The Anioma people ('' /æˈniːɒmɑː/ ah-NEE-o-ma, US: /əˈniːɒmɑː/ uh-NEE-o-mah;'' ''Ndí Ániọ̀mà'') present day

Delta State Delta is a States of Nigeria, state in the South South (Nigeria), South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Named after the Niger Delta—a large part of which is in the state—the state was formed from the former Bendel State, on 27 August 1 ...

, Nigeria. The Anioma people encompass and are native to the nine northeastern

Local Government Areas A local government area (LGA) is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a state, province, division, or territory. The ph ...

of Delta State and the Ika communities of Edo State. Politically, the Anioma occupy the Delta North Senatorial District where they are the majority group. Today, the population of the Anioma is estimated today to be at approximately 1.8 million. The largest Anioma settlement and

urban area An urban area is a human settlement with a high population density and an infrastructure of built environment. Urban areas originate through urbanization, and researchers categorize them as cities, towns, conurbations or suburbs. In urbani ...

is the Delta State Capital Territory, which incorporates the city of Asaba along the

Niger River The Niger River ( ; ) is the main river of West Africa, extending about . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in south-eastern Guinea near the Sierra Leone border. It runs in a crescent shape through Mali, Nige ...

, with Okpanam, Igbuzor and surrounding communities. Despite political grouping under “''Anioma'',” each subgroup within Anioma has its own unique language, customs, and identity, and continues to preserve its indigenous traditions and leadership systems. These languages are part of the Niger-Congo family but are independent languages with separate linguistic roots.

Etymology

The term Anioma is an acronym, etymologically derived from the initials of four key groups located in Delta North Senatorial District in Delta State, Nigeria: the ''Aniocha (A)'', ''Ndokwa (N)'', ''Ika (I)'' and the ''Oshimili'' peoples''(O).'' The coinage was made in 1951 by

Chief Dennis Osadebay Dennis Chukude Osadebay (29 June 1911 — 26 December 1994) was a Nigerian politician, poet, journalist and former premier of the now defunct Mid-Western Region of Nigeria, which now comprises Edo State, Edo State and Delta State. He was o ...

, founding father of the Anioma state movement and has since remained the preferred indigenous name by which the people collectively refer to themselves. Since then, ''Anioma'' has remained the preferred name by which these communities collectively refer to themselves, especially in political and cultural contexts. In English, the term can be translated into "Good Land", having the Anioma intonation of the actual word forms the basis for official pronunciation. The Anioma people are an ancient, industrious, and culturally rich group, with an estimated population of 1.8 million. The largest Anioma settlement is the Delta State Capital Territory, encompassing Asaba along the Niger River, and surrounding towns such as Okpanam, Ibusa (Igbuzo), and others.

Geography

The Anioma are located immediately south of the ''Edo'' ''Central Plains'' on the floodplains and hills of the western basin of the

within the present Delta and Edo States of Nigeria. The homeland of the Anioma encompasses a land mass of about 6,300 km² . The region is drained by the Niger, Ethiope and Asse rivers. The Anioma homeland lies contiguous with Anambra in the East,

River A river is a natural stream of fresh water that flows on land or inside Subterranean river, caves towards another body of water at a lower elevation, such as an ocean, lake, or another river. A river may run dry before reaching the end of ...

s in the south-east, Bayelsa in the south, and within the Deltan south-west by the Isoko, west by the Urhobo ethnic nation, north-west by southern Edo and north by southern Kogi. Anioma was historically part of the Mid-Western Region, and now falls within Delta State. The people have drawn their culture and experiences as a result of lying contiguous to numerous other ethnicities and communities which characterises Anioma as a relatively peaceful region in terms of national affairs. Politically, Anioma is often referred to in state affairs as ''Delta North'', in line with the people of the ''Delta South'' and ''Delta Central'' senatorial districts within Delta. Out of the 25 Local government areas in

Delta Delta commonly refers to: * Delta (letter) (Δ or δ), the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet * D (NATO phonetic alphabet: "Delta"), the fourth letter in the Latin alphabet * River delta, at a river mouth * Delta Air Lines, a major US carrier ...

, the nine northeastern make up the Anioma region: # '' Aniocha North'' # '' Aniocha South'' # ''Ika North-East'' # '' Ika South'' # '' Ndokwa East'' # '' Ndokwa West'' # '' Oshimili North'' # '' Oshimili South'' # ''Ukwuani''

Language

The Anioma people of Delta State are linguistically and culturally diverse, comprising communities that speak distinct indigenous languages. These languages are native to the region and hold unique linguistic characteristics that set them apart from one another. * Enuani is a language spoken primarily in the Oshimili and Aniocha areas of Delta North. It is used in communities such as Asaba, Ibusa (Igbuzo), Ogwashi-Uku, Okpanam, Issele-Uku, Ubulu-Uku, and others. The language is homogeneous across these areas and serves as a unifying medium of communication. * Ika is spoken in the Ika-speaking communities including Agbor, Owa, Umunede, and Boji-Boji. While it shares some lexical similarities with neighbouring languages, Ika is considered a separate language in its own right, with its own syntax and phonological patterns. * Ukwuani (also referred to as Ndokwa) is another distinct language spoken in the southern part of Delta North, primarily within the Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, and Ukwuani Local Government Areas. In addition to these major languages, minority groups within Anioma include: * The Olukumi-speaking communities in Ugbodu and Ukwunzu, whose language is closely related to Yoruba. * Small Igala-speaking populations, notably in Ebu and parts of Umuebu. These linguistic communities reflect the historical and cultural richness of the Anioma region. Each group maintains its language, traditions, and social identity, contributing to the broader Anioma heritage

The Ekumeku Movement (1883-1914)

''See also Ekumeku Movement:'' The Ekumeku Movement was a prolonged resistance effort against British colonial expansion, carried out by a network of communities in present-day Delta North (Anioma region) of Nigeria. The movement lasted from 1883 to 1914, and was primarily centred in towns such as Ibusa (Igbuzo), Ogwashi-Uku, Onicha-Olona, Issele-Uku, Ubulu-Uku, and other surrounding communities. This resistance is notable for its organisation, longevity, and use of guerrilla tactics. Rather than being a spontaneous uprising, the Ekumeku movement operated through coordinated efforts across various Anioma communities. Local leadership and traditional institutions played a key role in planning and sustaining the resistance over three decades. The Ekumeku Movement is a significant part of Anioma history, and stands out in Nigeria’s anti-colonial record for its structure and duration. Though often associated with broader regional resistance in southern Nigeria, it was rooted specifically within the Anioma communities of Delta North, reflecting the political will and cohesion of these groups during the colonial period.

Towns & Communities

Anioma towns and communities are listed alphabetically below: Abah, Abala Anikoko, Abavo, Abi, Abodei, Aboh, Adai, Adonta, Afor, Agbor, Akakpan-Isumpe, Ankara, Akoku, Akuku-Akumazi, Akumazi-Umuocha, Akwukwu-Igbo, Alasime, Alidinma, Alihagu, Amai, Anakwa, Anifekide, Aninwalo, Aninwama-Jeta, Aniofu, Aniogo, Anioma, Anuregu, Anwai, Asaba, Asaba-Ase, Asaba-Ubulu, Ashaka, Ashama, Atuma, Atuma-Iga, Azagba-Ogwashi, Azagba-Ubieni, Boji-Boji, Ebedi, Ebu, Edo-Ogwashi, Egbudu-Akah, Egbudu-Ogwashi, Ejeme-Agbor, Ejeme-Aniogo, Ejeme-Unor, Ekpecho, Ekpon,Ekuku-Agbor, Ekwuemusana, Emu, Emuhu, Etua Etiti, Etua Ukpo, Ewulu, Ezi, Eziokpor, Ezionum, Ibodoni, Ibrode, Ibusa, Idumuesah, Idumuje-Ugboko, Idumuje-Unor, Idumu-Ogo, Igbanke, Igbodo, Igbogiri, Igbuku, Illah, Iru, Isa-Ogwashi, Iselegu, Isheagu, Isikiti-Ishiagu, Issele-Azagba, Issele-Mkpitime, Issele-Uku, Isumpe, Kwale, Mbiri, Ndemiri, Ndokwa, Abbi, Inam-Abbi, Eziunm, Nkpolenyi, Nsukwa, Obeti, Obi Anyima, Obi Umutu, Obi, Obiaruku, Obikwele, Obinomba, Obior, Obodo-Eti, Obomkpa, Ogbe, Ogode, Ogume, Ogwashi-Uku, Oko Anala, Oko/Ogbele, Oko-Amakom, Okotomi, Okpa, Okpanam, Okwe, Oligbo, Oligbo, Olor-Usisa, Olu-Odu, Omaja, Onicha Olona, Onicha-Ugbo, Onicha-Uku, Onitsha-Ukwuani, Onogbokor, Onuseti, Onya, Oolor-Ogwashi, Otolokpo, Otulu, Owa Nta, Owa-Abi, Owa-Alero, Owa-Ofie, Owa-Oyibo, Owerri-Olubor, Ubulubu, Ubulu-Okiti, Ubulu-Okiti, Ubulu-Ukwu, Ubulu-Unor, Udumeje, Ugboba, Ugbodu, Ugbolu, Ugiliamai, Ukala-Okpunor, Ukala-Okwute, Ukwuani, Ukwunzu, Ukwu-Oba, Umuabu, Umu-Ebu Adonishaka, Umuhu, Umukwem, Umukwota, Umunede, Umuolu, Umute, Umutu, Unor, Unor, Unuaja, Ushie, Usisa, Utagba-Ogbe, Utagba-Unor, Utchi, Ute Aru, Ute Enugu, Ute Erumu, Utegbeje, Ute Obagie N’Oheze, Ute-Oheze, Ute-Okpu, Utuoku.

Festivals

Today, the Anioma celebrate their identity annually with a cocktail of traditional dances organized by th
Organization for the Advancement of Anioma Culture (OFAAC)
First held in 2003, the cultural fiesta annually brings together the local council areas of Anioma land to celebrate their common identity.

Dress

Akwà Ọcha is a revered traditional textile that holds deep cultural significance among the Anioma people of

Delta State, Nigeria Delta is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Named after the Niger Delta—a large part of which is in the state—the state was formed from the former Bendel State, on 27 August 1991. It is bordered on the north by Edo S ...

. Characterised by its striking white fabric, often adorned with intricate woven patterns, Akwà Ọcha — which translates to “white cloth” in the Enuani language — is more than attire; it is a powerful symbol of identity, pride, and heritage. Traditionally made from cotton and presented in wrapper form, Akwà Ọcha is hand-woven and worn during important occasions such as weddings, traditional festivals, and milestone celebrations. It is closely associated with dignity and respect, and is often offered as a gift to honour elders or esteemed guests. The origins of Akwà Ọcha are specifically traced to Ubulu-Uku, a prominent community in the Enuani-speaking region of Delta North. It was in Ubulu-Uku that the distinctive hand-weaving techniques were first developed and perfected. Passed down through generations—especially by women—weaving has remained central to preserving the cloth’s authenticity and cultural value. Today, Akwà Ọcha stands not only as a symbol of elegance and tradition but also as a testament to Anioma unity, history, and craftsmanship. The Anioma people take immense pride in the purity the fabric represents, the respect it commands, and the enduring skill involved in its production. It continues to be a cultural emblem displayed with honour at home and abroad, exported for use by Nigerians, Anioma descendants, and lovers of Anioma heritage in the diaspora.

Notable people

* Joseph "Hannibal" Achuzie, military personnel and civil war veteran * Leo Irabor Former Chief of Defense of Nigeria Military * Sam Obi Former Acting Governor of Delta State and Former Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly * Ifeanyi Okowa Former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and former Governor of Delta State, Nigeria 2015 - 2023 * Nduka Obaigbena Owner Arise TV and Radio * Hanks Anuku, Veteran Nollywood actor * Phillip Asiodu, former Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria * Maryam Babangida, wife of Former Nigerian Head of State, General

Ibrahim Babangida Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (born 17 August 1941) is a Nigerian statesman and military dictator who ruled as military president of Nigeria from 1985 when he orchestrated a coup d'état against his military and political arch-rival Muhammadu ...

* Prof Joseph Chike Edozien, the Asagba of Asaba * Sam Obi Former Member Delta State House of Assembly, Former Acting Governor of Delta State, Nigeria * Baba Fryo Nigerian Musician * Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, the United Bank for Africa, Transcorp and founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation * Air-Marshal Paul Dike, former Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria NASA *

Buchi Emecheta Buchi Emecheta (born Florence Onyebuchi Emecheta; 21 July 1944 – 25 January 2017) was a Nigerian writer who was the author of novels, plays, autobiography, and children's books. She first received notable critical attention for her 1974 novel ...

, Nigerian-born British novelist * Faze, Nigerian Musician * Wilfred Ndidi, Footballer * Elizabeth Isichei, prominent historian * Alex Iwobi, football player * Godwin Emefiele Former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeira * Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State for Petroleum * Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, former Super Eagles captain and Malian National Football Team Coach * Demas Nwoko, prominent Sculptor of Nigeria * Ned Nwoko, present senator * Nduka Odizor, former Lawn tennis player * Timothy Ogene, writer * Joy Ogwu, former managing director of Nigeria Institute of International Affairs *

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (; born 13 June 1954) is a Nigerian economist, who has been serving as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization since March 2021. She is the first woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organization as d ...

, the current Director-general of the

World Trade Organization The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland that regulates and facilitates international trade. Governments use the organization to establish, revise, and enforce the rules that g ...

* Austine "Jay-Jay" Okocha, former Captain of Super Eagles of Nigeria *

Sunday Oliseh Sunday Ogochukwu Oliseh (born 14 September 1974) is a Nigerian football manager and former footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. Physical yet technically gifted, he played for top European clubs including Ajax, Borussia Dortmund and J ...

, former Captain of super Eagles of Nigeria * Lisa Omorodion, Nollywood Actress, producer and entrepreneur * Dennis Osadebe, politician, poet, journalist and former premier of the now defunct Mid-Western Region of Nigeria, which now comprises Edo and Delta State. * Zulu Sofola, the first published female Nigerian playwright and dramatist and first female Professor of Theater Arts in Africa. * Nduka Ugbade, Nigeria's former football player and the first African to lift the world cup * Patrick Utomi, Presidential Candidate and Founder of Lagos Business School * Raph Uwechue, was a Nigerian minister, diplomat and publisher. He is a former president-general of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, an Igbo socio-cultural organization in Nigeria

References

External links

Reawakening in Delta North
*https://web.archive.org/web/20150330003905/http://www.nigeriamasterweb.com/nmwpg1HarunaIgboMassacre.html
Asaba.comAnioma USA