Ikwerre people

The Ikwerre (natively known as Iwhuruọha[1][2]) is one of the Igbo subgroups in Rivers State. They are the biggest ethnic group in Rivers state.Traditional history has classified Ikwerre into seven groups called "Ikwerre Essa". They are Elele, Isiokpo,  Rumuji,  Emohua, Choba,  Aluu,  Igwuruta and Obio group.  This division was recognized by Forde and Jones; (1950) in their ethnographic study of the Igbo speaking peoples of South Eastern Nigeria though has been disputed by indigenous ikwerre people. It was also in line with this grouping those seven customary Courts were established in Ikwerre during the Colonial administration. These Courts were located at Elele, Isiokpo, Umuji, Emohua, Choba, Aluu  and  Obio in Ikwerreland.[3]

This article is about the Ikwerre as a native ethnic group. For the language, see Ikwerre language. For the local government area, see Ikwerre, Rivers State.

Ikwerre Igbo
Iwhuruọha[1]
Total population
2 million
Regions with significant populations
Rivers State, Nigeria
Languages
Ikwerre
Religion
Christianity, Omenueli
Related ethnic groups
Ogba people, Ekpeye, Etche, Abua, Kalabari, Ngwa
The Ikwerre Emblem

Geography and cultural grouping

The Ikwerre inhabit the upland part of Rivers State. and are predominantly settled in the Ikwerre, Obio-Akpor, Port Harcourt and Emohua local government areas[4] of Rivers State.

The Ikwerrre division was recognized by Forde and Jones; (1950) in their ethnographic study of the Igbo and Ibibio speaking peoples and other tribes of southern Nigeria.[5] It was also in line with this grouping that seven customary Courts were established in Ikwerre during the Colonial administration. These Courts were located at Elele, Isiokpo, Rumuji, Emohua, Akpor, Aluu and Obio in Ikwerreland[6] in the Igboid family.

The Ikwerre cultural area is bordered by Ogba to the northwest, the Ekpeye and Abua to the west, the Ijoid groups of Degema, the Kalabari and Okrika to the south, the Eleme and Oyigbo to the southeast and the Etche to the east.[7]

The Ikwerre are made up of four main groups, namely the Elele group (Ishimbam), the Igwuruta-Aluu (Ishiali) group, the Rumuji-Emohua-Ogbakiri (REO) or Risimini group, and the OPA group (Obio/Port Harcourt/Akpor).[8]

The Ishimbam[9] or Elele clan cluster is located at the northern part of Ikwerre land, in Ikwerre and Emohua Local Government Areas. Most of these communities believe in one ancestor called "Ochichi" whose descendants founded most of the clans. Elele is believed to have been founded by "Ele", Ochichi's first son. This is why Elele is called Okaniali among the Ishimbam clans. The Ishimbam clans include: Elele, Akpabu, Elele-Alimini, Egbeda, Omerelu, Apani, Ubimini and Omudioga.[10] The Ishiali or Esila group inhabit the remaining parts of Ikwerre Local Government Area. Clans here include: Isiokpo, Ipo, Igwuruta-Ali, Aluu, Omuanwa, Omademe, Omagwa, Ozuoha and Ubima.[10]

The REO (Rumuji/Emohua/Ogbakiri) cluster, or (R)Ishimini (as classified by Ogbakor Ikwerre), inhabit the southern part of Emohua Local Government Area. They are located in a riverine area. This cluster comprises:

  • Odegu clan:
    • Rumuji
    • Rumuodogo
    • Ovogo
    • Evekwu
    • Rumuewhor
  • Ndele
  • Rumuekpe
  • Uvuahu clan:
    • Ibaa
    • Obelle
  • Emohua clan
  • Ogbakiri clan[10]
Obiri Ikwerre (Ikwerre Hall), Port Harcourt

The OPA (Obio-Port Harcourt-Akpor) is a broad cluster that occupies the entire Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas. It is subdivided into the Obio and the Akpor groups.

  • Obio: The Obio group is divided into three: Evo, Apara and Rebisi (Port Harcourt). Obio is regarded as the common ancestor of the Evo and Apara communities; Evo is the senior while Apara is younger.[10]
    • Evo: This is subdivided into three:
      • Oro–Evo: (Rumuodomanya, Rumurorlu, Oginigba, Rumuobiakani, Rumuobochi, Woji, Rumuibekwe, Rumuogba)
      • Oro – Esara: (Okporo:{Rumukwurushi, Rumuodara, Iriebe}, Rumuokoro, Oroigwe, Atali)
      • Oropotoma: (Rumuomasi and Elelenwo)
    • Apara: Apara, the second son of Obio, had nine children: Eneka, Nkpoku, Ekinigbo, Okwuta, Adaolu (a female), Epirikom, Ola, Orosi, and Rebisi. These descendants founded the principal Apara communities of Eneka, Rukpokwu, Rumuigbo, Rumuokwuta, Rumuadaolu, Rumuepirikom, Rumuola, and Rumuorosi, respectively. Rumueme was established in the Apara territory, after Ozuruoha, one of Epirikom's descendants had invited his in-laws from Isiokpo to help him wage a war against his kinsman. Rumueme is said to be where these warriors from Isiokpo had resided permanently. Rumuomoi also joined in the said war and is believed to come from Isiokpo and joined Apara later.
    • Rebisi: This is an offshoot of the Apara clan. Rebisi had fled Apara during a conflict with his brothers. Rebisi had seven children: Ochiri, Adasobia, Olozu, Worukwo, Ezimgbu, Ogbum and Abali. The descendants founded: Orochiri, Oroada, Orolozu, Oroworukwo, Oromerezimgbu, and Ogbumnuabali (a merger of Orogbum and Oroabali), respectively. Internal migrations led to the establishment of other communities from the original seven, such as Elekahia. Others are Nkpogu, Nkpolu Oroworukwo, Nkpolu Orogbum, Rumuwoji, Rumukalagbo, Oroije, Rumuibekwe and Orominieke.
  • Akpor: Akpor is located east of the REO group, south of the Ishiali group and west of Obio. The clan has ten communities: Ozuoba, Choba (Isoba), Ogbogoro, Rumuosi, Rumuolumeni, Rumuokparali, Rumualaogu, Rumuokwachi, Rumuekini and Alakahia.

The Ikwerre exist in well-delineated clans, with each clan having its own paramount king. The Ikwerre do not have an overall paramount ruler or king, but designated kings, rulers or leaders mostly approved by their constituents. However, all paramount rulers in Ikwerre are united in what is known as Ogbakor Ikwerre, which was formed in 1963 as an umbrella socio-cultural organization of the Ikwerre people.[6]

Ikwerre land and industrial activities

The Ikwerre play host to several multinational oil-producing and servicing companies, in addition to many other industries and establishments.[11][12] Despite these, the Ikwerre, like nearly all other minorities of the Niger Delta, frequently complain of marginalisation by the oil operatives.[13]

"The Ikwerre community faced problems of marginalization, extreme poverty and environmental degradation of its land and rivers in the Niger Delta through the exploitation of oil and gas resources. Calls were made for the full participation of the Ikwerre people in the control of resources and decision-making on development; the urgent provision of electricity; improved health care and education services; and youth employment opportunities."[14][15]

Establishments in Ikwerre land

"The acquisition of Ikwerre land began in 1913 by the British colonial government when it acquired a parcel of land from the Rebisi clan of Diobu because the then colonial government wanted to develop a harbor in the area. Once the sea port was established, the place became busy with commerce and trade and with a beehive of activities.[16]

In recent times, as the tempo of oil and gas exploration increased in Rivers State, it invariably put more pressure on Ikwerre land and its resources. As land was needed for development purposes within Port Harcourt and its environs, it was natural to turn to Ikwerre people who inhabit Port Harcourt and the surrounding territories.[17]

Origin

The Ikwerre are a subgroup of the Igbo people of Nigeria.[18][19][20] They are descendants from an Igbo migration from Awka and Orlu areas towards the south. They are part of the Southern Igbo. Before the civil war, there had been dissident voices that claimed that Ikwerre could have migrated from Owerri, Ohaji, Ngwa, and Etche areas of Igboland.[21] But when Port Harcourt was conquered by Nigeria during the Biafran War and the Igbo people from other parts of Igboland fled the territory, a UN report says that the Ikwerre decided to claim that the Ikwerre were non-Igbo for convenience.[22] The Ikwerre are recognized officially as a separate group in the 1979 Nigerian Constitution.[21]

Theories of origin

Some Ikwerre people migrated from Ika a subgroup of Igbos in Delta State and Edo state while some migrated from Ngwa, Arochukwu and Ohaji/Egbema.[23]

The Aro first came into the Ikwerre area through Ozuzu-Etche, settling at Isiokpo, Igwuruta, Omagwa, etc.[24] As expected of pre-literate African societies, the history of the people is wrapped in myth and mystery. This presupposes that historians may have to resort to oral tradition for the justifiable/credible reconstruction of the people's history. From the post-colonial dispensation to the present, professional historians and other personals have attempted to reconstruct the history of the people. For instance, the works of Elechi Amadi, especially The Concubine, The Great Ponds, The Slave (novels) and Isiburu (a verse play) are a literary attempt at reconstructing a semblance of the Ikwerre society in the pre-colonial era.[25]

According to Prof. Eric Amadi in his article titled, "History Of Ikwerre People In Nigeria, He noted that a majority of the Ikwerre settlements have their roots from the old Benin Empire. [26]

Notable people


See also

Notes
  1. Amadi, Prof. Eric (20 June 2018). "History of Ikwerre people in Nigeria". Edo World.
  2. CHIMENUM, AKANINWOR ISAAC (11 July 2018). "History of Iwhnurọhna (The Ikwerre People)". Ikwerre TV.
  3. "IKWERRE LANGUAGE CURRICULUM AT THE PRIMARY SCHOOL LEVEL: AN EXAMINATION. Dr. (Mrs.) Joy Agumagu and Dr. Paul B. Badey - PDF Free Download". docplayer.net. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  4. "Nigeria: Administrative Division (States and Local Government Areas) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  5. "The Ibo and Ibibio-Speaking Peoples of South-Eastern Nigeria: Western Africa Part III". Routledge & CRC Press. Retrieved 2021-09-12.
  6. Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada (1998). "The Ikwerre ethnic group: location of residence, language, political or cultural organizations, militant activities, arrests in 1996 and 1997, and relations with the Nigerian government and military". Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Nigeria
  7. Ikunga, Solomon (2018). "The Interrogating Role of Iwhuruohna in Rivers State during the Nigerian Civil War 1967 - 1970: A Historical Imperative" (PDF). ARCN International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities. 12 (2).
  8. "HARMONIZING THE HISTORICAL ORIGIN OF THE IKWERRE PEOPLE by Onyeji Nnaji". Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  9. Alfred., Wosa (2004). The people and community of Ishimbam : origin and culture. Artistic Club of Omudioga. OCLC 62272379.
  10. Ikunga, Solomon (2018). "7". In Bassey Anam (ed.). "The Development of Indigenous Technology in Iwhuruohna 1500-2000: A Historical Imperative". Arts, Technology & Development Patterns. Nigeria: Advanced Publishers. pp. 87–114. ISBN 978-051-062-1.
  11. "Crisis looms in Rivers community over oil firms". Vanguard News. 2017-10-31. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  12. NGstudents (2020-08-01). "EDITORIAL: 10 Historical Facts Proving Ikwerre People As Igbos". NGstudents.com. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  13. "Come to our rescue, Ubima community begs Wike, Ameachi over alleged marginalisation by oil firms". Vanguard News. 2020-05-05. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  14. Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada (1998). "The Ikwerre ethnic group: location of residence, language, political or cultural organizations, militant activities, arrests in 1996 and 1997, and relations with the Nigerian government and military". Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Nigeria.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. "Report of the Working Group on Minorities on its tenth session (Geneva, 1-5 March 2004)" (PDF).
  16. Chinwo, Chukwuemeka. "EIGHT Compulsory Acquisition of Land: The Ikwerre Experience". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  17. "Port Harcourt | Location, Facts, & Population". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  18. Chigere, Nkem Hyginus M. V. (2001). Foreign Missionary Background and Indigenous Evangelization in Igboland. LIT Verlag Berlin-Hamburg-Münster. p. 17. ISBN 3-8258-4964-3. Retrieved 2008-11-24.
  19. Udeani, Chibueze (2007). Inculturation as Dialogue: Igbo Culture and the Message of Christ. Rodopi. p. 12. ISBN 978-90-420-2229-4.
  20. Yakan, Muḥammad Zuhdī (1999). Almanac of African peoples & nations. Transaction Publishers. p. 371. ISBN 1-56000-433-9.
  21. Kelechukwu U. Ihemere (2007). A Tri-Generational Study of Language Choice & Shift in Port Harcourt. Universal-Publishers. pp. 26–35. ISBN 9781581129588.
  22. Okwudiba Nnoli (1995). Ethnicity and development in Nigeria. Research in ethnic relations series. Avebury Series in Philosophy. United Nations Research Institute for Social Development. ISBN 9781859721155. The Igbo indigenous who remained found it advantageous to deny their Igbo origin and claimed, instead, a non-Igbo Ikwerre identity
  23. "A brief walk into the lives of Ika tribe". Pulse Nigeria. 2021-05-25. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  24. Chinda, C. Izeoma (5 June 2017). "Ikwerre Intergroup Relations and its Impact on Their Culture". African Research Review. 11 (2): 83. doi:10.4314/afrrev.v11i2.7.
  25. Chinda, Izeoma (2017). "Ikwerre Intergroup Relations and its Impact on Their Culture". African Research Review. 11 (2): 83. doi:10.4314/afrrev.v11i2.7. ISSN 2070-0083.
  26. "History Of Ikwerre People In Nigeria". www.edoworld.net. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  27. "Elechi Amadi | Nigerian writer". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  28. Kalu., Ogbaa (2003). The Nigerian Americans. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-31964-2. OCLC 59308254.
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