| Group: | Afemai |
| Total: | 4,500,000+ |
| Total Ref: | [1] |
| Languages: | Afemai and English |
| Religions: | Christianity, Islam and African traditional religion |
| Related: | Esan, Bini, Urhobo, Isoko |
The Afemai, also spelled Afenmai,[2] are an ethnic group living in the northern part of Edo State, South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria.[3] Afemai people occupy six local government areas of Edo state:[4] Etsako West, with headquarters in Auchi it has an area of 944.8 km² with a population of 198,975 at the 2006 census, Etsako Central, with the headquarters in Fugar it has an area of 659.7 km² with a population of 94,228 in the 2006 census, Etsako East, with the headquarters in Agenebode it has an area of 1,131 km² with a population of 147,335 in the 2006 census, Owan East with Afuze as the headquarters it has an area of 1,239 km² with a population of 154,630 in the 2006 census, Owan West with Sabongida-Ora as the headquarters it has an area of 731.4 km² with a population of 99,056 in the 2006 census and Akoko Edo,Igarra being the headquarters It has an area of 1,371 km² with a population of 262,567 at the 2006 census[5] .These make up the Edo-North Senatorial District.[6]
The Afemai are also known as the Afenmai, Etsako, Etsakor, Iyekhee,[1] or Yekhee people.[7] In Edo State, they are also known as Ivbiosakon people.[8]
Previously the name used by British colonial administration was Kukuruku, supposedly after a battle cry "ku-ku-ruku",[9] now considered derogatory.[10]
The Afenmai language is a Ghotou-Uneme-Yekhee language, belonging to the North-Central branch of Edoid languages.[1] Afemai is closely related to Edo.
Afemai has several documented dialects:
Afemai is made of several kingdoms and clans (large villages/townships ruled traditionally by monarchs) and many of them seem to have their oral historical versions of the origin of Afemai as well as its starting point in history. Historical accounts claimed that they migrated from Benin, during the tyrannical rule of Oba Ewuare,[11] the greatest warrior legend and the most outstanding king in the history of the Benin Empire.[12] “The title Ewuare (Oworuare), meaning "all is well" or the trouble has ceased and as a result, the war is over.[13] The title symbolizes an epoch of reconciliation, reconstruction, and the return of peace among the warring factions in Benin between 1435 and 1440 AD.
Shortly after this critical period of war, Akalaka and his two sons Ekpeye and Ogba migrated further southeast to first settle at Ula-Ubie, and subsequently other groups moved out of Benin City and migrated north.[13] However, it has recently become clear that there were people living in Afemai land prior to the migration from Benin City[14] .
The Afemais do not have a central traditional ruler. However, some of the prominent traditional institutions and rulers in Afemai land are the Okumagbe of Weppa Wanno (Agenebode), Ogieneni of Uzairue (Jattu), Aidonogie of south Ibie, Otaru of Auchi, Oba of Agbede, Otaru of Igarra, Ukor of Ihievbe, Oliola of Anegbette, Okumagbe of Iuleha clan, Okuopellagbe of Okpella, Ogieavianwu of Anvianwu clan etc.
Afemai have produced many illustrious personalities in both national and international levels.[15]
Tourist attractions, which span the expanse of Afemai, are exemplified by the Ise Lake in Agenebode (Weppa Wanno clan) Etsakor East, the Ososo hills (featured in an edition of Gulder Ultimate search), the famous Kukuruku hills and the Somorika hills in Akoko Edo.[15] Somorika hills consist of an extended expanse of hills crowned by massive boulders perched precariously on the summits of hills and alongside seemingly inadequate locations on the sides.
Some of the most important towns/clans in Afemai land are Agenebode(Weppa-Wanno), Weppa, Oshiolo, Emokwemhe Iviagbapue, Auchi, Ihievbe, Afuze, Anegbette, Warrake, Iviukwe, South Ibie, Agbede, Sabongida Ora, Igarra, Ekperi, Jattu, Fugar, Aviele, Okpella, Uneme Ehrunrun, Uneme Osu, Iviukhua, Ososo, Uzanu, Uzebba, Iviukhua, Weppa, Okpella, Okpekpe, Somorika etc.[16]
The autonomous clans, towns, villages and kingdoms in Afemai land are currently administratively arranged as follows under the current six local government areas:
Agenebode, Oshiolo, Iviagbapue, Imiakebu, Afana, Imiegba, Itsukwi, Emokweme, Ekwothor, Iviukhua, Okpella, Okpekpe, Iviebua, Ibie, Weppa, Uzanu City
Fugar, Ekperi, Ogbona, Anegbette, Udochi, Iraokhor
Auchi, South Ibie, Agbede, Awain Community(Ewora, Eware, Ibvioba, Ama, Idegun, etc.) Jattu, Afashio, Ayogwiri, Aviele, Iyorah, Ikabigbo, Afowa, Irekpai, Ugbenor, Idato,
Afuze, Warrake, Igue, Ihievbe, Ikao, Ivbi-Mion, Ive-Ada-Obi, Otuo and Uokha
Sabongida Ora, Iuleha Clan
Igarra, Ibillo, Uneme Osu, Uneme Ehrunrun, Ojah, Ososo, Somorika,
Aviawun (Iviawu) is one of the popular clans in Afemai. It comprises1 Unone2 Arua3 Ogbona4 Iraokhor
Awun is the father of Unone Arua Ogbona Iriakhor and Awun migrated from Benin Kingdom and settle in the present Fugar. Unone and Arua make up the present Fugar.
The Etsako people were originally practitioners of the African Traditional Religion. However, with advent of Christianity and Islam, many got converted to those religions. Etsako people have relatively large Christians today, perhaps due to the largely arrival of the early Missionaries at the Waterside in Agenebode. However Afemai are predominantly Muslims with significant concentration around Auchi, Agbede, Owans, and the Okpella axis.[17] [18]