Edoid · Nigeria’s peoples

Afemai

The Afemai (Afenmai) of northern Edo State, including the Etsako and Owan peoples, occupy six LGAs; Auchi is a main centre.

See the Afemai on the map

At a glance

Where do the Afemai people live?: Their homeland is in Etsako Central, Etsako East, Etsako West, Owan East and Owan West in Edo State, across 5 local government areas. They are also a large share of Akoko-Edo in Edo State.
What language do the Afemai speak?: Yekhee (Etsako), a language of the Edoid family (Atlantic-Congo › Volta-Congo › Benue-Congo › Edoid).

Overview

The Afemai (Afenmai) of northern Edo State, including the Etsako and Owan peoples, occupy six LGAs; Auchi is a main centre. Many of their kingdoms trace their founders to Benin.^[2]High confidence

Where the Afemai live

Local government areas by state. Homeland: the group is the majority. Shared area: a large share of a mixed area. Smaller presence: present, but a small share.

Edo
- Etsako Central(Homeland)
- Etsako East(Homeland)
- Etsako West(Homeland)
- Owan East(Homeland)
- Owan West(Homeland)
- Akoko-Edo(Shared area)

Areas are approximate and show where people live. They are not claims of land ownership.

Communities beyond the homeland

Auchi

Etsako West, Edo State: Utsogu, Akpekpe, Aibotse, Igbhei, Iyekhei.^[4]High confidence

Headquarters of Etsako West and, under British rule, of the Kukuruku Division; the town is made up of five quarters. Home of Auchi Polytechnic.^[4]

Jattu (Uzairue)

Etsako West, Edo State: Afowa, Elele, Iyamho, Ogbido, Ayua, Afashio, Ikabigbo, Imeke.^[5],[6]High confidence

Headquarters of the Uzairue clan of twenty-one villages and seat of its ruler, the Ogieneni; Jattu's new market is reckoned the largest in Afemailand.^[5]

Agbede

Etsako West, Edo State.^[6],[7],[8]High confidence

The Nupe army's base in Afemai in the late 19th century, from which, by Esan tradition, it raided Esanland; Agbede has remained Muslim.^[7]

Okpella

Etsako East, Edo State: Ogute-Oke, Awuyemi, Imiekuri, Igiase, Imiegeli, Okhu, Komunio, Iddo.^[9]High confidence

A clan of two sub-clans, Ogute and Oteku, on the Benin–Abuja road, speaking Okpella, an Edoid language. Its people worship a supreme god, Eshinegba.^[9]

Farming (yams, cassava, tomatoes, ogbono) and mining of its limestone, marble and granite; the Ewo market meets every fourth day.^[9]

Weppa Wanno

Etsako East, Edo State.^[10]High confidence

The Uwano people say they left Benin in the 16th century under General Adaobi, in the exodus from Ewuare's harsh rule. Before colonial rule they were republicans, led by Ukpi drummers, village and family heads; the Okumagbe throne was created only in 1939 when the Weppa and Wanno clans were merged. Their land faces Idah across the Niger.^[10]

Fugar

Etsako Central, Edo State: Ogbona, Iraokhor, Anegbete, Ekperi.^[11]High confidence

Headquarters of Etsako Central.^[11]

Afuze

Owan East, Edo State.^[12],[6]High confidence

Afen-su-Uze, “the clan of Uze”, a water cane: founded by Imoigan, a descendant of Imah and Uzuanbi, first as a farm camp; it grew as a market on the long-distance trade routes. Headquarters of Owan East.^[12]

Sabongida-Ora

Owan West, Edo State.^[6]High confidence

Language

Yekhee (Etsako), a language of the Edoid family (Atlantic-Congo › Volta-Congo › Benue-Congo › Edoid). ISO 639-3: ets.^[1]High confidence

Sources

Every claim carries a confidence level: high (well attested), medium (one source or approximate) or disputed (sources disagree).