Oba Ewuare established laws of mourning in 1460 that forbade cooking, bathing, drumming, dancing, and sexual relations. Many residents found these regulations to be overly burdensome, and as a result, they left the kingdom and relocated to Esanland. In addition to influencing Esanland’s contemporary cultural identity, this migration gave rise to the term “Esan,” which means “refugee.” This notion has received strong backing from oral tradition. Recollections of this movement have been gathered by eminent Esan and Edo historians. Before European settlers arrived, the Esan people were referred to by the title “Esan” for thousands of years. Many historians believe that Bini is the source of the word “Esan” (originally pronounced “E san fia”), which means “they have fled” or “they jumped away” from an uncomfortable system.
Because the name of this ethnic group was difficult for colonial Britain to pronounce correctly, the word “Esan” was Anglicized into “Ishan.” Similar corruption is thought to have impacted Esan names like Abhuluimẹn (now ‘Aburime’), Uloko (now ‘iroko’ tree), and Ubhẅkhẹ (now ‘obeche’ tree), among others.
In the sixteenth century, the Uzea War broke out. The Benin Kingdom and the Uromi Kingdom fought each other in this conflict. The conflict, which raged from 1502 to 1503, was brought on by Onojie Agba of Uromi’s rejection of friendship from Oba Ozolua of Benin. When both leaders were slain at the town of Uzea, the conflict came to an end. But during tranquil periods, like the Idah War of 1515–1516 and the sacking of Akure in 1823, Esan kingdoms would provide men to the Benin Kingdom. Having already taken over the territory of the Kukuruku people, the Muslim Nupe people repeatedly raided and ravaged northern Esanland during the nineteenth century in an effort to find slaves and converts to Islam. Numerous southern Esan kingdoms participated in the fight to repel the Nupes.
The Nupe and Etsako warriors were taken into the Esan cities where their descendants still live, thanks to the victories in the fights that favored the Esans. As the English desired palm products in the nineteenth century, Europe’s influence over Esanland increased. The Benin Empire was sacked by the British in 1897, so freeing the Esans from British domination. The British launched a seven-year invasion of the Esan kingdoms in 1899. Because of its considerable autonomy, Esanland proved to be more difficult to capture than the Benin Kingdom: Kingdoms decided not to give up on the British even after their neighbors collapsed. By building military camps and obstructing highways, fallen Benin chiefs like Ologbosere and Ebohon, who were still opposed to British control, unintentionally protected Esan territory from the west. This ran from 1897 to Ologbosere’s capitulation in the border settlement of Okemue on April 22, 1899. The Kingdom of Ekpon was the first kingdom that the British assaulted. On April 22, Ekpon mounted a valiant defense against the British invasion that almost brought the monarchy to its knees.
On April 29, the kingdom of Ekpon led an ambush of the British camp at Okueme following the almost complete annihilation of the Esans at Ekpon. As a result, in May, British forces killed Ologbosere, consolidated their position, and withdrew.
The British made several unsuccessful attempts after this. For example, their gains in Irrua led to the establishment of a guerilla warfare strategy that was followed by a retreat. This tactic proved so effective that other Esan kingdoms also adopted it, and the British did not invade Esanland until 1901. The British launched an attack on the Kingdom of Uromi on March 16, 1901, under the leadership of the wise but elderly Onojie Okolo. Under the leadership of Prince Okojie, the Uromi rebellion moved quickly and used guerilla tactics. Soon after, Okolo was killed by British forces who had invaded the town of Amedeokhian, where he was stationed. Before reinforcements could arrive, Prince Okojie assassinated the British troops’ captain because he was so incensed about this.
After realizing that Uromi was nearly unalienable without indigenous assistance, the British made contact with local supporters like Onokpogua, the Ezomo of Uromi. As a result, Prince Okojie was successfully kidnapped from the forest and taken to the British offices in Calabar.
Taboo in the Esan Land
– When a woman marries an Esan man, it is forbidden for another man to touch her wrapper; if the woman doesn’t yell at the man or tell her husband, it will be assumed that she has committed adultery. Married couples, or anybody for that matter, should not have sex in the afternoon since it is thought that doing so would enrage a certain spirit.
– If a woman commits adultery, she will forfeit her life and her children as punishment for the immoral act. If she does not confess, she will be left completely naked, have parts of her head and privates shaved, one armpit shaved, both hands tied behind her, and a basket full of trash placed atop her head as payment. After that, other women parade her through the neighborhood.
– If this isn’t done and the mother continues to prepare meals for her kids, they will all pass away one by one, including her. He will pass away in a week if he consumes a meal prepared by the woman, provided she also confesses to her spouse and, out of love or sympathy, he hides the confession.
–The woman’s children will all pass away one after the other if she doesn’t do this and continues to cook for them. He will pass away in a week if he consumes a meal prepared by the woman, provided she also confesses to her spouse and, out of love or sympathy, he hides the confession.
– Crossing a married woman’s splayed legs with another man is forbidden; otherwise, it is interpreted as though she has already had sex with him. In Esan land, it is forbidden for a married woman to steal her husband’s money since it is seen as an abomination. She needs to inform him about it.
– Because it is banned, it is deemed an abomination for a guy to sit on an Esan couple’s marriage bed. Additionally, it is disgusting for a woman to spit on her spouse in any situation. If she does, he can bathe his wife with his own spit, but she will have to sacrifice a fowl to placate him.
– Using the same bath bucket as his spouse is prohibited in Esan culture, but because of the introduction of Christianity, this custom has all but disappeared.
– A woman’s husband is required to refrain from having sexual relations with her for three months after giving birth because of the blood she excretes.