An Esan man in his Traditional Attire
The Esan individuals history from the Bini Kingdom in Nigeria. The word Esan is a Bini word signifying "they bounced away, or they have fled." The name turned into the acknowledged name of the gathering of individuals who got away from the rule of Oba Ewuare of Benin amidst the fifteenth century. Amid the fifteenth century, the Oba Ewuare of Benin had two children that both sadly kicked the bucket around the same time. Oba Ewuare then pronounced for grieving the demise of his children to the entire kingdom that there should be no sex in the kingdom; no washing, clearing of the houses or compound, drumming or moving; and making of flame in the area. Oba Ewuare demanded that these laws be entirely stuck to for a time of three years as a characteristic of admiration for his dead children.
Numerous locals fled the Bini Kingdom not able to keep these standards to join past gatherings that had as of now relocated out of the kingdom years before (remarkably, the gatherings that had before framed Irrua, Uromi, and Ekpoma). Before long, the Oba summoned a meeting of his subjects from different quarters and surprisingly, saw that they had significantly lessened in numbers. At the point when the Oba asked where his subjects had went to, he was told, "Ele san-fia" ("They have fled"). This later transformed into E-san-fia and afterward Esan. At the point when Oba Ewuare saw that his kingdom was rapidly getting to be ousted, he renounced his laws yet the movements proceeded. Oba Ewuare attempted to take up arms against the vagrants yet this fizzled.
By Egharevba, creator of A Short History of Benin, the Oba vanquished 201 towns and towns however he needed to utilize strategy for huge numbers of the other scattered towns and towns in the timberland with a specific end goal to bring them under Benin guideline. In this way, Oba Ewuare welcomed Esan pioneers or their agents to Benin for a ceasefire. He tempted them with having a connection to Benin City and of their having the pleasure of being called "Onojie", which implies lord. The eventual fate of Esan laid on the Esan who went to Benin and took the title of Onojie. It was not a simple choice for the Esan pioneers to choose whether or not to go. Numerous dreaded Oba Ewuare additionally did not need more military assaults against them. To decrease their reasons for alarm, Benin guaranteed military backing for the Onojie to implement power over resistant subjects (Eweka, 1992: pp. 83-84). Just three pioneers really went to Benin in individual.
An Esan Couple in their Traditional Attire
Each of the three were obviously men who had nothing to fear from the Oba because of different reasons. The first was Ekpereijie, the child of Oba Ohen's little girl and a sister to Oba Ewuare. The sister had been given to the pioneer of Irrua. Ekperejie came without trepidation since relations more likely than not been welcoming in the middle of Irrua and Benin.
The second was Alan of Ewohimi, the child of Ikimi who had left Benin before the rule of Oba Ewuare and all things considered was not considered as one of the individuals who fled the city by the Oba. The third was Ijiebomen who left Benin for Ekpoma after the Oba had allowed him leave (Eweka, 1992: p.169, 174). As opposed to those said above, boss Okhirare of Ohordua, , had particularly insulted the Oba and would not take an enormous risk, so he sent his beneficiary Odua to Benin (Eweka, 1992: p. 272).
His sibling and pioneer of Emu likewise sent his child as opposed to hazard his life. Three other Esan pioneers dispatched siblings as their delegates to the meeting in Benin. Ede felt he was just not exactly the Oba by degrees and all things considered declined to respect the call. He then sent his lesser sibling to listen to what the Oba needed to say. The pioneer of Ubgoha additionally requested that his lesser sibling go for his benefit. The pioneer of Uromi sent his lesser sibling to discover what the Oba needed to say. Ewuare disguised his annoyance at the rude pioneers in Esan since he was a gifted negotiator.
Amid the meeting, he told the guests how they had relocated from Benin. He enthroned the Benin court customs in Esan. The Oba gave the title of Onojie on those that were available at the meeting. This memorable minute happened in 1463. In a split second, the Oba made them leaders of their groups and subservient just to the Oba. Most importantly, this honorable title was not transferable to father, sibling, or ace, and once an Onojie, dependably an Onojie until death (Okojie, 1960: p.37).
Where Oba Ewuare had enthroned an intermediary as Onojie aside from in Ewohimi, Irrua and Ekpoma, strife and contempt took after as the new pioneers attested power and control over the older folks. Accordingly, the Oba wielded the various towns into substantial political elements that up to this point got to be known as chiefdoms, inexactly weaved towns, ruled by the Enijie.
Esan (maintained/aysan/) is one of the real ethnic gatherings in Edo State, Nigeria. The name "Esan" owes its cause to Bini and was once debased to "Ishan" by frontier Britain. Esanland is circumscribed toward the south by Benin, toward the south-east by Agbor, toward the north and east by Etsako, toward the west by River Niger. From Ewu to Benin City, the State capital, is 100kms long. The general population populate territories, for example, Uromi, Ewatto, Igueben, Irrua, Ubiaja, Ebele, Ehor, Ekpoma, Ewu, Ugboha and so forth in focal Edo State, in southern Nigeria.
It has level scene, one ailing in rocks and mountains, and useful for rural reason. Elastic tree (utilized for the creation of plastic items) and palm tree rank most noteworthy among Esan trees.
The area's assortment of natural products range from mango, orange, grape, pineapple, guava, cashew, banana, plantain, dark pear, avocado pear, lime to walnut and significantly more. Cassava, yam, cocoa yam, sweet potato, pepper, okra and rice are some of its homestead produce. It has various streams.
The Esan individuals in Esanland occupation is for the most part cultivating, chasing and exchanging. These are their wellsprings of employment.
There are currently 35 tribes in Esanland, each of which is going by a lord called an Onojie. The tribes include: Ekpoma, Uromi, Ekpon, Emu, Ewollimi, Ewatto, Irrua, Ubiaja, Egoro, Wossa, Ukhun, Ugbegun, Igueben, Idoa, Ohordua, Okhuesan, Oria, Ogwa, Okalo, Ebelle, Uzea, Onogholo, Orowa, Urohi, Ugun, Udo, Ujiogba, Iyenlen, Ifeku, Iliushi, Amahor, Opoji, Ugboha, Uroh, and Ewu.
Today Esanland is separated into five Local Government Areas to be specific:
Esan West L.G.A., with its headquarter in Ekpoma
Esan Central L.G.A., with its headquarter in Irrua
Esan North East L.G.A., with its headquarter in Uromi
Esan South East L.G.A., with its headquarter in Ubiaja
Igueben L.G.A. with its headquarter in Igueben.
Sources: This history was not composed by us but rather was ordered from various sources including:
Egharevba, J.U. 1968. A Short History of Benin. Ibadan: I.U.P.
Eweka, E.B. 1992. Development of Benin Chieftaincy Title. Benin City: Uniben. Press.
Okoduwa, Anthony. 2006. ?Relentlessness of Gerontocracy in Nigeria: An Example of the Esan People in Edo State.?
Okojie, C.G. 1960. Ishan Native Laws and Customs. Lagos-Nigeria: John Okwessa Publishers.
Omokhodian, J.O. 1998, The Sociology of the Esans. Tropical Publication Ltd. Ojeremen, Stephen. 2007. ?Esan Youth Rebirth Movement.
