Are Onitsha People From The Ancient Benin Empire? -By Rees Chikwendu

The idea that the origin of the Onitsha people can be traced to the ancient Benin empire is false. I disagree with Reno Omokri and many others who try so hard to revise the history of the Igbo people.

Some Igbo people came to live under the Benin empire, no doubt. However, there are logical explanations other than the claim that they originated from there. The British empire was extensive – colonies, protectorates, and many territories – including Africa. However, it would be false to say Africans originated from Britain.

To come to live under an empire or kingdom could be due to economic migration or conquest.

Economic migration: People can choose to migrate from one place to another for greener pasture. There are many Africans (including Reno Omokri) who live in the United States. They are married there and have children. Does that make their origin American?

Conquest: Many empires and kingdoms conquered other territories and exercise control over the people there. The Benin empire is no exception. Britain conquered many territories in Africa and establish its governments and policies over the people of Africa. But the origin of Africans cannot be traced to Britain.

For me, the closest truth about some Igbos under the Benin empire is the narrative of an Igbo son, Olaudah Equiano, who lived under the Benin empire. In his narrative about his home country, he said:

“This kingdom is divided into many provinces or districts: in one of the most faraway and fertile of which, called Eboe (Igbo), I turned into born…named Essaka. The distance of this province from the capital of Benin and the sea coast need to be very extensive; …and our subjection to the king of Benin became little more than nominal; for each transaction of the authorities…became carried out via elders of the vicinity.”

So far, this is the oldest account related to this history.

Notice that Olaudah Equiano did not claim to be of Benin origin, but his province was one under Benin’s kingdom. As young as he was before his kidnap, he did not suffer an identity crisis like some Igbo people today. He was a true Igbo son.

Also, notice the word he used with regards to their subjection to the Benin kingdom: “little more than nominal.” That is to say, the Igbos who lived under the Benin kingdom, probably, did not pay too much allegiance to that kingdom. Their subjection to the kingdom was only symbolic or theoretical, not real. They recognized their elders, not a king.

These Igbos cannot be from Benin but speak the Igbo language and bear Igbo names. The British empire influenced and changed the language of its colonies and territories, not the opposite. If they are from Benin, their language cannot be Igbo.

At the collapse of the Benin empire and many crises that followed it, those Igbos were still not confused regarding their origin, they immediately embarked on their journey home. Some who could not make it deep into the Igbo hinterland settled in places along their way home. They knew where they came from. They were not lost like some Igbos today.

We must keep our eyes open to the likes of Reno Omokri and their historical revisionism. I corrected him some time ago on a different distortion of a historical record and he blocked me everywhere on social media. I understand many of his followers never question him because they don’t read or make independent research.

By Rees Chikwendu
#OmokriTormentor