Afenmai or Afemai is an ethnic language of the group of people living in the northern part of Edo State south geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

Afenmai or Afemai people occupy six local government areas of Edo state: Etsakor-East, with headquarters in Agenebode, Etsako central and West, and Owan east & West including Akoko-Edo. These make up the Edo-North Senatorial District.

Afemai is an ethnic group is subdivided into different dialects, but people of this ethnicity generally speak and understand each other.

History

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 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, who was the greatest warrior legend and the most outstanding king in the history of Benin Empire. ?The title Ewuare (Oworuare), meaning it is cool or the trouble has ceased? and as a result the war is over. The title symbolizes an epoch of reconciliation, reconstruction and the return of peace among the warring factions in Benin between 1435-1440 AD.

It was shortly after this critical period of war that 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 northward. However, has recently become clear that there were people living in Afemailand, prior to the migration from Benin City.

Some of the most celebrated sons/daughters of Afemailand, both in the past and present, are the late Pa Michael Imoudu from Sabogida-Ora, who was a foremost labour leader and founder of the Nigeria state, the late Gen. George Agbazika Innih from Agenebode, who was one time the Military Governor of Bendel and Kwara States, Adams Oshiomhole, the past president of the [[Nigeria Labour Congress] and now Executive Gorvenor of Edo State], Pa Johnson Jimoh Iyere, Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi,(chairman/ceo Africa Independent Television), film director Bankole Bello, Chief Inu Umoru, chairman/CEO, Setraco Ltd, Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe who attained the position of de facto vice-president in the regime of Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar|Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar.

Governance

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), Otaru of Auchi,Oba of Agbede, Otaru of Igarra, etc. Afemai have produced many illustrious personalities in both national and international levels.

Tourist attractions, which span the expanse of Afemai, are exemplified by the Ise Lake in Agenebode (Weppa Wanno clan) Etsakor East and the Somorika hills in Akoko Edo. 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, Emokweme, Auchi, Afuze, Iviukwe, Agbede, sabongidda-Ora, Igarra, Ekperi, Jattu, Fugar, Aviele, Okpella, Iviukhua, Ososo, Uzanu City, Uzebba, Okpella, Somorika etc.

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

• Etsako East LGA, Agenebode:

Agenebode, Emokweme, Iviukhua, Okpella, Okpekpe, Uzanu City, Ibie

• Etsako Central LGA, Fugar:

Fugar, Ekperi, Ogbona, Anegbette

• Estako West LGA, Auchi:

Auchi, Agbede,Jattu, Afashio, Aviele

• Owan East LGA, Afuze

Afuze, Ihevbe

• Owan West LGA, Sabogidda Ora:

Sabongidda Ora,Luleha Clan

• Akoko Edo LGA, Igarra

Igarra, Ososo, Somorika,

Reference EDO STATE OF NIGERIA WEBSITE

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