Chambers Dictionary (William Geddie, ed. 1962) says: “A nation is a body of people marked off by common descent, language, culture, or historical tradition: the people of a tribe.” However, S.O.L. Amadi-Nna (1993) avers that: “A tribe is a group of clans under recognized chiefs and usually claiming common ancestry. Ikwerre can therefore not be a clan but a tribe. The Ikwerres claim a common ancestor. Ikwerre is an independent small tribe.” In the words of K.O. Amadi (1993), “Traditions suggest that Ikwerre is a nickname given to Iwhnuruọhna people…..They have ever since regarded themselves as a distinct group and have happily come a long way in their struggle for self-identity as evidenced by the recognition of their language as one of the Nigerian languages.”

Amadi-Nna (1993) added that: “The Ikwerres are a small but distinct tribe. The Ikwerres have distinct linguistic, social and cultural traits and formations that distinguish them from other close neighbouring tribes like the Ijaws and the Ibos. Majority of the Ikwerre settlements have their roots traceable from the old Benin Empire.” Iwhnurọhna people descended from the ancient Bini Kingdom. The name of the grand ancestor is Akalaka. Their relations in Rivers State are Ekpeye and Ogba people. The reigning Oba of Benin when Akalaka, the ancestor of Ihruọha (later called Iwhnurọhna) fled was Oba Ewuare (Ogwaro). Akalaka, a member of the Benin royal family, fled in the 13th century on allegation of plotting assassination of the Oba. He died in 1462. Iwhnurọhna his third son settled east of the Sombrero River by 1538 AD, as detailed below.

Chief N.M.T. Solomon (2004), native of Ikodu Ubie in Ekpeyeland, in his narrative draws heavily from the now authenticated written historical records delivered by various informed sources including “Eketu (Weber) of Ubeta, assumed to have lived for over two hundred (200) years as the oldest man in all Ekpeye, Ogba and Iwhnurọhna (or Ikwerre), at that time (and) was asked to narrate the history and customs of Ekpeye people” as unfolded in his lifetime. Here is what he said, which has been validated by the accounts of the current generation through responses to our questionnaires and direct interviews thereby increasing our level of confidence on the data:

Ekpeye, born in Benin, was the first of the three sons of Akalaka. While in Ndoni, he married a second wife to gain the love and favour of the people. The new wife gave birth to a son, which he named Ogba. Akalaka was still in Ndoni when his first wife, the mother of Ekpeye, gave birth to his third son called Ihruoha (Ikwerre).

Similar historical fact by J.N. Olise (1971) averred that: “Akalaka, a member of the Benin royal family, fled with his wife from Benin to Ndoni, a community located close to the River Niger, to save the life of his new born baby (Ekpeye) … While at Ndoni, Akalaka took a second wife. … Akalaka had two sons, Ekpeye – born to him by his Benin wife, and Ogba – born to him by his Ndoni wife. According to F.E. Otuwarikpo (1994): "After the death of Akalaka in 1462 AD, his two sons, Ekpeye and Ogba had conflict, which compelled Ogba, the younger son, to move northwards where he founded Ohiakwo (Obigwe) and settled with his family. Ekpeye who remained at Ula-Ubie had seven sons – Ubie, Akoh, Upata, Igbuduya, Ekpe, Awala and Asa. The last three sons – Ekpe, Awala and Asa – crossed to the other side of Sombreiro River (present day Ikwerreland and settled there since 1538 AD.” He added that: “Ekpe migrated to present day Rumuekpe and spread through Elele (Alimini), Ndele, Rumuji and part of Ibaa. Awala migrated to present day Isiokpo …”

Amadi-Nna (1993) also said Akalaka migrated with his half brother called Ochichi from the area of Benin Empire. Ochichi sons were Ele (Omerele, now Elele), Elu (Elumuoha, now Omerelu), Egbe (Egbeda) and Mini (Alimini, Isiokpo).

The crucial point here, which is of great importance in tracing the joint origin of the ancestors of the Old Ahoada Division (in the Governor Diete-Spiff administration), is the mention of the number of children that Akalaka had, namely: Ekpeye, Ogba and Ihruọha (Ikwerre). It is noteworthy that the pedigree and name of Ikwerre people, Iwhnurọhna, obviously took its root from this original name – Ihruọha. Chief Solomon therefore establishes a very vital historical link, which has been missing in literature on Ikwerre origin that would assume more significance in the discourses of Ikwerre genealogy in the future – the fact that Akalaka was the direct father of Ihruọha (Ikwerre). Iwhnurọhna, in Ikwere parlance, means the face of the community (town, city or village).

Nigerian colonial history records that the name "Ikwerre" was given by the colonial administration when they wanted to acquire the Rebisi waterfront to build the wharf. Using an Ibo interpreter to talk to the illiterate Rebisi (Port Harcourt) chiefs, they asked them: Would you permit us to use the waterfront to build the wharf for ships to berth? And they answered: A KWERULEM, meaning - "We have agreed." What the white-man was hearing was "Ikwerre," so he recorded it in the official gazette that the IKWERRE PEOPLE have agreed for the colonial administration to build the wharf. And since it was the official record of government, the name Ikwerre became the name of the Iwhnurohna people in all official documentations till date.

Similar cases of Anglicization of native names in the Niger Delta region by the colonial administration are Benin for Bini, Okrika for Wakrike, Degema for Udekema, Abonnema for Obonoma, Brass for Gbara sni, Bonny for Ibani, Pepple for Perekule, Ahoada for Ehuda, etc

Even so, “… there were dissenting voices, … who believed that Ikwerre origins lay outside Igbo land, … in the Benin Kingdom of old. It is, therefore, obvious that the interminable debate about Ikwerre origins and migrations including the repudiation of the Igbo tradition is not a phenomenon of the post-civil war period. The controversy, as it were, is not necessarily the product of the present political realities wherein groups which hitherto were seen to have cultural affinities now find themselves in different states or administrative systems.” -- K.O. Amadi (1993)

The Ogbakor Ikwerre Convention, a cultural organization of Ikwerre people, in a paper presented to the Human Rights Violation Commission headed by Rtd. Justice Chukwudifu Oputa on 10 October 2001, said: “Ikwerre ethnic nationality is not and has never been a sub-group of any other tribe in Nigeria including Ndi-Igbo. There is no doubt that the advent of the British and later regionalization put Ndi-Igbo at the helm of affairs in Eastern Nigeria. This brought Ndi-Igbo into Ikwerre land. In course of time, the Igbo took advantage of their position in the then Eastern Regional Government to grab land in Ikwerre and occupy political positions such as the mayor of Port Harcourt. In the process, Ikwerre along with other minority groups were marginalized and driven to the background.”

Professor Godwin Tasie noted that in 1913 the Rt Rev Herbert Tugwell, the Anglican Bishop on the Niger, undertook an experimentation tour of Ikwerre towns and villages assumed to be Ibo-speaking to test the Union Ibo Bible Nso being introduced in Iboland. "Tugwell discovered from the tests he carried out that although the Ikwerre were often regarded as Ibo… the Union Ibo Bible translation, surprisingly, was not easily understood by the Ikwere." This is obviously why Igbo vernacular was compulsorily introduced and taught in all schools in Ikwerreland before the Nigerian Civil War to the assimilation (i.e. destruction) of the Ikwere language.

This also obviously led to the Rumuomasi Declaration in 1965. " … in their meeting at Rumuomasi in 1965 the Ikwerre had, under the umbrella of a highly promising new body that was to get the Ikwerre together as a people of new and clearer vision, they had declared themselves as a people of the distinct identity of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality - not Ibo, not Ijo, not anything else but Ikwerre, Iwhnurọhna. This was the historic Rumuomasi Declaration of 1965 (G.O.M. Tasie, 2000). The full implication is that Ikwere people began to assert themselves forcefully as an ethnic nationality of their own and not Ibos or Ijos, and efforts were made to revert to the original Ikwere names for families, villages, communities and landmarks. For instance, there was the change from Umuola to Rumuola, Umuoro to Rumuoro, Umukrushi to Rumuokwurusi, just to name a few.




T O N Y E N Y I A, PhD, MNIM
CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF TRUSTEES
IWHNURỌHNA CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
Saturday, 5 February 2011

References:
Olise, J.N. (1971)

The Peoples of Benin, Oxford University Press
Amadi, K.O. (1993)
Amadi-Nna,S.O.L.(1993) Otuwarikpo, F.E. (1994)

Studies in Ikwerre History and Culture, in Nduka, O. (ed) (1993) Craft Publishing Ltd
Studies in Ikwerre History and Culture, in Nduka, O. (ed) (1993) Craft Publishing Ltd
The Phonology of Ekpeye: A Descriptive Analysis, unpublished MA Thesis, University of Jos
Solomon, N.M.T. (2004)

A Short History of Ekpeye People (an excerpt from an upcoming book entitled “THE EKPEYE BOOK – A Comprehensive Guide in the History and Culture of Ekpeye People of the Niger Delta Region in Nigeria” published by Usama Ekpeye USA Inc,
Tasie, G.O.M. (2000) Chairman's Opening Remarks at the Maiden Ikwerre Annual Thanksgiving Day, mimeo

http://iwhnurohna..com.ng/2012/11/a-brief-history-of-ikwerre.html

Story for the gods...... The OP shud find anoda lie cos this sh1t aint selling no more..

rusher14:
Benin?

For real??

yeah. The original name of ikwerre's are Iwhnuruọhna.

They were heavily influenced by the igbo visitors to their land.

Iykopeee:
Story for gods...... The OP shud find anoda lie cos this sh1t aint selling no more..

are you more ikwerre than the ikwerre man and people that wrote this? Or can a yoruba man tell you your history as an igbo man that you are?

rusher14:


Quite enlightening.

Scholars and traditionalists must obviously know better than the common man.

To think that this was presented before the oputa panel lends some level of credence.

Nice research.

Yeah thanks. Just so that the truth doesn't get buried and some people come for land grabbing.

lalasticlala we need a history topic once in a while on the frontpage. Don't you think?

shachris02:


are you more ikwerre than the ikwerre man and people that wrote this? Or can a yoruba man tell you your history as an igbo man that you are?

Gone are the days when ur ilks cud tell lies and go on about it unchallenged. U and the author of that crap are liars...

It is good to know that IKWERRE people (ndi-iberibe) are not a subgroup of my beloved IGBO. Gini ka anyi ji kwanu ha eme?!

Let's hope that Benin historians will not deny these kinkana and ogogoro-drinking low-lives.

Iykopeee:



Gone are the days when ur ilks cud tell lies and go on about it unchallenged. U and the author of that crap are liars...

oya challenge the article with facts and stop running all over the place like a noiseless fart.

shachris02:


are you more ikwerre than the ikwerre man and people that wrote this? Or can a yoruba man tell you your history as an igbo man that you are?

Rubbish, most of these garbage were written to gain favor from the anti-igbo FG after the war. If that is true they should vacate back to Benin and leave igboland asap

Mortiple:
It is good to know that IKWERRE people (ndi-iberibe) are not a subgroup of my beloved IGBO.

Let's hope that Benin historians will not deny these kinkana and ogogoro-drinking low-lives.

That right there is the problem with us brother. We always feel that we are the most superior and the most smart. Every tribe have their strong points.

basilo101:

Rubbish, most of these garbage were written to gain favor from the anti-igbo FG after the war. If that is true they should vacate back to Benin and leave igboland asap

Yeah. Just like asaba indigenes should migrate back to igala land.

shachris02:


oya challenge the article with facts and stop running all over the place like a noiseless fart.

Facts? the fact is that some ppl returned from borno due to boko haram, they were accepted to live in igbo land because they were igbos, if tomorow they say they are from borno, they will vacate and relocate to borno. Akalaka is an igbo name, same with Eze Chime the founder of Onitsha, both lived in benin and later returnd just like boko haram returnees, they were allowed to settle because they are one of us as their name clearly shows, if they say they are not they should go back to benin and leave our lands

shachris02:


That right there is the problem with us brother. We always feel that we are the most superior and the most smart. Every tribe have their strong points.

You are beginning to confess your reason for believing in this crap ... inferiority complex.

Can you tell me what IKWERRE'S STRONG POINTS ARE?

Addendum: Please don't refer to me as "brother" because we are never one. Binis are your brothers, okay!

Mortiple:
You are beginning to confess your reason for believing in this crap ... inferiority complex.

Can you tell me what IKWERRE'S STRONG POINTS ARE?

Addendum: Please don't refer to me as "brother" because we are never one. Binis are your brothers, okay!

shut up am igbo....no man knows it all.

basilo101:

Facts? the fact is that some ppl returned from borno due to boko haram, they were accepted to live in igbo land because they were igbos, if tomorow they say they are from borno, they will vacate and relocate to borno. Akalaka is an igbo name, same with Eze Chime the founder of Onitsha, both lived in benin and later returnd just like boko haram returnees, they were allowed to settle because they are one of us as their name clearly shows, if they say they are not they should go back to benin and leave our lands

What land? We igbos migrated too.

I don't mean Onitsha. I am talking about asaba. The founder of Asaba is an igala man.

shachris02:


shut up am igbo....no man knows it all.

Iwu onye araaa!!! Taa!!! Gbara ogwu gi nnu ooo!!! Who asked you to post this crap riddled with lies?

shachris02:


oya challenge the article with facts and stop running all over the place like a noiseless fart.

Becos u are a warthog, i dont expect u to get deeply involved in the fountain of understanding before posting that crap written by a conspiracy theorist..... Come to OGBUNABALI in PH and present this article for critical examination if u want to test the potency of ur knowledge and understanding. People are wiser these days. Ur lies can't fester unchallenged anymore.

shachris02:


Yeah. Just like asaba indigenes should migrate back to igala land.

but asaba never claimed not to igbo

Mortiple:
Iwu onye araaa!!! Taa!!! Gbara ogwu gi nnu ooo!!!

ara nke i hia foro bunyem akwa ya? Nwoke zuzupu.

shachris02:


What land? We igbos migrated too.

I don't mean Onitsha. I am talking about asaba. The founder of Asaba is an igala man.

and igbo woman, they are igbo citizens by all standards

Iykopeee:



Becos u are a warthog, i dont expect u to get deeply involved in the fountain of understanding before posting that crap written by a conspiracy theorist..... Come to OGBUNABALI in PH and present this article for critical examination if u want to test the potency of ur knowledge and understanding. People are wiser these days. Ur lies can't fester unchallenged anymore.

Typical B.F. No brains.....always foaming in the mouth.

Ibos is a very heavy migrating tribe, anywhere they go, they think us theirs e.g Abuja, Lagos, ibadan, Akure.
today, d Southwest ibos are more than d SouthSouth ibos.

basilo101:

and igbo woman, they are igbo citizens by all standards

in my place as well as in all igbo land, the son belongs to the father.

shachris02:


Typical B.F. No brains.....always foaming in the mouth.

Foaming in the mouth is a way of presenting a foolish article that's saturated with lies when challenged off net....

Iykopeee:



Foaming in the mouth is a way of presenting a foolish article that's saturated with lies when challenged off net....

we are not off net now. We are on net. Bring your game on, niqqa.

shachris02:


we are not off net now. We are on net. Bring your game on, niqqa.

Yea on net they migrated from bini. Can u come to OGBUNABALI for further confirmation? Hahahahahahaha keep posting trashes from ur house.. shameless liar.

Iykopeee:


Yea on net they migrated from bini. Can u come to OGBUNABALI for further confirmation? Hahahahahahaha keep posting trashes from ur house.. shameless liar.

it's obvious that you lack milk in your cranium box. I should come to your pitt to discuss with criminals and touts? Ishi mebiri gi.

I pity the yorubas for their inferiority complex.

The Igbos colonised the yorubas and thats why Igbos have 80% of all landed properties in yorubaland and have ezes in all yorubaland as their leadears.

shachris02:


it's obvious that you lack milk in your cranium box. I should come to your pitt to discuss with criminals and touts? Ishi mebiri gi.

That's to show u are liar if u can't come and prove that foolish article beyond reasonable doubt while elders of ikwerre land pulverise ur lame skull with questions.... Moronic dunce.

shachris02:


it's obvious that you lack milk in your cranium box. I should come to your pitt to discuss with criminals and touts? Ishi mebiri gi.

Your krackum expired.