Unuamen also spelt Unuame is an ancient village community by Ovia river in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of

Edo State Edo, commonly known as Edo State, is a state located in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. As of 2006 National population census, the state was ranked as the 24th populated state (3,233,366) in Nigeria, However there was controversy ...

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 ...

. Unuame is about from

Benin City Benin City is the capital and largest city of Edo State, Edo State, Nigeria. It is the fourth-largest city in Nigeria according to the 2006 census, after Lagos, Kano (city), Kano, and Ibadan, with a population estimate of about 3,500,000 as of ...

and from

Benin Airport Benin Airport is an airport serving Benin City, the capital of Edo State in Nigeria. The runway is in the middle of the city. Airlines and destinations See also *Transport in Nigeria *List of airports in Nigeria *List of the busiest airports ...

. Unuame is one of the ancestral homes of Oba Esigie's maternal grandfather and home town to some group of Binis (Benin people). The people of Unuame have remained loyal to the monarch since the establishment of the ancient

Kingdom of Benin The Kingdom of Benin, also known as the Edo Kingdom, or the Benin Empire ( Bini: ') was a kingdom within what is now southern Nigeria. It has no historical relation to the modern republic of Benin, which was known as Dahomey from the 17th c ...

. Being a part of the

, Unuame is at the heart of the

tropical rainforest Tropical rainforests are rainforests that occur in areas of tropical rainforest climate in which there is no dry season – all months have an average precipitation of at least 60 mm – and may also be referred to as ''lowland equatori ...

in the southern part of Nigeria, way to the west of the delta of the

Niger River The Niger River ( ; ) is the main river of West Africa, extending about . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in south-eastern Guinea near the Sierra Leone border. It runs in a crescent shape through ...

and inland from the coast. Unuame and the sub-camps within the domain it covers is strategically along the

swamp A swamp is a forested wetland.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p. Swamps are considered to be transition zones because both land and water play a role in ...

y terrains on the east bank of the Ovia/Osse river. In other words, the community is naturally bounded in the west by the Ovia/Osse river, the largest river in the

, and most of its economic activities revolve around it. The Ovia/Osse river flows through Unuame in the south-westerly direction to Ite, Ikoro,

Gelegele Gelegele (also spelt Gilli-Gilli) is a village located in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. The village is situated on the left flank of the Ovia (Osse) River and it shares boundary with Ughoton village. Gelegele is n ...

and the Ughoton (Gwato) creeks; into the Benin River, which empties into the

Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...

at the

Bight of Benin The Bight of Benin or Bay of Benin is a bight in the Gulf of Guinea area on the western African coast that derives its name from the historical Kingdom of Benin. Geography It extends eastward for about from Cape St. Paul to the Nun outlet of t ...

Traditional Head

The traditional head of Unuame is the "Okao of unuame", a recognised chieftaincy title and

viceroy A viceroy () is an official who reigns over a polity in the name of and as the representative of the monarch of the territory. The term derives from the Latin prefix ''vice-'', meaning "in the place of" and the French word ''roy'', meaning "k ...

to the Benin Monarch. Since the reign of Oba Ewuare (I) (1440-1473), Unuamen has Okao as the village/traditional head overseeing and administering affairs. Okao of Unuamen is hereditary and gazetted.

Arrival Time of Unuame People on its Settlement

The exact time of arrival of the people of Unuame to its land is not precisely known. But oral narration and different books by

Nigerians Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jour ...

and European explorers and

Archaeologists Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...

agreed that the first settlers at Unuame date back to the first period (Ogiso era). Osamuyimen (2000) and Adodoh (2006) also believed that Unuame is one of the crucial villages which already existed in the

Ogiso This is a list of the independent Ogisos (Kings) of Igodomigodo, which was to become the Benin Empire, from 40 BCE to 1100 CE. The dating is based on the recollection made by Daryl Peavy of the oral traditions of the Edo people. The Ogiso were as ...

era (first period) in the

10th century The 10th century was the period from 901 ( CMI) through 1000 ( M) in accordance with the Julian calendar, and the last century of the 1st millennium. In China the Song dynasty was established. The Muslim World experienced a cultural zenith, ...

. Unuame is known to have had a direct boundary with Omi village to the east at the time of the Ogisos,

Oba Ewuare Ewuare (also Ewuare the Great or Ewuare I) was the Oba (king) of the Benin Empire from 1440 until 1473. Ewuare became king in a violent coup against his brother Uwaifiokun which destroyed much of Benin City. After the war, Ewuare rebuilt much ...

(1440-1473), Oba Ozolua (1480-1504) and

Oba Esigie Oba Esigie was an Oba (king) of Benin who ruled the ancient Benin Kingdom, now Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria (c.1504 – c.1550). At the time of his father Oba Ozolua's death, Esigie controlled Benin City and his brother Arhuaran controlled ...

(1504-1547) among others. Today, between Unuame and Omi is Adeyanba, Okabeghe and Iguzama villages. Migrants originally founded these villages from Unuamen and Unuamen elders (edion) pegged the foundation tree (Ikhimwin) for Adeyanba, Okabeghe and Iguzama in keeping with the Benin tradition. From the

era, until

conquered Udo, the Ovia river at Unuame was reputed to be the boundary to exit or enter

Igodomigodo Igodomigodo is the original name of the Benin Empire used by its own inhabitants (nowadays known as the Edo people of Nigeria). According to Edo oral history, Igodomigodo was the name given to the kingdom by Igodo, the first ''ogiso'' (King), who ...

land (Benin Kingdom). Giving weight to this claim, studies by Wesler and Allsworth-Jones (1998) maintained that the Ovia river at Unuame, between Benin and Udo, acted as the final boundary for the exiled and dead on their way out of Benin land, and also the point of entry for the Ife-based dynasty at Benin.

Economy

The main occupation of the people of Unuame includes

farming Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to ...

palm wine Palm wine, known by several #Names, local names, is an alcoholic beverage created from the sap of various species of palm tree such as the Borassus, palmyra, date palms, and coconut palms. It is known by various names in different regions and i ...

tapping,

basket weaving Basket weaving (also basketry or basket making) is the process of weaving or sewing pliable materials into three-dimensional artifacts, such as baskets, mats, mesh bags or even furniture. Craftspeople and artists specialized in making baskets ...

, the local distillation of

gin Gin () is a distilled alcoholic drink that derives its flavour from juniper berries (''Juniperus communis''). Gin originated as a medicinal liquor made by monks and alchemists across Europe, particularly in southern Italy, Flanders and the Ne ...

trading Trade involves the transfer of goods and services from one person or entity to another, often in exchange for money. Economists refer to a system or network that allows trade as a market. An early form of trade, barter, saw the direct exchan ...

, mud sculpture,

fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...

, animal

trapping Animal trapping, or simply trapping or gin, is the use of a device to remotely catch an animal. Animals may be trapped for a variety of purposes, including food, the fur trade, hunting, pest control, and wildlife management. History Neolithic ...

and

hunting Hunting is the human activity, human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to harvest food (i.e. meat) and useful animal products (fur/hide (skin), hide, ...

. Although, it has

clay Clay is a type of fine-grained natural soil material containing clay minerals (hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates, e.g. kaolin, Al2 Si2 O5( OH)4). Clays develop plasticity when wet, due to a molecular film of water surrounding the clay par ...

bitumen Asphalt, also known as bitumen (, ), is a sticky, black, highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It may be found in natural deposits or may be a refined product, and is classed as a pitch. Before the 20th century, the term a ...

, kaolin and river/sharp

sand Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided mineral particles. Sand has various compositions but is defined by its grain size. Sand grains are smaller than gravel and coarser than silt. Sand can also refer to a textural class of s ...

, among other minerals. Harnessing most of its natural resources will bring a lot of economic benefits to the community and the state. Factories that use sharp

and

as raw materials could establish in the community. Unuame, like most communities in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, is highly affected by

urban Urban means "related to a city". In that sense, the term may refer to: * Urban area, geographical area distinct from rural areas * Urban culture, the culture of towns and cities Urban may also refer to: General * Urban (name), a list of people ...

migration as young and educated sons and daughter migrate to larger cities and abroad for more lucrative job opportunities. One of the festivals celebrated in Unuame is Ovia festival, a very colourful and crowd-pulling festival. Ovia festival and other celebrations throughout the year could provide occupation for many locals, such as in cultural dances,

catering Catering is the business of providing food service at a remote site or a site such as a hotel, hospital, pub, aircraft, cruise ship, park, festival, filming location or film studio. History of catering The earliest account of major services be ...

and costume making. The village is mainly accessed from the capital city (Benin) by road. However, the people also use the

boat A boat is a watercraft of a large range of types and sizes, but generally smaller than a ship, which is distinguished by its larger size, shape, cargo or passenger capacity, or its ability to carry boats. Small boats are typically found on inl ...

and

canoe A canoe is a lightweight narrow water vessel, typically pointed at both ends and open on top, propelled by one or more seated or kneeling paddlers facing the direction of travel and using a single-bladed paddle. In British English, the term ...

to transport themselves from one end of the Ovia/Osse river to the other while selling their

goods In economics, goods are items that satisfy human wants and provide utility, for example, to a consumer making a purchase of a satisfying product. A common distinction is made between goods which are transferable, and services, which are not tran ...

, and during their

escapade.

Historical Events in Unuamen Surrounding Different Obas

Since time immemorial, Unuame has been at the centre of most historical events surrounding Obas, such as Oranmiyan (1170), Oguola, Orobiru,

Ewuare Ewuare (also Ewuare the Great or Ewuare I) was the Oba (king) of the Benin Empire from 1440 until 1473. Ewuare became king in a violent coup against his brother Uwaifiokun which destroyed much of Benin City. After the war, Ewuare rebuilt much o ...

Ozolua Ozolua, originally called Okpame and later called Ozolua n'Ibaromi (Ozolua the Conqueror), was an Oba of the Kingdom of Benin from 1483 until 1514. He greatly expanded the Kingdom through warfare and increased contact with the Portuguese Empire. ...

and

Esigie Oba Esigie was an Oba (king) of Benin who ruled the ancient Benin Kingdom, now Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria (c.1504 – c.1550). At the time of his father Oba Ozolua's death, Esigie controlled Benin City and his brother Arhuaran control ...

, among others, in the Kingdom. Perhaps, due to Unuame's location as the entry and exit point of the then

Benin Empire The Kingdom of Benin, also known as the Edo Kingdom, or the Benin Empire ( Bini: ') was a kingdom within what is now southern Nigeria. It has no historical relation to the modern republic of Benin, which was known as Dahomey from the 17th c ...

Events in Unuame Relating to Oranmiyan (1170 A.D.)

Oranmiyan about 1170 A.D. was received and hosted by Unuame "edion", during a brief stay, on his way to Benin from Ife. However, Nyame (1977) argued that the

archaeological Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...

evidence at Unuame and Udo could mean that the advent of Oranmiyan and Ife traditions may have arrived later than most previous estimates. Oranmiyan arrived Unuame from Ife via the western route, which was the "''Uhe-Ayere-

Ikare Ikare is a city in the northern senatorial part of Ondo State, Nigeria. Ikare-Akoko (Ikare for short), city in southwestern Nigeria, is located in the Northern Senatorial District of Ondo State. Ikare is about 100km from Akure, the Ondo State cap ...

-Ogho- lfon-Usen-Unuame- Ego-

Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north ...

''" route, on his way to Benin. Supporting this claim, Wesler and Allsworth-Jones (1998) pointed out that river Ovia between Benin and Udo at Unuame, was the point of entry for the Ife-based dynasty at Benin. Oranmiyan descended from a canoe at Unuame where he first had his legs on Benin land at a location known as "Eghute-Oba" (Oba's sea/river-shore) by the Ovia River. He was lodged at "Aro-Oleku" for a period before leaving Unuame for Benin through Ego. Although, it is uncleared how long Oranmiyan stayed at Unuame before continuing to Benin through Ego.

Events in Unuame Relating to Oba Oguola (1280-1295)

During the reign of Oba Oguola (1280-1295), her daughter (Uvbi) made a stop at Unuame on her way to her betrothed husband Akpanigiakon in Udo. However, the princess did not like the idea of the marriage. Hence, she stayed briefly at Unuame where she was sheltered and protected by the elders before returning to

. Uvbi's refusal to marry Akpanigiakon and her decision to return to Benin from Unuame prompted the war menace from Akpanigiakon which ended when Oba Oguola defeated him at the battle of Urhezen (Urhoezien).

Events in Unuame Relating to Oba Orobiru (1400-1432)

In the reign of Oba Orobiru (1400-1432), elders welcomed and supported Prince Ogun (Ewuare I) when he arrived Unuame to cross the Ovia river and exit Benin. While at Unuame, Prince Ogun stayed a while before crossing the Ovia river to many different places, including Usen. Omoregie (1972) reiterated what Oba Orobiru said to his brother Prince Ogun on a quote: "''Prince Ogun! I have ordered my guards to take you to Unuame on the Ovia River. You will cross that river, and if you return to my Kingdom during my lifetime, you will be killed''".

Events in Unuame Relating to Oba Ewuare (I) (1440-1473)

Oba Ewuare (1440-1473) the great, founder of the Benin Empire, made several visits to Unuame during his reign. During one of his tours (Ólogha) to Unuamen, he created the Okao title (also known as Traditional/District Head) as he launched Benin into the era of the warrior kings. In an effort to prevent the Empire from invasions through the Ovia River, Oba Ewuare (I) installed the Okao of Unuamen (traditional head), the first Okao on Benin land (Pers. Comm.). Oba Ewuare's (I) decision to install the first Okao in Unuame may have risen from three factors. First, Unuame was part of the ancient Benin-western route. Second, the Unuame river was the boundary/final frontier for people leaving or entering Benin land. Third, the hospitality Ewuare got when sent as a Prince to Unuame by his brother Oba Orobiru (1400-1432) while exiting Benin land could have also influenced his decision to install the first Okao in Unuame. It can be recalled how passionate Ewuare was about Unuame, among other villages, as he occasionally refers to it in some of his famous adages. According to a lecture (the legacies of Oba Ewuare the Great) delivered by High Priest Osemwengie Ebohon in 2016, an old and ailing Oba Ewuare (I) ones told the Binis ostentatiously, on a quote: "''Igbevb' Etete, Igbevb' Unuamen; Ovbokhan I y' ugieyonyonmwen''". Meaning, "''I danced in festivals at Etete village, I danced in festivals at Unuame village; No child can deride me with festivals''".

Events in Unuame Relating to Oba Ozolua (1480-1514)

Oba Ozolua (1480-1514) was a conqueror who also frequented Unuame during his reign to make vows before the Ovia of Unuame and offer sacrifices to it in order to have a peaceful reign in Benin. According to Jungwirth (1968), “when he got to Ovia N’Unuame he declared again if he returned safely from Ora he would offer a sacrifice with a ram, four feathers from a parrot, chalk and some cowries”.

Events in Unuame Relating to Queen Idia and The Fierce Battle Between Esigie (1504-1550) and Arhuanran

Okao N’Unuame ( traditional head of Unuamen) gave

(1504-1550) hospitality and backed him against his half-brother Arhuanran N'udo (the Duke of Udo) in a fierce battle for disrespecting the crown. Thus, the Okao of Unuame, who was also the Ohen-Ovia and Esigie’s maternal grandfather (Bradbury: n.d.: BS 282; Pers. Comm.) , provided the needed support to fight the war from Unuame, and Oba Esigie eventually defeated Udo about A.D.1517. According to Egharevba (1968: 26), The Nigerian Field Society (1975: 160), and WAJA (1976: 144), "at the start of the sixteenth century,

, with the help of his mother

Queen Idia Idia was the mother of Esigie, who reigned as Oba (king) of the Edo people from 1504 to 1550 Historians do know that Idia was alive during the Idah war (1515-1516) because she played a role that led to a great Benin victory. It has been argue ...

, gathered the Benin army at Unuame on the River Osse/Ovia and from there launched an attack which finally destroyed the might of Udo and his giant half-brother Arhuanran". Similarly, a study by Darling (1984) maintained that Queen Idia provided the crucial help

needed in Unuamen to cross the Ovia river, conquer Udo and win succession to the throne. Before gathering the Benin army at Unuame to engage Udo,

went to Unuame to vow to Ovia N'unuame (Unuame Ovia shrine) on behalf of Esigie so that he would emerge victorious over Arhuanran. While at Unuame, Queen Idia informed the Okao N’Unuame and elders of her mission and Esigie's pledge.

had vowed to participate in the Ovia festival at Unuame and present the Okao N’Unuamen with the "Ada" (sword of state – authority) and "Eben" (ceremonial sword – power) if he defeats Arhuanran and Udo. Prior to the defeat, the two half-brothers (

and Arhuanran) met each other for the last time in a conference at Unuame. Unable to reach a compromise, "the Benin army behind Esigie surged down to the embarkation point and invaded across the Ovia/Osse river to defeat Udo, their tens of thousands of feet wearing down a great, wide gully to the waterside".

Oba Esigie At the Unuame Ovia Festival (Ehor-Ovia)

went to Unuamen to redeem the pledge made to Ovia N'Unuame. Elders recalled how Esigie lived in Unuame for three years (Ukpiha) during the Ovia festival (Ehor-Ovia). He took part in the festival and passed through initiation (Ógua) throughout this period. According to Egharevba (1949: 86), "dancing and masquerades form an important part of Ovia festival, which were elaborated by King

who made the groove at Unuame the centre of the Ovia Cult". During the festival, he presented the Okao of Unuame with an "Ada" and "Eben". Further,

granted the Okao of Unuame (who was also the divinely ordained Ohen-Ovia) the privilege to appoint an Ohen-Ovia to assist in Ovia rituals/rites as a token for his part in the victory over Arhuanran/Udo. Henceforward, at the Unuame Ovia altar and during Ovia rites, the Okao sits on the right side while Ohen sits on the left side. Apart from the Okao of Unuame, who appoints Ovia priest to only assist in serving the Ovia deity for the Oba, Ikao of other communities with Ovia shrines, such as "Okao of Iyera" and "Okao of Ugbihiehie", among others, still combines their role as the traditional head (Okao) and Ohen-Ovia. Therefore, granting Okao of Unuame the privilege to have an Ohen-Ovia could suggest strong evidence of the royal link with the Okao (who was also the Ovia Priest) as pointed out by Bradbury (n.d.), Darling (1984), Ben-Amos (1979) and Olupona (2000). Before and since Ovia N'Unuame (Unuame Ovia) helped

(1504-1550) in defeating Arhuanran and conquering Udo, Unuame has been the centre of the Ovia cult. "Nearly all Benin Kingdom villages which practice the Ovia shrines claim that these got introduced during Esigie's reign. No doubt the prestige associated with the victory over Udo was an important factor in making Ovia N'Unuame, the most widespread cult in Benin. Today, the Unuame primary school is named after Esigie; and the Unuame edion can point out Esigie's monument, although now a heap of the earth". Queen Idia's Pot is still covered by leaves near a long heap of sherds and ashes by the Ovia River in Unuame. "''Here annual offerings are made by the Unuame elders. One of the most magnificent of Benin's sixteenth-century bronzes, the institutionalisation of the Queen Mother and the widespread Ovia cult are all claimed to relate to these events at Unuame''".

Unuamen Artifacts and Historical Reserve

Unuamen, a surrounding neighbourhood of

Okomu Forest Reserve The Okomu Forest Reserve is a forest block covering an area of 1081 km in Edo State, about 50 km west of Benin City, Nigeria. The Okomu National Park The Okomu National Park, formerly the Okomu Wildlife Sanctuary, is a forest block wi ...

and serene community with the conducive climatic condition and environmentally friendly people, has

Ecotourism Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving responsible travel (using sustainable transport) to natural areas, conserving the environment, and improving the well-being of the local people. Its purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide funds ...

assets. A stretched layout of

rainforest Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainfores ...

land with rich and diverse

flora Flora is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring (indigenous) native plants. Sometimes bacteria and fungi are also referred to as flora, as in the terms '' gut flora'' or '' skin flora''. E ...

and

fauna Fauna is all of the animal life present in a particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is ''flora'', and for fungi, it is '' funga''. Flora, fauna, funga and other forms of life are collectively referred to as '' biota''. Zoo ...

and a variety of

wildlife Wildlife refers to domestication, undomesticated animal species (biology), species, but has come to include all organisms that grow or live wilderness, wild in an area without being species, introduced by humans. Wildlife was also synonymous ...

, among which is the endangered white-throated monkey and African dwarf crocodile. An open, well stretched out Ovia/Osse river with free-flowing current and annual

hydropower Hydropower (from el, ὕδωρ, "water"), also known as water power, is the use of falling or fast-running water to Electricity generation, produce electricity or to power machines. This is achieved by energy transformation, converting the Pot ...

potential of 61.619 MW, runs on Unuame western borders. This southerly flowing Ovia/Osse river is also Okomu Forest Reserve's main drainage and eastern boundary, therefore, making Unuame one of its peripheral communities as shown on the map of

. It is a beautiful sight to behold. A river beach should be on it for recreation! Unuame has many other attractions, artifacts and historical sites. In 2017, the Edo State Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora; Hon Osazee Osemwengie-Ero, visited the historical locations in Unuame on behalf of the State Governor, Mr Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki. Expressing delight at the historical sites, the commissioner said on a quote: "''Today I have seen what I read in books about

and

and where the event happened. It is overwhelming. What I saw in Unuamen are worth preserving as they take us way back to over 300 years ago''". The Unuame Government proposed Tourism Centre known as "UNUAMEN HISTORICAL RESERVE" hoist the entry route of Oranmiyan (1170-1200) into Benin kingdom; the renowned Queen Idia Pots, waterpots and food bowls (Okebu) used in cooking for Benin army and hosting Udo warriors to a mysterious defeat. Annually, the Unuamen people create a cultural celebration, whereby the elders of the community offer prayers at the POTS. There is also the Odighi where Ovia anchored and the location of the conference/meeting place where

and Arhuanran met each other for the last time. Additionally, there is Oba Esigie's war camp, monument (a mound) and precious stone (Okuta-Esigie) used during the famous war against Udo and Arhuanran, to mention but a few. Consequently, Unuamen has become a tourist destination for students of history (Vanguard Nigeria, 2018).

References

{{Protected areas of Nigeria Populated places in Edo State