OUR MISSION
Our Mission is to organize, educate, and activate Anioma people and to promote their general welfare.
OUR VISION
To offer Anioma a compelling VISION of common good, of how everyone can win. When Umu Anioma embrace CHANGE and tread a new path of a reconstructed value system, the result is both the growth of themselves and others.
OUR OBJECTIVES
- To Promote the Anioma Cultural Heritage by fostering the economic, social and political awareness of Anioma people in Nigeria and around the world.
- To Organize, Educate and Activate Anioma Youth around the world; to be the best they can possibly be, using their entire God-given talent.
- To impact our lives and drive the economic, social and political well-being of the Anioma community through awareness, change and determination.
- To see to it, that all the people in the Anioma community have the Freedom, Support and Advocacy to pursue their dreams and aspiration.
ANIOMA IN PERSPECTIVE
INTRODUCTION
The “Anioma” may also be indigenously referred to as “Ndi-Enuani” (Enuani) or “Ndi-Eluani” (Eluani) in Ika language which means the “Highland people” in reference to the geographical location of the region but a more common name for the people is “ANIOMA”.
ORIGIN
Birth of the Anioma Nation
The people of Aniocha, Ndokwa (Ukwuani) Ika and Oshimili are collectively referred to as “Anioma”. The word “Anioma” is actually an acronym (i.e. A-Aniocha; N-Ndokwa; I-Ika and O-Oshimili) while the “Oma” Suffix in the contraction denotes “beauty” or “fertility”. The name has derivatively come to mean “Good Land” “Beautiful Land” or Fertile Land”. The coinage of the name was made by Chief Dennis Osadebay.
In 1951, Hon Oki from Ndokwa; Hon Frank Oputa Ututu from Ndokwa; Hon Obi from Ika; Hon F. Utomi (Aniocha) and Chief Dennis Osadebay from Oshimili all of who represented the four areas that make up the now Anioma nation jointly moved a motion seeking a separate province for the Anioma people and region. The motion became necessary to address the balkanization and merger of the people by the British colonial government with Benin and Warri provinces without any referendum. The Anioma Representatives had hoped to reunite the communities. The loss of Ekumeku (Ekumekwu) wars fought by the people against the British to put an end to the British imperialistic tendencies on the people necessitated the forced, regrettable, and unholy fusions.
The colonial government’s trepidation was that if the potency of Anioma’s unity was not weakened or broken, the people would continue to constitute threats to the activities of the government hence the balkanization. The said motion was forlornly lost in the house to the political antics Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his Action Group party opposition that blocked it for fear of dominance over the Yoruba collective interest in the then western region.
The origins of the various Anioma towns and communities are diverse but in all; all the communities can trace their origins to Igbo, Bini, Ishan and Igalla. Evidences of the ancestral homes are palpably noticeable in the names borne by Anioma communities such as “Igbo-Uzo” (Igbuzo) from Nshi (Nri) and Isu of Igboland; “Ogwa Nshi (Ogwashi-Uku) of Nri, Igboland and Benin (Ezechime), and “Ahaba-Ujom” (Asaba) from Nteje (Igboland) and Igalla (Kogi State) and “Agbon” (Agbor) Bini.
Others like Isi-Ile-Uku, a Benin word for present (Issele-Uku) founded by Oba Eweka I of Benin, Onicha-Uku, Onicha-Ugbo, Onicha-Olona and Onicha-Ado (Descendants of Ezechime, a Bini migrant) Ebu (Igalla and Ishan (Edo State), founded by Omokhale, Benin migrant. Okpanam, Igbodo, Obomkpa, Issele-Mkpitime (Issele-Uku migrants) and Igbodo owe their ancestral foundations to Benin.
BALKANIZATION
Loss of Important communities
The history of the location of the region shows that during the colonial period of the nation, it was located in the Western region later Mid West, Bendel State and from 1991 till date Delta State. After the loss of the Ekumekwu war, the British colonial government visited the region with castigatory measures which Balkanized it into two separate parallel lines, amalgamating them to the Benin and warri provinces. The British would also merge many of the people’s important communities such as Onicha-Ado (Onitsha), Ogbaru, Obosi, Atani, Ndoni, Ozubulu, Ogba, Oraifite to then Eastern region, a development that has since remained unchanged till date while the provinces merged with Benin and Warri have reunited in present Delta State, Igbanke and some smaller Ika communities are still lying in Edo State.
GEOGRAPHY
Location
The Anioma region occupies 9 out of the total 25 Local Government Areas that make up the state and comprises of about 174 known towns and communities located in today’s Northern part of Delta State, hence its reference as “Delta North” in the administrative matters of the state. Some of its important towns are Asaba (State headquarters), Ogwashi-Uku, Ibusa, Agbor, Obiaruku, Ashaka, Kwale, Issele-Uku, Umunede, Aboh, Ndokwa, Ilah and Ubulu-Uku.
Anioma towns are also scattered around 4 other states such as Igbanke and a few others in Edo State; Onicha-Ado (Onitsha), Ozubulu, Obosi, Ogbaru, Atani, Oraifite in Anambra State; Oguta in Imo State; Ndoni, Ekpon, Ogba in Rivers State. The region is located at the West Basin of the River Niger. It is also an expanse that naturally enjoys geographical contiguity with the Igbo, Isoko, Benin, Igalla and Urhobo; Bounded to the East by Anambra State, southeast by Imo and Rivers States, to the South by Bayelsa State, to the North by Kogi State, to the Northwest by Kogi State. It enjoys access to the great River Niger and other smaller rivers, streams and lakes. A look at the Nigerian map confirms that many of its communities especially the Kwale towns are situated in the Delta region thus the region’s positioning at the South-south geo-political zone.
LANGUAGE
Dialects
About 13 Languages are spoken in Anioma some of which are Enuani, Bini, Olukunmi (Old and extinct Yoruba language), Igalla, Ishan, Ika, Ukwuani and Aboh. Enuani which obviously is the dominant language is spoken by Asaba, Ibusa, Ogwashi-Uku, Ubulu-Uku, Ubulu-Unor, Issele-Uku, Issele-Mkpitime, Onicha-Olona, Onicha-Ugbo, Onicha-Uku, Ejeme-Unor, Ejeme-Aniogor, Ilah, Ezi, Obomkpa, Oko-Anala, Oko-Amakom, Oko-Ogbele, parts of Igbodo, Akwuwu-Igbo, Akwukwu-Ukwu, Okpanam, Idumuje-Unor, Idumuje-Ugboko, Anwai, Oraifite, Ogbaru, Onitsha, Obosi, Atani. Ika is spoken by Agbor, parts of Igbodo, Umunede, Igbanke, Oguta, Owa-Oyibus, Owa-Nta, Owa, Ekwuoma, Obior etc. Ebu speak Enuani, Ishan and Igalla. Aboh and surrounding communities speak Aboh. Ukwuani is spoken by Ukwuani/Ndokwa, Umutu, Ogume, Obiaruku, Asaba-Ubulu, Ashama, Edo-Ogwashi, Azagba, Amai etc.
Ebu is a bi-lingual town. Some people speak Ishan, others speak Igalla. Enuani is comprehensible to all. The people of Igbodo speak Ika and Enuani. This is due to the influence of its location between Ekwuoma and Onicha-Ugbo. It must be noted that while some parts of Anioma understand and speak languages close to Urhobo and Isoko, a sort of Igbo language is intelligible to all the towns and communities that make up the Anioma region. This is the beauty of what a writer has defined as “cross culture” or “cross-cultural pollination” that the people have enjoyed as result of peaceful relationship with close by ethnic groups which has in no small way enriched the people’s traditional background and even harmonized it.
What it means is that from Agbor to Aboh, the people of Anioma can relate effectively in a harmonious language quite close to Ibo.
ETHNIC IDENTITY
Culture/Tradition
The ethnic identity of Anioma is uniquely defined in several aspects of social life. Like a single group of people with strong and viable cultural explanation, the traditions and culture of the people is one just as it is bound by “common sets of symbols and cognitions”.
Thus when an Anioma person from any part of the country is seen, he is recognized. Again, the Ekumekwu warfare of the 18th century, by far helped to give the people social unity, and natural responsiveness to its immediate social environment. It is on this basis that experts on Anioma history tenaciously uphold that cultural roles and social identity of the people remain intact because it was never lost. From time immemorial, the Anioma people have always maintained that they collectively belong somewhere and have collectively and closely attested to this in different kinds of social relationship. In order words, the people have always regarded themselves as one.
Traditionally, the attire of the people is one. An Anioma man is gifted with the choice of styles to dress in his “Akwa-Ocha” (Otogwu in Ibusa) fabric which he may wear to any ceremony. However, quite commonly, the Akwa-Ocha is loosely worn on a white native shirt with native beads to support it. For the women, it readily provides a sort of wrapper to be worn with a blouse, supported with beautiful beads. While the men wear a red cap, the women wear “Ichafor” (Head-gear). On special occasions, such as funeral ceremonies “Uya” (Horse-tail) may be held in the hand with decorated hair by women.
ECONOMY
Human/mineral Resources
The Anioma region is blessed with abundant human and mineral resources. Ibusa community is believed to have over hundred professors in various fields of life. Prof Pat Utomi, former presidential aspirant; Prof Chike Onwuachi, a former presidential aspirant and former head of the Nigerian Institute of International Relations (NIIA); Prof Fidelis Odita, a former gubernatorial aspirant; Prof Augustine O. Esogbue, an American based NASA scientist; Prof Buchi Emecheta, a novelist; Prof Nolue Emenanjo; Prof Arinze; and Obi (Prof) Louis Chelunor Nwaoboshi, the Obuzor of Ibusa are some of the erudite professors from the community. There is Barr Peter Nwaoboshi, currently the Chairman of People’s Democratic Party (Delta State chapter); Ambassador Ignatius Olisemeka, a former Minister for Foreign Affairs; Mr. Frank Odita, former Police spokesperson; Dr. Olisa Imegwu, Former Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly; Mr. Peter Eloka Okocha, Mr Frank Atuche and Mr Sabastine, two former Bank chiefs; Emmanuel Olisedebe, Polish footballer and many more.
Prof Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Managing Director of World Bank is an Anioma indigene from Ogwashi-Uku; Air Marshal Paul Dike (Retd), the former Chief of Defence Staff is of Anioma extraction from Issele-Uku; Chief Sunny Okogwu; Prof Joy Ogwu; Ambassador Ralph Uwaechue, the present leader of Ohaneze Ndigbo is from Anioma; Benjamin Elue, former Deputy-Governor of Delta State; Obi (Prof) Chike Edozien, the Asagba of Asaba; Chief Obielum; Chief sunny Odogwu, Business mogul; Mr. Jim Ovia of Zenith Bank and Nduka Ugbade are all Anioma indigenes. The Anioma region produced three captains for Super Eagles namely Stephen Keshi, Sunday Olise and Austin Okocha.
The region has contributed to the economic progress of the country in terms of mineral resources. As a region within the Niger Delta, oil is found in Kwale and some other communities. There are still several other resources that have abundantly played roles in feeding the nation.
RELIGION
Festival
As typical to Africans, before the coming of Christianity, the people practiced African Traditional Religion and held divine beliefs in Ane Ebu, Nwangene, Ibe Ata and Ibe Iye. Atakpo and Oboshi are believed to be god and goddess by the people of Ibusa. There are still Alor, Ikenga and Ani (The god of fertility). However, the people credited “Chukwu” (Ose Bu Uwa) with supremacy and the maker of smaller gods, spirits and deities. The people are now largely Christians with the catholic as the dominant denomination.
In 2007, the Organization for the Advancement of Anioma Culture (OFAAC) organized “Anioma fiesta”
Anioma people are highly cultural, therefore guided by culture in every aspect of life. Some of the festivals celebrated by the people are Iwu, Eborakiko, Ine, Ulor, Utegbe, Ichu-Ekwensu, Iwaji, (New yam festival), Igue, Ukwe, Olu, Ogwu, etc. In some Anioma communities like Ebu, disputes are commonly settled in the shrines with deities standing as arbitrates. A festival such as Iwu is necessary to cleanse the community and make preparation for the coming year while Igue festival celebrated by Agbor and a few other communities are analogous to that of Benin with similar objectives.
MUSIC
Dance
The Anioma dance style commonly referred to as the “Famous Asaba dance” is “Egwu Oshushu” or “Ohuhu” in Enuani dialect (“Egwu Esusu” in Ika). It is superlative in performance and culturally requires costume, rich colour, comportment and choreography to perform. Traditionally, Uloko, Amala, Odukor, Ekobe, Agbalani, Aguba are of the dances or music indigenous to Anioma.
At the “Anioma Fiesta” organized by Organization for the Advancement of Anioma Culture in 2007, the following Anioma cultural groups performed and emerged winners:
1. Uloko Cultural Group of Ndemili, Utegba-Unor
2. Otu One Mind from Owa
3. Otu Chukwueonyi Rinma of Agbor
4. Otu Egwu Aduko of Eweshi, Onicha Olona
5. Aguba Dance Band of Ubulu-Unor
6. Otu Chuwuedo Cultural Group of Owa-Oyibu
The Ukwani/Ndokwa people of Anioma are legendary in the performance of highlife music with songs composed in native tongue while Ogbogu Okonji popularly referred to as “OGB” from Ibusa remains the most popular Anioma traditional musician. Otu Mbonsionyenwu Obulunjua Dancing Group of Ibusa led by Dana Okonji (Agility) is perhaps the most prominent traditional Group produced by Anioma. Some other Anioma musicians are Eddy Okonta, Zeal Onyia, Charles Iwegbu, Rogana, Bright Osadebe, Michael Obanya, Prince Smart Williams, Isioma Nwose and Ras Kimono, a well known Anioma musician with foreign brand music.
Agitation for Anioma State
As noted above, agitation for a separate state for the region began in 1951 and with the seeming blatant refusal of the Nigerian Government to create a separate state for the people, the campaign has continued till date even stronger with each administration passing without demand for the state. Other ethnic groups in present Delta State have also joined in the call for a separate state for the Anioma people. Pressures coming from royal fathers, groups and indigenes, petitions and other activities from within and outside show that the people have not succumbed to coyness.
The activities of Umu Anioma Foundation, a registered online umbrella-Association of Anioma indigenes worldwide seeking general developments and better life for the people have renewed the pressure on the government to recognize the region as the 37th state of the nation. The Association has in its array of membership the region’s recognized fresh, innovative and ground-breaking generation of rising leaders prominently committed to championing the people’s cause in a nation that their voice has only been given little consideration by nearly all the regimes in the past. Prince Emmanuel Ohai, (The convener and Founder), Esther Nwaise-Sowole, Clementina Nwaokeibuogor- Nicholas, Emeka Esogbue, Chris Okafor, Anthony Ndikanwu, Alister Chukwukadibia Smith, Ben Ifechukwude Okolo, Vincent Ngozi Mokwenye, Lauretta Onochie, Prince Charles Anyasi, Catherine Onwueme Williams, Michael Osadebey, Henry Molokwu, Andy Okolo, Uchenna Oyali are some of the leaders of the Group.
The Foundation hopes that developments come to the region and that a state is arranged for the region as ANIOMA STATE.