₦airaland Forum

RickyTan:
I don't have problem with Benin - so no it was not conquered - I take that back - BIAFRA was on our way to LAGOS.
BUT TELL BENIN BOY BORDAFT TO NOT INSULT our OBis because of regalia. Notice i started off with Afonjas and benin NO BE AFONJA.

gregyboy:
haha laff biafra my foot hopeless fools if it were to b real conquering mhen i tell u benin would have won the war b4 it started me myself i would drop christinity aside nd do what we do best to conquere ur sorry asses wonder were the ibos or biafra wen the british was putting them in nigeria by the way make any igbo in his life think to fight with weakest benin man its death sentence. idiotic tribe of confusion bloody ritualist humman flesh eaters a disgracefully set of tribe in nigeria i pity d biafras wen i go to skul i see thier free biafra in uselu area i cry for sorry asses stingy biquot

MAKE THE WAR START FIRST DEM GO HEAR AM!!

NA BENIN DEM WAN JOKE WITH?

BornStunner1:

YOU ARE JUST A CONFUSED BUAFRUAD LIKE MOST OF YOUR PEOPLE!!

MOST IGBOS ARE FROM THE GREAT BENIN EMPIRE DEAL WITH IT OR TAKE THE OBA OF LAGOS ADVICE CORCERNING LAGOON!!

RickyTan:
I[s]T IS the BENIN that stole the regalia from OUR OBIs
As for the OBA he is a retired police throaway.
Again I don't really have a problem with BENIN so I will not insult you too much[/s].

BornStunner1:
Lol stole regalia u sef know dats a blunder dont disgrace yourself further
Thats the new obi taking permission from the Oba of Benin before he ascended his throne!!


DO NOT EMBARRASS YOURSELF FURTHER!!!

BornStunner1:
Lol stole regalia u sef know dats a blunder dont disgrace yourself further
Thats the new obi taking permission from the Oba of Benin before he ascended his throne!!


DO NOT EMBARRASS YOURSELF FURTHER!!!

RickyTan:
My father/ ancestry is from UBULU in present day Delta State. I do not live there now, but I do not have any problem with Benin though but we are IGBOS

dragonking3:
The Obi of Onitcha and these dude are all under the Benin dynaty. It is a bitter truth for you guys to swallow but it is true.

hammerT:
[s]Is it now clear to u that the Benin Kingdom has strong Igbo roots?


The new Oba of Benin is a red cap Chief. Very soon u will say igbos started wearing red cap becos of the Oba of Benin wen in actual fact, it was the other way roun[/s]d.

hammerT:
There are other schools of thought, that argue that, the Oba of Bini has his roots in Nri. (Eze Nri)

Nri Kingdom is the oldest in west Africa and it is argued that kingship was carried west by igbo traders and farmers that crossed the River Niger. That is how Benin Kingdom started.

The word Oba is borrowed from the igbo word Obi which actually means Palace.

BornStunner1:
ITS SUCH A PITY YOU DO NOT EVEN KNOW YOUR HISTORY AND GENEOLOGY.....

UBULU PEOPLE ARE FROM BENIN EMPIRE!!

YOU ARE EDIOD NOT IGBO

YOU HAVE BENIN BLOOD RUNNING IN YOUR VIENS AND I CONSIDER YOU KITH AND KIN!!

I WULD ARGUE WITH YOU NO FUTHER!!


THIS IS A PIC OF THE LATE OBI OF UBULU AND HIS SON

HE WAS A FREQUENT VISITOR TO THE PALACE OF THE OBA OF BENIN!!

BornStunner1:
ITS SUCH A PITY YOU DO NOT EVEN KNOW YOUR HISTORY AND GENEOLOGY.....

UBULU PEOPLE ARE FROM BENIN EMPIRE!!

YOU ARE EDIOD NOT IGBO

YOU HAVE BENIN BLOOD RUNNING IN YOUR VIENS AND I CONSIDER YOU KITH AND KIN!!

I WULD ARGUE WITH YOU NO FUTHER!!



THIS IS A PIC OF THE LATE OBI OF UBULU AND HIS SON

HE WAS A FREQUENT VISITOR TO THE PALACE OF THE OBA OF BENIN!!

BornStunner1:
NO BODY TAKES U SERIOUS ON NAIRALAND NOW I KNOW WHY!!
JUST LOOK AT DAT BLUNDER U JUST TYPED

ROOTS? WAT ROOTS? .... SOUTH EAST THAT DO NOT EVEN HAVE TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS BUT JEALOUS THE ANIOMAS IN DELTA THAT GOT THIERS FROM THE GREAT BENIN EMPIRE

DO NOT MENTION ME EVER AGAIN IN UR LIFE I DO NOT HAVE TIME TO REPLY SENSELESS POSTS!!

RickyTan:
No argument from me.
Actually I somewhat agree with you because think I remember faint references to Benin from my father.

Ngozi123:
Have you got any sources for this? It's a very interesting school of thought and I'd like to look further into it. However, it does seem a bit odd that these traders supposedly carried the kingship to Benin but could not do the same in other towns/villages that do not have kingdoms on their way.

Full list of West African Kingdoms

The Nok Civilization is considered to be one of the most advanced ancient sub-Saharan civilizations in African history. Beginning some time around 1500 BCE, it was largely concentrated in what is now Nigeria but produced some of the first sub-Saharan iron smelting and terracotta architecture. Mysteriously died out around 200 CE.

The Kingdom of Nri (1043–1911) was the West African medieval state of the Nri-Igbo, a subgroup of the Igbo people, and is the oldest kingdom in Nigeria. The Kingdom of Nri was unusual in the history of world government in that its leader exercised no military power over his subjects. The kingdom existed as a sphere of religious and political influence over much of Igboland, and was administered by a priest-king called the eze Nri. The eze Nri managed trade and diplomacy on behalf of the Igbo people, and was the possessor of divine authority in religious matters.

The Oyo Empire (1400–1895) was a West African empire of what is today western Nigeria. The empire was established by the Yoruba in the 15th century and grew to become one of the largest West African states. It rose to preeminence through wealth gained from trade and its possession of a powerful cavalry. The Oyo Empire was the most politically important state in the region from the mid-17th to the late 18th century, holding sway not only over other Yoruba states, but also over the Fon kingdom of Dahomey (located in the state now known as the Republic of Benin).

Benin Empire (1440–1897), a pre-colonial African state of modern Nigeria.

Kaabu Empire (1537–1867), a Mandinka Kingdom of Senegambia (centered on modern northeastern Guinea-Bissau but extending into Casamance, Senegal) that rose to prominence in the region thanks to its origins as a former province of the Mali Empire. After the decline of the Mali Empire, Kaabu became an independent kingdom.

Aro Confederacy (1690–1902), a trading union orchestrated by the Igbo subgroup, the Aro people, centered in Arochukwu in present-day Southeastern Nigeria.
Bonoman (11th Century–19th Century) - Earliest known Akan state. Gold trading and Kola nut trading with Northern Neighbors brought wealth and prosperity to Akan creators of this state.. Culture influenced much of modern Akan culture.

Ashanti Empire (1701–1894), a pre-colonial Akan West African state of what is now the Ashanti Region in Ghana. The empire stretched from central Ghana to present day Togo and Côte d'Ivoire, bordered by the Dagomba kingdom to the north and Dahomey to the east. Today, the Ashanti monarchy continues as one of the constitutionally protected, sub-national traditional states within the Republic of Ghana.

Various states by Akan people (11th Century -19th Century)

Kong Empire (1710–1898) centered in north eastern Côte d'Ivoire that also encompassed much of present-day Burkina Faso.

Bamana Empire (1712–1896) based at Ségou, now in Mali. It was ruled by the Kulubali or Coulibaly dynasty established circa 1640 by Fa Sine also known as Biton-si-u. The empire existed as a centralized state from 1712 to the 1861 invasion of Toucouleur conqueror El Hadj Umar Tall.

Sokoto Caliphate (1804–1903), an Islamic empire in Nigeria, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’adu Abubakar. Founded during the Fulani Jihad in the early 19th century, it was one of the most powerful empires in sub-Saharan Africa prior to European conquest and colonization. The caliphate remained extant through the colonial period and afterwards, though with reduced power.

Wassoulou Empire (1878–1898), a short-lived empire of built from the conquests of Dyula ruler Samori Ture and destroyed by the French colonial army.

hammerT:
Find a library and borrow this book, it is very good. Onwuejeogwu, M. Angulu (1981). An Igbo civilization: Nri kingdom & hegemony. Ethnographica. ISBN 978-123-105-X.


The trade of the Igbos referred to as Anioma were mainly fishing and Agricultural produce(live stock). They conducted most of their activities on the River Niger, canoeing to and back with meat and fish.

They fished on the River Niger and Farmed(hunt) in present day Anioma. Consequently many had settled there, as u find igbos settling in places like Lagos and Abuja and elsewhere. The difference is that it was a virgin land and uninhabited.

The Anioma igbos have their roots in Onitsha, Ogbaru and Anambra West. These local government had an Established Kingship that were under the Nri Kingdom sphere of religious and political influence (over a third of Igboland) and was administered by a priest-king called as an Eze Nri. The Eze Nri managed trade and diplomacy on behalf of the Nri people, and possessed divine authority in religious matters.

Nri expanded through converts gaining neighboring communities' allegiance, not by force.

Nri's culture permanently influenced the Northern and Western Igbo, especially through religion and taboos.

British colonialism, the Atlantic slave trade and the rise of the Bini and Igala kingdoms contributed to the decline of the Nri Kingdom. The Nri Kingdom is going through a cultural revival.

Ngozi123:
Thank you for all of your contributions and I will look for this book.

RickyTan:
Benin borrowed the staff and regalia from OUR OBIs in IGBOLAND.

Ngozi123:
Nigeria was once ruled over by the British Empire but that doesn't make you or I any more English than the next person. Where have I disputed the bolded?

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

dragonking3:
I know that the truth is bitter but read this from a truthful Igbo man called Nnamdi Azikiwe

dragonking3:
I know that the truth is bitter but read this from a truthful Igbo man called Nnamdi Azikiwe

Ngozi123:
What was Eze Chima's Bini or Yoruba name? I may have missed it while perusing the article but just in case I didn't, do you know it? Was he only given the name 'Eze Chima' once he arrived in Onitsha?

BornStunner1:
ITS SUCH A PITY YOU DO NOT EVEN KNOW YOUR HISTORY AND GENEOLOGY.....

UBULU PEOPLE ARE FROM BENIN EMPIRE!!

YOU ARE EDIOD NOT IGBO

YOU HAVE BENIN BLOOD RUNNING IN YOUR VIENS AND I CONSIDER YOU KITH AND KIN!!

I WULD ARGUE WITH YOU NO FUTHER!!


THIS IS A PIC OF THE LATE OBI OF UBULU AND HIS SON

HE WAS A FREQUENT VISITOR TO THE PALACE OF THE OBA OF BENIN!!

RedboneSmith:
[s]You know nothing about Ubulu history. That Hausa man wears turban doesn't mean he came from Arabia. That you wear a suit to the office doesn't mean you came from Europe. Benin was a powerful kingdom and influenced all the smaller kingdoms around it. Some of these kingdoms claimed that their ruling families came from Benin. BUT NOT ALL OF THEM MAKE THAT CLAIM! FOR EXAMPLE, OGWASHI-UKU AND UBULU DYNASTIES DON'T CLAIM BINI ANCESTRY[/s].

Ngozi123:
What was Eze Chima's Bini or Yoruba name? I may have missed it while perusing the article but just in case I didn't, do you know it? Was he only given the name 'Eze Chima' once he arrived in Onitsha?

"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