Esan | |
---|---|
Total population | |
c. 500 000 | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Nigeria | 500 000 [1] |
[2] | |
Languages | |
Esan and English | |
Religion | |
| |
Related ethnic groups | |
Benin, Afemai, Urhobo, Isoko |
Esan people, or Esans, are an Edoid-speaking ethnic group who share a common culture and the Esan language. The Esan are traditionally known to be agriculturalists, trado-medical practitioners, mercenary warriors and hunters. They cultivate palm trees, Irvingia gabonensis (erhonhiele), Cherry (Otien), bell pepper (akoh) coconut, betel nut, kola nut, black pear, avocado pear, yams, cocoyam, cassava, maize, rice, beans, groundnut, bananas, oranges, plantains, sugar cane, tomato, potato, okra, pineapple, paw paw, and various vegetables. [3]
The modern Esan nation is believed to have been organized during the 15th century, when citizens, mostly nobles and princess, left the neighbouring Benin Empire for the northeast; there they formed communities and kingdoms called eguares among the aboriginal peoples whom they met there [4] There are on the whole 35 established kingdoms in Esanland, including Amahor, Ebelle, Egoro, Ewohimi, Ekekhenlen, Ekpoma, Ekpon, Emu, Ewu, Ewato, Ewosa, Idoa, [5] Ifeku, Igueben, Ilushi, Inyelen, Irrua, Ogwa, Ohordua, Okalo, Okhuesan, Onogholo, Opoji, Oria, Orowa, Uromi, Udo, Ugbegun, Ugboha, Ubiaja, Urhohi, Ugun, Ujiogba, Ukhun, and Uzea. [6]
The Esan Kingdoms often warred among each other. Despite the war, the Esans kept a homogenous culture that was chiefly influenced by the Benin Empire. However, these kingdoms were colonized, along with the Benin Empire, by the British Empire during September 1897, only gaining independence 63 years later in 1960 when Nigeria became independent from British Colonial rule. [7] [8] After independence, the Esan people have suffered from civil war, poverty, and lack of infrastructure. [9]
The Esans primarily speak the Esan language, an Edoid language related to Edo, Urhobo, Owan language, Isoko, Igbo and Etsako. [10] It is considered a regionally important language in Nigeria, and it is taught in primary schools in addition to being broadcast on radio and television. The Esan language is also recognized in the Census of the United Kingdom. [11] [12]
It is estimated that the Esan people who reside in Esanland number about one million to 1.5 million citizens Nigeria, [13] and there is a strong Esan diaspora. [14]
The term Esan has been applied to the Esan people for hundreds of years, and was used before contact with Europeans. It is believed by many historians that the name 'Esan' (originally, 'E san fia') owes its origin to Benin (meaning, 'they have fled' or 'they jumped away'). [15] 'Ishan' is an Anglicized form of 'Esan', the result of colonial Britain's inability to properly pronounce the name of this ethnic group. It is believed that similar corruption has affected such Esan names as ubhẹkhẹ (now 'obeche' tree), uloko (now 'iroko' tree), Abhulimẹn (now 'Aburime'), etc. Efforts have however been made to return to status quo ante. [15]
For academic purposes, Esan refers to:
In the pre-colonial era, Esans carried a crow's foot tribal scar below their eyes. [18]
According to archaeological and linguistic evidence, humans have resided in the savannah-forest ecotone in Esanland for at least 3000 years ago. [19] [20] [21]
Starting from 500 CE to 750 CE, these hunter-gatherers started to colonize the savannah-forest ecosystem of Esanland and the forest ecosystem of the Benin Empire. [22] They created a pre-Esan, pre-Edo society that built advanced structures such as moats and walls around family properties. These enclosures were, at maximum, three to five kilometers in diameter, and demarcated residential and agricultural property. Those properties enlarged to become villages, and by 800 CE, these village coalesced to form kingdoms with hierarchies. [23] Modern-day digs in the region have found that these walls were situated in the eastern Benin Empire and northern Esanland. Settlements were close to permanent springs on the northern plateau, but never next to intermittent springs. [24]
[25] Esanland's culture, language and growth were majorly influenced by the mass exoduses to Esan territory from all adjacent polities [26] Communities on Esanland's southern and eastern fringes (Ewohimi, Ewatto, Ekpon, Amahor) were heavily populated by Igbos and Igalas (into Uroh); [27] from the north came the Emai into Ukhun, Idoa, and Amahor and the Etsako into Irrua); [27] and from the south came the Itsekiri (into Ekpon) and Urhobo (into Ujiogba). [27]
[28] The biggest influence on Esanland came from Edo, founders of Benin Empire. In 1460, Oba Ewuare passed laws of mourning that prohibited sexual intercourse, bathing, drumming, dancing, and cooking. These laws proved too restrictive for many citizens, and these citizens fled the kingdom to Esanland. This exodus shaped Esanland's modern cultural identity and gave rise to the term "Esan," or "refugee." Oral tradition has heavily supported this theory. Prominent Esan and Edo historians have collected stories about this migration. [29] [27]
Esan kingdoms had a varying degree of autonomy, but were ultimately controlled by the Benin Empire. The Oba approved the enijie of Esanland, and Esan kingdoms paid tribute to Benin. Yet, several wars between Esan kingdoms and Benin were recorded. This was due to the Oba, at ascension on the throne, sending white chalk to the Esans as a term of friendship. If the chalk was rejected, then the Oba would try to invade Esanland. The varying political stabilities of Benin and the Esan kingdoms also led to warfare. Such warfare was so common that there is no recorded history of peace between all of the Esan kingdoms and Benin. [30] [31]
Esanland was extensively involved in world trade. Benin's sovereignty over Esanland enabled it to send long-distant traders, or ekhen.Ekhen procured cloth, ivory, peppers, and slaves for European merchants in Yorubaland, Esanland, and Afenmai. . [32]
[33] During the 16th century, the Uzea War occurred. This war was between the Uromi Kingdom and the Benin Kingdom. [34] The war lasted from 1502 to 1503, and resulted from a refusal of friendship from Oba Ozolua of Benin by Onojie Agba of Uromi. The war ended at the town of Uzea, when both leaders were killed. However, in peaceful times Esan kingdoms would loan soldiers to the Benin Kingdom, such as during the Idah War of 1515–1516, and the sacking of Akure in 1823. [35]
[20] During the nineteenth century, northern Esanland was continually attacked and sacked by the Muslim Nupe people in the hunt for slaves and converts to Islam, having previously taken over the Kukuruku peoples' lands. [36] Many Esan kingdoms from the south helped in the battle to fend off the Nupes. The battles came into the Esans' favor; several Nupe and Etsako warriors were brought into Esan cities where their posterity reside today. The nineteenth century brought increasing influence of Europe on Esanland, as the English demanded palm-products. [37]
In 1897, the British launched the Benin Expedition of 1897, which left the Esan independent from the Kingdom of Benin. In 1899, the British led an invasion into the Esan kingdoms that lasted for seven years. Esanland proved to be harder to conquer than the Benin Kingdom because of its strong autonomy: Kingdoms chose to keep fighting the British even if its neighbors capitulated. Defeated Benin chiefs like Ologbosere and Ebohon were still resistant to British rule inadvertently guarded Esan soil from the west, by establishing military outposts and blocking roads. [38] This lasted from 1897 to 22 April 1899, where Ologbosere surrendered at the border village of Okemue. [39]
The first kingdom to be attacked by the British was the Kingdom of Ekpon. Ekpon launched a fierce resistance against the British invasion on 22 April, leading to months of skirmishes. [40] After the initial British invasion into the Kingdom of Ekpon, the kingdom became bogged down, the kingdom of Ekpon led an ambush of the British camp at Okueme, on 29 April. This led British forces to retreat, consolidate their power, and defeat and kill Ologbosere in May. Subsequent attempts by the British failed as well: conquests into Irrua, for example, led to an adoption of a guerrilla warfare strategy followed by a retreat; this method was so successful that other Esan kingdoms adopted it and the British did not invade Esanland until 1901. [30]
On 16 March 1901, the Kingdom of Uromi, headed by the old, yet intelligent Onojie Okolo, was attacked by the British. The Uromi response, led by Prince Okojie, was swift and employed guerrilla warfare. After a short time, British forces captured the village of Amedokhian, where Okolo was stationed, and killed him. This angered Prince Okojie [41] so much that he killed the Captain of the British troops before reinforcements were brought in. The British then realized that Uromi was nigh impenetrable without native help, and contact local sympathizers such as Onokpogua, the Ezomo of Uromi. [42] This succeeded in kidnapping Prince Okojie out of the forest and sending him to the British offices at Calabar. [43]
This process was duplicated in most of the kingdoms that fought with Britain; guerilla warfare was excessively used by the Esans, resulting in prolonged battle time in spite of inferior weapons, and reinforcements from Benin City for the British. Even when villages were captured, internal resistance was fierce; continued guerilla warfare in Uromi forced the British to release Prince Okojie. The British responded by razing several villages they had captured. Finally, in 1906, Esanland submitted to British rule, and the thirty-four kingdoms became the Ishan Division in the British colony of Nigeria. [30]
Esan dance is dominated by the Igbabonelimhin, an acrobatic dance performed mostly by young males. Igbabonelimhin involves spinning and somersaulting to a timed beat. The mode of operation varies amongst Esan villages. This slight clash can be seen on fixed days for performances. Under normal circumstances, Igbabonelimhin is performed every two weeks of the Esan calendar and on the market days of the various villages and towns that make up Esan. Igbabonelimhin could be danced annually to mark end of year celebrations, new yam festivals and organised social functions, like burial ceremonies. Today, the dance is taken as a unique symbol for Esans everywhere. [44]
Esan folktales and folklore, like the igbabonẹlimhin and akhuẹ, serve as forms of learning and entertainment. The Esan have prominent traditional rulers who keep order in a society where beauty and manners are intertwined. Despite the long-term impact of Christianity, the Esan are largely traditional and a large number practice traditional beliefs in the form of worship of ancestral spirits and other gods. A large percentage of Esan are Christians, mostly Catholic and recently of other denominations. Esan has various dialects all of which stem from Bini and there is still close affinity between the Esan and the Benin people, which led to the common saying "Esan ii gbi Ẹdo" meaning, Esan does not harm the Ẹdo (i.e. Bini). There have been other translation of that saying, Esan gbe Edo which means Esan have conquered Bini. [60]
Traditional Esan religion has many similarities to traditional Edo religion, due to the Esan migration to the northeast during the 15th century from the Benin Empire. There are many deities of the Esan religion: [61]
The autonomous clans/kingdoms in Esan land are currently administratively arranged as follows under the current five local government areas:
Benin City serves as the capital and largest metropolitan centre of Edo State, situated in southern Nigeria. Notably, it ranks as the fourth-most populous city in Nigeria, according to the 2006 national census, preceded only by Lagos, Kano, and Ibadan.
Edo, officially known as Edo State, is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of the federal republic of Nigeria. As of 2024, the state was ranked as the 22nd most populous state (5,250,000) in Nigeria. The estimated state population is around 4,777,000 in 2022. Edo State is the 22nd largest state by landmass in Nigeria. The state's capital and largest city, Benin City, is the fourth largest city in Nigeria, and the centre of the country's rubber industry. Created in 1991 from the former Bendel State, it is also known as the heart beat of the nation. Edo State borders Kogi State to the north for 133 km and across the Niger River for 81 km to the northeast, Anambra State to the east for about four km across the Niger River, Delta State to the southeast and south for 350 km, and Ondo State to the west.
Ogbidi Okojie, Onojie (king) of Uromi, was a ruler of the Esan people in what is now Edo State in Nigeria, still remembered for his opposition to British rule.
The Edopeople, also referred to as the Beninpeople, are an Edoid-speaking ethnic group. They are prominently native to seven southern local government areas of Edo State, Nigeria. They are speakers of the Edo language and are closely related to other Edoid ethnic groups, such as the Esan, the Etsakọ, the Isoko and Urhobo as well as other southern ethnic groups
Esan North-East is a Local Government Area located in Edo State of Nigeria. It has an estimated population of 119,346. Its headquarters are in Uromi/Uzea.
Uromi is a city located in north-eastern Esan, an ethnic group in Central Edo state, Nigeria. At various points in Uromi's history, the city and people have been known for their resilience and strength. The people of Uromi, led by Agba N'Ojie resisted the Benin Empire expansionism during the reign of Oba Ozolua. They were also at the forefront of the resistance of the British invasion of Esanland.
Esan Central Local Government Area is a Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its administrative headquarters is located in the town of Irrua.
Esan West is a Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Ekpoma.
Igueben is a local government area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are located in the town of Igueben, which has an area of 380 km2 (150 sq mi) and a population of 69,639 according to the 2006 census. The postal code is 310.
Ubiaja is a community in the Esan South-East Local Government Area (LGA), Edo State, Nigeria. It is at an altitude of 221 m. Most of the people belong to the Esan tribe, one of the major up
Ekpoma is a town in Edo State, Nigeria. It is the administrative headquarters of the Esan West Local Government Area. Ekpoma lies on the geographical coordinate of latitude 6°45′N6°08′E. The town has an official Post Office, and it is home to the Ambrose Alli University. Currently Ekpoma town is developing with major infrastructures, hospitals, schools, modern eateries and roads. The town is also secured.
Ewu is a Nigerian town situated in Esan Central Local Government Area in the Edo State of Nigeria. The city, an Esan tribe, lies on 200 feet in the plateau region of central Edo State, 100 kilometres north of Benin City, the capital of Edo State, Nigeria.
Esan is a tonal Edoid language of Nigeria. Dictionaries and grammar texts of the Esan language are being produced. There are many dialects, including Ogwa, Ẹkpoma (Ekuma), Ebhossa (okhuesan)
Ogwa is a town in Esan West Local Government Area in Edo State, Nigeria. It is among the constituent communities of Esanland. The people of Ogwa speak the Esan language. The language of the Esan people shares the same name as the name of the land itself. Esan and Ishan are interchangeably used to refer to the same place, language and people. Ishan is the anglicized variant for Esan. The Ogwa people in Edo State identify themselves as Esan or Ishan people. Ogwa has four clans: Eguare, Ukpogu, Izogen and Eha. These clans are headed by most elderly men in each of them.
Esanland, otherwise known as Esan Nation, is a cultural region located in Edo State, Nigeria. It is composed of five Local Government Areas in Edo State. Esanland lies west of the banks of the Niger River. It is bordered by Kogi State, Delta State, Edo South Senatorial District, and Edo North Senatorial District. Esanland covers about 2,800 square kilometers and is home to over half a million people. The Esan people and culture of Esanland are generally homogenous.
Clifford Ordia is a Nigerian engineer and politician who hails from Usugbenu Irrua in Esan Central local government area of Edo State. He served as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023, representing the people of Edo Central senatorial district, Edo State, in the Nigerian Senate. He is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Agba N'Ojieof Uromi, originally called Agba, was the ruler of the Esan people from 1483 AD until 1507 AD. Considered an important Onojie in the history of the Esan people, he was instrumental in maintaining the independence of Esanland from the old Benin Empire.
Idoa is an Esan community in Edo, Nigeria. The city, an Esan tribe, stretches through the highlands and plains of central Edo State. It is 120 kilometres north of Benin City, the capital of Edo State, having boundaries with Ekpoma in the west, Ukhun in the south, Ewu in the east and Agbede in the north. Residents are primarily farmers,cultivating various crops, including yams, rice, cassava, taro and cocoa. The city of Idoa is currently made up of the following five clans: Afuku-N'Edo, Afokolo, Atologua, Ubi and Ofie.
Irrua is a town in Edo state and the administrative seat of the Esan Central local government area in Edo State Nigeria. Irrua was established by decree 92 of 1993 to provide tertiary services to people of Edo State and beyond.
Agbede is a Muslim town in the Northern part of Edo State. It has been in existence since the 13th century. It is the door way into the North of the State.
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