The identification of a people is symptomatically related to the culture of the people. A people are basically known in relation to its culture- its institutions, the ideas by which it lives and the material aspects of its existence.
Anioma people are no exception to this axiom. Thus, this feature story has to tell us virtually everything that needs to be known about Anioma people.
Anioma comprises four segments- Aniocha, Ndokwa, Ika and Oshimili Local Government Areas of the present Delta State of Nigeria. The “Ma” means “Beautiful”, “Good”.
Aniocha consists of Aniocha South with the following as its principal towns- Ogwashi-Uku, Nsukwa, Ashama, Ishiagu, Ewulu, Ubulu-Uku, Ubulu-Unor, Adonta, Umu- ute, Ejeme-Aniogor, Ukwu-Oba, Otulu, Egbudu-Aka, Onuiyi. E.t.c.
Aniocha North: Issele-Uku, Issele Nkpitime, Issele Azagba, Obomkpai Onitsha-Ugbo, Onicha-Uku, Onitsha Olona, Obio, Eri, Idumuje-Uno, Idumuje Ugboko, Ukwu-Nzu, Idumu-Ogo, Ugboba, Ugbodu, Uburubu, Aniofu. E.t.c.
Ika is made up of
Ika North East: Owa Oyibo, Owa Alero, Owa-Nta, Owa Idumuesah, Owa Aliomo, Owa-Ofie, Owa-Ekei, Ute-Ogbeje, Ute- Okpu, Ute Aliha, Ute-Enugwu, Egbudu, Igbodo Illabo, Ani Nwalo, Ute-Erumu, Aninwachoko, Umunede, Otolokpo, Mbiri, Owerre-Olubor, Ekwuoma, Akwumazi-Umuocha, Boji-Boji Owa, Owerre, Ute-Okpu. E.t.c.
Ika South: Agbor, Ekuka-Agbor, Agbor-Alidiuma, Ozara, Omumu, Azu-Owa, Abavo, Alisime, Emuhu, Alihagwu, Udomi Ahima, Obi-Anyila, Owa, Alidiuma, Agbo-Nra, Ewuru, Oki Alizomo. E.t.c.
Ndokwa Comprises of:
Ndokwa East: Aboh, Obetim-Uno, Utu-Oku, Onya Ossisa, Inyi, Onu-Abo, Umuolu, Ibredeni, Adai, Utchi, Umu Achi, Ogo, Iselegu, Umuedim, Okhai, Ashaka, Abara –Uno, Abara-Oshimili, Ato, Ushie, Igbuku, Umu Agboma, Beneku
Ndokwa West: Kwale, Emu-Obiogo, Emu-Obodeti, Abbi, Emu-Uno, Utagba-Uno, Umutu, Emu- Ebendo, Umuchire, Ogili-Amai, Obitim-Uno, Utagba-Ogbe, Ogume, Ogbode, Onicha-Ukuwani, Oliogo, Amai, Igbe-Ogume, Isumpe, Utue-Ogume. E.t.c
Ukwuani: Obiaruku, Obiuomba, Owa-Abi, Adonishiaka, Umukwata, Umu-Ebu, Uzuede, Umuaja, Akoku, Emeghe, Obi-Ebeti, Obillo, Umu Eze Ogoli, Ebedei-Uno, Ukabi, Obiogo-Eziokpo.
Oshimili South: Asaba, Okwe, Oko-Anala, Oko-Ogbelo, Abawa, Ogbu, Okpu, Oko-Obioju, Anwai, Uwatu, Oko-Anikom. E.t.c.
Oshimili North: Atewukwu-Igbo, Ibusa, Ugbolu, Illah, Ebu, Ukala-Okpuno, Atuma, Azoko, Okpanam, Achalla, Aniwalo, Ngegwu, Ugwu-Ozalla, Ukalla-Okwute, Odozi –Enu. E.t.c.
These four areas- Aniocha, Ndokwa, Ika and Oshimili- with a population of over 2 million people, form Anioma, Northern Delta State.
This geographical binding is the first force of unity that proclaims and portrays the unique identity of the Anioma nation.
The second bond of unity is the cultural one. Sly Chinoy generationalized the word “Culture” by differentiating its three parts- Institutions, Ideas, and Material Culture. In Anioma the basic institution are the same in all the areas of Anioma. The political institution, the economic institution, family, the educational institution and the religious institution are the same. We are ruled by kings and council of elders, we have the same economic system; with rudimentary capitalism as its base, the family institution is fundamentally the same with the notion of “Nuclear” and “Extended” family systems firmly in place; the educational system is similar, with traditional education juxtaposed with modern system of education, and religious practices feature a mixture of traditionalism- i.e Spiritism or Animalism and Christianity.
Aniomas share the same ideas in philosophy and cosmology. Their ideas of love, wealth, indeed of most if not everything are in synchrony.
As for material culture, a visit to anywhere in Anioma will evidence the same pattern of buildings, the same cuisine, the same pattern of cloth-weaving, e.t.c.
Above all, Language, the engine oil of the cultural train, envelopes the Anioma people as one people, one Lanquage, One Nation.
The Ibo Language with its dialectical differences binds the Anioma people together- inseparable for eternity
Political Implications
The essence of this paper is to point out the implications- political and geo-political- of cementing the identity of Anioma.
Historically, Anioma was part of the Western Nigerian region, until 1963 it was part of the “Minorites” of the then Western region. That region was largely Yoruba and the Anioma people were referred to as Western-Ibos esconsed far away from the capital of the West at Asaba, marginalized owing to its support of the opposition party- the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC). Aniomas joined other
minority westerners in agitating for a “Mid-West” State right from the late 1930s. This makes Anioma the oldest area in the agitation for state creation in Nigeria today. It is an irony of history that this dream for Anioma state is still to come true despite the fact that those who started their agitation much later have benefitted therefrom long, long ago. This is one reason why Aniomas have continued to agitate for their own state.
In 1963, the Mid-west state was created out of the Western state to house the minorities of the west with the capital at Benin-City, and in 1991, the Delta State was created with its capital at Asaba. Still, the Anioma State is in limbo.
Thus with cultural identity already cemented political identity will be cemented with the creation of Anioma State. Then, no one will doubt where politically and geographically, Anioma belongs.
This paper is only Introductory and will be expanded along the following lines in my next series of Anioma Features.
The History Of Anioma People
Migration that make up today’s Anioma
Anioma in the History of Nigerian Politics
Anioma in today’s Nigerian Politics
Rationale for the Creation of Anioma State
Anioma in future Nigeria
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