJ&pg=PT29&lpg=PT29&dq=edom+igala+idoma&source=bl&ots=zdCKgrgYT2&sig=Zcl5OL4jZmsUTiUS5fruTkyhuuo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwizg870xKnJAhXJuB4KHba0CCoQ6AEIOzAE#v=onepage&q=edom%20igala%20idoma&f=false

http://www.hebrewigbo.com/oral.html

https://yemitom./2011/09/23/127/

https://books.google.com/books?id=DkksBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA75&lpg=PA75&dq=igbo+israel+alaezi+edom&source=bl&ots=8Tf4ciVQFd&sig=n5rf1DIAfDwa9Y-eqk9UOJRatfM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwigsam_yanJAhUIXB4KHVH_C2sQ6AEIQDAF#v=onepage&q=igbo%20israel%20alaezi%20edom&f=false

https://www.afrikanistik-aegyptologie-online.de/archive/2011/3042/Igbo

Donarozzi:
Abraham begot Isaac who begot the twin brothers Esau and Jacob. The descendants of Esau are collectively called the Edom, while the descendants of Jacob are collectively called Hebrews (Israel). It is likely that the original Edom are the Edo/Idoma/Igala/Igbira people, while the original Hebrews are the Igbo. We need deeper intuition and serious intellectual research to unravel these historical connections. The Edom invaded parts of the Igbo territory that was the Urhobo/Isoko area, while the Yoruba intermixed with parts of the Edo territory that was the Igala area. In the Middle East, Israel and Edom are neighbours, and interestingly, the Igbo and Edo are neighbours in Nigeria. (Here, my use of the term "Edo" implies the Edo/Igala/Idoma/Igbira as they occupy the same stretch of contiguous territory and are direct neighbours of the Igbo). Many writers and historians have tried to explain the Igbo/Edo connections to Israel/Edomites, but they have not really used deep instinct to connect the whole dots. Very possible that the original home of the Hebrews and the Edomites was the present-day Igboland and Edoland respectively before their descendants made a planned migration and founded Israel and Edom areas of the Middle East. I have a good theory that explains these historical debates. We cannot rush to conclusions yet...

https://books.google.com/books?id=libxCQAAQBAJ&pg=PT29&lpg=PT29&dq=edom+igala+idoma&source=bl&ots=zdCKgrgYT2&sig=Zcl5OL4jZmsUTiUS5fruTkyhuuo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwizg870xKnJAhXJuB4KHba0CCoQ6AEIOzAE#v=onepage&q=edom%20igala%20idoma&f=false

http://www.hebrewigbo.com/oral.html

https://yemitom./2011/09/23/127/

https://books.google.com/books?id=DkksBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA75&lpg=PA75&dq=igbo+israel+alaezi+edom&source=bl&ots=8Tf4ciVQFd&sig=n5rf1DIAfDwa9Y-eqk9UOJRatfM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwigsam_yanJAhUIXB4KHVH_C2sQ6AEIQDAF#v=onepage&q=igbo%20israel%20alaezi%20edom&f=false

https://www.afrikanistik-aegyptologie-online.de/archive/2011/3042/Igbo

Is the so ?/


And u think I will buy this

chucky234:
My name is Chuck not Chuks, I know the spelling of both.
Chuck is an English name and certainly not an Ibo name, so who is yarning dust between the two of us.

so you recognised chuks as an igbo name. So what s your ndokwa name cos some of them answers chuks and still fool around themselves to yan dust

[quote author=bigfrancis21 post=40358701]The Binis shared exactly the same 4 market days as the Igbos, most likely to have borrowed it from the Igbos:

Eken (Eke)
Orie (Orie)
Aho (Afo)
Okuo (Nkwo).

They also share similar words in Igbo such as 'ise' for number 5, 'ene'\'eno' for number 4 ('ano'\'eno' in Igbo) and 'isee' for 'amen' or 'I concur'.
http://www.edo-nation.net/numer.htt/quote] Why do u Igbos alwys want to re-write history to deceiv d readin public? Evrybody knws dat Igbos did not rule over other tribes in d ancient past, so wat do u hav to prove dat d Binis borrowd dose words frm Igbo wen it was d Binis dat ruled over d Igbos? It is on record dat Edos were very ancient pipo nd giftd empire-builders since antiquity dating back to d 8th century wen d land was knwn as AKA Kingdom. It is also an open-truth dat Edo Kings ruled over much of Southern Nigeria includin Igbo land, nd dat Igbos served as slaves nd servants to Bini kings nd chiefs, hence d name "Igbo" in Edoid language.

Kirigidi, are you Bini? For some reason I thought you were Urhobo.

Radoillo:
Kirigidi, are you Bini? For some reason I thought you were Urhobo.

I'm Urhobo, but we togeda wit d Binis, Ishans, Afemais, Owans, Etsakos, etc, ar all Edoid pipo who share a common origin dating back to d era of d Ogiso Dynasty. Prior to d Oba Dynasty, Edo Kingdom was knwn by its ancient name "AKA KINGDOM". It may also interest u to knw dat d ancestors of d Urhobo/Isoko pipo were active stakeholders nd participants in d buildin of d Ogiso Dynasty in Igodomigodo (present-day Benin-City). It was d incessant confusion, quarrels nd crises which trailed d collapse of d Ogiso Dynasty dat promptd d outward migratn of many Urhobo/Isoko ancestors frm Aka land to dia present homelands btw d 8th nd 11th centuries. In other words, many Urhobo/Isoko ancestors had left ancient Aka land b4 d establishmnt of d Oba Dynasty nd d changin of d name of d kingdom frm "AKA" to "EDO" by Oba Ewuare D Great.

[quote author=Kirigidi post=40501521][/quote]Wait, let me get you in effect. What are you saying?

That the 4 edo market days of Eken, Orie, Aho and Ukwo were not adopted from Nri Igbo?

The Igalas and Idomas who share similar 4 market days got the 4 market days from who? Did the Edos rule over them too?

bigfrancis21:
Wait, let me get you in effect. What are you saying?

That the 4 edo market days of Eken, Orie, Aho and Ukwo were not adopted from Nri Igbo?

The Igalas and Idomas who share similar 4 market days got the 4 market days from who? Did the Edos rule over them too?

Don't u knw dat at a point in history, d Binis conquerd nd ruled over d Igalas? Even Portuguese Explorers had a record of d wars fought when d Attah Igala rebelld against Edo overlordship nd refusd to pay further tributes to Bini royal treasury. It was even around d 15th-17th cnturies dat d Igalas backd by Nupe warriors were able to secure dia indpndnce frm Benin Empire. Dis is not a make-up story, it is a well-documentd fact acknwldgd by historians. D four-mrkt days systm was a creatn of d Edo pipo, nd spread to all neigborin tribes which came unda Benin rule, includin Igala nd Igbo land. Even d famous Nri Igbo was Priest Eri, who left ancient AKA KINGDOM durin d Ogiso era btw 8th-10th cnturies.

Kirigidi:
I'm Urhobo, but we togeda wit d Binis, Ishans, Afemais, Owans, Etsakos, etc, ar all Edoid pipo who share a common origin dating back to d era of d Ogiso Dynasty. Prior to d Oba Dynasty, Edo Kingdom was knwn by its ancient name "AKA KINGDOM". It may also interest u to knw dat d ancestors of d Urhobo/Isoko pipo were active stakeholders nd participants in d buildin of d Ogiso Dynasty in Igodomigodo (present-day Benin-City). It was d incessant confusion, quarrels nd crises which trailed d collapse of d Ogiso Dynasty dat promptd d outward migratn of many Urhobo/Isoko ancestors frm Aka land to dia present homelands btw d 8th nd 11th centuries. In other words, many Urhobo/Isoko ancestors had left ancient Aka land b4 d establishmnt of d Oba Dynasty nd d changin of d name of d kingdom frm "AKA" to "EDO" by Oba Ewuare D Great.

OK. I had to ask because of this whole AKA business. As far as I know Bini people do not acknowledge that they ever called their land 'Aka'. It was (according to traditions) called Igodomigodo, then it became Edo and Bini. (Some say it was renamed Ubini/Bini by Oranmiyan, from which it was changed to Edo by Oba Ewuare.)

'Aka' is just the name you guys in the Urhobo-Isoko cluster zone know it by. Same way 'Idu' is the word people in the Igbo-speaking areas knew it by. No piece of tradition from Benin confirms that the Bini people ever called themselves by either of these names (Aka or Idu).

Second thing I want to ask you is: Where are you getting the idea that Bini ruled Igboland from? Can you point me to any particular tradition that tells us about one Igbo town that was conquered and ruled by the Bini? The Bini have traditions about the kings and Ezomos who fought and defeated the Igala, Akure and Eko, etc. The accounts of these wars and conquests survive. Mention one Bini king, one Ezomo, that conquered an Igbo town. And mention the Igbo town so conquered. The closest you can come is Agbor (and maybe Ubulu-Uku which was invaded in the 18th century). But I'm sure you did not mean these Anioma towns when you said 'Igboland', as most of you do not reckon Anioma as part of Igboland. So I'm asking, which Igboland did Benin conquer or rule?

And oh, I forgot this: You have to stop saying that Eri was Bini. You have said that at least once before; now you're saying it again. There are NO traditions to that effect, and nothing about the social organization that Eri was supposed to have set up in Aguleri suggests an Edo origin. That is something you just made up.

Kirigidi:
Don't u knw dat at a point in history, d Binis conquerd nd ruled over d Igalas? Even Portuguese Explorers had a record of d wars fought when d Attah Igala rebelld against Edo overlordship nd refusd to pay further tributes to Bini royal treasury. It was even around d 15th-17th cnturies dat d Igalas backd by Nupe warriors were able to secure dia indpndnce frm Benin Empire. Dis is not a make-up story, it is a well-documentd fact acknwldgd by historians. D four-mrkt days systm was a creatn of d Edo pipo, nd spread to all neigborin tribes which came unda Benin rule, includin Igala nd Igbo land. Even d famous Nri Igbo was Priest Eri, who left ancient AKA KINGDOM durin d Ogiso era btw 8th-10th cnturies.

All these you are saying are just lies with no factual proof whatsoever. You have not one proof to backup what you have been saying. You cannot sit in your bedroom and re-write history. That is unacceptable.

bigfrancis21:
All these you are saying are just lies with no factual proof whatsoever. You have not one proof to backup what you have been saying. You cannot sit in your bedroom and re-write history. That is unacceptable.

Since u ar doubtin, I advice u consult comprehensive books on history of ancient Benin Empire nd her exploits. Also read materials on history of Idah (Igala) nd her relations wit ancient Benin. Source: J. F. Ade Ajayi & Ian Espie (1965). A THOUSAND YEARS OF WEST AFRICAN HISTORY. page 207 is about history of d Igalas. I hav many other history books on Benin's rule over d Igalas, Yorubas, Igbos, etc, but I left them in my home town.

Kirigidi:
Since u ar doubtin, I advice u consult comprehensive books on history of ancient Benin Empire nd her exploits. Also read materials on history of Idah (Igala) nd her relations wit ancient Benin. Source: J. F. Ade Ajayi & Ian Espie (1965). A THOUSAND YEARS OF WEST AFRICAN HISTORY. page 207 is about history of d Igalas. I hav many other history books on Benin's rule over d Igalas, Yorubas, Igbos, etc, but I left them in my home town.

Well, the 4-market days of Eke, Oye/Orie, Afor and Nkwo are well-known Igbo market days which the Edos, Igalas and Idomas have adopted. The things you have mentioned were simply manufactured by you and I must say are, albeit, preposterous.

I find it odd that people want to 'enforce' their perceived influences on Igboland or Igbos but detest to admit one or two borrowed influences from Igboland or Igbos as if it is a form of 'Igbo domination'.

bigfrancis21:
Well, the 4-market days of Eke, Oye/Orie, Afor and Nkwo are well-known Igbo market days which the Edos, Igalas and Idomas have adopted. The things you have mentioned were simply manufactured by you and I must say are, albeit, preposterous.

Why not first search for dat book I recomended nd read, befor makin ur conclusion?

Kirigidi:
Why not first search for dat book I recomended nd read, befor makin ur conclusion?

That a book is published does not mean it should be taken seriously. Not all so-called books are taken seriously anyway.

[quote author=Kirigidi post=40501521][/quote]what u just said is a TREASON STATEMENT!
Don't you dare make that funny statement again.
Irrelevant urhobo fool feeling funky.

bigfrancis21:
That a book is published does not mean it should be taken seriously. Not all so-called books are taken seriously anyway.

The only thing that book says is that the Bini fought and defeated the Igalas in the 16th century. There is nobody doubting that. That is a well known fact of Nigerian history.

Everything else he's said (including his statement that Eri came from the Edo area) is not found in any scholarly material. That was sourced by him from the sky.

Ndokwa, ika, Ikwerre, ahaoda, Ndoni etc are all Igbo clans. No doubt about that.

chucky234:
The History of the Ndokwa/Ukwuani
people is as interesting as that of any
other African tribe. This is because no
written account of it is available. Much
of what is known of it, are facts handed down through oral traditions or some scanty detail and accounts as recorded by early European visitors to the area.
The most inspiring thing about our
history is the fact that I have never
come across any Ndokwa/Ukwuani man or woman that believes s/he came from Mecca as is the case with the Bayangida and Oduduwa lineages in Nigeria. Sadly, such tribes in Nigeria that see no folly in propagating such myths are in fact some of the largest black tribes in Nigeria (and Africa).
Further, the Ndokwa people have not
claimed Israel as their ancestral home,
as another big tribe in Nigeria would
want us to believe. To highlight the
flaw in the desire to seek glory
elsewhere, we introduce excerpts culled from the history page of a neighbouring town –Ubulu Ukwu – in
Anioma local government in Delta
State, Nigeria. See the quotes below.
“From Afor to Ubulu-Unor: In fact Ubulu oral tradition states categorically that the grand-parents of Ezemu migrated from Israel and settled at Ife hence Ezemu was often referred to as the king with long hairs – “Ezi Isi Iyomiyo”. From Ife Ezemu and his relations migrated to Afor a village in present day Ndokwa Local Government Area of Delta State.”
From www.ubulu-uku.com/
mysite/origin.htm
. Ironically, no Ndokwa town - including Afor - has corroborated this account of history. First and foremost, we are pure Africans and do not seek to establish our origins elsewhere. If the origins of mankind is in Africa as scientific evidence has shown, with pride and humility, the Ndokwa/Ukwuani people would want to be counted as one of the custodians of these primordial genes.
Rather than fabricate our history, the
Ndokwa people would want to concur
with patterns described by Omole
( www.lagosforum.com/comment.php):
“The term “autochthonous” means
native, aboriginal, indigeous, original.
The available anthropological and
archaeological evidence at our disposal makes it clear that the settlement of the Southern West Africa region is a recent event, going back not more than 5000 years.” And, from the early history of Nigeria( www.countrystudies.us/nigeria/4.htm): “The earliest known example of a fossil skeleton with negroid features, perhaps 10,000 years old, was found at Iii Ileru in western Nigeria and attests to the antiquity of habitation in the region. Stone tools, indicating human settlement, date back another 2,000 years. Microlithic and ceramic
industries were developed by
pastoralists in the savanna from at
least the fourth millennium B.C. and
were continued by grain farmers in the stable agricultural communities that subsequently evolved there. To the south, hunting and gathering gradually gave way to subsistence farming on the fringe of the forest in the first millennium B.C. The cultivation of staple foods, such as yams, later was introduced into forest clearings.”
Having put the history of the Ndokwa in the context of early Nigerian history,let’s now turn our attention to Ndokwa specifically. It is relevant to point out here that the portmanteau word "Ndokwa" generally used to refer to the people of the locality is a recent
coinage. The word Ndokwa has the
morphemes: NDO from the word "Ndo-simili", the people of the Niger and KWA from the word “Ukwuani”, for the Ukwuani speaking people of the lowland. The two peoples reside in the same proximity and share a near
common history. They were both
together during the ABOH division days in the then Midwest state of Nigeria (1960s-1970s). Recently, both regions were under one local government area (LGA) before the splitting up into Ndokwa West, Ndokwa East and Ukwuani LGAs. It is very confusing for those of us who grew up when we had one Ndokwa LGA to conceptualise the emerging distinction introduced by referring to some of the people in the region as "the Ukwuanis" and "the Ndokwas" as if they are totally different entities. Is there any justification in saying that someone from Utagba-Ogbe is an Ndokwa man while someone from Umutu an Ukwuani man? We must be wary of how we present this issue, lest an unnecessary distinction be introduced.
Originally, the people (all) were referred to as the Southern-Ika people before the creation and the re-creation of the local governments of the modern era.
Our northern cousins where called the
Northern Ikas and our neighbour/
cousins from the Ika LGAs have held on to this name till date. Before the advent of the white man, the Ikas, Oshimilis and Aniochas –all in Delta State, Nigeria - were all called the "Enu-Ani" people (Upland people) and the "Ukwuani "(Lowland people) is used to refer to the Ukwuanis/Ndokwas. Prof. E. Isichie in one of her works referenced this fact.
Realistically, the inhabitants of the
Ndokwa/Ukwuani areas are a mix of
different peoples some with a strong
claim to Benin/Edo ancestry while
others lay claim to different origins. The Benin connections, a view held by a majority of Ndokwa/Ukuani clans
cannot be rejected. Although, some
intricate and complicated dimensions
such as linguistics can be brought in,
to test these claims. One must not
forget the fact that the languages in
Aboh (an Ndokwa town) and Benin are
not related.
The Abohs and some other clans in the region claim to have left Benin around the 16th century or earlier, in the same wave of migration that established most of the Igbo-speaking towns west of the Niger and even Onitsha in the east. Egharebva, writes of a period in Aboh (circa 1730 -1750) where the ruling families had to accept emissaries from the Oba (King) of Benin during a dispute.
Surrounding, the Ndokwa/Ukwuanis are other Edoid groups i.e. the Urbobos,the Isokos, the Ijaws. Their influence is palpable amongst the Ndokwas/Ukwuanis socially and culturally. By the same token, it is not out of place to notice that some individuals in a number of clans claim lineage to these neighbouring tribes mentioned above especially those on the border. Group of towns sharing borders with
neighbouring tribes including Abbi,
Emu, Onyia, Ushie and Obiaruku have
inhabitants tracing their origins to
Urhobo,Isoko, Ijaw lands.
Furthermore, a good number of
Ukwuani/Ndokwa towns of including
Afor, Emu, Amai, Utagba-Uno, Onicha-
Ukwuani claim to have been founded
by immigrants from Benin. Onicha is a
variant of the word "Onitsha" and is not a coincidence to have the original
inhabitants of Onitsha (in Anambra
State) holding on to the same story of
King Chime from Benin as its forebear.
There are four Onitshas known today
i.e. Onicha-Olona, Onicha Ugbo,
Onicha-Ukwuani and Onitsha mili (the
popular one). They all share the Benin
migration story. What should be of
import to us is, when did these
migrations take place, and the second
question: Did these new arrivals meet
some other people indigenous to the
land/locality? If so, who were they? It is indeed a tall order to to try to establish these facts because there is an innate aberration in history known that man would always, at all costs, seek to associate with greatness, fame, glory and so on. This, in our case might have robbed us of the information that might helped us pieced together our past history more accurately.
The powerful nature and conquering
role of the old Benin Empire might have influenced many clans favuoring this connection, in the process, either
knowingly or otherwise suppressing
some vital information. As one author,
Rev. Okologu (History of the Ukwuani
people) pointed out in his work, there
are however different extractions in our land – Ndokwa area. For example, some sections of the Abohs believed that they are direct descendants of people from Benin while others look across the Niger into the Igbo hinterland as their origins; yet, some even look far up the Niger to Igala homeland as their ancestral land. It is worthwhile to bring this fact to the fore. What cannot be disputed is political power that the Aboh kingdom held in the past. The kingdom stretched from the fringes of Agbor town (Ika) in the present day Delta State to Ogba (Rivers state), also covering all the Ogbaru region of Anambra State. At the height of its power, the Kingdom of Aboh even had emigrants leaving to populate other parts of old Nigeria. There are quarters in Itsekiri land that claim to have forebears from Aboh town.
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There are more than 4 Onicha. In IMO state there are Onicha mbaise, Onicha Uboma, Onusa (Onicha) Nkwerre, in Abia there is Onicha Ngwa, in Ebonyi there is Onicha Ohaozara, in Kogi state there is Onicha Igo, And various other settlements that answer Onicha in Benue state

Kirigidi:
Don't u knw dat at a point in history, d Binis conquerd nd ruled over d Igalas? Even Portuguese Explorers had a record of d wars fought when d Attah Igala rebelld against Edo overlordship nd refusd to pay further tributes to Bini royal treasury. It was even around d 15th-17th cnturies dat d Igalas backd by Nupe warriors were able to secure dia indpndnce frm Benin Empire. Dis is not a make-up story, it is a well-documentd fact acknwldgd by historians. D four-mrkt days systm was a creatn of d Edo pipo, nd spread to all neigborin tribes which came unda Benin rule, includin Igala nd Igbo land. Even d famous Nri Igbo was Priest Eri, who left ancient AKA KINGDOM durin d Ogiso era btw 8th-10th cnturies.

Fake history, this just shows the level of your knowledge... Very shallow. All these stories you guys say is Benin history are all fake! Where you born then? What was the technology involved? I have seen ancient great empires and their relics, Benin is over rated

[quote author=Kirigidi post=40501521][/quote]Fake history

tonychristopher:
Oga lecturer what is the meaning of ndokwa and ukwuani pls
Also what do you call God , land and your market days

Lol.

Abagworo:
@chucky234. The history of Aboh is not as speculative as most parts of Nigeria because Aboh had early contact with the outside world. Your history is all over books written as far back as the 16th century. Do not involve yourself in ignorant revisionism. Visit libraries and learn about your fore fathers. Aboh was speaking Igbo language as at then and the Kings identified themselves as Igbo to the Whiteman and also told them of Idu(Benin City). I can provide you with links to some of the books if you wish to learn.

provide the links. Thanx

pazienza:
People become ignorant when they selectively chose to be blind. The writer of the first article Ignorantly thought that Onicha existed only in the Anioma region, hence he stupidly assumed that Onicha is a Benin related word. If he was open minded and not consumed by self hate, he would have looked east,and would have found that we have more places with Onicha prefix in SE than we have in the entire Anioma.

the op never suggested that Onicha is a Bini word. he only said all four Onichas allude to a Bini origin

Any Umuakashiada person here? Una community name has always perplexed me? Is the cocoyam a totem in you people's community.

Any Umuakashiede person here? Una community name has always perplexed me? Is the cocoyam a totem in you people's community.

tonychristopher:
Is the so ?/


And u think I will buy this

Guy, be careful before you by it because this could be Igbo made history.

OK. I had to ask because of this whole AKA business. As far as I know Bini people do not acknowledge that they ever called their land 'Aka'. It was (according to traditions) called Igodomigodo, then it became Edo and Bini. (Some say it was renamed Ubini/Bini by Oranmiyan, from which it was changed to Edo by Oba Ewuare.)

'Aka' is just the name you guys in the Urhobo-Isoko cluster zone know it by. Same way 'Idu' is the word people in the Igbo-speaking areas knew it by. No piece of tradition from Benin confirms that the Bini people ever called themselves by either of these names (Aka or Idu).

Second thing I want to ask you is: Where are you getting the idea that Bini ruled Igboland from? Can you point me to any particular tradition that tells us about one Igbo town that was conquered and ruled by the Bini? The Bini have traditions about the kings and Ezomos who fought and defeated the Igala, Akure and Eko, etc. The accounts of these wars and conquests survive. Mention one Bini king, one Ezomo, that conquered an Igbo town. And mention the Igbo town so conquered. The closest you can come is Agbor (and maybe Ubulu-Uku which was invaded in the 18th century). But I'm sure you did not mean these Anioma towns when you said 'Igboland', as most of you do not reckon Anioma as part of Igboland. So I'm asking, which Igboland did Benin conquer or rule?

You are wrong. The Ancient name of Edo was Aka before it became Igodomigodo, then Edo. There is still a quarter in Benin till today known as Ogbe laka (Ogbe Aka) or Aka quarters. It's a very popular area around kings square.