LESSON FOR MANY STILL DOUBTING ASABA-AGBOR ARE EDOS, PART OF BENIN EMPIRE AND A MEMBER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF EDO.
The Obi of Owa kingdom is shown in this picture with his chiefs who are carrying an insignia called eben or eberen in benin and Ika language, this is for chiefs or kings that share lineage or affiliation with the benin monarchy and benin people. but no one is denying igbo migration or igbo influence in ika ,but we want to be respected as a people who are of a seperate ethnic group called ika , we dont want igbo appendage or Benin appendage we are just Ika nation . We love our culture and tradition and we would defend it to the last.
I am from Owa kingdom and my family is one of the original founders of Owa kingdom and we are fierce warrior, these people tried and failed my ancestors names are Igbedigin, Oviagbon, Ugbebor,Omoroje,Ibiuzugbe,Imade,Osahon ,Aimonagbare,Okpeaye,Ogbe,Ogbudu,Omigie, i guess you silly igbo liar will tell me it is an igbo name,our Obis name is Ifeizomor ,his father was Oboh Efeizomor, his grandfather was Ikokoh Obaigbena,whose father was called Okundaiye,whose father was Aigbodin Igbeoba,whose father was called Ose,and as far back as 13th century when my ancestor was the Obi of Owa his name was Igbedigin, and after him the next obi was Ewodo, and after that the next obi was ewuare and the next was Orhogbua and the Ozolua. 1906 the british invaded owa kingdom with their cannons, guns and muskets and soldiers owa warriors confronted them and killed captain crewe reade in owanta ,he was the assistant district officer for benin area , and he was beheaded by an owa warrior called tete Okunbor Osagie,that war lasted for 55 days and the British suffered casualties and they had to call for reinforcement with the soldiers and battallion of west african frontier forces and they defeated and captured our obi , aigbodi Igbeoba -Ogbihaga( the king with dreadlocks) and exiled him in Warri ,where he died and his son Obi Okundaiye became king of owa .after that the british respected owa and ika people that was why the colonial governor said he was afraid to go to Agbor area where the people are war like and hostile.
The former Obi of Agbor around 1900, Obi Osaigbobu challenged Oba Eweka the second of Benin then a prince to a wrestling match and he refused to put down his eben and ada when Eweka came to Agbor and it was a tradition for allI Ika or anioma kings to put down their ada when they see the Oba as a sign of the obas seniority, before that time the British made Aiguosinvba the son of Oba Ovoramwen to become the district head of Agbor and he sat at a higher pedestral than the Obi of Agbor ,the agbor people revolted and attack him, they nearly killed him and he was injured and later removed.In 1966 during the civil war the Igbos too lay such claims but trust Ika people they quickly helped the federal troops to expel them. So if all this things have happened i wonder why some people will be pushing an ageda that is already dead before delivery to ika people .finally i will like to say we are Ika people and we belong to ika nation and nothing will make us any other tribe except Ika , we cannever be Igbo but Benin. If you look at the core culture of the main Ika people , and if you go back in time say 500 years or more what you will find are Bini names that our people bore, you will see in the naming of our villages and most towns bini names and if you come to what we worshipped traditionally , you will find they are mostly Edo deities like Olokun, Ovia, Ake, Ohunweeden, Ohointe, Ogun(idigun),Ojuwu,Ikpai,and others with the exception of Ikenga and Ifejiokun that are Igbo deities.
As for festivals our ancient festivals are mainly Bini related like Ikaba,Ugbose, Osiezi, Inneh,Ogbanigbe,Uje and Igue -which still remains the most famous in Ika and Bini land. Our kingship style was not taken from nri or any other igbo land , but from Bini using the Uselu and Edaiken system and chieftancy with a Dein/Obi and three levels of chieftancy called ohaimen - the palace ,town and hereditory chiefs which mostly go by Bini names like Obazuaye, Obaseki, Ozomor, Ologboshere, Uwangue, Esama,Isekure, Ihama, Ihaza, Ihondon, and others these Bini titles are the important ones , vested with traditional authority ,but right now we have Igbo titles occuring in the last hundred years like Ogifurueze,Ezenweanali and others but very few and less significant. The dressing of the chiefs and kings in ikaland attest to the fact that they look exactly like a replica of the Oba of Benin and Bini chiefs.Due to our culture of property rights , marriages and other things which relate us to the Bini ,if there is any cultural problem in Ika and average Ika chief will look towards Bini and that is a fact ,because we share same cultural space.
MORE ON AGBOR AND BENIN . The History of Agbor Kingdom like those of other African ancient kingdoms, empires and peoples is based on oral tradition. Various oral accounts on the origin of Agbor and Ika people exist but the most credible being that “Ogunagbon” and his followers who founded Agbor came from Benin and first settled in “Ominije” presently located in today’s Agbor-Nta. Following what can best be described as personal crisis between two princes in Benin and subsequent settlement of this dispute as agreed to by the chiefs and elders of Benin determined by casting of lot, one of the princes settled in what became known as “Agbon”. Agbon like other Anioma towns and communities was later anglicized by the Bjritish who found it difficult to pronounce as “Agbor” the present name of the town. For certain reasons, I have decided to ignore all other events that transpired leading to the foundation of the town called Agbor in acknowledgement of the fact that what concerns us here is the progenitor of the kingdom and his origin. Agbon (Agbor) in Benin means “Earth or “Land”.
Anglicization of names of Anioma communities found difficult to pronounce was not new by the British was not uncommon to these peoples. Igbuzo in circumstances beyond the understanding of the indigenes was anglicized as “Ibusa,” Ahaba (Asaba,) Ogwanshi-Ukwu (Ogwashi-Uku) Isei-Ukwu (Issele-Uku) Isei-Mkpitime (Issele-Mkpitime) Okpam (Okpanam) Umuede (Umunede) Notice also that in some cases the name remains the same but the spelling may change as in the case of Onicha (Onitsha) of Anambra state another of Anioma city.
As noted earlier Cheime, a refugee from Benin is historically credited with the foundation of majority of Anioma communities. Historical accounts records Cheime who was driven away from Benin fled from the kingdom traveling eastwards towards the Niger River and founded Onitsha where he finally settled, his followers having been exhausted founded certain of these Anioma towns. Many of which includes the present day Onicha-Uku, Onicha-Ugbo, Onicha-Olona, Onicha-Ukwu, Issele-Uku, Idumuje-Unoh, Idumuje-Ugboko and a lot more.
At the present day Onitsha in Anambra state, his final place of settlement, Cheime had had a daughter called Owuwu, Owuwu was believed in oral history to have abandoned Onitsha fearing she might lose her life after her father lost nine of his sons in this very town owing to witchcraft. Owuwu was soon to return to Agbor settling at Osarra in Agbor. The name “Owuwu” which now is a Quarter in Agbor is a historical testimony of this.
The argument in certain Quarters that Agbor people bear Igbo names and to some extent assimilates Igbo language and vocabularies is well a defeated one, it is asking why the language of Onitsha people is Igbo having been founded by Cheime from Benin.
Available records show that the British colonial government encouraged Christian missionaries from Igbo land who taught the Ika people using Igbo Bible, hymns and songs. Again the British disregarded homogeneity in their creation of provinces and regions in Nigeria as in else where. Onitsha emerged as a commercial nerve of Anioma but after the Anioma people lost in the Ekwumekwu wars, the town was put in separate province where it now finds itself.
The following names similarly exists between Ika and Bini
1. Agbnifo
2. Ehima
3. Edeje
4. Imade
5. Izegbe
6. Isibor
7. Iredia
8. Iyama
9. Osifo
10. Ozegbe
Common festivals celebrated with Benin
1. Igue
2. Ugbose
The following places with same names exist in Agbor and Benin
1. Ogan
2. Owuwu
3. Ihaikpen
4. Alisor
Commomn vocabularies
1. Ishegwari
2. Ikeke
3. Ulakpa
4. Agara
5. Ise
6. Ikobo
7. Ezuzu
The Benin-Ife Connection
By Omo N'Oba Erediauwa
The Obi of Owa kingdom is shown in this picture with his chiefs who are carrying an insignia called eben or eberen in benin and Ika language, this is for chiefs or kings that share lineage or affiliation with the benin monarchy and benin people. but no one is denying igbo migration or igbo influence in ika ,but we want to be respected as a people who are of a seperate ethnic group called ika , we dont want igbo appendage or Benin appendage we are just Ika nation . We love our culture and tradition and we would defend it to the last.
I am from Owa kingdom and my family is one of the original founders of Owa kingdom and we are fierce warrior, these people tried and failed my ancestors names are Igbedigin, Oviagbon, Ugbebor,Omoroje,Ibiuzugbe,Imade,Osahon ,Aimonagbare,Okpeaye,Ogbe,Ogbudu,Omigie, i guess you silly igbo liar will tell me it is an igbo name,our Obis name is Ifeizomor ,his father was Oboh Efeizomor, his grandfather was Ikokoh Obaigbena,whose father was called Okundaiye,whose father was Aigbodin Igbeoba,whose father was called Ose,and as far back as 13th century when my ancestor was the Obi of Owa his name was Igbedigin, and after him the next obi was Ewodo, and after that the next obi was ewuare and the next was Orhogbua and the Ozolua. 1906 the british invaded owa kingdom with their cannons, guns and muskets and soldiers owa warriors confronted them and killed captain crewe reade in owanta ,he was the assistant district officer for benin area , and he was beheaded by an owa warrior called tete Okunbor Osagie,that war lasted for 55 days and the British suffered casualties and they had to call for reinforcement with the soldiers and battallion of west african frontier forces and they defeated and captured our obi , aigbodi Igbeoba -Ogbihaga( the king with dreadlocks) and exiled him in Warri ,where he died and his son Obi Okundaiye became king of owa .after that the british respected owa and ika people that was why the colonial governor said he was afraid to go to Agbor area where the people are war like and hostile.
The former Obi of Agbor around 1900, Obi Osaigbobu challenged Oba Eweka the second of Benin then a prince to a wrestling match and he refused to put down his eben and ada when Eweka came to Agbor and it was a tradition for allI Ika or anioma kings to put down their ada when they see the Oba as a sign of the obas seniority, before that time the British made Aiguosinvba the son of Oba Ovoramwen to become the district head of Agbor and he sat at a higher pedestral than the Obi of Agbor ,the agbor people revolted and attack him, they nearly killed him and he was injured and later removed.In 1966 during the civil war the Igbos too lay such claims but trust Ika people they quickly helped the federal troops to expel them. So if all this things have happened i wonder why some people will be pushing an ageda that is already dead before delivery to ika people .finally i will like to say we are Ika people and we belong to ika nation and nothing will make us any other tribe except Ika , we cannever be Igbo but Benin. If you look at the core culture of the main Ika people , and if you go back in time say 500 years or more what you will find are Bini names that our people bore, you will see in the naming of our villages and most towns bini names and if you come to what we worshipped traditionally , you will find they are mostly Edo deities like Olokun, Ovia, Ake, Ohunweeden, Ohointe, Ogun(idigun),Ojuwu,Ikpai,and others with the exception of Ikenga and Ifejiokun that are Igbo deities.
As for festivals our ancient festivals are mainly Bini related like Ikaba,Ugbose, Osiezi, Inneh,Ogbanigbe,Uje and Igue -which still remains the most famous in Ika and Bini land. Our kingship style was not taken from nri or any other igbo land , but from Bini using the Uselu and Edaiken system and chieftancy with a Dein/Obi and three levels of chieftancy called ohaimen - the palace ,town and hereditory chiefs which mostly go by Bini names like Obazuaye, Obaseki, Ozomor, Ologboshere, Uwangue, Esama,Isekure, Ihama, Ihaza, Ihondon, and others these Bini titles are the important ones , vested with traditional authority ,but right now we have Igbo titles occuring in the last hundred years like Ogifurueze,Ezenweanali and others but very few and less significant. The dressing of the chiefs and kings in ikaland attest to the fact that they look exactly like a replica of the Oba of Benin and Bini chiefs.Due to our culture of property rights , marriages and other things which relate us to the Bini ,if there is any cultural problem in Ika and average Ika chief will look towards Bini and that is a fact ,because we share same cultural space.
MORE ON AGBOR AND BENIN . The History of Agbor Kingdom like those of other African ancient kingdoms, empires and peoples is based on oral tradition. Various oral accounts on the origin of Agbor and Ika people exist but the most credible being that “Ogunagbon” and his followers who founded Agbor came from Benin and first settled in “Ominije” presently located in today’s Agbor-Nta. Following what can best be described as personal crisis between two princes in Benin and subsequent settlement of this dispute as agreed to by the chiefs and elders of Benin determined by casting of lot, one of the princes settled in what became known as “Agbon”. Agbon like other Anioma towns and communities was later anglicized by the Bjritish who found it difficult to pronounce as “Agbor” the present name of the town. For certain reasons, I have decided to ignore all other events that transpired leading to the foundation of the town called Agbor in acknowledgement of the fact that what concerns us here is the progenitor of the kingdom and his origin. Agbon (Agbor) in Benin means “Earth or “Land”.
Anglicization of names of Anioma communities found difficult to pronounce was not new by the British was not uncommon to these peoples. Igbuzo in circumstances beyond the understanding of the indigenes was anglicized as “Ibusa,” Ahaba (Asaba,) Ogwanshi-Ukwu (Ogwashi-Uku) Isei-Ukwu (Issele-Uku) Isei-Mkpitime (Issele-Mkpitime) Okpam (Okpanam) Umuede (Umunede) Notice also that in some cases the name remains the same but the spelling may change as in the case of Onicha (Onitsha) of Anambra state another of Anioma city.
As noted earlier Cheime, a refugee from Benin is historically credited with the foundation of majority of Anioma communities. Historical accounts records Cheime who was driven away from Benin fled from the kingdom traveling eastwards towards the Niger River and founded Onitsha where he finally settled, his followers having been exhausted founded certain of these Anioma towns. Many of which includes the present day Onicha-Uku, Onicha-Ugbo, Onicha-Olona, Onicha-Ukwu, Issele-Uku, Idumuje-Unoh, Idumuje-Ugboko and a lot more.
At the present day Onitsha in Anambra state, his final place of settlement, Cheime had had a daughter called Owuwu, Owuwu was believed in oral history to have abandoned Onitsha fearing she might lose her life after her father lost nine of his sons in this very town owing to witchcraft. Owuwu was soon to return to Agbor settling at Osarra in Agbor. The name “Owuwu” which now is a Quarter in Agbor is a historical testimony of this.
The argument in certain Quarters that Agbor people bear Igbo names and to some extent assimilates Igbo language and vocabularies is well a defeated one, it is asking why the language of Onitsha people is Igbo having been founded by Cheime from Benin.
Available records show that the British colonial government encouraged Christian missionaries from Igbo land who taught the Ika people using Igbo Bible, hymns and songs. Again the British disregarded homogeneity in their creation of provinces and regions in Nigeria as in else where. Onitsha emerged as a commercial nerve of Anioma but after the Anioma people lost in the Ekwumekwu wars, the town was put in separate province where it now finds itself.
The following names similarly exists between Ika and Bini
1. Agbnifo
2. Ehima
3. Edeje
4. Imade
5. Izegbe
6. Isibor
7. Iredia
8. Iyama
9. Osifo
10. Ozegbe
Common festivals celebrated with Benin
1. Igue
2. Ugbose
The following places with same names exist in Agbor and Benin
1. Ogan
2. Owuwu
3. Ihaikpen
4. Alisor
Commomn vocabularies
1. Ishegwari
2. Ikeke
3. Ulakpa
4. Agara
5. Ise
6. Ikobo
7. Ezuzu
The Benin-Ife Connection
By Omo N'Oba Erediauwa
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