Afemai people

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Afemai
Total population
4,500,000+[1]
Regions with significant populations
 Nigeria
Languages
Afemai and English
Religion
Christianity, Islam and African traditional religion
Related ethnic groups
Esan, Bini, Urhobo, Isoko

The Afemai, also spelled Afenmai,

Edo-North Senatorial District.[6]

Name

The Afemai are also known as the Afenmai,

Etsako, Etsakor, Iyekhee,[1] or Yekhee people[7]. In Edo State, they are also known as Ivbiosakon people.[8]

Previously the name used by British colonial administration was

Kukuruku, supposedly after a battle cry "ku-ku-ruku",[9] now considered derogatory.[10]


Language

The

Yekhee language, belonging to the North-Central branch of Edoid languages.[1] Afemai is closely related to Edo
.

Afemai has several documented dialects:

[1]

History

Afemai is made of several kingdoms and

the Benin Empire.[12]“The title Ewuare (Oworuare), meaning "all is well" or the trouble has ceased and as a result, the war is over.[13] The title symbolizes an epoch of reconciliation, reconstruction, and the return of peace among the warring factions
in Benin between 1435 and 1440 AD.

Shortly after this critical period of war,

Ekpeye and Ogba migrated further southeast to first settle at Ula-Ubie, and subsequently other groups moved out of Benin City and migrated north.[13] However, it has recently become clear that there were people living in Afemai land prior to the migration from Benin City[14].[citation needed
]

Notable people

Government

The Afemais do not have a central traditional ruler. However, some of the prominent traditional institutions and rulers in Afemai land are the Okumagbe of Weppa Wanno (Agenebode), Ogieneni of Uzairue (Jattu), Aidonogie of south Ibie, Otaru of Auchi, Oba of Agbede, Otaru of Igarra, Ukor of Ihievbe, Oliola of Anegbette, Okumagbe of Iuleha clan, Okuopellagbe of Okpella, Ogieavianwu of Anvianwu clan etc.

Afemai have produced many illustrious personalities in both national and international levels.[15]

Tourist attractions, which span the expanse of Afemai, are exemplified by the Ise Lake in Agenebode (Weppa Wanno clan) Etsakor East, the Ososo hills (featured in an edition of Gulder Ultimate search), the famous

Kukuruku hills and the Somorika hills in Akoko Edo.[15]
Somorika hills consist of an extended expanse of hills crowned by massive boulders perched precariously on the summits of hills and alongside seemingly inadequate locations on the sides.

Some of the most important towns/clans in Afemai land are Agenebode(Weppa-Wanno), Weppa, Oshiolo, Emokwemhe Iviagbapue, Auchi, Ihievbe, Afuze, Anegbette, Warrake, Iviukwe, South Ibie, Agbede, Sabongida Ora, Igarra, Ekperi, Jattu, Fugar, Aviele, Okpella, Uneme Ehrunrun, Uneme Osu, Iviukhua, Ososo, Uzanu, Uzebba, Iviukhua, Weppa, Okpella, Okpekpe, Somorika etc.[16]

The

autonomous
clans, towns, villages and kingdoms in Afemai land are currently administratively arranged as follows under the current six local government areas:

Agenebode, Oshiolo, Iviagbapue, Imiakebu, Afana, Imiegba, Itsukwi, Emokweme, Ekwothor, Iviukhua, Okpella, Okpekpe, Iviebua, Ibie, Weppa, Uzanu City
Fugar, Ekperi, Ogbona, Anegbette, Udochi, Iraokhor
Auchi, South Ibie, Agbede, Awain Community( Ewora, Eware, Ibvioba, Ama, Idegun, etc.) Jattu, Afashio, Ayogwiri, Aviele, Iyorah, Ikabigbo, Afowa, Irekpai, Ugbenor, Idato,
Afuze, Warrake, Igue, Ihievbe, Ikao, Ivbi-Mion, Ive-Ada-Obi, Otuo and Uokha
Sabongida Ora, Iuleha Clan
Igarra, Ibillo, Uneme Osu, Uneme Ehrunrun, Ojah, Ososo, Somorika,

Aviawun (Iviawu) is one of the popular clans in Afemai. It comprises 1 Unone 2 Arua 3 Ogbona 4 Iraokhor

Awun is the father of Unone Arua Ogbona Iriakhor and Awun migrated from Benin Kingdom and settle in the present Fugar. Unone and Arua make up the present Fugar.

Religion

The Etsako people were originally practitioners of the

Missionaries at the Waterside in Agenebode. However Afemai are predominantly Muslims with significant concentration around Auchi, Agbede, Owans, and the Okpella axis.[17][18]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d "Yekhee." Ethnologue. Accessed 12 May 2014.
  2. ^ Edoaffairs (2019-08-17). "The Different Tribes in Edo State". Edoaffairs. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  3. ^ "South South Region". My Guide Nigeria. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  4. ^ "History and Culture of Etsako and Afemai - Ogbona Elites". Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  5. ^ "Edo (State, Nigeria) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  6. ^ "The Different Tribes in Edo State". Edoaffairs. 2019-08-17. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  7. ^ "THE FOUR MAJOR ETHNIC GROUPS IN EDO STATE, NIGERIA". www.markercontent.com. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  8. ^ Ademola Iyi Eweka. "Edo People." Edo World. Accessed 12 May 2014.
  9. ^ "Geographical regions of Nigeria". Berkeley, University of California Press. 1970.
  10. ^ "Etsako".
  11. ^ "Ewuare the Great | African king | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  12. ^ "Benin | historical kingdom, West Africa". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
  13. ^ a b "History – Etsako Central". Retrieved 2021-05-17.
  14. ^ Aluwong, Jeremiah (2019-09-15). "Ethnic Groups In Nigeria- The Etsako People". Connectnigeria Articles. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  15. ^ a b "People – Etsako Central". Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  16. ^ "History – Etsako Central". Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  17. ^ "History of Afenmai". Afenmai Association of Georgia, Inc. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  18. ^ "Dailytrust News, Sports and Business, Politics | Dailytrust". Daily Trust. Retrieved 2022-07-24.

External links

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