Afemai people occupy six local government areas of Edo state: Etsako West, with headquarters in Auchi, Etsako Central, Etsako East, Owan East, Owan West and Akoko Edo. These make up the Edo-North Senatorial District.

Name
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The Afemai are also known as the Afenmai, Etsako, Etsakor, Iyekhee,[1] or Yekhee people. In Benin, they are also known as Ivbiosakon people.[2]

Previously the name used by British colonial administration was Kukuruku, supposedly after a battle cry "ku-ku-ruku",[3] now considered derogatory.[4]

Language
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The Afenmai language is a Ghotou-Uneme-Yekhee language, belonging to the North-Central branch of Edoid languages.[1] Afemai is closely related to Edo.

Afemai has several documented dialects:

Auchi ("Yekhee"
Avainwu (Fugar)
Aviele
Ekperi
Ivhiadaobi
South Ibie (South Ivbie)
Uwepa-Uwano (Weppa Wano)
Uzanu, Anegbette, Udochi, Imiava [Uneme]
Uzairue.
Owan
Okpella/Okpekpe/ North Ibie ("Ivie"
[1]

History
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Afemai is made of several kingdoms and clans (large villages/townships ruled traditionally by monarchs) and many of them seem to have their own oral history versions of the origin of Afemai as well as its own starting point in history. Historical accounts claimed that they migrated from Benin, during the tyrannical rule of Oba Ewuare, the greatest warrior legend and the most outstanding king in the history of Benin Empire.[citation needed] “The title Ewuare (Oworuare), meaning "all is well" or the trouble has ceased and as a result the war is over.[citation needed] The title symbolizes an epoch of reconciliation, reconstruction and the return of peace among the warring factions in Benin between 1435-1440 AD.

Shortly after this critical period of war, Akalaka and his two sons Ekpeye and Ogba migrated further southeast to first settle at Ula-Ubie, and subsequently other groups moved out of Benin City and migrated north.[citation needed] However, it has recently become clear that there were people living in Afemailand prior to the migration from Benin City.

Some of the most celebrated sons and daughters of Afemailand, past and present, are

Rear Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe Former Chief Of General Staff and Vice President
Dele Giwa Journalist and Human Rights Activist
Alfred Yarduat Director CBN
Mike Agbedor Ozekhome SAN Human Rights and Constitutional Lawyer
Inusa Oshogwemoh Polo Club
Senator Engineer Yisa Braimoh Two Time Senator
Dr Austine Obozuwa: Former lecturer Faculty of Law University of Lagos, Former Legal Adviser to the Senate President (Joseph Wayas), Two time Commissioner Bendel State, Former Member House of Representatives(Etsako Federal Constituency),
Group Captain Brai Ayonote Mni, The 1st Vice President of the African Olympic committee, The Chairman of NABA Nigerian Amateur Boxing Association and former DOPRI Director of public relations and information of the Nigerian Airforce. The Afeakhuye of Uzairue.
Michael Imoudu, a former labour union leader and founder of the Nigeria state,
Chief Julius Momo Udochi the first Nigerian ambassador to the United States,
Gen. George Agbazika Innih, one-time military governor of Bendel and Kwara States,
major-general Abdul Rahman Mamudu, former commander, Nigerian Army Signals Corps and military administrator Gongola State,
Rt Hon Sir ColonelTunde Akogun, former Sole administrator for culture and archives, also former House Leader, Federal House of Representatives
Sir Pa Hudson Arikalume Momodu, MBE, leader of the National Labour Congress Union for the Nigerian War Workers department, who received the ADC hands medal] from His Excellency on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II)
John Momoh (Chairman/CEO of Channels Television )
Comrade OSESUA LUCKY. Past Zonal Chairman PH ZONE, Present 1st Deputy CHAIRMAN PTD NUPENG.
Adams Oshiomhole, past president of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Past governor of Edo State Present Chairman ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS (APC),
Sule Okponobi Director Foreign Exchange CBN
Pa Johnson Jimoh Iyere,
Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi,(chairman/CEO Africa Independent Television),
Senator Francisca Afegbua, first Nigerian female senator, elected in[5]
Chief Inu Umoru, chairman/CEO, Setraco Ltd,
Hon. Justice J. Omo-Eboh (Court of Appeal);
Prince Tony Momoh, former Minister of Information and Culture,
Commander Anthony Ikhazoboh, minister of sports and transport,
Prince Fidelis Oyogoa (SNR), acclaimed former tennis coach at Port Washington Academy, who trained the likes of John McEnroe and Peter Fleming renowned Real Estate developer,
Aret Adams GMD NNPC,
Senator Domingo Alaba Obende
Chief Prudence Ogedengbe
Ex-chief of general staff and ambassador Abdulaziz Garuba etc.[citation needed].
Major David O. Odiwo
Senator Francis Alimikhena.
Lt. Col. Abiodun Uwadia RTD. Former Senior Special Assistant to the President Special Duties
Dele Momodu journalist/publisher, businessman, philanthropist and motivational speaker.
Alhaji Sule Abu, Director of JohnHolt, The First African Man to be elected as a director.
Chief Mike Aiyegbeni Oghiadomhe was the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 and Chief of Staff to former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan from 2011 to 2014.
Hon Prince Clement Agba, Environmental commissioner under Governor Oshiomole.
Rev Dr. Emmanuel A. Akpeokhai (The first trained Pharmacist in Afemai Land).
Hobbies
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Most people are hunters, farmers and fishermen.

Government
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The Afemais do not have a central traditional ruler, but some of the prominent traditional institutions and rulers in Afemai land are the Okumagbe of Weppa Wanno (Agenebode), Ogieneni of Uzairue (Jattu), Aidonogie of south Ibie, Otaru of Auchi, Oba of Agbede, Otaru of Igarra, Ukor of Ihievbe, Oliola of Anegbette, Okumagbe of Iuleha clan, Okuopellagbe of Okpella etc. Afemai have produced many illustrious personalities in both national and international levels.[citation needed]

Tourist attractions, which span the expanse of Afemai, are exemplified by the Ise Lake in Agenebode (Weppa Wanno clan) Etsakor East, the Ososo hills (featured in an edition of Gulder Ultimate search), the famous Kukuruku hills and the Somorika hills in Akoko Edo.[citation needed] Somorika hills consist of an extended expanse of hills crowned by massive boulders perched precariously on the summits of hills and alongside seemingly inadequate locations on the sides.

Some of the most important towns/clans in Afemai land are Agenebode(Weppa-Wanno), Weppa, Oshiolo, Emokwemhe Iviagbapue, Auchi, Ihievbe, Afuze, Anegbette, Warrake, Iviukwe, South Ibie, Agbede, Sabongida Ora, Igarra, Ekperi, Jattu, Fugar, Aviele, Okpella, Uneme Ehrunrun, Uneme Osu, Iviukhua, Ososo, Uzanu, Uzebba, Iviukhua, Weppa, Okpella, Okpekpe, Somorika etc.[citation needed]

The autonomous clans, towns, villages and kingdoms in Afemai land are currently administratively arranged as follows under the current six local government areas:

Etsako East LGA, Agenebode:
Agenebode, Oshiolo, Iviagbapue, Imiakebu, Afana, Imiegba, Itsukwi, Emokweme, Ekwothor, Iviukhua, Okpella, Okpekpe, Iviebua, Ibie, Weppa, Uzanu City
Etsako Central LGA, Fugar:
Fugar, Ekperi, Ogbona, Anegbette, Udochi
Estako West LGA, Auchi:
Auchi, South Ibie, Agbede, Awain Community( Ewora, Eware, Ibvioba, Ama, Idegun, etc.) Jattu, Afashio, Ayogwiri, Aviele, Iyorah,Ikabigbo,Afowa,Irekpai,Ugbenor,Idato,
Owan East LGA, Afuze
Afuze, Warrake, Igue, Ihievbe, Ikao, Ivbi-Mion, Ive-Ada-Obi, Otuo and Uokha
Owan West LGA, Sabongida Ora:
Sabongida Ora, Iuleha Clan
Akoko Edo LGA, Igarra:
Igarra, Ibillo, Uneme Osu, Uneme Ehrunrun, Ososo, Somorika,
Aviawun (Iviawu) is one of the popular clans in Afemai. It comprises 1 Unone 2 Arua 3 Ogbona 4 Iriakhor

Awun is the father of Unone Arua Ogbona Iriakhor and Awun migrated from Benin Kingdom and settle in the present Fugar. Unone and Arua make up the present Fugar.