Lovelyn451:
I wantu know how Yoruba enter Anioma...I'm shooked

SocialJustice:
Reading is a big chore to most people here, even the moderators don't read. They just copy and paste, when they try writing, it is filled with grammatical errors.

MelesZenawi:


I doubt of u read this interview.

They are Anioma ethnic group.


Is now clear than over 94 percent of nairaland so only reads headline

bknight:


The Anioma people have a rather complex origin. The language may sound ‘Igbo’, the methods of their traditions have semblance with that of the Bini. Royalty inclusive.

There are also strong ties/ indications of traces of Igala. Even though I am yet to understand that ‘Igala’ part.

Not very correct to call them Igbos. They don’t even identify themselves as such

olisaokere:


ANIOMA IS NOT AN ETHNIC GROUP.INCASE YOU DONT KNOW.THE WORD ANIOMA IS A COINAGE USED TO IDENTIFY OR SEPARATE THE IGBO PEOPLE OF DELTA STATE FROM THE OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS IN SAME DELTA STATE WHICH INCLUDES IJAWS,ITSEKIRIS AND THE REST.THE TERM ANIOMA WAS DERIVED FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT COMPRISES OF THE IGBO PEOPLE IN DELTA STATE KNOWN ALSO AS DELTA NORTH AND THESE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS INCLUDE ANIOCHA,NDOKWA,IKA,OSHIMILI AND THE 'OMA' ADDED TO IT TO MAKE IT SOUND MEANINGFUL AND IN OTHER WORDS A.N.I.O.M.A MEANING GOOD LAND IN IGBO LANGUAGE.ONLY THE MISCHIEF MAKERS WILL COME TO TELL YOU THAT ANIOMA IS AN ETHNIC GROUP.THAT IS A TOTAL LIE.I AM PROUDLY OGWASHI UKWU,IN ANIOCHA SOUTH OF DELTA STATE AND PROUDLY IGBO MAN.

FisifunKododada:


Some are Igbo. Some are not. Like the Olukunmis, who are descendants of Yoruba

Princedapace:


I dont understand.. Are Anioma people not igbo?

Or u are judging people based on a politically motivated calving done in Nigeria?

Bro, they are igbo, simple!

MelesZenawi:


I doubt of u read this interview.

They are Anioma ethnic group.


Is now clear than over 94 percent of nairaland so only reads headline

amaniro:


Never heard of.

FisifunKododada:


Olukunmis are descendants of Yoruba.

MelesZenawi:


Am not interested.

How can an afonja be in Anioma...blood.

Such things are not good for Anioma people.


They will betray and work against them anyday, anytime.

Issue is, they are not Igbos, Benin can claim no problem but afonja......hmmmmm


wise up.

MelesZenawi:
Continued.....



What is the history of Anioma ?


Anioma people are generally known to come from various areas , some from Igala , some came from Benin and some from Nnri . So it is for us as Anioma people to determine who we are , not people telling us who we are . What we want is the Federal Government to grant us Anioma State and also recognise us as an ethnic nationality because, in Delta State , it is only Anioma that does not have its ethnic group recognised by the Federal Government. We want our state .


In terms of culture and tradition , what are some of the unique things about Anioma ?


Omu institution is unique ; another unique thing is our Akwa Ocha . Anywhere in the world where someone is sighted having on Akwa Ocha , the first thing people say is this an Anioma person . It doesn ’ t matter whether the person is Anioma or not . Anioma people are also peace - loving but if you bring war to us , we also know how to fight that war and win it. Our women are extraordinarily beautiful. During the military era , if you had not married from Anioma area , you had not started . Again , we have good and fertile land . That ’ s what the name Anioma means (good land ).


What kind of life did you have while growing up as a princess or someone who would one day become a queen ?


I was in the North when the war started . I had my primary school education in Plateau State . It was the war that made us return . Then I went to a secondary school here and worked for some time in Benin before I went to England and the US . Just like any other child , I had ups and downs but I love challenges because that ’ s what life is about . If life were dull, you would see people getting depressed.


We often hear that the traditional rites for new kings involve a lot of rituals, what was your experience in that regard ?


The crowning of Omu is done over a period of time which I cannot tell you . The elders pray to God and God chooses who the Omu will be . And God also directs how the rite will be done . These are not things to be said . All I can say is that the ritual is done between 12 am and 4 am . It must not start before midnight and cannot go beyond 4 am for the duration of the period . The actual rites and rituals are things I cannot say . And when you finish the rites , you are given Nze Omu (staff of office ) . It passes from one Omu to another.


What festivals are celebrated in Anioma and what is their significance ?


We have Iwaji (New Yam Festival) . It differs from community to community, and it is usually celebrated towards the end of the years – between September and November , depending on the community. One good thing about Okpanam is that we have had to do away with so many harmful aspects of our culture .


What are the things considered as taboo in your community ?


Fortunately , one good thing about Okpanam is that we have done away with many things like harmful burial rites and other things that could be considered as harmful .
We have got rid of 95 per cent of them. But if an Omu steps down or resigns and returns her staff of office , she will have to leave the community. She can ’ t come back . It ’ s taboo to come back because Omu throne cannot be abdicated . Our forefathers put the conditions there ; should you want to leave , you cannot be forced to stay but that is the condition . So for example , if you leave and return the staff of office , you are leaving the community for good . And you cannot return to that community until after you pass on and your corpse is brought back . Even when you pass on , your family will have to perform some rites before your body can return to the community. However , the community cannot have another Omu until the one that left ends her mission on earth ( dies) . It’ s taboo .


As a queen , how do you feel not having a husband and children ?


Once you are pronounced as Omu , and you had married , you must leave your marital home and return to your father ’ s house . You are now a man . A palace will be built for you in your father ’ s place. You stop contacting your husband but that is not to say he cannot come and say hello ; however , he cannot stay with you for hours . He cannot come and sleep with you so you have no responsibility to the man whatsoever . If you had children before you became Omu , the children would still be yours . And if you had one child before you became Omu and now wish to have more children , you can marry a woman, who will give you more children . This is because you cannot live with a man again . And in such a situation, the child you previously had and the one the woman had will have the same rights . That is, your two sets of children will have the same rights – the child or children you had before you became Omu and those you had in the institute . But for me , I have one son and I never married . I used to say that marriage is by choice but for the past couple of years , I have seen it as providential . I have one son who is married with a son now and is a lecturer in the university. I am man and woman put together . I ’ m not under a man , rather a different spiritual person . During my coronation , male rights were bestowed on me.


What are the things you cannot do as a queen ?

I cannot marry. I cannot attend a burial . I can ’ t stand holding a man ’ s hand publicly; I can ’ t do that because I ’ m now a man .


What are the things you used to enjoy doing but now miss doing because you became a traditional ruler and can no longer do them ?


I must tell you that I am very contented being the Omu . I am not missing anything ; if you want to know why , it is because I have explored before I became the Omu . I explored in Nigeria , England , America and when I returned home , I continued the exploration. I ’ m a traditionalist but like it is for those who are Christians when they talk about a calling , it is so here . When the name of Saul was changed to Paul , did he say he was missing something ? I cannot say I am missing anything ; the work of Omu is 10 per cent about looking after women , 10 per cent about looking after the market , 10 per cent is dedicated to other things , while 70 per cent has to do with the spiritual realm – to be prayerful .


Since traditional rulers are restrained from doing many things , how do you relax ?


I relax by praying in my three temples ; it gives me joy because I am a queen of water . I will show you my water temple . I pray there; I also have Ani ( land ) temple. The most important spot in the traditional region is the Ani temple and I have another in my office that connects me with God Almighty and my ancestors; that gives me great joy. So they can show me the direction I ’ m going. That ’ s why a lot of people say I am too traditional . If God wants me to follow a certain direction and human beings want me to follow another direction , whose view should I respect ? That ’ s the duty of Omu . So you cannot bring your human interpretation into Omu institution . So , I am very happy and contented being in my three temples .

amaniro:
olukunmis or what ever you call them are not a part of it. Distant Yoruba you say? Are itsekiri not also distant Yorubas. Be on your own Anio be igbo end of discussion.

Ijaycool:


Leave them, them wan scam us with tradition

CreekCommando:

It's you that read and didn't understand! The Queen said Anioma people are Igbos separated from their kiths by the river Niger, although some descended from Benin, Igala and Nnri where all Igbos originated. All the local dialects she mentioned are purely in Igbo language.
IGBO AMAKA
CONGRATULATIONS OUR QUEEN!!!!

amaniro:
olukunmis or what ever you call them are not a part of it. Distant Yoruba you say? Are itsekiri not also distant Yorubas. Be on your own Anio be igbo end of discussion.

FisifunKododada:


Don't forget that Olukunmis (descendants of Yorubas) are in the heart of Anioma

olisaokere:


They have been assimilated.The dominant culture is igbo.

FisifunKododada:


Olukunmis are descendants of Yorubas. No debate.

Elemosho478:





As far as I am concern, there is no Dominant culture

They have mixed culture in Anioma

Olukumi people are Yoruba people in Anioma

Lovelyn451:
olu gini?? Is that the name of a person or Animal..

MelesZenawi:


I doubt of u read this interview.

They are Anioma ethnic group.


Is now clear than over 94 percent of nairaland so only reads headline

olisaokere:


The Olukumis are very small in number compared to the dominant group in delta north which is igbo.The olukumis as you refer to them do not bear yorubas names neither do they speak yoruba.go there and call an olukumi decendant a yoruba man and see the kind of insult you will get from there

Lovelyn451:
hmm..I dont believe there are Yoruba's in Delta state entirely talk more of Anioma, Issele uku, Aniocha,Asaba etc...yarn anoda tin abeg, u didnt even say Edo na Yoruba...

MelesZenawi:


Am not interested.

How can an afonja be in Anioma...blood.

Such things are not good for Anioma people.


They will betray and work against them anyday, anytime.

Issue is, they are not Igbos, Benin can claim no problem but afonja......hmmmmm


wise up.