Ikwerre
Encyclopedia
The Ikwerre are one of the many ethnic groups in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria
. They are generally considered a subgroup of the Igbo people
of southeastern Nigeria
, although a few consider themselves a separate ethnicity. The Ikwerre are said to be descendants of long-distance traders from Nkwerre, Arochukwu, Awka, Orlu, and Owerri areas. They constitute the majority of Rivers state
, Nigeria, although there are other populations in neighboring states
. The Ikwerre speak the Ikwerre language They are traditionally farmers, fishermen and hunters, but in recent times, the environmental degradation
and urban sprawl associated with oil exploration and exploitation has caused a sharp decline in the amount of farmland, forests and rivers available for their traditional occupations.
The Ikwerre exist in well-delineated clans, with each clan having its own Paramount Ruler
, therefore, the Ikwerre do not have an overall paramount ruler or King, a but designated kings/ruler/leader mostly approved by its constituents. A total of 92 oil wells, producing an estimated 100,000 barrels of crude daily, are located in Ikwerreland. The Ikwerre therefore play host to several multinational oil-producing and servicing companies, in addition to many other industries and establishments. Despite these, the Ikwerre, like nearly all other minorities of the Niger Delta, frequently complain of marginalisation by the oil operatives. The University of Port Harcourt
, the Rivers State University of Science and Technology
, the three campuses of the Rivers State College of Education, as well as the Rivers State College of Arts and Science
, are all sited in Ikwerre communities.
of southeastern Nigeria
,
There are several theories over the origin, and the most strong one is the theory linking the Ikwerre to an Igbo origin. They would be descendents from a Igbo migration from Awka and Orlu areas towards South. Igbo scholars take Ikwerre as part of the Southern Igbo. Amadi, an Ikwerre scholar, says that the Igbo origin theory has some support even inside Ikwerre themselves, with Ikwerre would be descendants of a migration of Arochukwu Igbo, with Ogpo Wagidi being the leader of the Ikwerre tribe. During the colonial period the Ikwerre named themselves as Igbo, although this could have been done just for convenience in the political climate of that time. Even then, there were always dissident voices that claimed that Ikwerre could have come from lands outside of Igbo lands such as the Benin Kingdom. Just as an example, when Port Harcourt was conquered by Nigeria during the Biafran War and most Igbos fled the territory, an UN report says that some Ikwerre decided to claim that Ikwerre were non-Igbo for convenience. The Ikwerre are recognized officially as a separate group in the 1979 Nigerian Constitution.
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...
. They are generally considered a subgroup of the Igbo people
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...
of southeastern 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...
, although a few consider themselves a separate ethnicity. The Ikwerre are said to be descendants of long-distance traders from Nkwerre, Arochukwu, Awka, Orlu, and Owerri areas. They constitute the majority of Rivers state
Rivers State
Rivers State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Port Harcourt. It is bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean, to the North by Imo, Abia and Anambra States, to the East by Akwa Ibom State and to the West by Bayelsa and Delta states...
, Nigeria, although there are other populations in neighboring states
States of Nigeria
Nigeria is currently divided into 36 states and Abuja, the federal capital territory. The states are further divided into 774 Local Government Areas....
. The Ikwerre speak the Ikwerre language They are traditionally farmers, fishermen and hunters, but in recent times, the environmental degradation
Environmental degradation
Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife...
and urban sprawl associated with oil exploration and exploitation has caused a sharp decline in the amount of farmland, forests and rivers available for their traditional occupations.
The Ikwerre exist in well-delineated clans, with each clan having its own Paramount Ruler
Paramount Ruler
The term Paramount Ruler, or sometimes Paramount King, is a generic description, though occasionally also used as an actual title, for a number of rulers' position in relative terms, as the summit of a feudal-type pyramid of rulers of lesser polities in a given historical and geographical context,...
, therefore, the Ikwerre do not have an overall paramount ruler or King, a but designated kings/ruler/leader mostly approved by its constituents. A total of 92 oil wells, producing an estimated 100,000 barrels of crude daily, are located in Ikwerreland. The Ikwerre therefore play host to several multinational oil-producing and servicing companies, in addition to many other industries and establishments. Despite these, the Ikwerre, like nearly all other minorities of the Niger Delta, frequently complain of marginalisation by the oil operatives. The University of Port Harcourt
University of Port Harcourt
The University of Port Harcourt is a university in the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt. It was established in 1975 as University College, Port Harcourt, and was given university status in 1977.-Faculties:...
, the Rivers State University of Science and Technology
Rivers State University of Science and Technology
Rivers State University of Science and Technology is a University in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The University has staff strength of 3,000 and a student population of 17,000.-History:...
, the three campuses of the Rivers State College of Education, as well as the Rivers State College of Arts and Science
Rivers State College of Arts and Science
The Rivers State College of Arts and Science is a polytechnic funded by the Rivers State government, located in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.-History:...
, are all sited in Ikwerre communities.
Origin
The Ikwerre are considered by scholars a subgroup of the Igbo peopleIgbo 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...
of southeastern 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...
,
There are several theories over the origin, and the most strong one is the theory linking the Ikwerre to an Igbo origin. They would be descendents from a Igbo migration from Awka and Orlu areas towards South. Igbo scholars take Ikwerre as part of the Southern Igbo. Amadi, an Ikwerre scholar, says that the Igbo origin theory has some support even inside Ikwerre themselves, with Ikwerre would be descendants of a migration of Arochukwu Igbo, with Ogpo Wagidi being the leader of the Ikwerre tribe. During the colonial period the Ikwerre named themselves as Igbo, although this could have been done just for convenience in the political climate of that time. Even then, there were always dissident voices that claimed that Ikwerre could have come from lands outside of Igbo lands such as the Benin Kingdom. Just as an example, when Port Harcourt was conquered by Nigeria during the Biafran War and most Igbos fled the territory, an UN report says that some Ikwerre decided to claim that Ikwerre were non-Igbo for convenience. The Ikwerre are recognized officially as a separate group in the 1979 Nigerian Constitution.
Notable people
Some notable people of Ikwerre origin:- Elechi AmadiElechi AmadiElechi Amadi is a Nigerian author who has written five African novels - The Concubine, The Great Ponds, The Slave , Isiburu and Estrangement...
, writer - Emmanuel OnunworEmmanuel OnunworEmmanuel Onunwor is a Nigerian American citizen who lived in Ohio. He was elected Mayor of East Cleveland, Ohio.In 2005 he was sentenced to 9 years in prison for public corruption and tax evasion.-References:...
, former Mayor of East ClevelandEast ClevelandEast Cleveland is the name of the following places:*In the United States of America:**East Cleveland, Ohio**East Cleveland, Tennessee*In the United Kingdom:**East Cleveland, UK...
, Ohio, USA - Rotimi AmaechiRotimi AmaechiChibuike Rotimi Amaechi is a Nigerian politician, who became Governor of Rivers State in June 2007. He was previously Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 until 2007....
, current Governor of Rivers StateRivers StateRivers State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Port Harcourt. It is bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean, to the North by Imo, Abia and Anambra States, to the East by Akwa Ibom State and to the West by Bayelsa and Delta states...