Aro people

Last updated
Aro people
Nzuko-Arochukwu.png
Flag of the Aro Confederacy
Total population
Upwards of 1.1 million
Regions with significant populations
Nigeria
Languages
Igbo, Ibibio, Cross River languages, English
Religion
Christianity, Traditional
Related ethnic groups
Ibibio, Efik, Ekoi, Bahumono, Ijo, Igala, Idoma, other Igbo peoples

The Aro people or Aros are an Igbo subgroup [1] that originated from the Arochukwu kingdom in present-day Abia state, Nigeria. The Aros can also be found in about 250 other settlements mostly in the Southeastern Nigeria and adjacent areas. The Aros today are classified as Eastern or Cross River Igbos because of their location, mixed origins, culture, and dialect. Their god, Chukwu Abiama, was a key factor in establishing the Aro Confederacy as a regional power in the Niger Delta and Southeastern Nigeria during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Contents

Origins and history

The history of the Aros predates Igbo migration and founding of the kingdom of Arochukwu. During the Bantu expansion, a group of Proto Ibibio migrated to the area and established the Mbot Abasi Kingdom. The Proto Ibibio group originally came from Usak Edet (Isanguele), a segment of the Ejagham in present-day Southern Cameroon. Igbo migrations led by Eze Agwu from Abiriba and Nnachi from Edda migrated into the Aro region started in the mid-17th century. These Igbo migrants were resisted by the indigenous proto Ibibios. The Aro-Ibibio Wars and the migration of the Akpa from east of the Cross River, formed the nation during the turning point of the 17th century to the 18th century. The Efik were originally from the Ibom Kingdom and might have left before or during the Aro-Ibibio Wars. The Igbo and Akpa alliance, defeated and assimilated the original Ibibio inhabitants after long years of warfare. By this time, the palm oil and slave trade was popular in the hinterland. By the mid-18th century, there were mass migrations of Aro businessmen to the Igbo hinterland and adjacent areas. This migration, influence of their god Chukwu Abiama through priests, and their military power supported by alliances with several related neighboring Igbo and eastern Cross River militarized states (particularly Ohafia, Abam, Ihechiowa, Abiriba, Nkporo, Afikpo, Ekoi, etc.) quickly established the Aro Confederacy as a regional economic power. However, Aro economic hegemony was threatened by the penetration of Europeans, mainly British colonists towards the end of the 19th century. Tensions finally led to bloodshed, and the Anglo-Aro war took place from 1901 to 1902. The Aro Confederacy stoutly resisted but eventually suffered defeat. This helped the British to occupy the rest of what became Eastern Nigeria.

Tradition

The Aros have a rich tradition. One factor is the Ekpe society which is a sacred society originally from east of the Cross River. The highly religious and judicial society took a major part in Aro society. The use of the writing system, Nsibidi, was based on secret societies like Ekpe. Uli, another writing system, occurred mostly in the form of body art.

Another factor is the Chukwu Abiama Temple, which was mediated by the Aro priesthood. They influenced neighbors and allies before the British invasion and destruction of the Chukwu Abiama Temple and Aro priesthood. The Ekeleke masquerade activity was important in Aro settlements. Brought from the Aros in the western Niger Delta, it eventually spread to the Oguta area. They also were known for wearing the popular "George" cloth. The Ikperikpe warrior dance was very famous among warriors in the old days and continues to be in use.

Largest settlements in Western Africa

NameTown/LGAState/CountryNotesNotable People
Aro AjatakairiIkwuanoAbia State, Nigeria
Aro AcharaIsialangwaAbia State, Nigeria
Aro OkporoenyiBendelAbia State, Nigeria
Aro AyamaIkwuanoAbia State, NigeriaLate Mazi (Sir) Ugochukwu Kanu and late Col. Okoro
Aro AmuruIkwuanoAbia State, Nigeria
Aro NgwaAbia State, Nigeria
Aro Ama-AsaIsialangwaAbia State, Nigeria
Aro UmuNkpeIsialangwaAbia State, Nigeria
Aro NbawsiIsialangwaAbia State, Nigeria
Aro OmobaIsialangwaAbia State, Nigeria
Aro UmuEruIsialangwaAbia State, Nigeria
Aro UmuAroIsialangwaAbia State, Nigeria
Aro Onicha Ngwa
Aro IsuochiAbia State, Nigeria
Aro Ahuma AbamAbia State, Nigeria
Aro Nde IjereOhafiaAbia State, Nigeria
Aro UzuakoliAbia State, Nigeria
Aro NdizuoguIdeato, Okigwe and Onuimo LGAsImo State, NigeriaLargest Aro settlementIzuogu Mgbokpo, Igwegbe Odum, Mbonu Ojike
Aro OgutaImo State, Nigeria
Aro IzombeImo State, Nigeria
Aro OruImo State, Nigeria
Aro OjiOwerriImo State, Nigeria
Aro Ihite OwerriImo State, Nigeria
Aro IheosuImo State, Nigeria
Aro AwaImo State, Nigeria
Aro MbanaImo State, Nigeria
Aro Atta IkeduruImo State, Nigeria
Aro UmunneohaImo State, Nigeria
Aro IheagwaImo State, Nigeria
Aro Ndi IkerionwuAnambra State, Nigeria
Aro AjaliAnambra State, Nigeria
Aro AziaAnambra State, Nigeria
Aro AbaganaAnambra State, Nigeria
Aro Ndi-OwuAnambra State, Nigeria
Aro IsiopkoIkwerreRivers State, Nigeria
Aro IgiritaIkwerreRivers State, Nigeria
Aro KalabariRivers State, Nigeria
Aro OpoboRivers State, Nigeria
Aro IkpaEnugu State, Nigeria
Aro AmokweUdi EnuguEnugu State, Nigeria
Aro EzeaguEnugu State, Nigeria
Aro AchiEnugu State, Nigeria
Aro NkalaguEnugu State, Nigeria
Aro OkposiEbonyi State, Nigeria
Aro OnuekeEzzaEbonyi State, Nigeria
Aro NsukkaEbonyi State, Nigeria
Aro NzeremEbonyi State, Nigeria
Aro IkwoEbonyi State, Nigeria
Aro Ndi okoroAkwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Aro Ikot UkanaAkwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Aro Obuoro iteAkwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Aro IdomaBenue State, NigeriaUkpabi of Ochu Idoma
Aro Umudara NjiabaImo State, Nigeria
Aro Umuejike NjiabaImo State, Nigeria
Aro NempiOru West LGAImo State, Nigeria
Aro ibiasoegbeMbgidiImo State, Nigeria
Aro EzialMgbidiImo State, Nigeria
Aro UgbeleMgbidiImo State, Nigeria
Aro Uzun’umu-mgbidiImo State, Nigeria
Aro Eleh-oru WestImo State, Nigeria
Aro Ubulu-Oru WestImo State, Nigeria
Aro Nde Ikokwo-UliAnambra State, Nigeria
Aro Ndi Egungwu-UliAnambra State, Nigeria
Aro Ubuluisiuzo-IhialaAnambra State, Nigeria
Aro Umuezeawara-IhialaAnambra State, Nigeria
Aro Iseke-Iheala
Aro izziEbonyi State, Nigeria
Aro Awonmanma-Oru EastImo State, Nigeria
Aro Otulu-Oru EastImo State, Nigeria
Aro Amiri-Oru EastImo State, Nigeria
Aro Amuro-OkigweImo State, Nigeria
Aro Amuzari na Aro Anara-Isiala MbanoImo State, Nigeria
Aro Nkwesi-OgutaImo State, Nigeria
Aro ndi-Okparaeze-Orumba NorthAnambra State, Nigeria
Aro Umudike-IkwuanoAbia State, Nigeria
Aro oji/Aro Ndeokoroji, na Aro Ndinwafor-OkigweImo State, Nigeria
Aro Nike-NikeEnugu State, Nigeria
Aro Amawom-Eziala-IsialangwaAbia State, Nigeria
Aro Atah [Atani Agbor]Isiala MbanoImo State, Nigeria
Aro Umuororonjo [Nde ujah]Owerri MunicipalImo State, Nigeria
Aro Azia-IhialaAnambra State, Nigeria
Aro IkwoEbonyi State, Nigeria
Aro EffiumOhaukwu LGAEbonyi State, Nigeria
Aro Isu na Aro onichi-Onicha LGAEbonyi State, Nigeria
Aro UburuOhazara LGAEbonyi State, Nigeria
Aro Abakaliki na Aro EzilloEbonyi State, Nigeria
Aro NkerefiNkanu East LGAEnugu State, Nigeria
Aro Obohia-Ahiazu MbaiseImo State, Nigeria
Aro Umulolo-OkigweImo State, Nigeria
Aro Nkalunta na Nde Totty na Aro OboroIkwuanoAbia State, Nigeria
Aro Ndi itee na Nde OkerekeAbam - Arochukwu LGAAbia State, Nigeria
Aro Ndi okpalaeke na Ndi AguluezechukwuAguata LGAAnambra State, Nigeria
Aro MbutuAboh MbaiseImo State, NigeriaEmeka Ihedioha


Aro Ndi AjugwoMbosi IhialaAnambra State, Nigeria
Aro Ndi AkwekeOrsumogho IhialaAnambra State, Nigeria
Aro Ndi OjiUkpor/Ihembosi
Aro OzubuluAnambra State, Nigeria
Aro EgbuomaOguta LGAImo State, Nigeria
Aro panya, na Aro Fernando pooEquatorial Guinea
Aro Itu-Nta IbereIkwuano Umuahia LGAAbia State, Nigeria
Aro Ikot UkanaAkwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Aro Onicha NgwaÌsì ala NgwaAbia State, Nigeria
Aro NtalakwuBendeAbia State, Nigeria
Aro Mbala-IsuochiAbia State, Nigeria
Aro Ikot Umo EssienAkwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Aro Onicha NgwaAbia State, Nigeria
Aro UdiEnugu State, Nigeria
Aro Effium
Aro Isuikwuato
Aro Uturu Okigwe
Aro Amaokwe
Aro NtaMbaiseImo State, Nigeria
Aro Itu-Nta IbereIkwuanoAbia State, Nigeria
Aro Eziala NsuluIsiala NgwaAbia State, NigeriaNde Ujah in Atani
Aro MbiabongAkwa Ibom State, NigeriaNde Akweke, Obinkita


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References

  1. Olson, James Stuart (1996). The Peoples of Africa: An Ethnohistorical Dictionary. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 234. ISBN   0313279187.