"Ma khato, ma khale, ise" "We shall live long, we shall reign, amen" [1]
Esanland (green) depicted in Nigeria (grey).
Country
Nigeria
Foundation
1000 BC
Area
• Total
2,814.347 km2 (1,086.625 sq mi)
Population
(2023)
• Total
900900
Demonym
Esan
Time zone
UTC+1 (WAT)
Ujiogba River
Esanland (Esan: Otọesan), otherwise known as Esan Nation, is a cultural region located in Edo State, Nigeria. It is composed of five Local Government Areas in Edo State.[2] Esanland lies west of the banks of the Niger River. It is bordered by Kogi State, Delta State, Edo South Senatorial District, and Edo North Senatorial District. Esanland covers about 2,800 square kilometers and is home to over half a million people. The Esan people and culture of Esanland are generally homogenous.
Esanland has been inhabited since the late Iron Age, by hunter-gatherers from the Nok culture[citation needed]. The hunter gatherers formed a society in northern Esanland until the 12th century. In the 15th century, indigenes from the Great Benin Empire moved to Esanland and renewed Edo-Esan cultural bonds as the Benin were the Royal blood and Emperor controlling the Southern Hemisphere.[3] Esan nations often worked either in tandem or subordination towards the Benin Empire, sending soldiers to the Benin army and treating their rulers as dukes to the Oba of Benin.
Trade with the Portuguese brought modern innovations such as Dane guns and spoons, and new crops.
Independent rule in Esanland continued into the 1800s, until the British claimed the entire region for the Royal Niger Company as part of the colony Nigeria. Local opposition to the conquest was vocal, and enijie such as King Ogbidi Okojie of Uromi banded together their soldiers in an unsuccessful attempt to fight British rule. After the British takeover, independence movements sprung up. Leaders in Esanland such as Anthony Enahoro successfully campaigned for independence, which was granted to the whole of Nigeria. Since independence, Esanland has suffered from poor infrastructure and an attempted takeover in the Nigerian Civil War by Biafra.
^"Welcome /Obo'khian to the Esan World Congress". Esan World Congress. Esan World Congress. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
^"Edo Central APC reaffirms support for Obaseki over investment in infrastructure, others". Vanguard News. 2019-10-31. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
^"The kingdom of Benin". BBC Bitesize. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
Esanland (Esan: Otọesan), otherwise known as Esan Nation, is a cultural region located in Edo State, Nigeria. It is composed of five Local Government Areas...
whom they met there There are on the whole 35 established kingdoms in Esanland, including Amahor, Ebelle, Egoro, Ewohimi, Ekekhenlen, Ekpoma, Ekpon, Emu...
instrumental in the independence of Esanland from the old Benin Empire. He stopped tributes from Enijies in Esanland from being paid to the Oba of Benin...
Empire. Uromi, originally known as 'Uronmun', is the most populated area in Esanland, settled by two waves of people. The first wave consisted of migrants from...
Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. It is among the several kingdoms in Esanland. The kingdom is governed by King called Onojie. In 2017, the sixteenth...
died in a road accident on his way to Kano. Iyayi was born in Ugbegun in Esanland, Edo State, Nigeria. His family lived on little means but instilled in...
Okojie, settled around a camp established during this war. It is part of Esanland. The kingdom is governed by a traditional ruler, called an Onogie. The...
History of Uneme People. Dawood Omolumhen, Egbefo. "The Nupe Invasion of Esanland: An Assessment of its Socio-Political Impact on the People, 1885-1897"...
artistry. JOM Charity also leads in the advocacy against the killing of Esanland farmers in Edo State, Nigeria by marauder killers headsmen. Josephine Oboh...
Area in Edo State, Nigeria. It is among the constituent communities of Esanland. The people of Ogwa speak the Esan language. The language of the Esan people...
aid of the Royal Niger Company, the British Army begins an invasion of Esanland, in southwestern Nigeria, to halt the resistance of the Esan chiefs still...
with its natives. Ibore is one of the most culturally endowed towns in Esanland. Particularly unique among its numerous cultural heritage is the Iruen...
southern Nigeria Esan language, an Edoid language spoken by the Esan people Esanland, a cultural region and senatorial district of Nigeria, where the Esan people...
described as regionally important. It is taught in schools throughout Esanland, and Esan language radio and television is prevalent. Linguistic finding...
sovereignty. Among Oba Osemwende's notable conquests was that of Udo, a town in Esanland that had remained loyal to Oba Ogbebo. The people of Udo asserted their...
Ife- Akinrogun of Ife — 1991 Inherited family title in homeland- Igueben, Esanland- Edo State- Inneh of Igueben 1988 Title given by the community- Oduma of...
AMBROSE F. ALLI- CHAMPION OF EDUCATION AND GOOD GOVERNANCE IN BENDEL STATE". Esanland.org. Retrieved 18 January 2022. "AN ANALYSIS OF AMBROSE ALLI'S POLICY ON...
rebellion and insubordination of the ancient, once powerful Uzea kingdom in Esanland, and co-opted the Esan kingdoms into the then fast-expanding Benin Empire...
community with the establishment of the Centre for Research and Development of Esanland (CERDEL) in the University. The Library started in a temporary location...
Our stars (MOCSOS) also initiated the advocacy against the killing of Esanland displaced farmers in Edo State, Nigeria by Marauding Killer-herdsmen. "top...
and Igieleghe are done by both. The people of Ugbokhare like all other Esanland eat traditional African foods made from Root Tubers like Cassava, Yam,...
West, and Igueben; it largely corresponds with the Esan cultural area of Esanland. The incumbent Clifford Ordia (PDP), who was re-elected with 52.9% of the...
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