HISTORY OF IDU

HISTORY OF IDU

In our history, two authors wrote extensively about IDU. I will use this essay to share what the veteran journalist, author Peter Enahoro of Uromi and Dr. Osaren Omoregie of Benin documented in their Esan, Benin history books respectively and my interaction with some elders in Esan.

According to archaeological discovery, the Nok Civilization flourished in the Plateau area of the Middle Belt of Nigeria more than one and a half millennia ago. A phenomenon of years of prolonged rains in the Niger/Benue Confluence Basin led to the ceaseless floods that forced the communities there to flee the inhospitable marshlands in quest of higher ground on which to stake new habitats.

Among the scattered new hilltop settlements was a cluster collectively known as UHE and from its midst arose a man called IDU who is to the Esan people what Father Abraham represents to the Semitic people. Note: till date, there are many villages in Esanland still called Uhe and many quarters or villages in Esanland are prefixed with IDU. Example, Idumoza, Idumoniha, Idumuowemhen etc.

As stated in their books, not much is recorded of Idu’s early life. Unlike Abraham whose story was first carved in stone and later stored on papyrus, but oral history says Idu with the inhabitants of this cluster settlement founded a communal worship of OGHENE (The Creator) and established a shrine in an awe-inspiring peak spot. Note: some of our relatives like the Urhobo, Isoko still worship the Oghene till date.

After the death of IDU at Uhe, the oldest offspring (Akka) among Idu’s three sons and four daughters led a migration of people, followers, and future descendants from the hilltops of the plateau region to the deciduous forest of today Esanland and Delta area west of the Niger River in search of new and green pastures on which to farm.

The progenies of Idu’s children and the migrants that accompanied them out of UHE are the 5 ethnic nationalities we have known today as Esan, Etsako, Bini, Urhobo, Isoko and Owan inhabiting Edo, Delta States in Mid-Western Nigeria. There are other ethnic groups, who were part of the migration inhabiting Delta North up to Bayelsa State. Like the Ika, Degema, Epie and Engenni.

While the oldest son Akka settled in Esanland with others in their migration from Uhe. His younger brothers Efa and Emehi journey southward with others and became the founders of Igodomigodo now Benin. Their settlements evolved an administrative system of village council of elders (Owele) which were rotationally presided over for life by the oldest elder (Odionwele). Similar to the administrative arrangement in Uheland.

Reference

Then Spoke The Thunder by Peter Enahoro 2009.

Great Benin by Osaren Omoregie 1997.