Emai people

EMAI PEOPLE OF EDO STATE NIGERIA. “AKUGBE VA ESE” (LETS COME TOGETHER HELLO EVERYBODY)

Standort

Emai people currently inhabit a sizable part of Afenmai land its principal town Afuze with geographical coordinates are 6° 58' 0" North, 6° 2' 0" East in Northwest Edo state they are a people of Edo Extraction currently scattered around the famous Owan River. These groups of people are bounded by the common ancestry of the founder of the group called Imah probably will be remembered in Ubini (Benin) his Origin as Imaran.

Early history and migration

Believed to be born to an Ubini Prince Kuoboyuwa around the fourteen century "1415" AD, young Imah shattered emotionally by the sudden death of his father who was the eldest son to Oba Ewuare who was still alive and heir apparent to the throne, found life quite miserable in the palace household and with his grand-fathers blessings decided to migrate with his immediate family.

The young troubled prince found a home at Ugboha (which means near home or by the okha tree)close to the present day ancient town of Uokha a people also of Ubini extraction located nearby the Kukuruku hills of what is today Ihievbe-Ogben town proximity of Edoland the area is believed to have been unclaimed and not habited as that period in time. Amidst this thickly dense forestation Imah made a home for his family and it came to be named Eko-Imah or Ehe-Imah which means Imahs camp or imahs place which over time became corrupted to be Emai. Emai is believed to mean “our own” or “our land is good”. As it is believed the place was dominated by the predominant trees that are common in the Nigerian Guinea savannah belt namely the OKHA tree. It is believed that he was mysteriously cured by this tree when sick. Little wonder the ancient town of Uokha is named after it which means a place of Okha tree. This then necessitated the celebration of the Eseokhai festival in commemoration of this trees that had given him both refuge on his journey and proved useful in curing his ailment.

He was survived by a son named Uzuanbi and at old age decided to retire back to the land of his ancestors Ubini living Uzuanbi and his family behind. Shortly afterwards words reaches Uzuanbi of the death of his father Imah in Ubini. This forces Uzuanbi to return back to Ubini to perform the burial rites of his father. On the completion of these rite he returned with two wives Odidi and Oron. While Odidi had three children Oron was reportedly barren.The Children of Odidi were Owunno, Oruamen and Urle. Today the people of Emai occupy the towns of Uanhumi, Ovbiwun, Afuze, Eteye, Ogute, Evbiamen, Evbiamen Ugboha, Okpohunmi, Ojavun and Ojavun -Ago. Due to the need for expansion and the growing population of the Emai people they were forced to move southwards which resulted in clashes with neighboring clans. An example is the famous skirmish with the people of Erah which ensued in a War this memory remained as the famous war of “Ogodo bi Isagua” meaning war of mud and death forcing the erah people to move further southwards. This was mainly fought by the descendants of Urle and Erah while the movement of Ogute from Emai-Ugbowa (ima-egbu-uwa) led to expelling of Uhonmora Ora peoples and the founding of Ogute and Ago Ojavun to the Eme-ora borders.

EMAI KINGSHIP AND LEADERSHIP

In keeping with its Benin traditions the People of Emai had the “odion evbo” which was the oldest man from the oldest town which is Uanhumi.The discussion of the leadership tussle also throws more light as to the increase in population and as to the reason why there was subsequent migration from Ugbokha. It was believed that uzuanbi had an affair during the burial rites of his father in Ubini with the wife of another man. Thus bearing a male son who is in fact his eldest child. This child suffered considerable hostilities as regards acceptability and difficulty in effectively winning the leadership support of Owunno whose descendants are Ovbiowun and Oruamen who are today Evbiamen,Okpohumi and Ojavun. Leaving his descendants to be supported only by Urle who are today Eteye and Afuze. Thus making the people of Uanhumi, Afuze and Eteye to be the first to leave the parent settlement of Emai-Ugbowa. The reason for the skirmish was the fact that Owunno refused to accept the seniority of Uanhumi who was supported by his brother Urle.This is the reason why Uanhumi and the people of Urle had to leave and remained close to each other. Traditionally the oldest man in Uanhumi is the Ode Edion of Emai “Regent” King and is known to chose his speaker or prime minister “Ukor Ode Dion” from Uze “Afuze” a tradition that existed till the late 18th century. Due to the emergence of colonial rule and the use of traditional rulers as district officers for the purposes of tax collection by the british colonial government. The prime minister usurped the position of the Ode Edion of Emai from Uanhumi that was presumably weak and small in size. Since every town had its chiefly cults regarding the rights to ascension of positions, this right was as that time left exclusively to Uanhumi, but today the descendants of Urle of the Uze corrupted to “AFUZE” and Eteye lineage have succeeded in ruling effectively. Though the most revered and oldest of deities is still at Uanhumi the throne was lost to Afuze who have produced four heirs to the throne as Oloje of Emai.

The people of Ovbiowun till this day have a parallel kingship known as Oloje of Ovbiowun and celebrate their separate festival of Ese-Okhai meaning “ Benefits from the Okah tree”. Today there exist only one way of having a common consensus if only the powerful rulers of Urle and the rest of Emai will be magnanimous enough to unite the EIJE Cult which is the cult of Chiefs with the aim of having a single ruling hierarchy. That remains to be seen. The right to kingship is extended to all male born children at birth who are unarguably descendants of Imah and are capable of obeying and participating in the princely duties of the EIJE Cults.

LAST THREE OLOJES (KINGS)

HRH OGEDENGBE I

HRH OJEALARO I

HRH OGEDENGBE II

THE LANGUAGE

It is a language that finds most of its words from its parent Benin language of "KWA" classification and the neighboring tribes of Ora,Ihievbe,Uokha and Yoruba.

EMAI NEIGHBOURS TODAY

Emai is bounded to the south by Erah, to the west by Ora,to the east by Ihievbe and to the north by the peoples of Uokha and Ake.

EMAI CONTRIBUTION TO NATION BUILDING

Emai is unarguably the dominant tribe in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State Nigeria. It has produced leaders for Nigeria and Edo in all spheres of Life these include Education, Politics, Health care, Captains of Industry as well as the Nigerian armed forces..

EMAI INDIGENES IN DIASPORA

A lot of Emai citizens live abroad many have over the course of time moved to Europe United states and other parts of the globe making her proud more than ever.

UNIONS

Emai children have various unions that are quite famous today. They include Emai union worldwide with branches in Lagos, Gothenburg, London and New York and many Umbrella organizations.

BELIEFS

Indigenous worship of ancestors, Christianity and animism.

COMMON GREETINGS

Ese – Hello Edioo – Good Morning by men Laoba – Good Morning by women Edi – Good Day Osen chian – Goodbye Amiegbe – So Long Ochian ahor – See you tomorrow or Good night. Iso Iso – EseOkhai festival Greetings meaning “I have survive”

FESTIVALS

Oghae - Children age group Eseokhai traditional newyear Aovbukpode adult agegroup Oimiyan masquerade festival