The Esan people of Edo State are fascinating people. If you ask some Benin people, they have some really wonderful things to say about them. You’ve probably heard the one about what to kill first between a snake and an Esan person. Let’s not get into all that.
Anyway, such sentiments might have something to do with how the Esan people came to be in the first place.
A Dark Time in Edo
Oba Ewuare, in the middle of the 15th Century, lost two sons tragically. This happened on the same day and so he made a declaration. He declared that in mourning the death of his sons, there shall be no sexual intercourse in the kingdom (hmm). Not only that, there was to be no washing (hmm 2x), sweeping of the houses and compound, drumming or dancing, and making of fire in the land. Na wa.
He insisted that these laws be strictly adhered to for a period of three years as a mark of respect for his dead sons. Now, I don’t know if it is sexual starvation or the fact that everyone was expected to be stinking about, but it didn’t go down well with some of the Oba’s subjects.
And They Ran
Many natives fled the Benin Kingdom unable to abide by the rules and joined previous groups that have already migrated out of the Kingdom years before (the group that had previously formed Irrua, Uromi and Ekpoma).
Soon after, the Oba summoned a meeting of his subjects from various quarters and to his amazement – although, I don’t understand why he was amazed – noticed that they had greatly diminished in number.
Naming
When the Oba asked where his subjects had gone, he was told “ele san-fia” (they have fled). This later turned to Esan-fia and then Esan.
When Oba Ewuare saw that his Kingdom was quickly reducing, he revoked this law but the migrations continued. Oba Ewuare tried to wage a war against the migrants but also failed.
Any thoughts on the origin of the Esan people? Comment below.
Learn about the relationship between the Benin and Yoruba people here.
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