Unyeada Kingdom

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The Unyeada Kingdom (Ayanda, Unyeada) is an ancient riverine settlement in Eastern Niger Delta located in Rivers State, Southern Nigeria. It borders Khana and Gokana Local Government Areas (Ogoni) to the north and Opobo–Nkoro to the east.

Unyeada Kingdom is a well-organized settlement in Obolo (Andoni) Land with about 72 towns and villages. Unyeada Town is the ancestral and administrative headquarters of the kingdom. Unyeada was founded by Warrior King Otuo Ogbolakon the Great, who was recorded at his time to be the fiercest Niger Delta warrior-king. He eventually emerged as Okan Obolo (King of Andoni).

Location

The terrain of Unyeada Kingdom is characterized by Mangrove swamp with patches of fresh water forest which are split by beautiful brackish and salt water creeks and Estuaries.

Originally, the territorial expanse of Unyeada Kingdom stretched from Obolo Flat (Agba-Ula), north of Bonny River, to Imo River (Okwan Obbu) in the east. The Kingdom occupies a contiguous geographical territory, typical of a riverine environment comprising thirty-two low-lying islands and mudflats.

The area is bounded by Bonny and Bolo to the west; Ogoni to the north, Ngo Town to the south and Opobo to the east.

History

They are descendants of great warriors and fishermen who traversed the length and breadth of the Gulf of Guinea (from the coast of Bakassi peninsula in the east to Escravos and Lagos in the west) on fishing expeditions. The ancestors of Unyeada are believed to be some of the earliest settlers of Obolo (Andoni) to arrive in the Eastern Niger Delta from the west. Unyeada oral tradition suggests they migrated from the Old Benin Empire through Itsekiri in Central Niger Delta to Urombi (Ramby) in the coastal region of the present Nigeria-Cameroon border. The people of Unyeada, with segments of Obolo, receded westwards to their present location.

The tradition of Unyeada people also shows that the migration was led by a warrior named Edabiri who founded the Old Unyeada from Ebon Esebeke to Ebon Akpon. Old Unyeada was one of the oldest, largest and most powerful Obolo settlements. However, the antiquity of the legendary town of Old Unyeada is not yet known. But there is a general belief that the name Unyeada might have derived its meaning from a compound word Unye and Eda (Unye-Eda), meaning 'Eda's prowess'. The tradition further asserts that with Eda on the journey were a number of prominent figures who eventually established the four ancestral sectional lineages that culminated in the Unyeada Kingdom:

Egwe Eda (the forerunner of Royal Ibirinya Otuo Ogbolakon), Egwe Akpah (precursor of the Oyetile Lineage), Otoko Ibok (now called Otibok), Ibirinya Osiki (later called Ibirinya Etekan). The Old Unyeada is regarded as the cradle of the Unyeada culture. That is to say, the traditional value system of the Unyeada people and Kingdom is linked with the Old Unyeada: It was there they first became conscious of themselves. From there they evolved in all spheres of life. King Edabiri instituted a monarchical system of government centred around a council of Ibirinya (sectional lineage heads) called ebi-emen-ogbologbo, a pattern of religious beliefs and practices, and a timeless principle of peace and protection. Today Unyeada is still christened as Land of Peace and Protection.

Originally, Unyeada territorial kingdom stretched from Andoni Flat (Agba-Ula) north of Bonny River to Imo River (Okwan Obbu) in the east. It occupies contiguous geographical territory in the Niger Delta environment which now houses the Opobo and Nkoro communities and other Obolo communities. Oral folklore in (Obolo) Andoni tradition describes Unyeada Kingdom as a refuge for migratory groups who generally fled their original settlements due to sanctions and civil war.

Thus, the withdrawal of King Jaja and his followers from Bonny into Unyeada (Andoni) territory in 1869. This event was recorded by many historians; according to Jeffery in his Intelligence Report, he asserted that Andoni war canoes barred Bonny military forces from recapturing Jaja and his men. Unyeada traditional war dance and folklore seem to preserve this event to this day.

By the end of the eighteenth century, the English had become firmly established on the Rio Real(Bonny River), the Dutch having been completely displaced from the trade in this region. The estuary of the Rio Dony (Andoni River) had become, through geological processes, completely non-navigable to the deep-draughted ships of the English traders. Bonny thus became the major trading centre on the coast and the main point of shipment of produce and slaves obtained from hinterland markets.

According to Dr. Silas Eneyo, by this time, Asarama and Ilotombi had lost their prominence in the trade to Old Unyeada. Little or no trade went on during this period at the Andoni port of Ilotombi. During this period a transitional phase seemed to have characterized the overseas trade centre at Bonny. Greater attention was gradually shifted from slave trade to palm-oil. This period witnessed concomitant industrial changes in Britain.

The industrial revolution in Britain was beginning to be felt in the West African region as the new industries springing up in Europe required raw materials to feed their mills. At the same time, campaigns against the trade in human cargo were increasingly intensified. The gradual shift of emphasis from trade in slaves to palm-oil excited interest groups to seek specific markets in the hinterland.

The major Andoni trading centre strategically located to control the trade routes to the hinterland markets was Old Unyeada. Long involvement in overseas trade.

King Otuo Ogbolakon the Great founded the New Unyeada in 1827, after the fall of Old Unyeada.

List of Towns and Villages

Unyeada Town is the ancestral and administrative headquarters of the kingdom. Other towns and villages that make up the kingdom are:

• Isiodum Town
• Egbormung Island
• Dema City
• Ibot-irem Town
• Samanga Town
• Ajakajak Town, others are;
• Agbakoroma
• Otuafa
• Owot-okwan
• Nkanlek
• Isiobiama
• Okwan-york,
• Udungama-Iyo
• Udungama-Joshua
• Oronaja
• Udungama - Onyemeribe
• Afaradigi
• Ogboidim
• Agbadam
• Ama-Gabriel
• Olukama
• Ajarikiri
• Okponile
• Otuafu
• Otunria
• Okukpo
• Okuka
• Otuokponuka
• Otuokolokolo
• Ogbonte
• Ama-Ernest
• Olukama
• Emenoru
• Ofunkrika
• Ama-Omuso
• Okwanjijor
• Okama
• Polokiri
• Inyongnchicha
• Ama-Paul
• Ama-Ekpu
• Galilee
• Nmungama.

See also

• Andoni

References

2. Alagoa E J. - A history of the Niger Delta - An historical interpretation of Ijo oral traditions (1972 University of Ibadan Press.

2. Obolo people

External links

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• s) p. 
• p. 
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• os. 
• Itatat, Loveday, S. (2003). The Golden Key to the Development of Unyeada Kingdom. Port Harcourt: Celwill Nigeria Limited. pp. 1–9. ISBN 978-37379-3-7. Search this book on
• Silas Eneyo, (1991) Andoni Monarchy (An Introduction to the History of the Kingship Institute of the Andoni People). Eneyo, Silas., S. (1991). The Andoni monarchy : an introduction to the history of the kingship institution of the Andoni people. Port Harcourt: Riverside Communications. pp. 18–24. ISBN 978-31226-0-6. OCLC 29327839.CS1 maint: Date and year (link) Search this book on

Category:Niger River Delta Category:Rivers State Category:History of Nigeria

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