The Aro people or Aros are an
Igbo subgroup
that originated from the
Arochukwu kingdom in present-day
Abia state
Abia State ( ig, Ȯha Abia) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, it is bordered to the north and northeast by the states of Enugu, and Ebonyi, Imo State to the west, Cross River State to the east, Akwa Ibom State to th ...
,
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
. The Aros can also be found in about 250 other settlements mostly in the Southeastern Nigeria and adjacent areas. The Aros today are classified as Eastern or Cross River Igbos because of their location, mixed origins, culture, and dialect. Their god,
Chukwu Abiama, was a key factor in establishing the
Aro Confederacy as a regional power in the Niger Delta and Southeastern Nigeria during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Origins and history
The history of the Aros predates Igbo migration and founding of the kingdom of Arochukwu. Before Igbos started arriving to the Aro region in the 17th century, a group of Proto Ibibio migrated to the area. The Proto Ibibio group originally came from Usak Edet (
Isanguele), a segment of the
Ejagham in present day Southern Cameroon. The Ibibio founded states such as
Obong Okon Ita and
Ibom west of the
Cross River. Igbo migrations led by
Eze Agwu and
Nnachi into the Aro region started in the mid-17th century. These Igbo migrants were resisted by the indigenous Ibibio. The
Aro-Ibibio wars and the migration of the Akpa from east of the Cross River, formed the
nation
A nation is a community of people formed on the basis of a combination of shared features such as language, history, ethnicity, culture and/or society. A nation is thus the collective identity of a group of people understood as defined by th ...
during the turning point of the 17th century to the 18th century. The Igbo and Akpa alliance, defeated and assimilated the original Ibibio inhabitants after long years of warfare. By this time, the palm oil and slave trade was popular in the hinterland. By the mid-18th century, there were mass migrations of Aro businessmen to the Igbo hinterland and adjacent areas. This migration, influence of their god Chukwu Abiama through priests, and their military power supported by alliances with several related neighboring Igbo and eastern
Cross River militarized states (particularly
Ohafia,
Abam,
Ihechiowa,
Abiriba,
Nkporo,
Afikpo
Ehugbo often referred to as Afikpo, is the second largest urban area in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. It is the headquarters of the Afikpo North Local Government Area.
It is situated in the southern part of Ebonyi State and is bordered to the north by ...
,
Ekoi, etc.) quickly established the
Aro Confederacy as a regional economic power. However, Aro economic hegemony was threatened by the penetration of
Europeans, mainly
British colonists
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established a permanent residence there, often to colonize the area.
A settler who migrates to an area previously uninhabited or sparsely inhabited may be described as a pioneer.
Settle ...
towards the end of the 19th century. Tensions finally led to bloodshed, and the
Anglo-Aro war took place from 1901 to 1902. The Aro Confederacy stoutly resisted but eventually suffered defeat. This helped the British to occupy the rest of what became Eastern Nigeria.
Tradition
The Aros have a rich tradition. One factor is the
Ekpe society which is a sacred society originally from east of the Cross River. The highly religious and judicial society took a major part in Aro society. The use of the writing system,
Nsibidi, was based on secret societies like Ekpe.
Uli
Uli may refer to:
*Uli, Iran, a village
*Uli, Anambra, a town in Nigeria
* Uli I of Mali
* Uli (design), by the Igbo people of Nigeria
* Uli figure, from New Ireland, Papua New Guinea
* Uli (food), a rice-based food
* ISO 639 code for the Ulithian ...
, another writing system, occurred mostly in the form of body art.
Another factor is the Chukwu Abiama Temple, which was mediated by the Aro priesthood. They influenced neighbors and allies before the British invasion and destruction of the Chukwu Abiama Temple and Aro priesthood. The Ekeleke masquerade activity was important in Aro settlements. Brought from the Aros in the western Niger Delta, it eventually spread to the
Oguta area. They also were known for wearing the popular "George" cloth. The Ikperikpe warrior dance was very famous among warriors in the old days and continues to be in use.
Largest settlements in Eastern Nigeria
*Aro Ajatakiri: In Ikwuano, Umuahia,
Abia State
Abia State ( ig, Ȯha Abia) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, it is bordered to the north and northeast by the states of Enugu, and Ebonyi, Imo State to the west, Cross River State to the east, Akwa Ibom State to th ...
*
Aro Achara: In Ama-asa, Isiala Ngwa,
Abia State
Abia State ( ig, Ȯha Abia) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, it is bordered to the north and northeast by the states of Enugu, and Ebonyi, Imo State to the west, Cross River State to the east, Akwa Ibom State to th ...
.
*
Aro Umu Nkpe: In Isiala Ngwa,
Abia State
Abia State ( ig, Ȯha Abia) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, it is bordered to the north and northeast by the states of Enugu, and Ebonyi, Imo State to the west, Cross River State to the east, Akwa Ibom State to th ...
.
*
Aro Nbawsi: In Isiala Ngwa,
Abia State
Abia State ( ig, Ȯha Abia) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, it is bordered to the north and northeast by the states of Enugu, and Ebonyi, Imo State to the west, Cross River State to the east, Akwa Ibom State to th ...
.
*
Aro Omoba: In Isiala Ngwa,
Abia State
Abia State ( ig, Ȯha Abia) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, it is bordered to the north and northeast by the states of Enugu, and Ebonyi, Imo State to the west, Cross River State to the east, Akwa Ibom State to th ...
.
*
Aro Okporoenyi: In Ikwuano area of Abia State.
*
Aro Iyama: In Ikwuano, area of
Abia State
Abia State ( ig, Ȯha Abia) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, it is bordered to the north and northeast by the states of Enugu, and Ebonyi, Imo State to the west, Cross River State to the east, Akwa Ibom State to th ...
.
*
Aro Amuru: In Ikwuano, area of
Abia State
Abia State ( ig, Ȯha Abia) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, it is bordered to the north and northeast by the states of Enugu, and Ebonyi, Imo State to the west, Cross River State to the east, Akwa Ibom State to th ...
.
*
Aro Ndizuogu:
Ideato area of
Imo State
Imo State ( ig, Ȯra Imo) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by Anambra State, Rivers State to the west and south, and Abia State to the east. It takes its name from the Imo River which flows al ...
(The biggest of all the settlements).
*
Aro Ndi Ikerionwu: In
Anambra State
Anambra State is a Nigerian state, located in the southeastern region of the country. The state was created on August 27, 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi St ...
.
*
Aro Ajalli: In Anambra State.
*
Aro Nzerem: In
Ebonyi State
Ebonyi State ( ig, Ȯra Ebonyi) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north and northeast by Benue State, Enugu State to the west, Cross River State to the east and southeast, and Abia State to the south ...
.
*
Aro Amokwe: In
Udi Udi may refer to:
Places
* Udi, Enugu, a local government areas and city in Nigeria
* Udi, a place in the Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh, India
People
* Udi Gal (born 1979), Israeli Olympic sailor
* Udi Vaks (born 1979), Israeli Olympic judoka ...
area of
Enugu State
Enugu State ( ig, Ȯra Enugu) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by the states of Benue and Kogi, Ebonyi State to the east and southeast, Abia State to the south, and Anambra State to the west. ...
.
*
Aro Isuochi: In Abia State.
*
Aro Isiokpo/Igwurita
Ikwerre area in
Rivers State
Rivers State, also known as Rivers, is a state in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria (Old Eastern Region). Formed in 1967, when it was split from the former Eastern Region, Rivers State borders include: Imo to the north, Abia and Akwa ...
.
*
Aro Abagana: In Anambra State.
*
Aro Oru: In Imo State.
*
Aro Nempi: In Imo State
*
Aro Ngwa: In Abia State.
*
Aro Ezeagu: In Enugu State.
*
Aro Achi: In Enugu State.
*
Aro Oboro Ite
*
Aro Kalabari: In Rivers State.
*
Aro Opobo: In Rivers State.
* Aro Uturu: In Abia State
*
Aro Anwu Anwu: Eziukwu Durunnihe in Umudurunna ABBA
Nwangele LGA Imo State
*Aro Okija (Ndi Ezennia Awa Okoro Orji): Anambra State
*Aro Egbuoma in
gutaarea of Imo state
*Aro Abba, Nwangele, Imo state
*Aro Ekwulobia
*Aro Awa, Oguta, Imo state
*
Arochukwu
*
Aro Confederacy
* Ezi Njoku History
References
*http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0438/is_1_35/ai_90331352/pg_5
*https://web.archive.org/web/20071009081317/http://www.aronetwork.org/others/ibini.html
*https://web.archive.org/web/20070322182431/http://www.aronetwork.org/others/index.htm
*https://web.archive.org/web/20060212061924/http://africanevents.com/AroChuku2003AnnualDinner.htm
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Ethnic groups in Nigeria
Ethnic groups in Cameroon
Ethnic groups in Equatorial Guinea