₦airaland Forum

pazienza:
Goodluck has a native name , ie Ebelemi. Goodluck is only a name he took from a colonial language. He and Ogbia people don't speak English as first language.
Ezechima and his people were and are Igbo speakers as first language and mother tongue and all bear Igbo names. Your argument is flawed .

Zik merely told a story his Grandmother told him, which is that they came from Bini, and not that they were Bini. Bini was a multi ethnic empire comprising of Igbo, Yoruba, Ijaw, Esan and then Bini people.
Ezechima migrated from Bini, but he obviously was not Bini. And up till today, we have native Igbo speaking groups in Edo state within Bini kingdom. The Igbanke and other small towns like Owariuzo. They are the remnant of Igbo speaking people who were part of Bini.

Zik lived and died Igbo and his Onitsha people remain Igbo.

Here is Obi Achebe speaking on Igbo unity:https://www.google.com/amp/s/businessday

1. The name is Ezechime not Ezechima.

2. Why assume you know the Good luck Jonathan I was referring to. I repeat, not everyone by the name Good luck Jonathan is an English man, not everyone by the name Anthony Jones is an English man just as not every Ngozi is an Igbo by heritage.

The point here is to debunk your argument that names determines someone's heritage.

All notable monarchs and people from Delta to Anambra that claim descent from Ezechime all agree he was a Benin prince. Whatever the Igbos are writing today is nothing but attempt to rewrite history.

Nnamdi Azikiwe had no reason to lie about his heritage at old age and retirement, it doesn't make sense.

Nobody can claim to know Zik's heritage more than Zik and his grandmother.

Zik was an Igbo with Benin blood or heritage just as Obama is an American with African blood or heritage.

You can't claim that there are indigenous Igbo in Benin because Igbo is a recent political coinage. There are various communities in the east that claim Benin ancestry and like their Igala counterparts in the east, no amount of detergent or bleach can remove the Benin or Igala blood in their veins.

Igbo is a recent coinage. Igbo like Anioma was coined to bring different people/tribes whose language may not necessarily be mutually intelligible together. Someone classified as Igbo today may not necessarily have been Igbo in the past. What makes someone an Igbo? You can't claim Anioma and Ikwerre to be Igbo without the people seeing themselves as Igbo. You can't shave someone's head in his absence.

Anioma are Ika and majority don't see themselves as Igbo except for the recent migrant from the east. The average Ikwerre don't also see themselves as Igbo.

There is no evidence that Ezechime migrated into Benin from Igbo land because the word Igbo didn't even exist in his time. What is undisputed is that he left Benin for the east.

samuk:
1. The name is Ezechime not Ezechima.

2. Why assume you know the Good luck Jonathan I was referring to. I repeat, not everyone by the name Good luck Jonathan is an English man, not everyone by the name Anthony Jones is an English man just as not every Ngozi is an Igbo by heritage.

The point here is to debunk your argument that names determines someone's heritage.

All notable monarchs and people from Delta to Anambra that claim descent from Ezechime all agree he was a Benin prince. Whatever the Igbos are writing today is nothing but attempt to rewrite history.

Nnamdi Azikiwe had no reason to lie about his heritage at old age and retirement, it doesn't make sense.

Nobody can claim to know Zik's heritage more than Zik and his grandmother.

Zik was an Igbo with Benin blood or heritage just as Obama is an American with African blood or heritage.

Igbo is a recent coinage. Igbo like Anioma was coined to bring different people/tribes whose language may not necessarily be mutually intelligible together. Someone classified as Igbo today may not necessarily have been Igbo in the past. What makes someone an Igbo? You can't claim Anioma and Ikwerre to be Igbo without the people seeing themselves as Igbo. You can't shave someone's head in his absence.

Anioma are Ika and majority don't see themselves as Igbo except for the recent migrant from the east. The average Ikwerre don't also see themselves as Igbo.

There is no evidence that Ezechime migrated into Benin from Igbo land because the word Igbo didn't even exist in his time. What is undisputed is that he left Benin for the east.

Eze Chima and Ezechime are used interchangeably and non of them are Bini.

Of course, any one can pick any random foreign name to bear. Zik gave his son a Yoruba name. But we know that Zik first son mother tongue is not Yoruba.
Ezechima bore Igbo name and spoke Igbo language, his ethnicity was never in doubt. Your analogy of Igbo name is flawed because you failed to factor in the mother tongue factor.
An Igbo man who bears Anthony will never speak English as mother tongue. Jonathan good luck speaks Ogbia and his town is named in Ogbia language. Ezechima bore Igbo name and all the towns his children established were named in Igbo and continue to speak Igbo until this day.

Not all monarchs in Delta agree Ezechima was a Bini prince, even within Umuezechima, some towns believe he came from within western Igbo and British colonial report believed he came from a now defunct town between Igbodo and Onicha Ugbo. Agbor people believed Ezechima migrated from Agbor and was chased out of Agbor when he tried to Usurp Eze Agbor. This event is renacted in the Osiezi festival in Agbor.
No Bini Prince ever bore Ezechima and oral stories can be distorted and embellished. For example, the Olukumi in Anioma told the British colonial report that they migrated out of Bini when Attah Igala was the king of Bini. But we all know at no point was Attah Igala the king of Bini, and the British colonial report noted that the oral story was flawed.

He never lied about his heritage. He only recanted a story his grandmother told him. That doesn't make the story true.
A child growing up in Nigeria was told that India was banned from world cup because they used juju to win people. We were all told stories of how India won Nigeria 99-0 in a football match using juju. Our parents all believed this event happened and we grew up believing it happened. If there was no civilization, this myth will be passed from generation to another as the truth. Oral stories are only as useful if they pass rationality test.

America is not a native land. America belongs to Amerindian tribes, so your analogy is flawed. Igbo is an indigenous ethnicity united by an indigenous unique language not spoken anywhere else outside Igbo land.
Zik remains an Igbo and lived as an Igbo all his life. Likewise his people.

Igbo is older than Bini. In Anioma, we have towns named with Igbo. Akwukwu-Igbo, Igbo-uzo, etc.
Bini is the artificial creation made up of native edoid tribes ruled by a Yoruba king with Yoruba title called Oba, as against Edo title of Ogie/Ojie/Ovie.

Even as we speak today, we have native Igboid speakers (Igbanke), native Ijaws(Olodiama), native Yorubas( Usen) and even Igala elements, all as part of Bini. And they all speak and maintain their distinct languages.
Despite centuries of Bini imperialism in these parts, they retained their distinction from Bini.
So yes! Bini is an artificial heterogeneous entity made up of people of diverse origins who retained their distinct languages. Whereas Igbos are one people united by one language, with few Edo, Igala, Yoruba migrants who were immediately disarmed and assimilated as Igbo speakers by their Igbo hosts, except in case of Oza nogogo.

Anioma and Ikwerre can claim whatever they like, but like our people say, when a person buries himself,one of his hands stick out as evidence.
Their native Igboid languages will always stick out against them.

It is well established that Igbo speakers lived in Bini in the past and they got there from Igbo land. Their remnants are still found in Edo state today and they still speak Igbo language and bear Igbo names.

pazienza:
Eze Chima and Ezechime are used interchangeably and non of them are Bini.

Of course, any one can pick any random foreign name to bear. Zik gave his son a Yoruba name. But we know that Zik first son mother tongue is not Yoruba.
Ezechima bore Igbo name and spoke Igbo language, his ethnicity was never in doubt. Your analogy of Igbo name is flawed because you failed to factor in the mother tongue factor.
An Igbo man who bears Anthony will never speak English as mother tongue. Jonathan good luck speaks Ogbia and his town is named in Ogbia language. Ezechima bore Igbo name and all the towns his children established were named in Igbo and continue to speak Igbo until this day.

Not all monarchs in Delta agree Ezechima was a Bini prince, even within Umuezechima, some towns believe he came from within western Igbo and British colonial report believed he came from a now defunct town between Igbodo and Onicha Ugbo. Agbor people believed Ezechima migrated from Agbor and was chased out of Agbor when he tried to Usurp Eze Agbor. This event is renacted in the Osiezi festival in Agbor.
No Bini Prince ever bore Ezechima and oral stories can be distorted and embellished. For example, the Olukumi in Anioma told the British colonial report that they migrated out of Bini when Attah Igala was the king of Bini. But we all know at no point was Attah Igala the king of Igala, and the British colonial report noted that the oral story was flawed.

He never lied about his heritage. He only recanted a story his grandmother told him. That doesn't make the story true.
A child growing up in Nigeria was told that India was banned from world cup because they used juju to win people. We were all told stories of how India won Nigeria 99-0 in a football match using juju. Our parents all believed this event happened and we grew up believing it happened. If there was no civilization, this myth will be passed from generation to another as the truth. Oral stories are only as useful if they pass rationality test.

America is not a native land. America belongs to Amerindian tribes, so your analogy is flawed. Igbo is an indigenous ethnicity united by an indigenous unique language not spoken anywhere else outside Igbo land.
Zik remains an Igbo and lived as an Igbo all his life. Likewise his people.

Igbo is older than Bini. In Anioma, we have towns named with Igbo. Akwukwu-Igbo, Igbo-uzo, etc.
Bini is the artificial creation made up of native edoid tribes ruled by a Yoruba king with Yoruba title called Oba, as against Edo title of Ogie/Ojie/Ovie.

Even as we speak today, we have native Igboid speakers (Igbanke), native Ijaws(Olodiama), native Yorubas( Usen) and even Igala elements, all as part of Bini. And they all speak and maintain their distinct languages.
Despite centuries of Bini imperialism in these parts, they retained their distinction from Bini.
So yes! Bini is an artificial heterogeneous entity made up of people of diverse origins who retained their distinct languages. Whereas Igbos are one people united by one language, with few Edo, Igala, Yoruba migrants who were immediately disarmed and assimilated as Igbo speakers by their Igbo hosts, except in case of Oza nogogo.

Anioma and Ikwerre can claim whatever they like, but like our people say, when a person buries himself,one of his hands stick out as evidence.
Their native Igboid languages will always stick out against them.

It is well established that Igbo speakers lived in Bini in the past and they got there from Igbo land. Their remnants are still found in Edo state today and they still speak Igbo language and bear Igbo names.

The summary of your epistle is that Zik and his grandmother didn't know what they were talking about and you and others know more about Zik's heritage than Zik, what more is there to say?. One thing that remains indisputable is that Zik autobiography will continue to remain a reference point to his heritage irrespective of what anyone else's says.

Zik's said his forebears were Benin, you say they are not, I go with Zik because strangers can't tell you who your forefathers were.

It's left for the Benins to tell their history just as it's up to Zik, Anioma and Ikwerre to say who they are, whatever a stranger says doesn't count.

If you identify as Igbo, my contrary view about your heritage becomes irrelevant. If the Benins identify their Oba as Benin and the Oba of Lagos identify himself as someone with Benin heritage, any contrary view heard by someone else is irrelevant. This universally applies to everyone.

samuk:
The summary of your epistle is that Zik and his grandmother didn't know what they were talking about and you and others know more about Zik's heritage than Zik, what more is there to say?. One thing that remains indisputable is that Zik autobiography will continue to remain a reference point to his heritage irrespective of what anyone else's says.

Zik's said his forebears were Benin, you say they are not, I go with Zik because strangers can't tell you who your forefathers were.

It's left for the Benins to tell their history just as it's up to Zik, Anioma and Ikwerre to say who they are, whatever a stranger says doesn't count.

Each Ezechima clan has different version of Ezechima story which are not always in agreement.

Ezechima also had an "Offor" which is a thing of tussle between his sons as to who would possess it, hence many distorted their Ezechima stories.
But we know that only an Igboman keeps an Offor. Issele uku is claiming Bini origin, yet is busy hustling for Offor Ezechima with Onicha Ugbo people who has their own different version of Ezechima story.
Where in this world does a bini man keep an offor and pass it down to descendants? Offor is strictly an Igbo ancient relic found in all Igbo groups, from Igbanke to Ikwerre , all keep offor.

EZECHIME CLAN- AN ANALYSIS ���� 4

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This town lies to the Northeast of the Ezechime area close to Edo State. The Ezi people say their ancestor “Ushi” was a son of Ezechima. Another account identifies Ifite as the founder. Ezi is unique since its just a single town unlike the Issele and Onicha groups. Ushi or Ifite was said to have had five children giving rise to the five villages of Ogbeobi, Ogbeuwafu, Ogbeakwu, Umuolo and Ogbeofu. Now, from the more “stronger” towns of Issele-Uku, Onicha-Ugbo and Obior, the claim of Ezi descending from a son of Ezechima is questioned. It rather identifies “Ifite” as a daughter who was married to “Ushi” , a relative of the founder of Obomkpa called “Anagba”. Thus from these three towns we are made to understand that Ezechima had three children Ukpali, Onicha and Oligbo but the Obomkpa and Ezi people add Anagba and Ushi respectively giving the number to five. Ifite is claimed to be a daughter not a son and was born during a journey. She was married to Ushi, and they co-ruled and founded Ezi. Ezi itself is derived from “Ezi-Uzor” or good abode. Ezi seems not to be involved in the “seniority tussle” which had bedeviled the accounts from Obior, Onicha-Ugbo and Issele-Uku. It agrees that Ezechima did “come from Benin” and one of his sons founded the town.
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1. Ezi is not involved in the tussle thus it would possibly have a more honest narrative on Ezechima. Unfortunately I don’t have much material on Ezi community. Comparison of the king list of Ezi (with 13 names) with Issele-Uku (now with 15 names) suggests it could be a younger settlement though we cannot be very sure of this.
2. The association of the name “Ezi” and “Ifite” is unique only to Igbo people. In fact the full name of Ezi-Uzor(as its often called) is Ezinifite(or Ezifite). I am aware of an Ezinifitte town around Nnewi in Anambra State and in Mbaise is Ezinihitte in Imo State. Ezi and Ifite are often associated with the Umueri clan and its usually used in naming several communities especially within towns in Anambra State(often used for directions). Thus, it gives some clues that Ezi and indeed Umuezechima possibly has some eastern Igbo connection specifically the Umueri people. It is therefore not suprising that in some accounts Chime is identified as migrating from Nri , settled in Benin and got married to Princess Edeleyo of Benin who is called "Eze(chi)".

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Obomkpa gives an entirely new perspective to the narrative. It says Ezechime was originally of Igbo origin from Ogidi. Yes, Igbo origin. Ogidi in this account is not the Ogidi in the present Anambra State. Rather, Ogidi is identified as an autochthonous West Igbo kingdom related to Ogidi on the other side of the Niger. The narrative says that an Oba of Benin demanded for tributes from the vassal West Igbo chiefdoms. The ruler of Ogidi, Ezechime refused and for this reason the Oba declared war on Ogidi, his kingdom. After a long struggle, Ogidi was leveled and what was left of its population was deported to Benin (similar to the deportation policy of the old Babylonian Empire). In their captivity, Ezechime died of heart-break but his descendants and followers were conscious of the fact that they were never of Edo origin. However, the Oba tried to assimilate them as Bini people. Some of Ezechime’s descendants were more receptive to this. But all of them plotted to escape from captivity. They in this narrative includes Ukpali, Onicha, Anagba (the founder of Obomkpa), and Ifite all children of Ezechime and other citizens of the vanquished Ogidi kingdom.

They left Benin on the day they agreed on but some of their relatives who had been more receptive to Benin Society reported them to the Oba. The Oba got angry and sent his soldiers after them. Anagba using his magic (for he was well versed in native medicine) used his astral powers and sensed the approaching Benin army and whisked his people far from them. They got to their old town of Ogidi. It has been taken over by forests and there was no incentive for them to remain together and for this reason each of them left to found their own settlement. This was how the towns were dispersed.
Obamkpa accepts the seniority of Obior. But from the tussle-bound kingdoms of Obior, Onicha-Ugbo and Issele-Uku; the narrative is different. It rather identifies Anagba as a follower of Ezechime and not his son. They all agree that Anagba came from Nri or an eastern homeland. When HIS RELATIVE Ezechime died, Anagba decided to go back to his eastern homeland. But his wife was pregnant and for this reason, he decided to make a tent out of “Mkpa leaves”. This was how the name “Obamkpa” originated from. Thus while an account suggests that Anagba was a follower of Ezechime; another indicates that he was related to Ezechime via blood and they descend from a West Igbo homeland.
Obamkpa has three villages of Ogbeobi, Ukpatu and Ogbeonei. Ugboba , now an autonomous town used to be a part of Obomkpa putting a question to the inclusion of Ugboba as part of Odiani clan rather than Ezechima clan. Another attached town to Obomkpa is the small town of Ogodor which is related to Ugboba. Both descend from people who came from Ishan-Edo land but have been fully absorbed as Igbo people.
NOTES-
1. This narrative is very interesting. Simply because it gives an authentic Igbo origin to Ezechime. It also gives an alternative explanation how the title of “Eze” came about . Since Obomkpa is not involved in such squabbles, her account could be less tainted with distortions. This account confirms the documented narrative given by the American anthropologist, NW Thomas in his 1913 (earlier than any written account) work which suggested that Ezechime’s original homeland is somewhere between the present towns of Igbodo and Onicha-Ugbo(before these towns were founded there was a now extinct kingdom in the area). Could the now long extinct Ogidi kingdom lie somewhere between Onicha-Ugbo and Igbodo or somewhere in Enuani heartland? There will be need to carry out massive excavation of the entire area to verify these claims. There is already such indication already. At Ashama (in Aniocha South), ancient mud sculptures which were sadly destroyed due to poor handling indicates that many of our towns had been founded in areas which had been occupied by extinct communities. Ubulu people talk of the extinct Ozalla people; Aboh talks of the confederation of the now extinct Ewelie people. Ancient economic trees such as palm trees, kola nuts and so on were found in some of our jungles. These jungles were largely “claimed” in the twentieth century by farmers, nobody can really say who planted these trees.
Its also noteworthy that the historian, Prof Isichei noted in her book, that other versions suggesting a West Igbo homeland for the Umuezechima people actually exists and this narrative confirms it. Also, in the Onitsha-Mmili narrative which we will treat later, it suggests that Chime was the king of a kingdom called “Ado” and after losing the war with the Oba of Benin, decided to leave the vanished Ado homeland to found a new kingdom along the Niger. Since Onitsha is near the eastern Niger Ogidi, there will be naturally that tendency to talk of an ancient “Ado” kingdom rather than an ancient “Ogidi” kingdom. If they had stuck to Ogidi like Obomkpa, it would make them appear “inferior” to a “less civilized” neighbouring town of Ogidi.
2. I do however agree that Anagba may not have been a son of Ezechime. But they were related no doubt. This seems to be the reason why the town is not interested in the superiority squabble that exists between Obior, Onicha-Ugbo and Issele-Uku.
3. In some documents, Obomkpa is not included as part of Ezechime clan. Rather its included in Odiani clan where it forms a cluster of three clans namely Obomkpa itself and the dependent communities of Ugboba and Ogodor. Ugboba used to be part of Obomkpa. While Ogodor is an offshoot of Ugboba. Ugboba and Ogodor claim they migrated from Esan land. Adioge is the founder of Ugboba while a descendant called Okogboi founded Ogodor. Ugboba means “father’s farm” while Ogodor means “pond”. Ogodor and Ugboba both have Obis ; not Okpalabisis. In my opinion because of their attachment to Obomkpa, they should be placed as Umuezechime clan(but all will be considered as a single unit) or Obomkpa could be transferred to Odiani clan(where the three towns could be independently recognized) and merged with her dependencies.
4. Ase one of the early founders of Onitsha and the ancestor of Ase town in Ndokwa East was a native of Obomkpa. I will give explain the relationship in a later part.
5. Benin accounts support the idea that there were several now extinct West Igbo chiefdoms. Obuobu, the crown Prince of Benin and son of Oba Ewedor of Benin died according to Edo accounts in wars with "Igbo" people in the 1200s. Since the Benin Empire did not extend beyond the Niger to eastern Igbo land even when it was at the height of its power in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, "Igbo land" in this case could only had been in reference to western Igbo land.

By Osita Mordi

The above is Ezi account of Ezechima story.
Ezi is one of the towns in Umuezechima.

Each Ezechima clan have their own story of Ezechima.
And many of them are conflicting because they are dragging the "offor" Ezechima that confers seniority in Igboland, among themselves.

OBIOR
Covers Obior town and associated groups now integrated as part of Igbodo. Obior notes that Ezechime comes from the contraction of the names of Chime and his wife, Princess Ezechi. According to the version I heard, Princess Ezechi was supposed to ascend the throne as the Oba of Benin but was disqualified because she was a woman. This led to a strife and subsequent expulsion of the Princess Ezechi and her consort, Prince Chime. The couple was said to have had three children namely Ukpali, Onicha and Oligbo. Princess Ezechi died before her husband Chime and Chime lived to very ripe age and died peacefully. The couple was buried at a site at Ogbeutu village in Obior where an anthill sprouted from their gravesite.


This grave site called IBA soon developed into a shrine or monument. This monument which has mud sculptures of Chime and his wife Ezechi features their children namely Ukpali, Onicha and Oligbo as well as courtiers and other people who followed their long trek from Benin. Ukpali succeeded Chime and became the Obi. Ezechime is a coined from Chime and Ezechi.

REFLECTION- This story is very interesting. Noteworthy, since a woman (Princess Ezechi) plays a prominent role in the foundation of Obior in this account. However such a feature cannot be found in other versions of the migration in other sub clans. Rather what I had heard from other sub clans is that Ukpali was a woman and Ada(eldest daughter) of Ezechime. She was the first child of the patriarch and very domineering personality. Her younger ones Onicha and Oligbo who were adventurous and were intimidated by her domineering nature left Obior and since she was with her father and was unmarried with no child of her own as she was advancing in age, she decided to have a child via an Idegbe (temporary marriage) affair with a stranger. In the course of the said temporary “marriage”, Ukpali had a son named Obiamam or a stranger had done me a great favor and it was from Obiamam the name Obior was derived from.

The general belief in the clan even among a few Obior people is that Ukpali was a woman. In Onitsha town, the Obi designate is traditionally shaved by the Ada and not the Diokpa of Obior village in Onitsha town. This confirms the widely held opinion. From the Edo point of history, there is absolutely nothing like a princess called “Ezechi”.

Ezechi is clearly an Igbo name. Edos do had strong women in their history. Names like Queen Mother Idia or Princess Aghayubini comes to mind. In Edo accounts , the only name of a princess who was close to become an Oba was Princess Edeleyo, a daughter of Oba Ewuare. She was chosen by the kingmakers of Benin to be the Oba. But she performed all the coronation rites and had assumed the title of Edaiken or the presumptive king when she was suddenly attacked by a menstrual period. This was interpreted as a sign of disproval by the gods of the land. There is no evidence to suggest that the said Princess Edeleyo became known as Ezechi and her husband had the name of Chime.

In my opinion, this version sublimely accepts that a woman played a role in the foundation of Obior town. Though this is officially rejected for obvious reasons, it seems that a story like this was created to give a woman (Princess Ezechi) a prominent role while her son and successor , Prince (in other sub clans Princess Ukpali) Ukpali is identified as a man. This strengthens the claims of Obior and its Obi as the clan head of Ezechima clan.

According to Okpuno, 1968 there are people of Asaba origin (from Umuekwo) now assimilated as Obior people

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Background:In this interview with ��� ��� ������� ����������� ������ 111,��� �� ������� �������,Delta state,we were able to clarify the migration pattern and also supported by various other sources and antiquity of igbo migration and settlement pattern.
■ Ezechima is originally an Nri -igbo migrant from present Anambra state.Agbor is also not far from truth as some communities in Agbor is of Nri origin.
■He was a powerful native doctor who sojourned to the vicinity of Benin kingdom alongside a few others.He operated within the Benin Palace,
■Migration from Nri and Isu into west of Niger River began around 900AD-15th century AD .This migration was triggered by Ecological factors and search for Arable land for farming and new settlements.This is the earliest peopling of the west Niger igbo speaking areas, forming the proto-igbo cultural zone long before the establishment of Benin kingdom (13th century AD).Nris are Itinerant medicine men that traversed the length and breath of the igbo country from precolonial times.They established settlements as they journeyed. They found a place within the Benin Palace during the formative years of the Benin kingdom.Among there duties include to cleanse grave social infractions and abominations and conferring of rights of leadership. They settle disputes and punish crimes,abolished Nso Ani .Account of there role on western igboland is also recounted by Olaudah Equiano an freed igbo slave born In the Delta 1745.
■The presence of excavated bronze Ofo in the Delta (Nancy C.Neaher) and its use up till today,the culture of celebrations of New yams festivals among igbos west of Niger river corroborates and attest to a primordial Nri influence among igbos west of Niger River prior to there contact with the Benin people.
■Henderson(1972) noted that the Ezenri of Oraeri, traditionally sacrificed in all Onitsha shrines and considered Onitsha as part of his realm. This confirms that Onitsha and indeed the Umuezechime clans have a link with Nri(Eri).

■Dei ,Nze, Umunna, Olinzele, and Ndi-Ichie are fully developed in all the Ezechima clans and in Agbor, and are completely absent in Benin culture of all known periods.
■ During an interview in 1913 by Northcote Thomas with one Ezenri in Aguku,he maintained that Benin city(idu) was part of there sphere of influence.According to M.D.W Jeffreys,before the British came ,Obalike was Eze Nri, and crowned the Kings of Benin and presided ritually over the surrounding people.

������ ��� ������� ���������
■This reverse migration is said to have begun around 15th-17th century AD. This also coincide with the period of exodus in and around the Benin kingdom due to hostilities, with people seeking refuge in already established settlements in the Delta,
■ For Ezechima(chime) ,they moved in the only direction known to them,which is towards east ,until they crossed over and settled at onitsha.
■As the igbo groups (Ezechima)trailed there way back,some found new settlements while others met others igbo groups already settled during earlier migration.
■As expected, due to there prolonged stay within the kingdom, they embibe some aspect of Benin culture which features in there dressing and monarchical style today.
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■ Most precolonial empires were multiethnic, due to fluidity of movement in precolonial times where there isn't any state demarcations.so there was inter tribal penetration.Benin kingdom isn't an exception.
■ Benin kingdom is different from Benin people.Benin kingdom is multiethnic, incorporating neighboring tribes into it,like igbos within that vicinity, Esan,itshekiri, Afemine, etc.
■ So when you hear some igbo migration from Benin (Edo) They are still igbos that lived within the vicinity of Benin which later became a kingdom. infact in present Edo state there are igbo speaking groups that have been there for centuries.They speak a dialect of igbo till today.so igbos have always been in Edo state from prehistoric migrations.This should resolve all the identity crisis.
■ most precolonial empires were multiethnic, due to fluidity of movement in those days.
■ This also explains why nobody that migrated out of Benin kingdom speak Benin or bear Benin names.because they were not originally Benin people. A few benin people migrating into large igbo settlement doesn't change there igbo identity.

pazienza:
The above is Ezi account of Ezechima story.
Ezi is one of the towns in Umuezechima.

Each Ezechima clan have their own story of Ezechima.
And many of them are conflicting because they are dragging the "offor" Ezechima that confers seniority in Igboland, among themselves.

Going by your logic of reverse migration of Ezechime back to the east,

1. Who was Ezechime before he went to Benin?

2. Was he an Igbo king or he acquired his kingship after leaving Benin.

3. If the offor confers seniority in Igbo land, did this practice started with Ezechime and if not what happened to the senior elders/kings Ezechime met when he returned back to the east, did they simply relinquish their positions and seniority to Ezechime and his descendants?

4. Why are the descendants of Ezechime whom you claimed returned back from Benin more prominent than other Igbo kings?

5. Did Ezechime had offor whilst in Benin or did he take an offor to Benin or acquired one after leaving Benin and from whom.

You see why Igbo modern day revisionist and rewriting of Ezechime history doesn't make sense.

samuk:
Going by your logic of reverse migration of Ezechime back to the east,

1. Who was Ezechime before he went to Benin?

2. Was he an Igbo king or he acquired his kingship after living Benin.

3. If the offer confers seniority in Igbo land, did this practice started with Ezechime and if not what happened to the senior elders/kings Ezechime met when he came back to the east, did they simply relinquish their positions and seniority to Ezechime and his descendants?

4. Why are the descendants of Ezechime from Benin more prominent than other Igbo kings?

5. Did Ezechime had offor whilst in Benin or did he take an offor to Benin.

You see why Igbo modern day revisionist and rewriting of Ezechime history doesn't make sense.

1. Who are the ancestors of the Igboid speakers still in Edo today known as Igbanke?
Some questions are meaningless. Ezechima was an Igbo man living in the vicinity of Bini like some Igbos still do till today.

2. According to Onicha Ugbo account, Ezechima became rich in Bini empire and attracted the envy of the Bini royalty. He was likely the leader of his Igbo group living in Bini empire.

3. Offor is a clan thing in Igboland, every clan have their Offor or Owhor, depending on your dialect.
Offor umuezechima only concerns umezechima. For example, Ogwashiuku and Asaba are not part of Umu ezechima and so have their own individual offor. Ofor of any clan in Igboland is held by the eldest male of the head village. Ndiigbo practice a form of gerontocracy called Okpalaukwu or Okpalabisi system. The Okpara (oldest male) holds the clan offor. It's same even in Ikwerre or Anioma.

4. I don't understand what you mean by this. Umuezechima infused their knowledge of Bini monarchy into their traditional Okpalabisi Igbo gerontocracy to create a new system of government different from those of us who never had contact with Bini.
Obi onitsha is only powerful because Onitsha his hometown is the business headquarters of Igboland. Eze Nri was the most powerful Eze in the East pre colonial time and he was only but a Priest king.
Igbos practice mainly offor system of government where the oldest male (Okpalaukwu) serve as titular clan head.

5. Ezechima was an Igbobman and every Igbo man must have an offo he must pass to his descendants. Its like a symbol of his and his clan authority.
Usually passed to first son. There is only a tussle for Ezechima offor because it was said that his first son was said to have died before him, throwing the position open for all other sons to claim.
You are obviously Edo so I don't expect you to understand the way of the Igbo.

pazienza:
1. Who are the ancestors of the Igboid speakers still in Edo today known as Igbanke?
Some questions are meaningless. Ezechima was an Igbo man living in the vicinity of Bini like some Igbos still do till today.

2. According to Onicha Ugbo account, Ezechima became rich in Bini empire and attracted the envy of the Bini royalty. He was likely the leader of his Igbo group living in Bini empire.

3. Offor is a clan thing in Igboland, every clan have their Offor or Owhor, depending on your dialect.
Offor umuezechima only concerns umezechima. For example, Ogwashiuku and Asaba are not part of Umu ezechima and so have their own individual offor. Ofor of any clan in Igboland is held by the eldest male of the head village. Ndiigbo practice a form of gerontocracy called Okpalaukwu or Okpalabisi system. The Okpara (oldest male) holds the clan offor. It's same even in Ikwerre or Anioma.

4. I don't understand what you mean by this. Umuezechima infused their knowledge of Bini monarchy into their traditional Okpalabisi Igbo gerontocracy to create a new system of government different from those of us who never had contact with Bini.
Obi onitsha is only powerful because Onitsha his hometown is the business headquarters of Igboland. Eze Nri was the most powerful Eze in the East pre colonial time and he was only but a Priest king.
Igbos practice mainly offor system of government where the oldest male (Okpalaukwu) serve as titular clan head.

5. Ezechima was an Igbobman and every Igbo man must have an offo he must pass to his descendants. Its like a symbol of his and his clan authority.
Usually passed to first son. There is only a tussle for Ezechima offor because it was said that his first son was said to have died before him, throwing the position open for all other sons to claim.
You are obviously Edo so I don't expect you to understand the way of the Igbo.

It's not true that Benin don't have something similar to Igbo Offor, in Benin, it's called Ukhure. The Offor/Ukhure practice may have attained slight variation as it move down east.

Ukhure is passed down every family through the first son. All established Benin families have an ancestral house which houses the family ancestral altar where the Ukhure are kept.

At the death of every senior son, a new Ukhure is made and added to the others which are inherited by the most senior son, this is how Benin families kept track of their ancestors.

Each Ukhure represents a departed ancestor. This is another evidence to support the claim that Ezechime with offor which is similar to Benin Ukhure was Benin nobility.

samuk:
It's not true that Benin don't have something similar to Igbo Offor, in Benin, it's called Ukhure. The Offor/Ukhure practice may have attained slight variation as it move down east.

Ukhure is passed down every family through the first son. All established Benin families have an ancestral house which houses the family ancestral altar where the Ukhure are kept.

At the death of every senior son, a new Ukhure is made and added to the others which are inherited by the most senior son, this is how Benin families kept track of their ancestors.

Each Ukhure represents a departed ancestor. This is another evidence to support the claim that Ezechime was Benin nobility.

Ezechima don't keep Ukhure or whatever you call it.
Moreover Bini is an absolute monarchy, so I doubt your Ukhure bears same authority as Offor in Igbo land.
Please Offor is not same as Ukhure.

pazienza:
Eze Chima and Ezechime are used interchangeably and non of them are Bini.

Of course, any one can pick any random foreign name to bear. Zik gave his son a Yoruba name. But we know that Zik first son mother tongue is not Yoruba.
Ezechima bore Igbo name and spoke Igbo language, his ethnicity was never in doubt. Your analogy of Igbo name is flawed because you failed to factor in the mother tongue factor.
An Igbo man who bears Anthony will never speak English as mother tongue. Jonathan good luck speaks Ogbia and his town is named in Ogbia language. Ezechima bore Igbo name and all the towns his children established were named in Igbo and continue to speak Igbo until this day.

Not all monarchs in Delta agree Ezechima was a Bini prince, even within Umuezechima, some towns believe he came from within western Igbo and British colonial report believed he came from a now defunct town between Igbodo and Onicha Ugbo. Agbor people believed Ezechima migrated from Agbor and was chased out of Agbor when he tried to Usurp Eze Agbor. This event is renacted in the Osiezi festival in Agbor.
No Bini Prince ever bore Ezechima and oral stories can be distorted and embellished. For example, the Olukumi in Anioma told the British colonial report that they migrated out of Bini when Attah Igala was the king of Bini. But we all know at no point was Attah Igala the king of Bini, and the British colonial report noted that the oral story was flawed.

He never lied about his heritage. He only recanted a story his grandmother told him. That doesn't make the story true.
A child growing up in Nigeria was told that India was banned from world cup because they used juju to win people. We were all told stories of how India won Nigeria 99-0 in a football match using juju. Our parents all believed this event happened and we grew up believing it happened. If there was no civilization, this myth will be passed from generation to another as the truth. Oral stories are only as useful if they pass rationality test.

America is not a native land. America belongs to Amerindian tribes, so your analogy is flawed. Igbo is an indigenous ethnicity united by an indigenous unique language not spoken anywhere else outside Igbo land.
Zik remains an Igbo and lived as an Igbo all his life. Likewise his people.

Igbo is older than Bini. In Anioma, we have towns named with Igbo. Akwukwu-Igbo, Igbo-uzo, etc.
Bini is the artificial creation made up of native edoid tribes ruled by a Yoruba king with Yoruba title called Oba, as against Edo title of Ogie/Ojie/Ovie.

Even as we speak today, we have native Igboid speakers (Igbanke), native Ijaws(Olodiama), native Yorubas( Usen) and even Igala elements, all as part of Bini. And they all speak and maintain their distinct languages.
Despite centuries of Bini imperialism in these parts, they retained their distinction from Bini.
So yes! Bini is an artificial heterogeneous entity made up of people of diverse origins who retained their distinct languages. Whereas Igbos are one people united by one language, with few Edo, Igala, Yoruba migrants who were immediately disarmed and assimilated as Igbo speakers by their Igbo hosts, except in case of Oza nogogo.

Anioma and Ikwerre can claim whatever they like, but like our people say, when a person buries himself,one of his hands stick out as evidence.
Their native Igboid languages will always stick out against them.

It is well established that Igbo speakers lived in Bini in the past and they got there from Igbo land. Their remnants are still found in Edo state today and they still speak Igbo language and bear Igbo names.

At bolded, u are talking nonsense...

Benin has been dated to have existed since the BC times... There is no valid proof abt which tribe is older so I don't indulge in such convo. Only arrogant and ignorant people do such...

And also,the fact that u think that our oba did not originate from Benin(which is not true) and it makes Benin an artificial tribe is very false and shallow reasoning..

History is filled with kings who didn't originate from their territory

For example, The Queen of England didn't originate from England , did that make English an artificial tribe


If u call Benin which is the chief language of the edoid group an artificial tribe, that means the Urhobo, esan, afemai, isoko and the lots are also artificial...

U are beginning to let emotions into ur arguments. .hence the tears filled lie's

Etinosa1234:
At bolded, u are talking nonsense...

Benin has been dated to have existed since the BC times... There is no valid proof abt which tribe is older so I don't indulge in such convo. Only arrogant and ignorant people do such...

And also,the fact that u think that our oba did not originate from Benin(which is not true) and it makes Benin an artificial tribe is very false and shallow reasoning..

History is filled with kings who didn't originate from their territory

For example, The Queen of England didn't originate from England , did that make English an artificial tribe

U are beginning to let emotions into ur arguments. .hence the tears filled lie's

I actually allowed these parts of his claims to slide because I saw them as a diversionary tactics, I just wanted to concentrate on Ezechime who happened to be the most prominent Igbo leader that ever lived who only left Benin in the 1700s with Benin written all over him.

Imagine someone whose Igbo didn't exist in the 1700s calling Benin artificial.

Etinosa1234:
At bolded, u are talking nonsense...

Benin has been dated to have existed since the BC times... There is no valid proof abt which tribe is older so I don't indulge in such convo. Only arrogant and ignorant people do such...

And also,the fact that u think that our oba did not originate from Benin(which is not true) and it makes Benin an artificial tribe is very false and shallow reasoning..

History is filled with kings who didn't originate from their territory

For example, The Queen of England didn't originate from England , did that make English an artificial tribe


If u call Benin which is the chief language of the edoid group an artificial tribe, that means the Urhobo, esan, afemai, isoko and the lots are also artificial...

U are beginning to let emotions into ur arguments. .hence the tears filled lie's

Bini is an artificial creation.

Bini is made up of Edoid tribes ( Igodomigodo), the Yoruba rulers ( Oba Bini), Igboid tribes( Igbanke, Owariuzo and many others that have been assimilated totally), Yoruba commoners( in Usen and environment), the Igala elements, and finally, the Ijaws ( in Olodiama) who probably served as porters for the empire marine adventures.
And all these groups still have pockets of them well represented in Edo state till today and retained their distinct languages.

Where is the lie in my stating of the fact that Bini was multiethnic entity?

pazienza:
Bini is an artificial creation.

Bini is made up of Edoid tribes ( Igodomigodo), the Yoruba rulers ( Oba Bini), Igboid tribes( Igbanke, Owariuzo and many others that have been assimilated totally, Yoruba commoners( in Usen and environment), the Igala elements, and finally, the Ijaws ( in Olodiama) who probably served as porters for the empire marine adventures.
And all these groups still have pockets of them well represented in Edo state till today and retained their distinct languages.

Where is the lie in my stating of the fact that Bini was multiethnic entity?

Nonsense yarning.. Benin is Benin and have been existing for ages

U are mainly talking abt people that made up the Empire in the past... All this ones will never call themselves Benin...

We are talking of the Benin people not the Benin Empire...

Will u also call Yoruba an artificial creation because the Oyo Empire consisted of Togo, Benin, Nupe and borgu people?

Yeye dey smell

You don't know what u are talking abt

Also, let me use ur silly logic here...

Igbo is made up of igboid tribes ( nri), , Yoruboid , idoma and Ibibio tribes( Igala, idoma, Ibibio) who probably served as people who sold igbos
And all these groups still have pockets of them well represented in igbo states till today's and retained their distinct languages.

samuk:
I actually allowed these parts of his claims to slide because I saw them as a diversionary tactics, I just wanted to concentrate on Ezechime who happened to be the most prominent Igbo leader that ever lived who only left Benin in the 1700s with Benin written all over him.

Imagine someone whose Igbo didn't exist in the 1700s calling Benin artificial.

Read more about Ezechima and cure your ignorance.
There are hundred versions of his story many of which contradict each other.
But one thing remains constant, he bore Igbo name , likewise his descendants.
https://www.nairaland.com/3162560/ezechima-clan-analysis-osita-mordi

Etinosa1234:
Nonsense yarning.. Benin is Benin and have been existing for ages

U are mainly talking abt people that made up the Empire in the past... All this ones will never call themselves Benin...

We are talking of the Benin people not the Benin Empire...

Will u also call Yoruba an artificial creation because it consisted of Togo, Benin, Nupe and borgu people?

Yeye dey smell

The Ijaw people that migrated from Bini still claim Bini ancestry.
Nembe people are example.

Bini ancestry doesn't equate to being Edo by ethnicity.
Compare it to how many Igbos born in Lagos call themselves Lagosians today. It doesn't make them Yoruba.

Bini was a cosmopolitan centre where many ethnic groups lived in the past though the land belonged to Edos.
When these groups claim they are Bini, it doesn't mean they were Edo. It meant they inhabited in an area under Oba Bini( who was of Yoruba ancestry by the way) control.

For example, St Paul in the Bible was a Roman citizen, yet he wasn't an Italian. He was ethnically a Jew who was born, raised and schooled in cosmopolitan Rome.
Not all who were Romans were of today Italian ethnicity.

Likewise ancient Bini and Edo ethnicity.

pazienza:
Bini is an artificial creation.

Bini is made up of Edoid tribes ( Igodomigodo), the Yoruba rulers ( Oba Bini), Igboid tribes( Igbanke, Owariuzo and many others that have been assimilated totally), Yoruba commoners( in Usen and environment), the Igala elements, and finally, the Ijaws ( in Olodiama) who probably served as porters for the empire marine adventures.
And all these groups still have pockets of them well represented in Edo state till today and retained their distinct languages.

Where is the lie in my stating of the fact that Bini was multiethnic entity?

Igbo is the artificial creation with numerous groups such as Anioma, Ikwerre etc, kicking and screaming to be excluded.

Your most prominent leader that ever lived Ezechime only left Benin in the 1700s.

Your most prominent political leader in modern times, Zik claimed Benin ancestry.

Most of your prominent traditional leaders claim Benin ancestry.

You most prominent town, Onitsha claim Benin ancestry.

pazienza:
The Ijaw people that migrated from Bini still claim Bini ancestry.
Nembe people are example.

Bini ancestry doesn't equate to being Edo by ethnicity.
Compare it to how many Igbos born in Lagos call themselves Lagosians today. It doesn't make them Yoruba.

Bini was a cosmopolitan centre where many ethnic groups lived in the past though the land belonged to Edos.
When these groups claim they are Bini, it doesn't mean they were Edo. It meant they inhabited in an area under Oba Bini( who was of Yoruba ancestry by the way) control.

For example, St Paul in the Bible was a Roman citizen, yet he wasn't an Italian. He was ethnically a Jew who was born, raised and schooled in cosmopolitan Rome.
Not all who were Romans were of today Italian ethnicity.

Likewise ancient Bini and Edo ethnicity.

First... Tell me what u mean by artificial creation, lets be sure of what u are saying

samuk:
Igbo is the artificial creation with numerous groups such as Anioma, Ikwerre etc, kicking and screaming to be excluded.

Igbo is 30million big. Its only Normal that groups at the periphery who feel left behind want a level of independence.
Bini is just one senatorial zone. Lol! Yet the Ogiamen want your Yoruba rulers sent back to Ile ife where they came from and to leave them alone.

samuk:
Igbo is the artificial creation with numerous groups such as Anioma, Ikwerre etc, kicking and screaming to be excluded.

True... In fact all igbos don't even have one ancestor

There was no such thing as ibo until the 16th century and it didn't refer to everyone from the east

Pazienza

pazienza:
Igbo is 30million big. Its only Normal that groups at the periphery who feel left behind want a level of independence.
Bini is just one senatorial zone. Lol! Yet the Ogiamen want your Yoruba rulers sent back to Ile ife where they came from and to leave them alone.

Lies... Still doesn't change the fact that it's an artificial creation

Artificial is artificial irrespective of number

pazienza:
Igbo is 30million big. Its only Normal that groups at the periphery who feel left behind want a level of independence.
Bini is just one senatorial zone. Lol! Yet the Ogiamen want your Yoruba rulers sent back to Ile ife where they came from and to leave them alone.

Do u see ur logic?

U said Benin is one senatorial zone but when u want to talk about Benin ethnicity as artificial creation, u include more than 3 states into it..

Are u ok?

pazienza:
Igbo is 30million big. Its only Normal that groups at the periphery who feel left behind want a level of independence.
Bini is just one senatorial zone. Lol! Yet the Ogiamen want your Yoruba rulers sent back to Ile ife where they came from and to leave them alone.

30 million big is the more reason it's artificial. The 30 million comprises of various people with varying allegiances with Benin, Igala etc. Who are the real Igbos without admixture of blood?

Etinosa1234:
First... Tell me what u mean by artificial creation, lets be sure of what u are saying

Artificial creation= made up of many distinct groups who still hold firmly unto their individual distinct ethnicity and language.

The Igbanke will not give up their Igboid language despite Years of sustained pressure at assimilating them by the Edos.

The Ijaws will not give up their own identity too, despite Oba pressure.

The Usen retains their Yoroboid language and the local chief on Usen is called "Elawure", a clearly Yoruba title.

The Yoruboid Oba Bini is doing all possible to hold unto power by denying his Yoruba origin, but the Edo aboriginals represented by the Ogiamien will not have non of it.

All these chaos just in one senatorial zone of 5 LGAs with a population of less than 5 million.

Yet you are more concerned about Western Igbo land than your own issues.

pazienza:
The Ijaw people that migrated from Bini still claim Bini ancestry.
Nembe people are example.

Bini ancestry doesn't equate to being Edo by ethnicity.
Compare it to how many Igbos born in Lagos call themselves Lagosians today. It doesn't make them Yoruba.

Bini was a cosmopolitan centre where many ethnic groups lived in the past though the land belonged to Edos.
When these groups claim they are Bini, it doesn't mean they were Edo. It meant they inhabited in an area under Oba Bini( who was of Yoruba ancestry by the way) control.

For example, St Paul in the Bible was a Roman citizen, yet he wasn't an Italian. He was ethnically a Jew who was born, raised and schooled in cosmopolitan Rome.
Not all who were Romans were of today Italian ethnicity.

Likewise ancient Bini and Edo ethnicity.

Likewise not all who are igbos are of Igbo ancestry...
Except u want to tell us that ur logic doesn't apply to Igbos

Keep shooting ur self in the leg ...na u go bleed

Etinosa1234:
True... In fact all igbos don't even have one ancestor

There was no such thing as ibo until the 16th century and it didn't refer to everyone from the east

Pazienza

Do the Yorubas have one ancestor? Who is the ancestor of Germans?

Big groups are usually too ancient to remember who the single ancestor is.
Recent and smaller groups and towns are more likely to remember who the single ancestor is.

In Igbo land, the older and ancient a town is, the more likely they have no knowledge of how they migrated to their current location and hence would claim to be autochthonous. While the younger they are,the more likely the founders storylines and myths will exist.

pazienza:
Artificial creation= made up of many distinct groups who still hold firmly unto their individual distinct ethnicity and language.

The Igbanke will not give up their Igboid language despite Years of sustained pressure at assimilating them by the Edos.

The Ijaws will not give up their own identity too, despite Oba pressure.

The Usen retains their Yoroboid language and the local chief on Usen is called "Elawure", a clearly Yoruba title.

The Yoruboid Oba Bini is doing all possible to hold unto power by denying his Yoruba origin, but the Edo aboriginals represented by the Ogiamien will not have non of it.

All these chaos just in one senatorial zone of 5 LGAs with a population of less than 5 million.

Yet you are more concerned about Western Igbo land than your own issues.

You are the one more concerned about Ika, this thread was created because the ISSELE-UKU people and their king are holding strong to their Benin heritage. You are the one trying to be more Ika and Delta than the Obi of ISSELE-UKU.

Etinosa1234:
Likewise not all who are igbos are of Igbo ancestry...
Except u want to tell us that ur logic doesn't apply to Igbos

Keep shooting ur self in the leg ...na u go bleed

Nope, not all that were Igbo were of Igbo ancestry. But the catch here is that the migrants in our midst are so insignificant in number that they were quickly assimilated and acculturated by their Igbo hosts.
While in Bini, the non Edoids there numerically superior and their culture so strong, that they all retained their distinct languages and cultures. Yoruba for Usen, Igbo for Igbanke, Izon for Olodiama.

Many of you expansionist Edo claim that because insignificant Edo and Igala refugees were absorbed by Igbo speaking ancestors of Anioma, that Anioma shouldn't be Igbo again, but should rather become a hybrid.
But your Bini not only assimilated Igbo, Ijaw, Yoruba and Igala people as well, many pockets of these groups were not well assimilated as they retained their individual distinct languages within your Edo enclave.
Yet you don't think this is enough reason for Bini to cease being Bini and become a hybrid instead, do you?

samuk:
You are the one more concerned about Ika, this thread was created because the ISSELE-UKU people and their king are holding strong to their Benin heritage. You are the one trying to be more Ika and Delta than the Obi of ISSELE-UKU.

Issele uku people do not have monopoly to Ezechima story. They are not the only Ezechima town. Their story cannot stand in isolation. We also welcomed umuezechima in Idemili when they crossed the river Niger, and we know they have always been Igbo speaking.

Don't get me wrong. Issele uku and Obi have the right to say they are not Igbo. They have the right to address themselves as whatever they want.
But they don't have the right to change history we shared with them,without us challenging it.

pazienza:
Nope, not all that were Igbo were of Igbo ancestry. But the catch here is that the migrants in our midst are so insignificant in number that they were quickly assimilated and acculturated by their Igbo hosts.
While in Bini, the non Edoids there numerically superior and their culture so strong, that they all retained their distinct languages and cultures. Yoruba for Usen, Igbo for Igbanke, Izon for Olodiama.

Many of you expansionist Edo claim that because insignificant Edo and Igala refugees were absorbed by Igbo speaking ancestors of Anioma, that Anioma shouldn't be Igbo again, but should rather become a hybrid.
But your Bini not only assimilated Igbo, Ijaw, Yoruba and Igala people as well, many pockets of these groups were not well assimilated as they retained their individual distinct languages within your Edo enclave.
Yet you don't think this is enough reason for Bini to cease being Bini and become a hybrid instead, do you?

You are wrong again. Ancient Benin encouraged everyone to stick to their identity and dialects. There is a saying in Benin that the Ika, Udo etc speakers should be allowed to speak their dialect to retain their distinctive identity and preserve these dialects within the Edo family. If the ancient Obas of Benin had decreed that everyone speak Benin, numerous dialects would have long gone into extinction, including those you are now claiming as Igbos against their will.