Akpa
Encyclopedia
The Ibom Isi also known as the Akpa
are one of the three main lineages compromising the Aro people
. They are centered in Ibom
, Arochukwu
in Nigeria
. This Aro lineage is originally from the Akamkpa
kingdom in Ekoi
(Okonyong) territory around the present day Cross River State
in Southeastern Nigeria.
During the Aro-Ibibio wars
in present day Arochukwu
in the 17th-18th century, an Igbo
leader named Okennachi (the first Igbo EzeAro), invited his allies the princes Osim and Akuma Nnubi
from the east of the Cross River to assist him in overrunning the Ibibios
and granting them lands. The Nnubis, led their people known as the Akpa to present-day Arochukwu. They led the Akpa forces to ally with Igbo forces and defeat the Ibibios. Though Osim Nnubi died, the Aros defeated the Ibibios and captured the area and Akuma became the first EzeAro or king. Akpa people are mainly in Ibom and other towns belonging to the Ibom isi kindred
but their traces can be found all over Arochukwu. They have highly influenced the Cross River Igbo culture.
Akpa
The Ibom Isi also known as the Akpa are one of the three main lineages compromising the Aro people. They are centered in Ibom, Arochukwu in Nigeria...
are one of the three main lineages compromising the Aro people
Aro people
The Aro people or Aros is an Igbo subgroup with Akpa and Ibibio elements who originated from Arochukwu kingdom in present day Abia state, Southeastern Nigeria. The Aros can also be found in about 250 other settlements mostly in the Southeastern region and adjacent areas...
. They are centered in Ibom
Ibom
Ibom is an old word meaning the universe, the earth, or a community used by the Efik / Ibibio / Annang / Oron / Eket people of Nigeria. Akwa Ibom State is one of the present two states created from the old Akwa Akpa kingdom, Cross River State being the sister state.There is a town in Arochukwu,...
, Arochukwu
Arochukwu
Arochukwu, sometimes referred to as Arochuku, or Aro-Okigbo, is the third largest city in Abia State in southeastern Nigeria and homeland of the Igbo subgroup, Aro people....
in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. This Aro lineage is originally from the Akamkpa
Akamkpa
Akamkpa is a Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Akamkpa.It has an area of 5,003 km² and a population of 151,125 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 542....
kingdom in Ekoi
Ekoi
"Ekoi" or "Ejagham" may refer to:* Ekoi people, a group of people found in south-eastern Nigeria, also known as Ejagham* Ekoid languages, the language spoken by the Ekoi people of south-eastern Nigeria* Ekoi mythology...
(Okonyong) territory around the present day Cross River State
Cross River State
Cross River State is a coastal state in southeastern Nigeria, bordering Cameroon to the east. Its capital is at Calabar, and it is named for the Cross River , which passes through the state...
in Southeastern Nigeria.
During the Aro-Ibibio wars
Aro-Ibibio Wars
The Aro-Ibibio Wars were a series of conflicts between the Aro people and several Ibibio groups in present day Southeastern Nigeria from 1630 to 1902...
in present day Arochukwu
Arochukwu
Arochukwu, sometimes referred to as Arochuku, or Aro-Okigbo, is the third largest city in Abia State in southeastern Nigeria and homeland of the Igbo subgroup, Aro people....
in the 17th-18th century, an Igbo
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
leader named Okennachi (the first Igbo EzeAro), invited his allies the princes Osim and Akuma Nnubi
Osim and Akuma Nnubi
Osim and Akuma Nnubi were brothers and merchant princes of the Akpa people from the east of the Cross River in the late 17th century. The Akpa people were trading allies with the Eze Agwu and Nnachi clans of the Igbo. When Nnachi called them to assist the Igbos in the Aro-Ibibio wars, they...
from the east of the Cross River to assist him in overrunning the Ibibios
Ibibio people
The Ibibio are a people of southeastern Nigeria. They are related to the Anaang and the Efik peoples. During colonial period in Nigeria, the Ibibio Union asked for recognition by the British as a sovereign nation . The Annang, Efik, Ekid, Oron and Ibeno share personal names, culture, and traditions...
and granting them lands. The Nnubis, led their people known as the Akpa to present-day Arochukwu. They led the Akpa forces to ally with Igbo forces and defeat the Ibibios. Though Osim Nnubi died, the Aros defeated the Ibibios and captured the area and Akuma became the first EzeAro or king. Akpa people are mainly in Ibom and other towns belonging to the Ibom isi kindred
Kindred
In the Heathen movements, a kindred is a local worship group and organisational unit. Other terms used are hearth, theod , blotgroup, sippe, and other less popular ones such as garth, stead, and others....
but their traces can be found all over Arochukwu. They have highly influenced the Cross River Igbo culture.