Ekumeku War
Encyclopedia
The Ekumeku Movement consisted of a series of uprisings against the rising power of the Royal Niger Company
of the British Empire
in the Aniocha-Igbo
communities of the Lower Niger River
. The British penetration of Nigeria
met with various forms of resistance throughout the country. In the south, the British had to fight many wars, in particular the wars against the Ijebu
(a Yoruba
group) in 1892, the Aro
of Eastern Igboland
in 1901-1902, and from 1883–1914, the Anioma of Western Igboland.
The Ekumeku Movement is unique in Igbo history for two reasons. First, the length of time the movement endured, comprising Military campaigns over a period of twelve years. Secondly it is the outstanding example in Igbo Civilization of an attempt to unite previously disunited states to resist the invader. You have seen that one crucial reason for Igbo defeat was the great discrepancy of scale between the average Igbo community and the colonial invader. The British decided on a preemptive strike, and in December, 1902 sent a powerful expedition which systematically destroyed a number of towns and imprisoned their leaders. This, it was assumed, was the end of the Ekumeku.."the Ekumeku and other secret societies have been completely broken".
In 1904, the Ekumeku rose again. This time the changed their tactics, mistakenly, it would seem in retrospect, abandoning the united guerilla warfare of 1898 for the individual defense of each town. The last act of the Eureka drama began in late 1909. The occasion was a succession dispute in Ogwashi-Uku
. One of the claimants, Nzekwe, the son of the last Obi, feared that the British would deprive him of his throne, and decided to fight for his inheritance.
On November 2, 1909, the British sent an expedition to Ogwashi-Uku
to kill everyone in Ogwashi-Uku
but they failed in the expedition. The British perceived, in the whole Asaba
hinterland, a sympathy with the Ekumeku, and a disposition to throw off government authority. In 1911, there was a final round-up of Ekumeku leaders in various towns that was followed, once more, by imprisonments.
The acting lieutenant-governor of the southern provinces sent an agitated telegram to Lagos: "Whole country is above area...is the state of rebellion." Reinforcements arrived from Lokoja, and the British proceeded to a confrontation at Akegbe. We quote both the contemporary British accounts of the battle at Nkwo market.
.
Royal Niger Company
The Royal Niger Company was a mercantile company chartered by the British government in the nineteenth century. It formed the basis of the modern state of Nigeria....
of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
in the Aniocha-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...
communities of the Lower Niger River
Niger River
The Niger River is the principal river of western Africa, extending about . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in southeastern Guinea...
. The British penetration of 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...
met with various forms of resistance throughout the country. In the south, the British had to fight many wars, in particular the wars against the Ijebu
Ijebu
Ijebu was a Yoruba kingdom in pre-colonial Nigeria. It formed around the fifteenth century. According to legend, its ruling dynasty was founded by Obanta of Ile-Ife...
(a Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
group) in 1892, the Aro
Aro
Aro may refer to:* Aro people, an Igbo subgroup in West Africa* Aro Confederacy, a precolonial Igbo trading oligarchy in West Africa* Årø , a small island in the Lillebælt in Denmark* Årø, Norway, a neighborhood of Molde...
of Eastern Igboland
Igboland
Igboland, or Igbo land , also known as the Ibo, Ebo, and Heebo Country, is a cultural region in Nigeria that includes the indigenous territory and cultural reach of the Igbo people...
in 1901-1902, and from 1883–1914, the Anioma of Western Igboland.
History
Resistance was strong in western Igboland where a series of wars were waged against the British. The Ekumeku, who were well organized and whose leaders were joined in secrecy oaths, effectively utilized guerrilla tactics to attack the British. Their forces, which were drawn from thousands of Igbo youth from all parts of igboland, created many problems for the British, but the British used forceful tactics and heavy armaments (destroying homes, farms, and roads) to prevail. The Ekumeku, however, became a great source of Igbo nationalism.The Ekumeku Movement is unique in Igbo history for two reasons. First, the length of time the movement endured, comprising Military campaigns over a period of twelve years. Secondly it is the outstanding example in Igbo Civilization of an attempt to unite previously disunited states to resist the invader. You have seen that one crucial reason for Igbo defeat was the great discrepancy of scale between the average Igbo community and the colonial invader. The British decided on a preemptive strike, and in December, 1902 sent a powerful expedition which systematically destroyed a number of towns and imprisoned their leaders. This, it was assumed, was the end of the Ekumeku.."the Ekumeku and other secret societies have been completely broken".
In 1904, the Ekumeku rose again. This time the changed their tactics, mistakenly, it would seem in retrospect, abandoning the united guerilla warfare of 1898 for the individual defense of each town. The last act of the Eureka drama began in late 1909. The occasion was a succession dispute in Ogwashi-Uku
Ogwashi-Uku
Ogwashi-Uku is an Igbo town in southern Nigeria in Delta State west of the state capital, Asaba. It is the headquarters for the local government area, Aniocha South. The population of Ogwashi-Uku, Nigeria is 26,137 according to the GeoNames geographical database. -Institutions:*Delta State...
. One of the claimants, Nzekwe, the son of the last Obi, feared that the British would deprive him of his throne, and decided to fight for his inheritance.
On November 2, 1909, the British sent an expedition to Ogwashi-Uku
Ogwashi-Uku
Ogwashi-Uku is an Igbo town in southern Nigeria in Delta State west of the state capital, Asaba. It is the headquarters for the local government area, Aniocha South. The population of Ogwashi-Uku, Nigeria is 26,137 according to the GeoNames geographical database. -Institutions:*Delta State...
to kill everyone in Ogwashi-Uku
Ogwashi-Uku
Ogwashi-Uku is an Igbo town in southern Nigeria in Delta State west of the state capital, Asaba. It is the headquarters for the local government area, Aniocha South. The population of Ogwashi-Uku, Nigeria is 26,137 according to the GeoNames geographical database. -Institutions:*Delta State...
but they failed in the expedition. The British perceived, in the whole Asaba
Asaba, Nigeria
Asaba is the capital of Nigeria's Delta State, and has an estimated population of 149,603 .- Etymology :Ahaba in Igbo is from 'Ahabagom', meaning I have chosen well, a quote from the founding father of Asaba.- Geography :...
hinterland, a sympathy with the Ekumeku, and a disposition to throw off government authority. In 1911, there was a final round-up of Ekumeku leaders in various towns that was followed, once more, by imprisonments.
The acting lieutenant-governor of the southern provinces sent an agitated telegram to Lagos: "Whole country is above area...is the state of rebellion." Reinforcements arrived from Lokoja, and the British proceeded to a confrontation at Akegbe. We quote both the contemporary British accounts of the battle at Nkwo market.
The war
With the invasion of Ndoni in 1870 and bombardment of Onicha-Ado (Onitsha) on November 2, 1897, the stage was set for the Ekumeku war that engulfed the whole of western Igbo region. The Royal Niger Company (RNC) commandered by Major Festing engaged Ibusa in 1898, and in 1904 it was the people of Owa/Ukwunzu against the British in a war that W. E. B. Crawford Coupland requested for more arms to crush the western Igbo communities. Owa would once again engage the British in 1906 in battle that S. O. Crewe lost his own life. On November 2, 1909, it was finally the turn of Ogwashi-Ukwu who matched the British. In this war the British sustained many casualties with the death of H. C. Chapman.Aftermath
Although the Ekumeku failed in 1914, but the western Igbo treasure their memory as imperishable legacy. Heroes included Dunkwu Isus of Onicha-Olona, Nwabuzo Iyogolo of Ogwashi-Ukwu, Awuno Ugbo, Obi of Akumazi, Agbambu Oshue of Igbuzo, Idabor of Issele-Ukwu, Ochei Nwayazia of Onicha-Olona, Abuzu of Idumuje-Unor, Idegwu Otokpoike of Ubulu-Ukwu are still remembered in Western Igboland. The Ekemeku War is one of the greatest resistances to the British empire and inspired later rebellions such as the Mau Mau of KenyaKenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
.
External links
- http://coestudents.valdosta.edu/naokebat/ekumeku_movements.htm
- http://www.onwar.com/aced/chrono/c1800s/yr80/fnigeria1883.htm
- http://coestudents.valdosta.edu/naokebat/biafra.htm
- http://igbokwenu.wikispaces.com/The+Ekumeku+Movement
- http://www.articlesbase.com/culture-articles/ekumeku-war-of-the-anioma-people-2316537.html