Afemai
Encyclopedia
Afenmai or Afemai is an ethnic language of the group of people living in the northern part of Edo State
south geopolitical zone of Nigeria
.
Afenmai or Afemai people occupy six local government areas of Edo state: Etsako East
, with headquarters in Agenebode, Etsako Central
, Etsako West
, Owan East
, Owan West
and Akoko Edo
. These make up the Edo-North Senatorial District.
Afemai ethnic group is subdivided into different dialects, but people of this ethnicity generally speak and understand each other.
versions of the origin of Afemai as well as its own starting point in history. Historical accounts claimed that they migrated from Benin
, during the tyrannical rule of Oba Ewuare, who was the greatest warrior legend and the most outstanding king in the history of Benin Empire
. “The title Ewuare (Oworuare), meaning it is cool or the trouble has ceased” and as a result the war is over. The title symbolizes an epoch
of reconciliation, reconstruction and the return of peace among the warring factions
in Benin between 1435-1440 AD.
It was shortly after this critical period of war that 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 northward. However, has recently become clear that there were people living in Afemailand prior to the migration from Benin City.
Some of the most celebrated sons and daughters of Afemailand, past and present, are the late Pa Michael Imoudu, who was a foremost labour leader and founder of the Nigeria state, the late Chief Julius Momo Udochi the first Nigerian Ambassador to the United States,late Gen. George Agbazika Innih, who was one timeMilitary Governor of Bendel
and Kwara States, Sir Pa Hudson Arikalume Momodu, MBE, was the leader of the National Labour Congress Union for the Nigerian War Workers Department of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (he received the ADC hands medal from His Excellency on behalf of the Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II), Adams Oshiomhole
, the past president of the Nigeria Labour Congress
and now Governor of Edo State, Pa Johnson Jimoh Iyere, Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi,(chairman/ceo Africa Independent Television
),Senator Franca Afegbua, first Nigeria female senator, Late Chief Inu Umoru, chairman/CEO, Setraco Ltd, Prince Tony Momoh
, Peter Saba Oshiozekhai (retail magnate, philanthropist, and the first licensed pharmacist to be located in the Uzairue Clan), former Minister of Information and Culture, Commander Anthony Ikhazoboh, minister of sports and transport, Prince Fidelis Oyogoa (SNR) Acclaimed Former Tennis Coach at the Port Washington Academy who trained the likes of John McEnroe and Peter Fleming and Renowned Real Estate Developer (MAKU Holdings), Aret Adams GMD NNPC, Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe
Ex-Chief Of General Staff and Ambassador Abdulaziz Garuba etc..
(Agenebode
), Ogieneni of Uzairue (Jattu),Aidonogie of south Ibie, Otaru of Auchi, Oba of Agbede, Otaru of Igarra, Oliola of Anegbette, Okumagbe of Luleha 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 (Weppa Wanno clan) Etsakor East 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-Wanno), Weppa,Oshiolo,Emokwemhe Iviagbapue, Auchi, Afuze, Iviukwe,South Ibie, Agbede, Sabongida Ora, Igarra, Ekperi, Jattu, Fugar, Aviele, Okpella, Iviukhua, Ososo, Uzanu, Uzebba, Iviukhua, Weppa, Okpella, Okpekpe
, Somorika etc.
The autonomous clans, towns, villages and kingdoms in Afemai land are currently administratively arranged as follows under the current six local government areas:
Edo State
Edo State is an inland state in central southern Nigeria. Its capital is Benin City. It is bounded in the north and east by Kogi State, in the south by Delta State and in the west by Ondo State.-History:...
south geopolitical zone of Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
.
Afenmai or Afemai people occupy six local government areas of Edo state: Etsako East
Etsako East
Etsako East is a Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Agenebode. Other towns in this local governments are Okpella, Okpekpe, Imiegba, Ebelle....
, with headquarters in Agenebode, Etsako Central
Etsako Central
Etsako Central is a Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Fugar.It has an area of 660 km² and a population of 94,575 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 312....
, Etsako West
Etsako West
Etsako West is a Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Auchi. Etsako West is made up of four clans; Uzairue, Auchi, South Ibie, Awain clan and Agbede...
, Owan East
Owan East
Owan East is a Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Afuze.It has an area of 1,240 km² and a population of 200,385 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 313....
, Owan West
Owan West
Owan West is a Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Sabongida Ora.It has an area of 732 km² and a population of 97,388 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 313....
and Akoko Edo
Akoko Edo
Akoko Edo is a Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Igarra.It has an area of 1,371 km² and a population of 262,110 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 312...
. These make up the Edo-North Senatorial District.
Afemai ethnic group is subdivided into different dialects, but people of this ethnicity generally speak and understand each other.
History
Afemai, is made of several kingdoms and clans (large villages/townships ruled traditionally by monarchs) and many of them seem to have their own oralSpeech
Speech is the human faculty of speaking.It may also refer to:* Public speaking, the process of speaking to a group of people* Manner of articulation, how the body parts involved in making speech are manipulated...
versions of the origin of Afemai as well as its own starting point in history. Historical accounts claimed that they migrated from Benin
Benin City
Benin City, is a city and the capital of Edo State in southern Nigeria. It is a city approximately twenty-five miles north of the Benin River. It is situated 200 miles by road east of Lagos...
, during the tyrannical rule of Oba Ewuare, who was the greatest warrior legend and the most outstanding king in the history of Benin Empire
Benin Empire
The Benin Empire was a pre-colonial African state in what is now modern Nigeria. It is not to be confused with the modern-day country called Benin, formerly called Dahomey.-Origin:...
. “The title Ewuare (Oworuare), meaning it is cool or the trouble has ceased” and as a result the war is over. The title symbolizes an epoch
Epoch (reference date)
In the fields of chronology and periodization, an epoch is an instance in time chosen as the origin of a particular era. The "epoch" then serves as a reference point from which time is measured...
of reconciliation, reconstruction and the return of peace among the warring factions
Political faction
A political faction is a grouping of individuals, such as a political party, a trade union, or other group with a political purpose. A faction or political party may include fragmented sub-factions, “parties within a party," which may be referred to as power blocs, or voting blocs. The individuals...
in Benin between 1435-1440 AD.
It was shortly after this critical period of war that 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 northward. However, has recently become clear that there were people living in Afemailand prior to the migration from Benin City.
Some of the most celebrated sons and daughters of Afemailand, past and present, are the late Pa Michael Imoudu, who was a foremost labour leader and founder of the Nigeria state, the late Chief Julius Momo Udochi the first Nigerian Ambassador to the United States,late Gen. George Agbazika Innih, who was one timeMilitary Governor of Bendel
Mid-Western Region, Nigeria
The Mid-Western Region was a division of Nigeria from 1963 to 1991, from 1976 being known as the Bendel state.It was formed in June 1963 from Benin and Delta provinces of the Western Region, and its capital was Benin City...
and Kwara States, Sir Pa Hudson Arikalume Momodu, MBE, was the leader of the National Labour Congress Union for the Nigerian War Workers Department of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (he received the ADC hands medal from His Excellency on behalf of the Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II), Adams Oshiomhole
Adams Oshiomhole
Adams Aliyu Eric Oshiomhole is a labor leader who ran for Governor of Edo State in Nigeria in April 2007 on the Action Congress platform. The election was flawed...
, the past president of the Nigeria Labour Congress
Nigeria Labour Congress
Nigeria Labour Congress is an umbrella organisation for trade unions in Nigeria. It was founded in 1978 following a merger of four different organisations: Nigeria Trade Union Congress , Labour Unity Front , United Labour Congress and Nigeria Workers Council . The numerous affiliated unions were...
and now Governor of Edo State, Pa Johnson Jimoh Iyere, Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi,(chairman/ceo Africa Independent Television
Africa Independent Television
Africa Independent Television, also known by its acronym AIT, is a Nigerian satellite television station, a subsidiary of Da'ar Communications plc, available throughout Africa, and via Dish Network to North America...
),Senator Franca Afegbua, first Nigeria female senator, Late Chief Inu Umoru, chairman/CEO, Setraco Ltd, Prince Tony Momoh
Tony Momoh
Prince Tony Momoh is a Nigerian journalist and politician who was Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.-Birth and education:...
, Peter Saba Oshiozekhai (retail magnate, philanthropist, and the first licensed pharmacist to be located in the Uzairue Clan), former Minister of Information and Culture, Commander Anthony Ikhazoboh, minister of sports and transport, Prince Fidelis Oyogoa (SNR) Acclaimed Former Tennis Coach at the Port Washington Academy who trained the likes of John McEnroe and Peter Fleming and Renowned Real Estate Developer (MAKU Holdings), Aret Adams GMD NNPC, Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe
Mike Akhigbe
Mike Okhai Akhigbe is a retired Vice Admiral of the Nigerian Navy. He served as the Vice President of Nigeria during the General Abdusalam Abubakar led military government from 1998 till the termination of military government in Nigeria, in 1999...
Ex-Chief Of General Staff and Ambassador Abdulaziz Garuba etc..
Governance
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 WannoWeppa Wanno
Weppa Wanno is a Kingdom in Etsako East Council, South- South geo political zone of Nigeria. It is the homeland of Uwano people in Etsako-East council. It is bounded by Avianwu, Ibie, Ekperi, and Idah across the Niger River...
(Agenebode
Agenebode
Agenebode is a serene, water-side town located by the banks of the Niger River in Edo State,South South geo political zone of [Nigeria]. It is the headquarters of Etsako-East local council of Edo State and the traditional capital of Weppa Wanno Kingdom....
), Ogieneni of Uzairue (Jattu),Aidonogie of south Ibie, Otaru of Auchi, Oba of Agbede, Otaru of Igarra, Oliola of Anegbette, Okumagbe of Luleha 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 (Weppa Wanno clan) Etsakor East 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-Wanno), Weppa,Oshiolo,Emokwemhe Iviagbapue, Auchi, Afuze, Iviukwe,South Ibie, Agbede, Sabongida Ora, Igarra, Ekperi, Jattu, Fugar, Aviele, Okpella, Iviukhua, Ososo, Uzanu, Uzebba, Iviukhua, Weppa, Okpella, Okpekpe
Okpekpe
Okpekpe Okpekpe is a town in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. It is located about 25 km North East of Auchi. It has a population of 3155 inhabitants...
, Somorika 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:
- Agenebode,Oshiolo,Iviagbapue, Imiakebu, Afana, Imiegba, Itsukwi, Ayogwiri, Emokweme, Ekwothor,Iviukhua, Okpella, OkpekpeOkpekpeOkpekpe Okpekpe is a town in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. It is located about 25 km North East of Auchi. It has a population of 3155 inhabitants...
, Iviebua, Ibie, Weppa, Uzanu
- Etsako Central LGA, Fugar:
- Fugar, Ekperi, Ogbona, Anegbette, Udochi
- Estako West LGA, Auchi:
- Auchi,South Ibie, Agbede,Awain Community( Ewora, Eware, Ibvioba, Ama, Idegun,e.t.c) Jattu, Afashio, Aviele, Iyorah
- Owan East LGA, Afuze
- Afuze, Ihevbe
- Owan West LGA, Sabongida Ora:
- Sabongida Ora,Luleha Clan
- Akoko Edo LGA, Igarra:
- Igarra, Ibillo, Ososo, Somorika,