Afemai people


The Afemai people are a major ethnic group in the northern region of Edo State, Nigeria. They are historically linked to the Kingdom of Benin and are part of the Edoid ethnolinguistic family.
The Afemai occupy six local government areas of Edo State: Etsako West, Etsako Central, Etsako East, Owan East, Owan West and Akoko Edo. These collectively constitute the Edo North senatorial district.
The Etsakọ, Owan, and Akoko-Edo peoples are collectively referred to as the Afenmai. The people and region they reside in were formerly called Kukuruku by the British colonial administration, allegedly in reference to a rallying battle cry; this term is now considered derogatory, and the people induced the government to change the name to Afenmai. The Afenmai Division was broken up into the modern six LGAs post-colonialism. Though no longer an official administrative designation, the region may still be referred to as Afenmailand. The Afenmai have close linguistic, cultural, and historical relationships.

Name and etymology

The Afemai are also known as the Afenmai, Etsako, Etsakor, Iyekhee, or Yekhee people. In Benin, they are also known as Ivbiosakon or Ivbiesakon people. The name Afemai means "we are united", while Etsako means "those who file their teeth", referring to an old practice of tooth sharpening; likewise, the Benin name Ivbiesakon means "children of those who file their teeth".
Owan was derived from the largest and longest river in the area which is known as Onwan/Owan. Onwanvbua/Owanbua was abbreviated as Onwan/Owan, which means "one who makes merry in affluence".

Language

The Afenmai language is a Ghotou-Uneme-Yekhee language, belonging to the North-Central branch of Edoid languages. Afemai is closely related to Edo.
Afemai has several documented dialects:
  • Auchi
  • Avainwu
  • Aviele
  • Ekperi
  • Ivhiadaobi
  • South Ibie
  • Uwepa-Uwano
  • Uzanu, Anegbette, Udochi, Imiava
  • Uzairue
  • Owan
  • Okpella/Okpekpe/North Ibie

    History

Afemai is made of several kingdoms and clans and many of them seem to have their own oral history versions of the origin of Afemai as well as claims to its starting point in history. Historical accounts claimed that they migrated from Benin, during the rule of Oba Ewuare. The title Ewuare, means "all is well" or "the trouble has ceased". The title symbolizes an epoch of reconciliation, reconstruction and the return of peace among the warring factions in Benin between 1435-1440 AD.
Shortly after this critical period of war, Akalaka and his two sons Ekpeye and Ogba migrated further southeast to first settle at Ula-Ubie, and subsequently other groups moved out of Benin City and migrated north. However, it has recently become clear that there were people living in Afemailand prior to the migration from Benin City.
The local tradition of origin often traces their migration from Benin, which many oral traditionalists attribute to have happened sometime between the 13th and 15th centuries. It is believed their ancestors settled in South Ibie before groups started moving to populate the other area they occupied like the Weppa Wanno lands, Okpella land, Uzairue, etc. Many Owan communities trace their origins to migrations from Benin at different times. Historical accounts, including those by Chief Jacob U. Egharevba, suggest that Omorodion, popularly known as Odion among the people of Uwokha, was one of the sons of Oba Eweka I. Following a succession dispute after the demise of Oba Eweka I, Omorodion left Benin City and established Uwokha, a name derived from the Benin word "Uwoha," meaning "bush." Over time, the name evolved into Uwokha or Uokha.

Administration and government

Administratively, the Etsakọ occupy three local government areas of Edo State. These are: Etsako East, Etsako West and Etsako Central, with Agenebode, Auchi, and Fugar as their administrative headquarters respectively.
Owan is made up of two local government areas: Owan East and Owan West, including many clans; notable amongst them are: Ihievbe, Emai people, Iuleha land, Ora, Igue, Uokha, Otuo, Ikhin, Ivbi-Mion, Ikao, Ivbi-adaobi, Ozalla, Uzebba etc.
The Afemais do not have a central traditional ruler, but some of the prominent traditional institutions and rulers in Afemai land are the Okumagbe of Weppa Wanno, Ogieneni of Uzairue, 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, oghie avhianwu of Avhianwu clan etc. Afemai have produced many illustrious personalities in both national and international levels.
Tourist attractions, which span the expanse of Afemai, are exemplified by the Ise Lake in Agenebode Etsakor East, the Ososo Hills, the famous Kukuruku Hills and the Somorika Hills in Akoko Edo. 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, Oshiolo, Emokwemhe Iviagbapue, Auchi, Ihievbe, Afuze, 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, Ogbona etc.
The autonomous clans, towns, villages and kingdoms in Afemai land are currently administratively arranged as follows under the current six local government areas:
  • Etsako East LGA, Agenebode:
  • Etsako Central LGA, Fugar:
  • Estako West LGA, Auchi:
  • Owan East LGA, Afuze
  • Owan West LGA, Sabongida Ora:
  • Akoko Edo LGA, Igarra:
Aviawun is one of the popular clans in Afemai. It comprises
1 Unone
2 Arua
3 Ogbona
4 Iriakhor
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.

Economy and occupation

Etsako land is naturally blessed with arable farmlands, natural minerals, freshwater streams, and rivers including the Niger River, well distributed in every community across the vast plains, valleys, and hills, including mineral-rich mountains that decorate Etsako land. Naturally, Etsako people are traditionally engaged in crop and animal farming, fishery, hunting, and trading in the raw materials and by-products of these industries. While many still engage in the traditional occupation of the people, industrialization and diversification have happened over many centuries. Today, Etsako people are prominently engaged in almost every known trade, occupation, and work in Nigeria and the world.
Etsako people predominantly practice farming with very fertile land that produces groundnut, yam, maize, rice in a large wide range, and cassava. Mineral resources such as Coal, Limestone, Potassium, and precious stones of large commercial quantities are found in Etsako land. Compared to others Edo state, Security in Etsako land is better, and the people greatly host visitors.

Religion and culture

The Etsako people were originally practitioners of the African Traditional Religion. However, with the introduction of Christianity and Islam, many got converted to those religions.
Today, the Etsako people practice traditional religion, Christianity, and Islam. Oghena, Osinegba, Osi, and Oshio are the common words used to refer to God in different communities and dialects of the Etsako people.
Etsako people are widely known for their Etsako music. These artists entertain a large number of Nigerians both in Edo & Delta States as well as in Lagos, Kaduna, Kano and Abuja and the northern and Middle Beltern states of Nigeria.

The whistling tortoise in Avbiosi

The Okhaku'roros so perfected the art of wars to a stage that they used magical means to make tortoises into signaling devices. These tortoises would whistle to indicate imminent attacks. An Akhuere or ducant tree was planted on a spot in Avbiosi to mark the fetish object, which they named Unuo gboeren. To avoid spiritual repercussions, hunters would not pick the whistling tortoise in that vicinity. The Unuo gboeren is a shrine that still stands today in Avbiosi. In 1976, the Unuo gboeren tree was to give way to a new road, being constructed by Niger cat construction company. The road was supposed to be a thoroughfare, passing through Avbiosi to Ifon in Ondo state, Nigeria. The intervention of Pa Alfred Onime Obuhoro spared this tree, and the road was diverted from the shrine. Pa Obuhoro was born under the tree on 24 December 1922. This shrine is appeased during severe draughts to bring rain.

The origin of Aviawun Clan

Awun is said to be migrated from Benin Kingdom during the 15th century and he left Benin Kingdom because of the iron hand the Oba of Benin was applying on its subjects. He first settled at Jettu and the natives of Jettu did not welcome him, so he further migrated eastward and settled in the present Fugar. It was said that when he arrived at Fugar, he did not see any big trees and the only tree he saw that could shade him and his family was not big enough. This particular tree still exists to the present day. The tree is named Agbabo. It is a traditional tree and no Awun descendant dares cut it. It is also considered a tourist attraction.

Notable people