Photo:
Oba Erediuwa of Benin and Obi Ofulue 2 of Ubulu-Ukwu on his visit to Ubulu-Ukwu kingdom, 1982.
There is no doubt that Benin kingdom in ancient times had some sort of influence on Western Igbo which some have faded off with time while some can still be seen till this present day.
And we are not alone on this. Yorubas of Ondo too had this kind of influence too from Benin even more than Igbos. Same with Itsekiris and Urhobo-Isokos.
Many make some unfounded claims of how Benin kingdom “conquered” western Igbo communities. This is laughable and a joke to those of us who know our history.
Some even go to the extent of making spurious and unfounded claims that Benin Kingdom conquered Western Igbos and installed Benin princes as their Kings. This is a joke taken too far. Even some ignorant Anioma people join in making this joke of a claim.
Let me state unequivocally that there was never a time Benin Kingdom conquered any western Igbo community talk more of installing of their princes as their kings. Honestly, this is the joke of the century.
Western Igbos had wars with Benin Kingdom and it was a case of no Victor no Vanquish.
Even Benin can’t make such claim or back it up with evidence.
Igbo ties with Benin Kingdom was a mutual, cordial one not one of subjugation by the other.
There was exchange of visit between Igbo Obis and Obas of Benin.
Such visit was what led to the Adesuwa war.
A war that was initially between Ubulu-Ukwu and Benin but later became a Western Igbo war with Benin that involved all the kingdoms in Enuani part of western Igbo.
Such visit was replicated when Oba Erediuwa visited Obi Ofulue ll of Ubulu-Ukwu kingdom in 1982.
This is a case of a king visiting a king and not one of subservience as shown by a recent visit by a certain Western Igbo monarch to Benin.
Conquering a people means winning them in war, looting and plundering their towns and villages and such thing never happened except in the imagination of the people who make such claims.
Honestly, those stories are what we call “Akuko Idu na Oba…..Seê _ Morê
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