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ANIOMA IS NIGERIA'S CULTURAL MELTING POT

ANIOMA IS NIGERIA'S CULTURAL MELTING POT

Emeka Esogbue

Anioma is a cultural and ancestral spot where many Nigerian ethnic groups met. But little did our docile forebears realise this. It is indeed the cultural melting pot of Nigeria. 

From ancient Nri Kingdom were migrations that led to the foundations of Igbuzo, Ogwashi-Uku, Akwukwu-Igbo and many more. These movements were followed with the migrations from Isu of the Igbos. The Isu migration became the more important in terms of number in Igbuzo, Ewulu etc. But there were the Ikelike of Benin origin who were the original settlers in Ogwashi-Uku.

The earliest waves of migrations were of the Ife and Akure of the Yoruba race led to the foundation of a number of Yoruba communities in the Enuani region of the Anioma area and it gave rise to the foundation of Olukwumi communities that are Ugbodu, Eko Efun (Ukwunzu), Ogodor and many more. Surprisingly, little did early Yoruba historians record the Yoruba communities in Enuani enclave until recently.

The Igala, known for their exploits also founded a number of communities within the Enuani region and in some cases, added their populations to already existing settlements. The biggest examples of the Igala settlement in Anioma are the Oko, comprising Oko-Amakom, Oko-Anala and Oko Ogbele; Aika in Ndokwa East. The traditional ruler of Aika Kingdom is in fact, called the Akor of Aika, Ebu and Amai. 

The Ebu community is located in Oshimili Local Government Area while Amai is in Ndokwa region. Other Igala populations are mixed in Asaba, Okpanam, Illah. Ibrede is an Isoko community in Anioma. The Ika are a mixture of Igbo and Bini but the purest Bini ancestry seems the Ozanogo, a settlement that has since been making agitation to relocate to Edo State. Indeed, Idumuje clan also has an Ishan migrant as one of her founders.

The effect of the heterogenous origins of the Anioma people can be found in their culture and different languages spoken by the people. Pertinently, Igbo is intelligible to all the people of Anioma but Bini is spoken by Ozanogo, Yoruba names are born with Yoruba language spoken by Olukwumi communities. Ibrede speaks Isoko while Ebu speaks Igala.

As has been noted, rather than feel ashamed of their cultural heritage, the Anioma people should be proud of who they are and work towards preserving their uniqueness.
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