Anioma Region

Anioma Region
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 Region (/æˈniːɒmɑː/ ah-NEE-o-ma, US: /əˈniːɒmɑː/ uh-NEE-o-mah; Ndi Ániọ̀mà or Ndè Ániọ̀mà Listenⓘ) of present day Delta State, Nigeria encompass and are native to the nine northern Local Government Areas of Delta State. Politically, the Anioma occupy the Delta North Senatorial District.

Today, the population of the Anioma region is estimated today to be at approximately 1.8 million. The largest settlement in Anioma 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. The Anioma region natively speak the Igboid languages, 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 major ethnic groups that comprise the Delta North region flanking the western basin of the Niger in south central Nigeria: the Aniocha (A), Ndokwa (N), Ika (I) and the Oshimili peoples(O). 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

Most of the Anioma people speak Igboid languages, primarily Enuani in the northeast, Ika in the northwest, and Ukwuani mostly spoken by the peoples of Ndokwa in the south.

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

The Ekumeku Movement (1883-1914)

See also Ekumeku Movement:

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

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 27 April 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  3. ↑ "NED NWOKO'S STATE CREATION BILL". This Day. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  4. ↑ Ezeme, Idenze (8 December 2024). "The Anioma People: Culture, History, and Contributions". Ozi Ikòrò. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "How the term 'Anioma' was derived". Freshangle News. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  6. ↑ The World Satellite (29 July 2025). "The Logic Of Anioma As Igbo State -". Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "Language and Cultural Identity". TheProposedAniomaState. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  8. ↑ "EBU, THE IGALA- SPEAKING COMMUNITY IN ANIOMA". nairapen.com. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  9. ↑ Nkemnacho, George (28 February 2024). "Olukumi Kingdom: A Peculiar Yoruba Enclave". Everrand. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. 1 2 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.
  12. ↑ Nwafor (14 April 2018). "Achuzia,"Hannibal", buried in Asaba". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  13. ↑ "TONY ELUMELU: Exiting UBA as CEO at Age 47 was a Blessing". This Day. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  14. ↑ Muhonji, Muhunya (12 August 2023). "Jay-Jay Okocha's bio: age, family, net worth, where is he now? - Legit.ng". www.legit.ng. Retrieved 16 October 2026.

Further reading