If u look at it through different aspect on terms of spiritual power it would be ife kingdom, but through conquering it would be oyo empire but if it is through military might it would be Benin empire. So it depends on what superiority u meant.

goalernestman:


if Nri is from Onitsha meaning Nri is from Benin according to Obi of Onitsha and Onitsha history state they came from Benin

I never said Nri is from Onitsha I said Iguedo the daughter of Eri gave birth to the rulers of Onitsha. And yes the Onitsha are migrated from Benin empire but they operate a system similar to the Igbo people.

The Nri clan existed from as far back as the 9th century. Nri (the founder of Nri clan) and Aguleri were two of the sons of Eri (founder of Aguleri) and had migrated to the present day Nri from the Anambra (Omambala) river valley (Eriaka) in Aguleri in Northern igboland. Nri was said to have inherited spiritual powers from his father. The Nri people belong to the Umueri clans who trace their origins to Eri.
Some historians speculate that Eri may have migrated to the Anambra area out of the igala dynasty of central Nigeria. But there is convincing evidence that Onoja Oboli, actually another son of Eri.
Nando is the fourth and last son of Iguedo. The others being Ogbunike, Umueri and Awkuzu.
There have been numerous accounts on the life and person of Iguedo. Her history seems to have been a greater puzzle to Historians thanks that of Eri/Dabawor. However, none of the accounts about her can be out-rightly and correctly accepted or rejected as some of the data came purely through oral tradition and scanty archaeological discoveries although there is near unanimity in the various accounts concerning the strong connection between an individual called Iguedo and the towns that constitute Umu-Iguedo clan.
One of the more accepted opinions hold that she was a daughter of Eri. It is said to have had two wives. The first bore five children: Agulu (founder of Aguleri); and a daughter, Iguedo, who bore the founders of Ogbunike, Awkuzu, Umuleri and Nando. The smissind wife, Oboli, gave birth to Onoju who left the Anambra area and became the founder of Igala land.
A second group of thought attempted to tag as Eri's daughter who was allowed by her father to bear children at home without been married. However, the Oral tradition of the entire Iguedo clans disagree with this assertion as it would have amount to bastardization of Culture if Eri made such a taboo as all of their tradition indicates paternal origin.
A third opinion asserts that Iguedo came from either Agukwu or Onitsha. However, not many people share this view. That Iguedo came from Agukwu (Nri) could be an attempt to explain her relationship with the people of Nri. If she is said to have come from Onitsha, that may again be an effort to account for the profound respect which some parts of Onitsha accord he.
Iguedo's relationship with the people of Onitsha is supported by an oral tradition that asserts that the progenitors of the towns of Umu-Iguedo clan were born out of successive marriage of Iguedo to several men. She had first married Nnamenyi and Ogboli. Later, she got married to Riam (or Osodi) from Nri, and the fruit of their marriage was Eri (progenitor of Umueri). Finally, Nnamovo, a man who was believed to have come from Onitsha married Iguedo and she gave birth to Nando. It was in the land founded by Nando that Iguedo died and was buried.
However, another group counters that after her marriage to Nnamenyi, Eri took her as a wife and she bore him Dabawor (founder of modern Umuleri). At the demise of Eri, she then got married to Iru, a hunter and herbalist with whom she bore Ndo (the founder of Nando).
However, these attempt to credit Iguedo as the maternal ancestry of Umueri town seems to contradict the widely accepted knowledge that Iguedo was a daughter of Eri as there was no way She could be a daughter of Eri and still get married to him or his son in order to beget Umueri. This would be tantamount to taboo or "olili nne Iguedo', which was also known to have been held at Nneyi Umueri over the years.

Umueri version of Iguedo's history
This is supported by a version of Umueri oral tradition which asserts that Iguedo was the daughter of Nnamenyi, a sibling and co-traveler of Dabawor. Her father Nnamenyi was regarded in this version as the founder of a portion of Umueri land known as "Nneyi Umueri" ( Short form of Nnamenyi Umueri). She was quoted to have married various men that included one of the earlier founders of Ogbunike, Onitsha Ado, Awkuzu, and Nando.
On her death at Nando after a lengthy protracted sickness, Nando was said to have invited the rest of the Umu-Iguedo clans for burial arrangement and also sent a message to the other children of Nnamenyi informing them of their daughter's death. But then there was commotion and arguments on where to buy her body. Ogbunike who was the eldest of the Iguedos wanted the body to be taken home (Ogbunike) for burial since they are children of the first child but Nando Objected on the ground that they were the people that took care of her during her old age. Unknown to all of them, Umueri delegates went outside for private talk and after deciding among themselves that their daughter's corpse would not be lost to others ("Ozunwa ada ana efu na mba" ), returned singing war music. They further proceeded to cut off her head and took it home with them where it was buried in Nneyi Umueri.
Today the trace of her tomb is found in the shrine of the Aro Oracle of Umueri while her body was finally buried in Nando.
Aguleri, where the Igbo creation myth originates, are in the territory of the Umueri clan, who trace their lineage back to the patriarchal king-figure, Eri. Umueri tradition state that Onoja Oboni, however, is of royal

goalernestman:


Eri you wrote here came in 19th century so were do they find the second one that came in 9 century

Ethnographer is a person who practice ethnography and ethnography is the branch of anthropology that scientifically describes specific human cultures and societies that is what Jeffery made findings in 1934.

goalernestman:


Where are you from Weedfree

I am the type of person that is not bound to ethnicity I belief my ethnicity is not important for u to know all u need to know is that I am Weedfree nothing more nothing less.

goalernestman:


And you also believe nri came from Israel

U see goalernestman I base my decisions on fact that I do research on and right now I don't see enough evidence to link igbo to Israel.

UmuEri:


Again you are mixing things up maybe as a result of some junk being peddled around by history invaders, so I won't blame you bro.

But let me help you put the records straight, Eri never gave birth to anybody called Agulu and I challenge you or anybody to show evidence.

The real Account and Oral Tradition & History of Eri justifies and points to the undeniable fact that Umueri, also mispronounced Umuleri and Aguleri is the cradle of Igbo race. The place called Aguleri (Agu- Eri) today is the Farmland of Eri as the name suggests.

The Community was homogenously of Igbo ethnic group and she is located at the heart of Omambala Valley bordered by Omambala River and various Anam Communities in the north, Nteje to the South, Aguleri and Nando in the Eastern flank and Nsugbe at the western western part.

Umueri was the oldest human settlement established by early Igbo founders. According to earliest scholars like GT Basdon “ it was part of the earliest human settlement, east of the Niger.”. This much was agreed by other Historians such as Prof Elisabeth Isichei who concurred that Anambra Valley was indeed the first area of human existence


THE HISTORICAL ORIGIN

The available oral tradition passed from generation to generation indicates that Umueri ancestors are group of migrating clan from an unknown place, though of late research on their habitats, cultural practices and artifacts they left behind suggests a connection with the fleeing Israelites of post Exodus era. The Settlers that infiltrated into the land settled at a place called Eri-aka and founded a clan called “Umueri” . Though the exact date, that they settled on the land was not known, many scholars were of view that it occurred around 940AD

According to Umueri Oral tradition, the town was nucleus of migrating but nomadic Clan which traced its origin to Eri, the son of Gad, the 7th Son of Jacob (Gen 29 vs 30). Although there were no written records existing to back up this assertion, its indeed true that the religious practices obtained in the area was a mixture of ancient Hebraic and animistic religion, as confirmed by the Early Europeans that visited the area

The following are names of 6 children of Eri who along with the families, concubines and slaves migrated into the enclave. They include:

Dabar (Dabarwo), Nri (Nrifukuanim),Namenyi (Nneyi), Riam (Nriamu), Ekema (Eke) & Omazi (Omasi) . Also in the parties include Children of other fleeing descendants of Jacob, who are not biologically children of Eri. Most of them moved upland to form the Igala kingdom, whereas some other migrated into the forest of Igboland. But the descendants of Eri assembled themselves at the Omambala valley and nicknamed themselves “Umueri Ovuakwu- which literally implies “Eri descendants of one stock


Meanwhile scholars are now of view that these early settlers, who lived in eastern Jordan migrated to Ethiopia where they dwelled for some time in valley of River Omo (also called River Omor), at the southern part of the country. It was from there that they journeyed southwards through the River until they arrived at bank of Omambala River. At that particular time, the River Omambala was a very large sea that flows from Enu Ugwume to Ugwu River in Adegbe Ikenga Umueri to the present location of the River. The settlers seeing that it was a very Huge River christened it “Omo-mbala” implying a very huge River (Literally meaning larger Omor River).It was from Omo-mbala, it became known as “Omambala” and corruptly christened Anambra by the Murtala Administration in 1976


Meanwhile, the mighty Omambala covers about 2/3rd of present Ikenga Umueri stretching over the modern day Aguakor farmland to Akor Stream as well as covering portion of Agu-Eri farmland (modern day Ezi Agulu and Ivite Aguleri) down to the whole of Otuoche(Otuocha). The Oral tradition of Umueri has it that it was these settlers led by Mystical Dabarwo that used their magical power to move & reduce the size of the overflowing sea to the river that we have today, thereby throwing up more uplands for many to live .


ARCHEALOGICAL EVIDENCES

Archaeologically, the trace of the habitat of the Early Igbo Settlers are still visible today in Umueri, for instance, "Akpu Nri" and "Okpotoeki" are still at Ugume Umueri, Whereas Akpu Nri is an antiquity of Great importance. It’s over a thousand year Old tree located at Ama Iruakpu-Ugume Umueri. It was said to be founded by founders of the early settlers of Agukwu Nri who left long time ago. The Surviving Generation of Elders confirmed it as antiquity of Great Historical Importance. Below are other Historical sites that would interest researchers in Umueri


1. Dabarwo Sacred Forest:- This place was habitat of earlier settlers and also serves as Tomb of the Dabarwo. Till death miracles are still recorded by going to the grave sites to call his names. It was also claimed by our ancestors that the early settlers established a temple of worship (obuga) at that area. The trace are still there till date.


2.Aro Nneyi:- Aro Nneyi was a habitat founded by Namenyi. In ancient Umueri clan that include all ancient Igbo communities and even unto today, the place served as holy city, where all the children of Eri gathered annually for prayers and prophetic declarations annually known in local parlance as “Iguaro”. Oral tradition confirmed that it was there that the Head of Iguedo was also buried. The early settlers also established a temple there (obuga). It now serves as the palace of Aro Chief priest.


3.Aja Ana Ukwu:- Is deity that the early settlers built to enable them sanitize the communities from atrocities and sacrilege. It serves as where to atone for sin and abomination cleansed. Its located in Nneyi Umueri. This earth goddess was built in obedience of stipulation of Exodus 20:24:

“"An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.


4.Ugwu River: The Ugwu River also served as habitat to descendants of Ugwu Dabawo. Though they later migrated back to Ugwume at the demise of their father Dabawor. According to the oral tradition it was there that the miracle that moved Omambala down to its present location. The trace of that movement is still visible unto this date

The Erroneous Story of Iguedo

The Origin of Iguedo though seems to be a great puzzle to Historians than that of Eri/Dabawor but her importance in history of Igbo origin could not be over emphasis. Some Scholar attempted to credit her as maternal ancestry of Umueri town, but this attempt failed because there was no way She could be a daughter of Eri and got married to same man or his son inorder to begat Umueri. This is tantamount to taboo or "nso ani" in Igbo Culture. The Second Group has tagged her as Eri daughter who was allowed by her father to bear children at home without been married. But the Oral tradition of the entire Iguedo clans disagreed with this assertion as it could have amount to bastardization of Culture if Eri made such a taboo as all of their tradition indicates paternal origin


From Umueri Oral tradition, it’s clear that Iguedo was daughter of Nnamenyi, a sibling and co traveler of Dabawor. Her Father Nnamenyi were regarded in this version of Umueri oral tradition as founders of a portion of Umueri land known today as Nneyi Umueri (Short form of Nnamenyi Umueri). She was quoted to have married various men that include one of the earlier founder of Ogbunike, Onitsha Ado, Awkuzu, and Nando. Other version included Umunya as part of her children.

This much was also contained in Ozemena Nsugbe hit album “Kedu Ebe Igbo Si we bia” . On her death at Nando after a lengthy protracted sickness, Nando invited the rest of the towns she founded for burial arrangement and also sent message to Children of Nnamenyi, that their daughter has died . But then there was commotion and quarrel-lings on where to enter her body. Ogbunike who was the eldest of the Iguedos wanted the body to be taken home (Ogbunike) for burial since they are Children of the First Child but Nando Objected on the ground that they were people that took after her during her old age. Unknown to all of them, Umueri Emissary from Nnamenyi Clan had already made up their mind that their daughter corpse shall not be lost abroad Ozu Nwa Ada ana efu na Mba When commotion aroused due to arguments on where to buried her, the Emissary have no choice but to cut off her head and took it home where it was buried in Nneyi Umueri. This marks the cultural ritual of returning female corpse back to their ancestral home in Igbo adegbe area of Igboland.Ibuna ta Ozu Nwa Ada


Today the trace of her tomb is found in the Shrine of the Aro Oracle of Umueri while her body was finally buried in Nando. In order to commemorate her memorial, there was traditional annual Iguaro & "Oriri nne Iguedo" been celebrated in Nneyi Umueri and Nnado respectively unto this very day. And all her Children and relatives are expected to be there for the rituals

Over the years due to the gathering of Umuiguedo at Nneyi Umueri to commemorate the great Amazon, some scholars out of sheer ignorance distort history by regarding Umueri as part of Umuiguedo clan. This has led so many into believing in fallacies been peddled by the adversaries of Umueri.


Relationship between Umunri & Ancient Umueri

[]b“The original settlers of the communities that make up the Umunri clan are descendants of the first settlers of Umueri. Therefore the people of Umunri, otherwise called Nri Kingdom, are part of our ancient town. The clan that consists Enugwu Ukwu, Nawfia, Agukwu and Enugwu Agidi trace their ancestry to Nri Ifukuanim of ancient Nri-aka Umueri. It is a fact that amongst numerous people that constitute the Umunri Kingdom, the descendants of Umueri people are regarded as aborigines or the head of their various communities. Those communities were even named after founders of Umueri lineages. The original settlers in Nri are from Nri-aka in old Ugume ana of Ikenga Umueri.[/b]

Nri people were actually occupying the large expanse of land between Ugume Umueri and Ikem Nando (then in old Umueri town) which today subsist in Ugwu Nzu. “There is a popular road path which exists till date which the the Nri people use for their itineraries from Ugume to Ugunzu and is called ‘EZI NRI AKA’ till today. The vast area was inhabited by the descendants of Umu-Eri up to Omabala na Ezu before the present settlement of aguleri which is a recent settlement.

The Ire and Oraeri were living in the portion of land lying between Agu Eneneanya and Agu Oda in today Ifite Umueri and Nneyi Umueri. The Ire people abandoned this area in flight due to the war between them and the Igalas. “Today the Ire people can be found in Abba, Obosi, Ogidi, Umuoji Enugu Ukwu. Occupying these portion of lands today are several artifacts’ and monuments, shrines, etc left behind by the fleeing Ires. “The Umunri oral tradition also confirmed that they once lived amongst our people here in Omambala valley.

The Nri people of Umueri extraction had no king just like every other true Igbo town until the arrival of the Igala settlers who were forced to scatter and live amongst all Igbo towns in northern Igbo communities as a result of the ancient war that was waged by the people of ancient Umueri clan. It was the Igala elements that brought the issue of kingship in Nri. It was a foreign culture amongst the earliest settlers.

The Aguleri & Umueri Relationship

Aguleri and Umueri were Neighbors and from all available evidence some part of Aguleri are part of ancient Umueri clan,that are descendants of the first Igbo settlers. Long ago, some of the villages of Aguleri people and Umueri live in ancient Umueri town as a community before the people of Ezi-agulu, Enugu & Onogu migrated from Igala land, following series of War between the Igbos and Igalas.

Aguleri which really translates to farmland of Eri (Agu-Eri) just like other farm settlement such as Agu Nnamenyi or Nnamenyi Farmland (Agu Nneyi for short), Agu-Mgbede(Mgbede farmland), Agu Ukatta(Ukatta farmland) was indeed a recent settlement inhabited by the descendants of Okpu of ancient Umueri town(now in Aguleri) until they were joined by strangers elements from Igala also referred as Umu-si-olu. The Inhabitants of Aguleri as presently constituted are largely immigrants from different places and they met the Okpu people of Ivite Aguleri who are referred as the head Village of Aguleri. The Okpu Village traced their lineage to Ugume-ana Village of Ikenga Umueri.


The Oral tradition of Umueri traces the genealogy to Dabawor, one of the descendants of Eri whose only daughter was Okpu, the founder of the most elderly village in Aguleri till today. Nevertheless, to prove the fact that the Okpu , the head village of Aguleri emanates from Umueri, the Okpu Village has kept the ritual practice of paying tribute to Dabawor Shrine. And they have never failed to pay the homage despite recent stain in the relationship Occasioned by land dispute, litigation and war. During Sacrifices, their elders received the daughterly share (an Omambala culture that’s still in existence) of hip or waist of Cow or Goat used for the sacrifice.


Apart from the Okpu, Umumba Igboezunu,Aguleri- the Custodian of Ajana Aguleri and the head kindred of Igboezunu Aguleri was part of ancient Umueri. They have never DENIED it's blood relationship with Ugume (Dabawor) Umueri. At the Installation of an AJANA Chief Priest, Ugume Village of Umueri is usually informed. It’s mandatory that “Sons of Dabawor (Ugume) should be there to perform the customary rites. The story of how Enugu, Eziagulu & Onogu people were settled amongst our people, in the ancient Umueri clan after series of war of conquest from the Igala are well known facts. The series of war known in Umueri oral tradition as ‘Ogu Igala’ saw the war brought to an end with treaty dully signed by the Igbos & the Igala.


The "Umungalagu of present Aguleri", which literally means "Umu Igala agu", a name that was given them by the natives of ancient Umueri due to the bravery they exhibited during the war, was also settled in their present place by the people of Umueri after taking Oath of obedience before their hosts- the Okpus then of Umueri (now in Aguleri) and Ugume allocated some portion of land to Isiokwe after Oath taking; Some others were settled in Umunkiti Aguleri.

The areas WHERE these immigrants were settled were known as Agu-Eri- (Eri farm settlement). These immigrants assimilated with each other to become known as Aguleri. While the Onogu people are scattered amongst the children of earlier settlers in Igbariam, Nteje, Nsugbe and other coastal Igbo towns.

In 1974, the then traditional Ruler of Aguleri, Igwe Raphael Akwuba Idigo admitted openly in a publication that Aguleri people are from Igala ( See’The History of Aguleri’ by MCM Idigo, Page 5 (Published in 1955) ), that they migrated to Omambala about four hundred years ago. According to him they met Igbo Speaking people and by mixing with them and inter-marriage, the immigrants adopted the language. Even with this open confession, it’s worrisome to see some Aguleri declaring that they are the Igbo aborigine


Migration & trace of Umueri people

As a result of ancient war and need for expansion, most early settlers of Umueri left the valley in search of other habitable place. The Umu asaja-owu clan of Mmanomma Nneyi Umueri along with other families of Umudiana Umueri founded Abegbu (and to extention the Umuoba anam community), whereas the constant raid and inter-tribal war between the ancient Umueri town and Igala forced some of our people to migrate to distance places around the River Niger.


The Original Umueri settlers can be found amongst the Umuchi Ossomari Ogbaru, the Ozeh Nkwelle & the aborigine Onitsha, whom the Eze Chima conquered to establish the Eze Chima dynasty. Other distant places that descendants of the first Umueri people founded directly were the Ụmụeri-Owerri, Ụmụeri Ọraukwu, Umuoba Anam and even in faraway Kwale in delta state where the Ugume Kwale still recounts there history that they migrated from Ugume Umueri. At the height of Bini empire, most of the people who went to war of conquest for the Binis as medicine & Juju men in far away Yoruba land and could not return back founded places like Okeri(in Oyo), Iponri(Lagos) & Igboeri now called Igberi(in Kwara State). Apart from Umueri no other community in Igboland has such connection of lineages


CONCLUSION

It’s obvious that the Ancestors of Umueri are the first Igbos to migrate into the Omambala before others veered into it. Despite age long distortion and fallacy that has been planted over the ages, the name “Umueri”, which means "Children of Eri" has remain a natural and unbiased nomenclature indicating Umueri relationship with Eri.

Despite the gang up and will to outdo Umueri in the quest of claiming Eri heritage, a Renowned Author And Prince of Aguleri Chief FC Idigo concurred in his book “Igbo History: Hebrew Exiles of Eri Kingdon” , confirmed that the name “Umuleri” is 'Anglicized version of “Umu-Eri"

Even though that the Royal Prince, a man whose Father [A former King of Aguleri] confessed openly that their ancestors migrated from Igala was bent on foisting his home town as the ancestral home of the Igbos, he made some valid revelation that Iguedo was not the mother of Umueri. He therefore dispelled & disparaged the Iguedo link. He confirmed that Iguedo was a recent history that existed when Umueri has grown into a community and therefore should not be considered as a maternal ancestress of Umueri.

All what u wrote are just extension of what I wrote earlier of Eri connection to igala. If u Google Eri u would see what I wrote is excepted of the origin of Eri.
The Umuleri/Aguleri and Umuoba-Anam war is a war between the Aguleri and Umuleri. The Aguleri attempted to attack Umuleri overland.
The oral tradition history traces the origin of the Aguleri to a man named Eri, who according to its first close ethnographer, Jefferys 1934 The Divine Umudri kings of igboland.

UmuEri:


Stop decieving people abeg. Eri is not a sky being and you can never force lie on people no matter how you tried. I have met one on one with even the "Adama Nri" and he couldn't prove 2% of all this claims.

Here is the real account if you wish to know:


The Children Of Eri : Settlements & Dispersal

1. Dabar. Also known as Dabarwo has been described as leader of the settlers. He was well known for his magical and mystical power that researchers have over the years christened him as “Eri” (Though all historical evidence pointed out that Eri did not make it to Africa. It was Dabarwo who moved the Omambala River to its present location according to the Oral tradition of Umueri. The source of the River (known as Oku in local parlance) & trace of the Omambala are still located in Ugume Umueri till date. Some Historians also equates him as Levite assigned to the clan of Eri, but this is certainly not true due to relationship that exists between his descent and other Umueri. He has numerous children amongst who was a daughter Okpu, whose descendants lived side by side with Children of Eri male offspring. The descendants occupied Eri vast farmland known as Agu-Eri. Today they are known as Aguleri. According to various oral tradition of Agueri people, the descendants are the Aborigines Aguleri that other migrating tribes met on arriving the community


Dabarwo other male Children led by Ugwu Dabar and others settles at Ugume Umueri in present day Ikenga Umueri. His descendants include all the villages in Ugume Umueri, some part of Enugwu Aguleri. Some of his descendants founded Ogwume Kwale and trace of other of their descendants could be seen in most of Igbo adegbe communities of Awka North. During the Bini Conquest of Omambala areas some of his descendants founded Igbanke Edo State.



2. Nri: He was said to be of the same biological mother with Dabarwo and also possess some powers. He along with his families dwelled in Eri-aka-Ugume Umueri. Nri was the first to migrate out of the clan following disagreement with his brother Dabarwo. He was the founder of Umunri Clan. They settled at Akampisi in present Agukwu nri, where they are called the Umudiana village of the Town of Agukwu. It’s pertinent to note that some of their descendants who could not move out of Ugume became known today as Umudiana Umueri, in Ikenga Umueri.. His descendants include the earlier founders of Umunri clans of Igboland that includes Enugwu Ukwu, Enugwu Agidi, Nawfia and Agukwu and extension to all Nri clans of Igboland that includes, Oraeri, Agbaja , Nnewi, Ogwashiukwu, Agbor and others


3.Nameyi: Namenyi, known also Nneyi for short, settled with his family at the present Nneyi Umueri. Namenyi sons founded Ezi Clan of Umueri, through her daughter Iguedo, she founded other communities like Ogbunike, Awkuzu, Umunya, Nando and aboregene Onitsha, whom Eze Chima conquered to establish Onitsha. At later stage, his descendants were the original aborigines of Ossomari Ogbaru, the Ozeh Nkwelle & some Enuani villages etc



4. Omazi: Omasi that’s now regarded as Omasi Settled at Agu Eneneanya and Agu Oda in Today Ifite Umueri. He was progenitor of Ivite Umueri Villages and some of his descendants includes the Ire people, who could be found in some Anambra towns of Abba, Obosi, Ogidi, Umuoji and even in Enugu Ukwu. There are segment of his descendants that were part of earlier formation of Anam communities.


5.Riam. He is known also as Nriamu in local parlance. He Was said to be the progenitor of some part of Ikenga Umueri, more especially the Umueriam and Mgbago axis of the community and some part of Ivite Aguleri, particularly the Umunnoke who settled at Agu-eri. Some of the descendants also were the founders of Achalla , Ebenebe some other Aghamelum communities in Aghamelum LG of Anambra State


6.Ekema: Popularly called Eke. Was founder of Ogonogo Adegbe in Ikenga Umueri. He was the progenitor of various Adegbe clans. Trace of some of his descendants could be found in Umunya, Nsugbe and some who relocated to Kogi state as a result of the Aro/Ohafia/Edda slave raid. Most of the villages across the area with Igbo names were founded by his descendants.The trace ofhis descendants are still ongoing


Even in their new settlement they upheld the culture of Hebrew worshipping, circumcision, burial & others. Some school of thought are of opinion that it’s these settlers that set up 3 temples in the ancient Umueri clan known as Obuga, which they claimed was establish as place of worship and covenant with the God of their fathers and also to serve as meeting point between them and God. This school of thought claimed Obuga was a short form of Obu-Gad in memory of their grandfather 'Gad' . This according to them is in line with shortening of names culture in the community. For examples, Obuora is Obua, Onwuegbusi is Onwuesi; Okafor is Okaa, Ejimofor is known as Ejoor and so on and so forth.


It amazes scholars that out of these three Obuga, only the one at Agu-eri is known today as “Obu-Gad’, albeit mischievously, while the other two at Nneyi and Ugume have continued to remained unchanged. Though there are those in the community that are hell bent in ensuring that it undergo the same change with the one now under the occupation of the Aguleri.

It must also be noted that there was no culture of king and King-making pending when the Igala people invaded the land and brought with them the system of kingship; The Bini Kingdom also tried introducing its kingship by imposing the Ezes & Onowu dynasties but it yielded no success as the Umueri (children of Eri) resisted this cultural encroachment before the colonial administrators inserted surreptitiously on them the system of warrant chief.

I don't know what ur problem is I just wrote what I read and it said Eri is a sky being but if u don't like that one I got others.
Eri is said to be the original legendary cultural of the Umu-eri groups of igbo people. It is possible Eri migrated from igala area and established community in the middle of Anambra river valley (at Eri-aka) in Aguleri where he married two wives. The first wife, Nneamaku, bore him five children. The first was Agulu, the founder of Aguleri (The ancestral head of Eri kingdom clans) (the Ezeora dynasty that has produce 34 till date in Enugu Aguleri), The second was Menri, the founder of Umunri/kingdom of Nri, followed by Onugu, the founder of Igbariam and Ogbodulu, the founder of Amanuke. The fifth one was a daughter called Iguedo, who is said to have borne the founders of Nteje and Awkuzu, Ogbunike, Umuleri, Nando and Ogboli in onitsha. As one of the children of Eri, Menri migrated from Aguleri, which was an still is, the ancestral temple of the Umu-Eri ( Umu-Eri and Umu-Nri). His second wife Oboli begot Onoja, the only son who founded the igala kingdom in kogi state.
Eri is the founder of the Umueri and Umunri clans, both of whom were some of the most influential and powerful dynasties of priest and diviners in igboland adjacent such as bini and igala/idoma areas.

The other is that Era came from Israel and is the fifth son of GAD who left Israel and went by sea until he arrived in Anambra where he established Nri kingdom.
So u see there are different origin stories to Eri. But the sky being story may not be true but just like the Yoruba oduduwa origin they say he came from Heaven to earth, He came from the middle east and That he came from Benin. So they are different origin story to Eri so pick ur choice.

Dartilo:






Benin refuse to sell to the british at a particular time does not totally mean it was all the time...
Let me tell you the Portuguese and the Benin's were very close,benin traded More with Portugal dan brits,severally Portuguese went to war along with the benin but the brits were too desperate according to OBA OVORAMWEN dat it could scare a baby...benin sold slave to the Portuguese and to the brits whenever it please dem...Benin raided Akure,idah,and Agbor wat na happen to the conquered fellows,the able bodied men sti alive?

The Benin empire sold species and other things mostly to the Portuguese because of their close friendship. BUT not slaves for the fact that Benin empire valued their slaves and see it as a dishonourable to sell them.

goalernestman:

Lol are you a pastor? I think you must be lol

so from ur statement I guess u don't contradict my point.

goalernestman:



Estimates from 1640s suggest that Benin took in 1200 slaves a year.

This you quoted there is not bight of Benin but just Benin. So why are you confusing your self now

The full name of Nigeria is Federal republic of Nigeria but they still just call it Nigeria so when they said Benin took in 1200 slaves a year they must have meant the bight of Benin took in 1200 slaves a year.

not quite.

Dartilo:




Benin Empire didn't blv in selling their subject but where selling the Yoruba's

Benin empire was not involved in selling of any slave and I didn't mention Yoruba people I meant slaves taking from land benin empire conquered. It was even mentioned that Benin helped people from being sold by hiding them and if I am wrong didn't a British representative came to Benin kingdom to ask him to give them slaves but he refused to and the British representative shot at him but his men shielded him didn't that happen.

goalernestman:


What about Benin because in your quote that I brought out there is not bight in the Benin

Bight of Benin was named after the Benin empire for reasons I have stated earlier not because Benin ruled over the bight it is just a name.

[quote author=goalernestman post=76382929]

And also as I said above the Igala also have a say in the igbo close to them which was Ida then the east in Nigeria close to Igala answer only to Igala and the ones close to Benin answer only to Benin this 2kindom fight each other trying to Expand their empire this was the famous ida war then according to portuges Benin won this battle using their help of guns power and the Ida king was killed the next in line was force to wear queen Idia of Benin mask till date Igala king still wear it.

The Igala or Ida share bolder with Benin in history of Benin they never share bolder with igbo. And also in Ida history they only share with Benin.

Seeing all this igbo and Yoruba are writing in the internet �. Let me just say you were right never believe everything you see in the internet [/quote

U see I wasn't lying about what I said people would do anything to make it seem their kingdom was the greatest thing since slice bread.
U are quite right about the igala empire sharing boarders with the Benin empire not Igbo. From what I have learnt about the igala kingdom it was founded by Abutu-Eke in the 7th century. The kingdom was ruled by nine high officials called the igala Mela who are custodians of the sacred Earth shrine. Igala colonisation of northern Igbo states (1450- 18th century).
The igala mega state attained the height of it's fame during the mid-17th century. The rise of the igala mega state disrupted and contributed to the shift of Trans-Atlantic slave trade from the bight of Benin to the bight of Biafra and the decline of the Benin empire in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The idah-Benin war (1515-1516) was a war of mutual independence. The igala state reached its political and commercial supremacy afterwards, when it became a leading exporter if choral beads, horses, medicine, skills and of course, slaves to the coaster region. It's growing power, nevertheless, changed the dynamics of the earlier complex relationships with several northern Igbo communities. Joseph Hawkins in 1797 already captured the relentless raiding of the extreme northern Igboland by the igalas.
The idah-Benin war was said to be a hard fought battle the Benin came out victorious only because of the use of firearms giving to them by the Portuguese who knows what the outcome might be without the assistance of the Portuguese.
I'm addition to kogi state, indigenous igalas are found in Anambra, Bayesla (Nembe), Benue, cross river, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Nasarawa, Niger, Rivers states. They speak the igala language no igbo dialect or Benin dialect just igala language.

Opiletool:


I have stopped engaging these bini internet warriors. They don't argue to seek knowledge. They behave as if they are on a mission to reclaim a glory of their kingdom that existed only in fables.

U are right I should stop because no matter how many times I try they don't listen maybe I should leave them to continue posting crap they think they are Right without knowing they are wrong maybe I will stop but not just yet.

goalernestman:


I Gus's your answer was answer by you in your quote.

"Estimates from 1640s suggest that Benin took in 1200 slaves a year."

So what I will ask you is how many tribe or nation do they called Benin at that time?.

bight of Benin is just a name giving to that area. So u think no other tribe slave traded when Benin empire didn't even belief in selling their slaves very soon u well be thinking bight of Biafra also known as bight of bonny is only for Igbo people not knowing it is just an area that ships land to collect slaves.

goalernestman:



you see you just short yourself in the foot.
1 you claim they never traded with Yoruba but now also saying benin was not only the people they traded with if benin was not the only peps who was the other people they traded with in that region of benin then.

2 saying Benin or bight of Benin is not Benin is like saying Nigeria or federal republic of Nigeria is not Nigeria

To put things in a term u would understand I said Benin empire were the first to trade with the Portuguese never said they where the only. I was talking about how Oyo empire traded with the north I didn't say all of Yoruba and from ur own knowledge u are telling me that only Yoruba and Benin people stayed in the southern part of Nigeria.
As I have said earlier the need for slaves didn't start until the 17th century. U think it is only the Portuguese that traded what about Britain that is why I kept Europeans with an S.
So bight of Benin is like saying Nigeria or federal republic of Nigeria. Well then let me explain something to u.
U do know that the Basin countries under bight of Benin are Nigeria, Ghana, Togo and Benin republic. Next thing u will be telling me that Benin empire conquered this places.

goalernestman:


and who told you Nigeria was not organized as a nation even before the British came, let me tell you Nigeria was a nation before, from the middle east to the south east and west was known as bight of benin or Benin, and the city of this place runs in street light as far as the eyes can according to captain Lourenco Pinto who came ti Nigeria then in 17th century

Not quite actually, it seems u are changing the concept of the creation of bight of Benin here is the acceptable reason for the creation of bight of Benin below.
Historical association with the Atlantic slave trade led to the region becoming known as slave coas. As in many other region across Africa, powerful kingdoms along the bight of Benin relied heavily on a long established slave trade that expanded greatly after the arrival of European powers and became a global trade with the colonization of America's. Estimates from 1640s suggest that Benin took in 1200 slaves a year. Restriction made it hard for slave volume to grow until new states and different routes began to make an increase in slave trade possible.
From what I have stated where was it mentioned bight of Benin was actually Benin empire. Dude accept they just named it after Benin not because Benin ruled Nigeria, since Nigeria was not created during that era I guess I should put Gulf of Guinea instead.

Opiletool:
Lol.

That schlep said Ado and Ikere Ekiti were under bini. Jokers everywhere. Weedfree stop wasting your time with these dumb lots.

See opiletool when u leave people to their ignorance they begin to be made fun of and I am just trying to bestow some knowledge upon goalernestman. But they are sometimes he says something accurate.

goalernestman:


this is not about European trad map it the map they saw in africa then even zamfara was recognized by them and Oyo that they took slaves from was not recognized

because according to Yoruba they took slaves from Oyo and not benin but if you research well you will see this slaves were taken from benin or bight of benin and not Oyo.

you said they never traded with Oyo but you claim they took slave from them and also why cant them recognized the place they took slave from ?

Ur points a ridiculous Oyo empire traded with the north since they have access to the savannah which is were they got the idea to use Calvary in war which Benin empire didn't use because of their geographical location. Has I said earlier Benin empire traded with the Portuguese. And also I said Oyo empire had slaves that they are used for farm work not until 17th century that the need for slaves to be sold arose besides other tribes used bight of Benin has a means to sell slaves not only Benin empire who I heard were not involved in the selling of slaves. The map am talking about shows Oyo empire not trade map it shows kingdoms in that century.

To make things clear I don't consider ijebus Yoruba for alot of reason that does not relate to the topic at hand.
Ikwerre are supposedly classified as a subgroup of igbo people although a small minority for political expediency now dispute this account. They trace their origins to owerri, ohaji, Etche and Ngwa areas of igboland. Ikwerre speak the ikwerre dialect, a dialect part of the many diverse igbo dialects, and are predominantly settled in the ikwerre, obio-Akpor, poet Harcourt and Emohua local government areas. If u check language spoken in ikwerre u would see ikwerre and igbo dialect. It is classified under igbo dialect.
As for Degema it is classified under Edoid language. Oral history asserts that the Degema people (originally part of the Engenni people) migrated from Benin (in what is now the Edo state of Nigeria) to Ewu in present day Engenni in the Ahoada local government area of Rivers state. But the Engenni people are considered by themselves and some to be an ijaw clan by others (mainly academics ) to be a branch of Edo (Bini) ethnic group. Historically, it is claimed that Engenni migrated from the old Benin empire about 1000 years ago. The Engenni kingdom is grouped among the Niger-Congo, Edoid people of Nigeria, belonging to the kwa group of Delta sub-Saharan Africa.
You mentioned Ekpeye people in southeastern Nigeria. So u know the Ekpeye are usually included as a subgroup of the igbo people on linguistic and cultural grounds. They speak an igboid language. The Ekpeye sides with the igbo during the Biafra secession, and felt the subsequent repression of the predominant non-Igbo government afterwards. So if they sided with Biafra then I don't see what makes them Benin.
They said a powerful king in the hinterland not a chief priest if u paid attention the Alafin of oyo doesn't show is face to his subject and I said another powerful king u do know what a king his right a king needs a kingdom to be considered a king not a town.

goalernestman:



even as that if Oyo was truly there the under of the place should have be called bale of Oyo and not of Benin, dont be bias you should know this

bight of benin or bale of benin or under benin contradict the claim of Oyo bordering Dahomey at any time

because the bight was in the bolder

Dude I hope u know Oyo empire wasn't concern with European trade. Oyo empire was still looking northwards to the sudan from where it imported salt and horses, and not south towards the sea.
Furthermore, the wars of expansion of the 16th and 17th centuries were not fought to procure slaves for export to the coast but for local service in Yoruba farms. it was not until the 18th century that wars to provide slaves for sale to the Europeans became important that is if it existed.

goalernestman:



bro you said Oyo fight benin in some times in benin history they never record that
and also in that map the one that said benin when i go check the reference of the map i will see a europen name who died centuryes ago of theire account of the places they saw in Africa

but when i see the picture change or when i see Oyo in there map the reference always happen to be a Yoruba name

first of all the map am talking is dated 17th century and am pretty sure it wasn't made by a Yoruba guy.
And as for the fight between Oyo empire and Benin empire it may not have happened or it may have the point of what I want to explain by putting that there is to tell u that not everything online is accurate some are made by fanboys.

goalernestman:


it now you both and still you both can not tell me the first and second king of Nri kingdom or even the first 5

Can't u see I listed it for u above now u have nothing to say than to repeat the same thing again

Dartilo:
Pls tell us the vassal state that was under oyo empire,d tin people u will mention r d Dahomey people,
Oyo town attempted to conquer benin nobody will believe this lie...An empire is suppose to have a vessel state like Ado ekiti,ondo,Agbor,onitsha idu,lagos,Akure,ikwere,Asaba,issele ukwu,Akoko,etc were vassal state under benin empire

And who is to say it didn't have vessel States under it if perhaps it existed.
it is on record that when Portuguese first visited Benin in 1485 they inquired whether a powerful king of the interior they had heard of was the much sought after prester John. The oba of Benin told them of a powerful monarch in the hinterland whose face was never seen by is subjects. This reference was made to the Alafin of Oyo.
U do know that the ikwerre may be Igbo. The ikwerre are said to be related or share common ancestry with the ogba and Ekpeye people and I don't think Benin empire stretches that far. It may have been mentioned that Benin empire conquered this areas but do any of this States histories belonging to the Igbo make mention to Benin empire conquering them.
U do realize that a lot of this places u mentioned don't even speak Benin dialect and the one's that do have more Yoruba language than Benin dialect.
From my earlier post u would know that I said Benin empire was a large kingdom and yes u got some land's in the areas u mentioned but they are not large enough to compare to all of Yoruba land.
Oyo empire also had vessel States in some of the places u mentioned for example Oyo empire conquered EGBA, OWU, EWE and Dahomey that is if it existed.

goalernestman:


What on this picture here is mostly contradicted by Yoruba site or rewrite by them some times this place there is bight of benin or benin is change to Oyo.

And also if possibly the Oyo empire really existed it should start from 1728 and also end as you claim in 1740 and with this short period maybe this was also the reason it was not recognize by the European and also it was not large in this period of short time like benin empire

Let's go back to the beginning Oyo empire was established during the 15th century, the Oyo empire grow to become one of the largest west Africa States. It was established in 1300 and ended in 1895. During the 17th century, Oyo empire began along stretch growth, becoming a major empire. Oyo empire never encompassed all Yoruba speaking people. Despite a failed attempt to conquer Benin empire sometime between 1578 and 1608, Oyo empire continued to expand. whether this is true or not but it is recorded.
Oyo empire military might is one of disputable claim but Oyo empire may had have calvary due to the fact that they were in close proximity with Nupe, Hausa and Borgu they could have purchased horses from the North.
And at what century was that map made so I will know it is not a counterfeit because I have seen maps dated 1625 period showing Oyo empire.
By the way from what I read Benin empire did not belief in selling slaves which is a reason why the British hated them because if u weren't involved in slave trade could it be that it may have been other tribes selling slaves instead of Benin empire.
U are saying oyo empire is not large when it stretches over long kilometre with a land mass of 150,000 kilometre while ur Benin empire only covers 90,000 kilometre which is not accurate because oyo empire is said to cover over Benin, ghana and Togo while Benin empire didn't even cover all of southern Nigeria and u don't call that fake it was most likely made by Benin fanboys.

goalernestman:


there is noting like nri kingdom i can prove it to you if they give me the first 5 king of the kingdom, because a kingdom without a king is not a kingdom

Wow u are really taking this thing seriously because I used the word kingdom well then deal with it because it is a kingdom and here is why.

The kingdom was a heaven for all those who have been rejected in their communities and also a place where slaves were set free from bondage. NRI expanded through converts gaining neighboring communities allegiance, not by force. Nri's Royal founder, Eri, is said to be the sky being that came down to earth and then established civilization. One of the better known remnants of NRI civilization is manifested in Igbo ukwu artifacts which I may add is older than yours.

The NRI culture is believed to stretch back to at least the 13 century, with a traditional foundation by Eri dated 948. The 15th recorded obalike, was deposed by the British administration in favor of the warrant chief system, but the title continued to be held.

U asked for the list well here it is

Eri
948- 1041

EZE NRI
ìfikuánim
1043- 1089

EZE NRI
Nàmóke
1090- 1158

EZE NRI Buífè
1159- 1259

EZE NRI Omalo
1260- 1299

EZE NRI Jiofo
I
1300- 1390

This are some of their names that prof NRI is a kingdom.

Whether Oyo empire existed or not may remain a mystery but it is on record that Dahomey empire may have been a tributary to Oyo empire

During the 1724 Agaja had conquered Allada the origin of the royal family according to oral tradition. This increase in size of the kingdom in particularly along the Atlantic coast and increased in power made Dahomey a regional power. The result was near constant warfare with the main regional state Oyo empire from 1728 until 1740. The warfare with Oyo empire resulted in Dahomey assuming tributary status to Oyo empire.

According to one oral tradition as part of the tribute owed by Dahomey to Oyo, Agaja had Oyo to give one of his sons. This story claims that only Hwanjile, of all of Agaja wives was willing to allow her son to go to Oyo. This act of sacrifice according to oral tradition made Tegbesu, favored by Agaja

if we were to look at it through carbon date NRI was founded during 900 period which is old but not the oldest in Nigeria civilization that still exist. The oldest should be Sungbo's Eredo dated around 800 period and is the earliest prof of a developed kingdom than Previously believed.

Benin empire was a large kingdom that spreads far and wide. oyo empire which may or may not have existed was also a large empire. Benin empire had conquered the aworis which gave them direct access to the Atlantic ocean but Oyo empire had no land in Lagos that could have granted them access to the Atlantic ocean. when the Portuguese arrived the first people they traded with were the Benin people whom the Portuguese favoured lead them to name the land bight of Benin since the Portuguese where the first to arrive in this area no other European kingdom will question their decision.