HISTORY OF IJAWS IN EDO STATE
A historically rigorous account should distinguish clearly between evidence supported by archaeology, linguistics, and documentary sources and oral traditions.
The following synthesis does that.
The Early History of the Ijaw in Present-Day Edo State
The Ijaw communities(Kingdoms) of present-day southern Edo State, particularly Olodiama (West), Egbema, Furupagha, and Okomu, form part of the wider Ijaw ethnolinguistic group that occupies much of the Niger Delta. These communities are regarded as indigenous to the region rather than later settlers.
Unlike the inland kingdoms of West Africa, the early Ijaw did not organize themselves into one centralized empire. Instead, they developed independent riverine kingdoms, each governed by its own traditional ruler (Pere), council of chiefs, and age-grade institutions.
This decentralized political system often leads to a misunderstanding: because there was no single "Ijaw Kingdom," some assume the Ijaw were politically younger than Benin. In fact, historians generally view this as a different model of state formation rather than evidence of a later origin.
Before the Kingdom of Benin
c. 3000–2000 BCE: Early Niger Delta Occupation
Archaeological studies indicate that the central Niger Delta had permanent human populations thousands of years before the emergence of the Kingdom of Benin.
These early inhabitants lived by:
Fishing
Canoe transportation
Hunting
Salt production
Riverine agriculture
Although archaeology cannot assign modern ethnic identities to these populations, many historians regard them as ancestral to present-day Ijaw-speaking peoples.
Reference
E. J. Alagoa (2005), The Land and People of Bayelsa State.
Kay Williamson (1989).
c. 2000–1000 BCE: Formation of Proto-Ijaw
Historical linguistics indicates that Proto-Ijaw had already separated from related Niger-Congo languages during this period.
This makes Ijaw one of the oldest identifiable language groups in the eastern Niger Delta.
Language development over such a long period strongly suggests continuous occupation rather than recent migration.
Reference
Kay Williamson & Roger Blench (2000), African Languages: An Introduction.
c. 1000 BCE–500 CE: Expansion Across the Delta
As waterways became the principal routes of movement, Ijaw communities spread throughout the Delta.
The westernmost settlements eventually occupied areas now located in southern Edo State, including the territories of:
Olodiama
Okomu
Furupagha
Egbema
These settlements existed as autonomous communities linked by language, kinship, trade, and religion.
c. 500–1000 CE: Established Ijaw Kingdoms
By the first millennium CE, many Ijaw communities already possessed:
Traditional rulers (Pere)
Councils of chiefs
Religious institutions
Riverine trade networks
Fishing economies
Inter-community diplomacy
These were functioning indigenous polities centuries before the establishment of the Kingdom of Benin under the Oba dynasty.
c. 900–1100 CE: The Ogiso Period Inland
While Ijaw communities flourished along the coast and creeks, inland Edo-speaking communities were governed by the Ogiso dynasty of Igodomigodo.
This period predates the Kingdom of Benin but represents an early Edo polity.
Reference
Jacob Egharevba, A Short History of Benin.
c. 1180–1246 CE: Birth of the Kingdom of Benin
According to Benin tradition, Eweka I became the first Oba around the late 12th or early 13th century.
This marks the beginning of the Kingdom of Benin as historians generally define it.
By this time:
Ijaw settlements had already existed across the Delta for many centuries.
Riverine kingdoms were already operating independently.
Coastal trade networks were well established.
Did Benin Found the Ijaw Communities of Edo?
The available historical evidence does not support that conclusion.
There is no archaeological or documentary evidence showing that Benin established communities such as Olodiama, Egbema, Furupagha, or Okomu.
Instead, historians describe these as indigenous Ijaw settlements that later interacted with the expanding Benin Kingdom through:
Trade
Diplomacy
Warfare
Tributary arrangements in some periods
Influence varied over time and was not uniform across all riverine communities.
Why Did Benin Expand South?
The answer lies in commerce.
The Kingdom of Benin sought access to:
Atlantic trade
Ivory
Pepper
Fish
Salt
European merchants after the late 15th century
To achieve this, Benin extended its influence toward the coast, where established Ijaw communities already controlled waterways and fishing grounds.
Thus, Benin's southward expansion brought it into contact with existing Ijaw societies rather than empty territory.
Historical Assessment
Most historians would support the following conclusions:
The Ijaw communities of present-day Edo State are indigenous to the western Niger Delta.
These communities formed part of a broader network of Ijaw settlements that existed before the Kingdom of Benin emerged.
The Kingdom of Benin arose in the late 12th to early 13th century, whereas Ijaw communities were already established in the Niger Delta.
The later inclusion of these communities within Edo State reflects modern administrative boundaries, not their historical origin.
Selected Scholarly References
Alagoa, E. J. (1972). A History of the Niger Delta.
Alagoa, E. J. (2005). The Land and People of Bayelsa State.
Williamson, K. (1989). "Benue-Congo Overview."
Williamson, K., & Blench, R. (2000). "Niger-Congo," in African Languages: An Introduction.
Ryder, A. F. C. (1969). Benin and the Europeans, 1485–1897.
Egharevba, J. U. (1968). A Short History of Benin.
Connah, G. (1975). The Archaeology of Benin.
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