Aro-Ibibio Wars
Encyclopedia
The Aro-Ibibio Wars were a series of conflicts between the Aro people
(subgroup of the Igbo
) and several Ibibio
groups in present day Southeastern Nigeria
from 1630 to 1902. These wars led to the foundation of the Arochukwu
kingdom (1690–1720) and played a role in the Aro Confederacy
's rise and fall (1690–1902).
lived in the area which later became Arochukwu. During their staying, they founded several states
(Obong Okon Ita
and Ibom
) and had a strong cultural presence. Igbo
migrants into the region, was led by the Eze Agwu clan in the mid 17nth century. The Ibibios resisted these newcomers and this resulted in a stalemate. The Eze Awgu clan searched for ways to subdue the stiff Ibibio resistance. The Priest Nnachi
from the Edda group near Afikpo
, was called by their king Awgu Inobia (Eze Agwu) for help. When he arrived, Nnachi and Eze Agwu allied with prince Kakpokpo Okon
of the Ibibio kingdom of Obong Okon Ita. Kakpokpo Okon was the son of a marriage between an Igbo women of the Eze Agwu clan and the King of Obong Okon Ita in an attempt of a peace treaty. The Eze Agwu/Nnachi faction decided to help Kakpokpo attempt to overthrow his brother king Akpan Okon
. The coup was heavily resisted which called for even more help. Through Nnachi, an Eastern Cross river group answered the call for help. They were known as the Akpa
. These warriors and traders, may have had Europe
an guns
which were new to the Aro territory. Being the Igbo allies, the Akpas were led by the royal Nnubi family. Osim and Akuma Nnubi
led Akpa soldiers to help fight against the Ibibios. Together with Igbo forces (and Ibibio rebels), they defeated the Obong Okon Ita forces (1690–1720). During the final battles, Osim Nnubi was slain in Oror city state making it the capital of Arochukwu. In Obinkita the remaining Ibibio warriors became prisoners and were judged and that is why the city state is the holder of the Ikeji festival. But at the end of the war, Osim and Kakpokpo were dead. In order to honor Osim's legacy, his brother Akuma was crowned the first EzeAro (king). After his death, Nnachi's descendants took the throne starting with his first son Oke Nnachi
. The Arochukwu kingdom, was founded.
As the Arochukwu kingdom rose into a Confederacy of 19 states, the palm and slave trade became popular. Several Aro business families migrated to Ibibioland and established colonies. This helped to spread the influence of the Aro Oracle, Ibini Ukpabi
. Some Aro merchants and mercenaries helped their Efik allies capture and sell many Ibibios and other groups as slaves to the Europeans.
(1901–1902). During the war, several friendly communities and local collaborators were utilized by British troops. Some of the communities were in the Ibibio areas around Itu
which was one of four axes of advance by British troops to Arochukwu. It was also through Itu that Arochukwu was first invaded during the war. Aro forces were defeated in spring 1902.
Aro people
The Aro people or Aros is an Igbo subgroup with Akpa and Ibibio elements who originated from Arochukwu kingdom in present day Abia state, Southeastern Nigeria. The Aros can also be found in about 250 other settlements mostly in the Southeastern region and adjacent areas...
(subgroup of the Igbo
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
) and several Ibibio
Ibibio people
The Ibibio are a people of southeastern Nigeria. They are related to the Anaang and the Efik peoples. During colonial period in Nigeria, the Ibibio Union asked for recognition by the British as a sovereign nation . The Annang, Efik, Ekid, Oron and Ibeno share personal names, culture, and traditions...
groups in present day Southeastern 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...
from 1630 to 1902. These wars led to the foundation of the Arochukwu
Arochukwu
Arochukwu, sometimes referred to as Arochuku, or Aro-Okigbo, is the third largest city in Abia State in southeastern Nigeria and homeland of the Igbo subgroup, Aro people....
kingdom (1690–1720) and played a role in the Aro Confederacy
Aro Confederacy
The Aro Confederacy was a political union orchestrated by the Igbo subgroup, the Aro people, centered in Arochukwu in present day Southeastern Nigeria. Their influence and presence was across Eastern Nigeria into parts of the Niger Delta and Southern Igala during the 18th and 19th centuries...
's rise and fall (1690–1902).
The Arochukwu conquest
For about a thousand years, the IbibioIbibio people
The Ibibio are a people of southeastern Nigeria. They are related to the Anaang and the Efik peoples. During colonial period in Nigeria, the Ibibio Union asked for recognition by the British as a sovereign nation . The Annang, Efik, Ekid, Oron and Ibeno share personal names, culture, and traditions...
lived in the area which later became Arochukwu. During their staying, they founded several states
Sovereign state
A sovereign state, or simply, state, is a state with a defined territory on which it exercises internal and external sovereignty, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign states. It is also normally understood to be a state which is neither...
(Obong Okon Ita
Obong Okon Ita
The Obong Okon Ita kingdom was a Ibibio nation with its seat of government in Obot Okon Ita. This kingdom was located between present day Abia and Akwa Ibom states in Southeastern Nigeria. Around 1630, an Igbo group known as the Eze Agwu arrived around Obong Okon Ita. This caused a long term...
and Ibom
Ibom
Ibom is an old word meaning the universe, the earth, or a community used by the Efik / Ibibio / Annang / Oron / Eket people of Nigeria. Akwa Ibom State is one of the present two states created from the old Akwa Akpa kingdom, Cross River State being the sister state.There is a town in Arochukwu,...
) and had a strong cultural presence. Igbo
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
migrants into the region, was led by the Eze Agwu clan in the mid 17nth century. The Ibibios resisted these newcomers and this resulted in a stalemate. The Eze Awgu clan searched for ways to subdue the stiff Ibibio resistance. The Priest Nnachi
Nnachi
Nnachi is one of the founding fathers of the city of Arochukwu, one of the largest cities in Abia State in southeastern Nigeria. During the conclusion of the 17th century, he was a Dibia from the Edda group near Afikpo. The Eze Agwu clan led by King Agwu Inobia in the Aro region called on Nnachi...
from the Edda group near Afikpo
Afikpo
Afikpo is the second largest city in Ebonyi State of Nigeria. Until recently it was the home Local Government Area of the late Eze Akanu Ibiam, who hailed from the village of Unwana. Dr...
, was called by their king Awgu Inobia (Eze Agwu) for help. When he arrived, Nnachi and Eze Agwu allied with prince Kakpokpo Okon
Kakpokpo Okon
Kakpokpo Okon was an Ibibio prince from the Obong Okon Ita Kingdom around 1690-1720. He was the son of the marriage between the king and a Igbo woman from the Eze Agwu lineage. Kakpokpo Okon lead a successful coup against his brother Akpan Okon the Obong with the support of the Eze Agwu, Nnachi,...
of the Ibibio kingdom of Obong Okon Ita. Kakpokpo Okon was the son of a marriage between an Igbo women of the Eze Agwu clan and the King of Obong Okon Ita in an attempt of a peace treaty. The Eze Agwu/Nnachi faction decided to help Kakpokpo attempt to overthrow his brother king Akpan Okon
Akpan Okon
Akpan Okon was the last Obong of Obong Okon Ita around 1690-1720. He was overthrown by his brother Kakpokpo Okon with the support of groups such as the Eze Agwu, Nnachi Ipia, and the Nnubi dynasty in the final phases of the Aro-Ibibio Wars. Akpan Okon's defeat was very significant and crucial to...
. The coup was heavily resisted which called for even more help. Through Nnachi, an Eastern Cross river group answered the call for help. They were known as the Akpa
Akpa
The Ibom Isi also known as the Akpa are one of the three main lineages compromising the Aro people. They are centered in Ibom, Arochukwu in Nigeria...
. These warriors and traders, may have had Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an guns
Güns
Güns or Guens may refer to:* Kőszeg, Hungary * Kőszeg Mountains, Hungary * Akiva Güns , birth name of Akiva Eger, a Hungarian-Polish rabbi- See also :* Guns * Gün, a surname...
which were new to the Aro territory. Being the Igbo allies, the Akpas were led by the royal Nnubi family. Osim and Akuma Nnubi
Osim and Akuma Nnubi
Osim and Akuma Nnubi were brothers and merchant princes of the Akpa people from the east of the Cross River in the late 17th century. The Akpa people were trading allies with the Eze Agwu and Nnachi clans of the Igbo. When Nnachi called them to assist the Igbos in the Aro-Ibibio wars, they...
led Akpa soldiers to help fight against the Ibibios. Together with Igbo forces (and Ibibio rebels), they defeated the Obong Okon Ita forces (1690–1720). During the final battles, Osim Nnubi was slain in Oror city state making it the capital of Arochukwu. In Obinkita the remaining Ibibio warriors became prisoners and were judged and that is why the city state is the holder of the Ikeji festival. But at the end of the war, Osim and Kakpokpo were dead. In order to honor Osim's legacy, his brother Akuma was crowned the first EzeAro (king). After his death, Nnachi's descendants took the throne starting with his first son Oke Nnachi
Oke Nnachi
Oke Nnachi was the son of Nnachi and possibly introduced the idea of bring Akpa troops to help the Eze Agwu, Nnachi clan, and Obong Okon Ita rebels during the Aro-Ibibio Wars. After the short dynasty of Osim and Akuma Nnubi of Akuma, Oke Nnachi became king of Arochukwu...
. The Arochukwu kingdom, was founded.
Aro Confederacy era in Ibibioland
After Arochukwu was formed, it began to expand because of the growing population and territorial protection. Ibibio groups who were kicked out and their allies (Obot Mme, Mako, and etc.) sporadically attacked Arochukwu shortly after its formation. In order to neutralize Ibibio invasions, Aro forces formed vigilante camps which eventually grew into communities on the Arochukwu-Ibibio boundaries and repelled the invasions.As the Arochukwu kingdom rose into a Confederacy of 19 states, the palm and slave trade became popular. Several Aro business families migrated to Ibibioland and established colonies. This helped to spread the influence of the Aro Oracle, Ibini Ukpabi
Ibini Ukpabi
The Ibini Ukpabi was an oracle of the Aro Confederacy of what is now south eastern Nigeria. It was known among the British as the Long Ju-ju. Ibini Ukpabi was used to settle cases, particularly does of murder, witchcraft, poisoning and family disputes...
. Some Aro merchants and mercenaries helped their Efik allies capture and sell many Ibibios and other groups as slaves to the Europeans.
The fall of the Aro Confederacy
During the 1890s, the Aro resisted British penetration in the hinterland. The Aro and their allies launched offensives against British allies in Igbo and Ibibioland until 1901. After failed negotiations, the British planned on capturing Igboland and Ibibioland through the Aro Confederacy in 1899. The tensions rose and resulted in the Anglo-Aro WarAnglo-Aro War
The Anglo-Aro War was a conflict between the Aro Confederacy in present day Eastern Nigeria, and the British Empire. The war began after increasing tension between Aro leaders and British colonialists after years of failed negotiations....
(1901–1902). During the war, several friendly communities and local collaborators were utilized by British troops. Some of the communities were in the Ibibio areas around Itu
Itu
Itu is an old and historic municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2009 was 157,384 and the area is 641.68 km². The elevation is 583 m. This place name comes from the Tupi language, meaning big waterfall. Itu is linked with the highway numbered the SP-75 and are flowed...
which was one of four axes of advance by British troops to Arochukwu. It was also through Itu that Arochukwu was first invaded during the war. Aro forces were defeated in spring 1902.
External links
- http://www.aro-okigbo.com/history_of_the_aros.htm
- http://www.aronetwork.org/others/arohistory.htmlhttp://www.aronewsonline.com/origincivilization.html
- http://people.bu.edu/manfredi/Contours.pdf
- http://anny-nigeria.com/
- http://books.google.com/books?id=tjLjoC6ScKYC&pg=PA26&lpg=PA26&dq=aro+slave+trade+ohafia+ibibio&source=bl&ots=vsWGxqbRH4&sig=rI60QzRMmm2rUFU7ki-ibbRCyYE&hl=en&ei=4_nxTIysFIGglAen54i2Cg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CB0Q6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=aro%20slave%20trade%20ohafia%20ibibio&f=false