Jump to content

Anioma people

Page extended-confirmed-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Anioma)

Anioma people
Anioma
Total population
1,800,000 (est. 2022, 2,100,000) 2,100,000 (including those of ancestral descent)
Regions with significant populations
Nigeria (Delta State, and Edo State)
Religion
Predominantly Christian,
minority African Traditional Religion
Related ethnic groups
Bini, Esan, Igala, Olukumi, Isoko

The Anioma people (/æˈniːɒmɑː/ ah-NEE-o-ma, US: /əˈniːɒmɑː/ uh-NEE-o-mah; Ndí Ániọ̀mà) present day Delta State, Nigeria. The Anioma people encompass and are native to the nine northeastern Local Government Areas of Delta State and the Ika communities of Edo State. Politically, the Anioma occupy the Delta North Senatorial District where they are the majority group.

Today, the population of the Anioma is estimated today to be at approximately 1.8 million.[1][2] The largest Anioma settlement and urban area is the Delta State Capital Territory, which incorporates the city of Asaba along the Niger River, with Okpanam, Igbuzor and surrounding communities.[3] The Anioma natively speak western dialects of the Igbo language, a Niger-Congo language, as well as several minority languages related to the cultures they lie contingent to.

Etymology

The term Anioma is an acronym etymologically derived from the diverse cultural realms that comprise the Western Igboid speaking regions flanking the western basin of the Niger in south central Nigeria: the Aniocha (A), Ndokwa (N), Ika (I) and the Oshimili peoples(O).[4] The coinage was made in 1951 by Chief Dennis Osadebay, founding father of the Anioma state movement and has since remained the preferred indigenous name by which the people collectively refer to themselves.

Language

The Anioma are predominantly Igbo speaking as well as other Igboid languages including the Enuani dialect in the northeast (spoken in Ibusa, Ogwashi-Uku, Isheagu, Asaba, parts of Igbodo, Illah, Issele, Idumuje, Onicha etc.), Ika in the northwest (of Agbor, Umunede, Owa, Igbanke, Boji-Boji etc.), Ukwuani-Aboh dialect of the Igbo language mostly spoken by the peoples of Ndokwa in the south.

Minorities of historically non-Igbo speakers exist with a Igala minority in the northernmost extremities of the Anioma homeland at Ebu on the border with Edo and Umuebu in Ukwuani,[5] as well as the Olukumi who speak a language related to Yoruba of southwestern Nigeria and are acculturated to the predominant Igbo culture [6] of Aniocha.

The Ekumeku Movement (1883-1914)

See also Ekumeku Movement:

The Ekumeku War is unique in Anioma history and Igbo history in general for two reasons.[7] First, the movement's duration involved military campaigns spanning thirty-one years against the British.[8] Secondly, it exemplifies an effort amongst the Igbo people to unify previously fragmented states in resistance to the British colonial army.[8]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ "Federal Republic of Nigeria, Official gazette". 94 (24). 2007. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ "About". ANIOMA VOICE WORLDWIDE FOUNDATION. Archived from the original on 2021-04-27. Retrieved 2021-09-18.
  3. ^ "NED NWOKO'S STATE CREATION BILL – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2024-07-26.
  4. ^ "How the term 'Anioma' was derived". Freshangle News. 2020-05-19. Retrieved 2024-07-26.
  5. ^ "EBU, THE IGALA- SPEAKING COMMUNITY IN ANIOMA". nairapen.com. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  6. ^ Nkemnacho, George (2024-02-28). "Olukumi Kingdom: A Peculiar Yoruba Enclave". Everrand. Retrieved 2024-09-29.
  7. ^ Igbafe, Philip A. (1971). "Western Ibo Society and its Resistance to British Rule: The Ekumeku Movement 1898–1911". The Journal of African History. 12 (3): 441–459. doi:10.1017/S0021853700010872. ISSN 1469-5138.
  8. ^ a b Igbafe, Philip A. (1971). "Western Ibo Society and its Resistance to British Rule: The Ekumeku Movement 1898–1911". The Journal of African History. 12 (3): 441–459. doi:10.1017/S0021853700010872. ISSN 0021-8537.
  9. ^ Nwafor (2018-04-14). "Achuzia,"Hannibal", buried in Asaba". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
  10. ^ "TONY ELUMELU: Exiting UBA as CEO at Age 47 was a Blessing – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2022-09-07.

Further reading

  • Udeani, Chibueze. (2007). Inculturation as Dialogue: Igbo Culture and the Message of Christ. p. 11. ISBN 978-9042022294.
  • Ikime O. (ed). Groundwork of Nigerian history. Heineman educational books (Nigeria) PLC, Ibadan, 1980: 89–121.
  • Onwuejeogwu MA. Igbo civilization: Nri kingdom and hegemony; London, Ethnographica, 1981.
  • Obi Efeizomor II (Obi of Owa). Community development in Owa kingdom – the Nigerian factor. University of Benin press; Benin City-Nigeria; 1994: 303.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anioma_people&oldid=1298288097"