Esan people
Ẹ̀bhò Ẹ̀sán
Esan
Uromi Open Market
Total population
c. 3 million
Regions with significant populations
 Nigeria2,000,000[1]
[2]
Languages
Esan and English
Religion
Related ethnic groups
Benin, Afemai, Urhobo, Isoko

The Esan people (Esan: are an ethnic group of southern Nigeria who speak 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. After independence, the Esan people have suffered from civil war, poverty, and lack of infrastructure.[7]

The Esans primarily speak the Esan language, an Edoid language related to Edo, Urhobo, Owan language, Isoko, Anioma and Etsako.[8] 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.[9][10]

It is estimated that the Esan people who reside in Esanland number about one million to 1.5 million citizens Nigeria,[11] and there is a strong Esan diaspora.[12]

Etymology and identity

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').[13] '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.[13]

For academic purposes, Esan refers to:

  1. The ethnic group that occupies central Edo State;
  2. (plural unchanged) A person or the people collectively from this ethnic group;
  3. The language of these people which, linguistically, is of the Kwa subdivision of the Niger-Congo language[14] family;
  4. [15] Something of, related to, or having Esan origin e.g. uro Esan (=Esan language), otọ Esan (=Esan land), ọghẹdẹ Esan (=Esan banana).

In the pre-colonial era, Esans carried a crow's foot tribal scar below their eyes.[16]

History

Pre-historical/classical period

According to archaeological and linguistic evidence, humans have resided in the savannah-forest ecotone in Esanland for at least 3000 years ago.[17][18][19]

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.[20] 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.[21] 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.[22]

[23] Esanland's culture, language and growth were majorly influenced by the mass exoduses to Esan territory from all adjacent polities[24] Communities on Esanland's southern and eastern fringes (Ewohimi, Ewatto, Ekpon, Amahor) were heavily populated by Igbos and Igalas (into Uroh);[25] from the north came the Emai into Ukhun, Idoa, and Amahor and the Etsako into Irrua);[25] and from the south came the Itsekiri (into Ekpon) and Urhobo (into Ujiogba).[25]

[26] 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.[27][25]

Pre-colonization

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.[28][29]

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. .[30]

[31] During the 16th century, the Uzea War occurred. This war was between the Uromi Kingdom and the Benin Kingdom. 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.[32]

[18] 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.[33] 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.

Esan warfare and colonization

Prince Okojie and his entourage

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. This lasted from 1897 to 22 April 1899, where Ologbosere surrendered at the border village of Okemue.[34]

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.[35] After the initial British invasion into the Kingdom of Expon 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.[28]

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[36] 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.[37] This succeeded in kidnapping Prince Okojie out of the forest and sending him to the British offices at Calabar.[38]

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.[28]

The logo of the Esan Voice Association.
The traditional agogo bell. The agogo is a very important instrument in Esanland. It is used to help keep of the rhythm of the region's various dances, and the translation of hour in Esan is agogo.

Performing arts/music

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.[39]

Notable Esans in Nigeria

Religion and folklore

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.[55]

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:[56]

  • Osanobua, the main Edo-Esan god. This name for God was brought over to Christianity and its missionaries, and thus the translation for God in Esanland is Osanobua.
  • Olokun
  • Esu, the Esan trickster god. This god is shared with Yoruba and Edo myth. The name Esu was used as a translation for Satan by Christian missionaries.
  • Osun, the Esan god of medicine. This is where the surname Okosun, or son of medicine, originated from.

Esan Local Government Areas in Edo State

The autonomous clans/kingdoms in Esan land are currently administratively arranged as follows under the current five local government areas:

  1. Esan-North-East LGA, Uromi: Uromi and Uzea
  2. Esan Central LGA, Irrua: Irrua, Ugbegun, Opoji, Ewu, Ebudin
  3. Esan West LGA, Ekpoma: Ekpoma, Iruekpen, Ihumudumu, Idumebo, Illeh, Idoa, Ogwa, Urohi, Ukhun, Egoro and Ujiogba
  4. Esan South East LGA, Ubiaja:, Ubiaja, Ewohimi, Emu, Ohordua, Ẹwatto, Okhuesan, Orowa, Ugboha, Oria, Illushi, Onogholo, Inyenlen
  5. Igueben LGA, Igueben: Igueben, Ebelle, Amaho, Ẹwossa, Udo, Ekpon, Ugun, Okalo,[38]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Rolle, Nicholas. , University of California in Berkeley, Berkeley, October 17, 2012. Retrieved on 1 November 2014.
  2. ↑ National Association for Language Development in the Curriculum, London, 2011. Retrieved on 11 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "AGRICULTURE IN ESAN". Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  4. ↑ Aluwong, Jeremiah (4 August 2019). "Ethnic Groups in Nigeria: The Esan People". Connect Nigeria. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  5. ↑ idoasky. "Idoa: Community: Esan: West: Edo: State: Nigeria". Idoa Community, Edo State. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  6. ↑ "Ethnic Groups in Nigeria: The Esan People • Connect Nigeria". Connect Nigeria. 4 August 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  7. ↑ Golden, Enudi (8 April 2021). "Tribes With The Strongest Juju In Nigeria -History". goldennewsng.com. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  8. ↑ Unknown and to a limited extent, the Fulani language , U.S. Center for World Mission, Pasadena, 2014. Retrieved on 1 November 2014.
  9. ↑ Unknown. , Department for Education , London, 2014. Retrieved on 30 May 2015.
  10. ↑ Dalby, Andrew (1998). Dictionary of Languages: The Definitive Reference to More Than 400 Languages. New York City: Columbia University Press. pp. 162–163. ISBN 978-0-231-11568-1. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  11. ↑ Rolle, Nicholas, , University of California in Berkeley, Berkeley, October 17, 2012. The aforementioned population data is contentious because there has not been any acceptable population enumeration regarding tribes in Nigeria. Retrieved on 1 November 2014.
  12. ↑ "Esan group in Diaspora backs APC candidate for Senate". Vanguard News. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  13. 1 2 "ESAN PEOPLE". Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  14. ↑ Bendor-Samuel, John (1989). The Niger Congo languages: a classification and description of Africa's largest language family. Univ. Pr. of America. ISBN 0-8191-7375-4. OCLC 246526136.
  15. ↑ "Hunter‐Gatherers". The Complete Archaeology of Greece: 28–45. 20 April 2012. doi:10.1002/9781118255179.ch2. ISBN 978-1-4051-5418-5.
  16. ↑ Thomas, Northcote Whitridge. Anthropological Report on the Edo-Speaking Peoples of Nigeria (1910). London: Harrison. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  17. ↑ Historical Archaeology in Nigeria. Asmara, Trenton: Africa World Press. 1998. pp. 178–180. ISBN 978-0-865-43610-7. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  18. 1 2 Vladimir MALYAVIN (31 March 2021). ""Celestial Empire" or "Asia"? Utopian Premises of Modern Politics in the Far Eastern Region". Far Eastern Affairs. 49 (1): 125–140. doi:10.21557/fea.68007695. ISSN 0206-149X. S2CID 236752197.
  19. ↑ Ssemmanda, I.; Gelorini, V.; Verschuren, D. (11 April 2014). "Sensitivity of the grassland-forest ecotone in East African open woodland savannah to historical rainfall variation". Climate of the Past Discussions. doi:10.5194/cpd-10-1675-2014. hdl:1854/LU-4419255.
  20. ↑ Wesler, Kit W. (1998). Historical Archaeology in Nigeria. Asmara, Trenton: Africa World Press. pp. 178–180. ISBN 978-0-865-43610-7. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  21. ↑ Lane, Paul; Mitchell, Peter (2013). The Oxford Handbook of African Archaeology. Oxford, UK.: Oxford University. pp. 861–863. ISBN 978-0-199-56988-5. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  22. ↑ "ESAN GEOGRAPHY". Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  23. ↑ "I. Oba Ewuare, oder: Die erste Blüte des Reiches". Das Königreich Benin. Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag. 2010. pp. 37–51. doi:10.1524/9783486852981.37. ISBN 978-3-486-59757-8.
  24. ↑ Rolle, Nicholas (19 April 2013). Linguistic evidence for heterogeneous origins of modern Esan language and identity (PDF) (Thesis). University of California at Berkeley. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  25. 1 2 3 4 Rolle 2013.
  26. ↑ Bradbury, R. E. (2018). "The Kingdom of Benin". West African Kingdoms in the Nineteenth Century. Routledge. pp. 1–35. doi:10.4324/9780429491641-1. ISBN 978-0-429-49164-1. S2CID 134802041.
  27. ↑ "Welcome /Obo'khian to the Esan World Congress". Esan World Congress. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  28. 1 2 3 "The Esan People – Ekpoma UK Association". Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  29. ↑ Turunc, Kerem (2003). "The Democratic Shield: How Establishing the Rule of Law Protects Countries from Military Coups". SSRN Electronic Journal. doi:10.2139/ssrn.1291687. ISSN 1556-5068.
  30. ↑ "The Impact of Trade and Commercial Activities in Pre-colonial Esan Economy up to 1900". ResearchGate. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  31. ↑ Monteith, Sharon (15 October 2020). "The Walking Wounded: "Who We Were and Where We Came From"". SNCC's Stories: The African American Freedom Movement in the Civil Rights South. University of Georgia Press. pp. 222–240. doi:10.2307/j.ctvxkn5hb.15. ISBN 9780820358031. JSTOR j.ctvxkn5hb.15. S2CID 190744811.
  32. ↑ Joseph Inegbenebho Osagie (2014). "Colonial Conquest and Resistance: The Case of Esan People of Benin Province of Nigeria". Canadian Social Science. 10 (4). S2CID 55893951.
  33. ↑ Project, African Docs (6 June 2022). "The History Of Esan People Of Nigeria". African Docs. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  34. ↑ "Ologbosere". www.edoworld.net. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  35. ↑ "9. Kingdom Come", Desert Hell, Harvard University Press, pp. 479–492, 31 December 2010, doi:10.4159/harvard.9780674061347.c43, ISBN 978-0-674-06134-7
  36. ↑ Okojie-Boulder, Tinukwa; Boulder, James M.; Okojie, Mabel C.P.O. (2008), "Multicultural Education and Technology Integration", Encyclopedia of Information Technology Curriculum Integration, IGI Global, pp. 599–608, doi:10.4018/978-1-59904-881-9.ch095, ISBN 978-1-59904-881-9
  37. ↑ Ezomo, EO (23 May 2006). "Automated acquisition: principles and practice". Lagos Journal of Library and Information Science. 1 (2). doi:10.4314/ljlis.v1i2.35486. ISSN 1596-9487.
  38. 1 2 "UROMI". Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  39. ↑ Atuegbe, Chris Omigie (14 November 2015). The Igbabonelimhin Dance: The Origin (PDF) (Thesis). Ambrose Alli University. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  40. ↑ "Nigerians react as Admiral Augustus Aikhomu dies @72". Vanguard News. 17 August 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  41. ↑ "'Why Ambrose Alli deserves presidential pardon'". Daily Trust. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  42. ↑ "Wetin you suppose know about Tony Anenih wey just die". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  43. ↑ "Victor Ehikhamenor / One of Africa's most innovative contemporary artists". Afrolifestyle. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  44. ↑ "Chief Anthony Enahoro obituary". the Guardian. 8 February 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  45. ↑ "'Peter Pan' at 80". Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  46. ↑ "Finally, Ikimi leaves APC". TheCable. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  47. ↑ "Festus Iyayi". www.wikidata.org. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  48. ↑ "Nigerian officials silent over death of first lady". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  49. ↑ "Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN)". cbcn-ng.org. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  50. ↑ "Okojie Retires from Public Service". National Universities Commission. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  51. ↑ Martin, Douglas (25 June 2008). "Sonny Okosuns, 61, Musician With Message, Is Dead". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  52. ↑ "All about Pastor Chris Oyakhilome: LoveWorld, Christ Embassy Ministry, family, wife Anita, and private jets". Pulse Nigeria. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  53. ↑ Adeolu (6 March 2017). "OYAKHILOME, Fidelis". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  54. ↑ "Nigerian ambassador elected to head UN Human Rights Council". UN News. 19 June 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  55. ↑ "ESAN PEOPLE - Ẹ̀bhò Ẹ̀sán". Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  56. ↑ "Uromi: A brief walk into the history, culture and beliefs of the Esan people". Pulse Nigeria. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.

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