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Aro people

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Aro people
Flag of the Aro Confederacy
Total population
Upwards of 1.1 million
Regions with significant populations
Nigeria
Languages
Igbo, Ibibio, Cross River languages, English
Religion
Christianity, Traditional
Related ethnic groups
Ibibio, Efik, Ekoi, Bahumono, Ijo, Igala, Idoma, other Igbo peoples

The Aro people or Aros are an Igbo group[1] that originated from the Arochukwu kingdom in present-day Abia state, Nigeria. The Aros can also be found in about 250 other settlements mostly in the Southeastern Nigeria and adjacent areas. The Aros today are classified as Eastern or Cross River Igbos because of their location, mixed origins, culture, and dialect. Their god, Chukwu Abiama, was a key factor in establishing the Aro Confederacy as a regional power in the Niger Delta and Southeastern Nigeria during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Origins and history

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Main article: Aro History

The history of the Aros predates Igbo migration and founding of the kingdom of Arochukwu. During the Bantu expansion, a group of Proto Ibibio migrated to the area and established the Mbot Abasi Kingdom. The Proto Ibibio group originally came from Usak Edet (Isanguele), a segment of the Ejagham in present-day Southern Cameroon. Igbo migrations led by Eze Agwu from Abiriba and Nnachi from Edda migrated into the Aro region started in the mid-17th century. These Igbo migrants were resisted by the indigenous proto Ibibios. The Aro-Ibibio Wars and the migration of the Akpa from east of the Cross River, formed the nation during the turning point of the 17th century to the 18th century. The Efik were originally from the Ibom Kingdom and might have left before or during the Aro-Ibibio Wars. By this time, the palm oil and slave trade was popular in the hinterland. By the mid-18th century, there were mass migrations of Aro businessmen to the Igbo hinterland and adjacent areas. This migration, influence of their god Chukwu Abiama through priests, and their military power supported by alliances with several related neighboring Igbo and eastern Cross River militarized states (particularly Ohafia, Abam, Ihechiowa, Abiriba, Nkporo, Afikpo, Ekoi, etc.) quickly established the Aro Confederacy as a regional economic power. However, Aro economic hegemony was threatened by the penetration of Europeans, mainly British colonists towards the end of the 19th century. Tensions finally led to bloodshed, and the Anglo-Aro war took place from 1901 to 1902. The Aro Confederacy stoutly resisted but eventually suffered defeat. This helped the British to occupy the rest of what became Eastern Nigeria.

Tradition

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The Aros have a rich tradition. One factor is the Ekpe society which is a sacred society originally from east of the Cross River. The highly religious and judicial society took a major part in Aro society. The use of the writing system, Nsibidi, was based on secret societies like Ekpe. Uli, another writing system, occurred mostly in the form of body art.

Another factor is the Chukwu Abiama Temple, which was mediated by the Aro priesthood. They influenced neighbors and allies before the British invasion and destruction of the Chukwu Abiama Temple and Aro priesthood. The Ekeleke masquerade activity was important in Aro settlements. Brought from the Aros in the western Niger Delta, it eventually spread to the Oguta area. They also were known for wearing the popular "George" cloth. The Ikperikpe warrior dance was very famous among warriors in the old days and continues to be in use.

Largest settlements in Western Africa

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Name Town/LGA State/Country Notes Notable People
Aro Ajatakairi Ikwuano Abia State, Nigeria
Aro Achara Isialangwa Abia State, Nigeria
Aro Okporoenyi Bendel Abia State, Nigeria
Aro Ayama Ikwuano Abia State, Nigeria Late Mazi (Sir) Ugochukwu Kanu and late Col. Okoro
Aro Amuru Ikwuano Abia State, Nigeria
Aro Ngwa Abia State, Nigeria
Aro Ama-Asa Isialangwa Abia State, Nigeria
Aro UmuNkpe Isialangwa Abia State, Nigeria
Aro Nbawsi Isialangwa Abia State, Nigeria
Aro Omoba Isialangwa Abia State, Nigeria
Aro UmuEru Isialangwa Abia State, Nigeria
Aro UmuAro Isialangwa Abia State, Nigeria
Aro Onicha Ngwa
Aro Isuochi Abia State, Nigeria
Aro Ahuma Abam Abia State, Nigeria
Aro Nde Ijere Ohafia Abia State, Nigeria
Aro Uzuakoli Abia State, Nigeria
Aro Ndizuogu Ideato, Okigwe and Onuimo LGAs Imo State, Nigeria Largest Aro settlement Izuogu Mgbokpo, Igwegbe Odum, Mbonu Ojike
Aro Oguta Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Izombe Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Oru Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Oji Owerri Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Ihite Owerri Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Iheosu Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Awa Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Mbana Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Atta Ikeduru Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Umunneoha Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Iheagwa Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Ndi Ikerionwu Anambra State, Nigeria
Aro Ajali Anambra State, Nigeria
Aro Azia Anambra State, Nigeria
Aro Abagana Anambra State, Nigeria
Aro Ndi-Owu Anambra State, Nigeria
Aro Isiopko Ikwerre Rivers State, Nigeria
Aro Igirita Ikwerre Rivers State, Nigeria
Aro Kalabari Rivers State, Nigeria
Aro Opobo Rivers State, Nigeria
Aro Ikpa Enugu State, Nigeria
Aro Amokwe Udi Enugu Enugu State, Nigeria
Aro Ezeagu Enugu State, Nigeria
Aro Achi Enugu State, Nigeria
Aro Nkalagu Enugu State, Nigeria
Aro Okposi Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Aro Onueke Ezza Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Aro Nsukka Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Aro Nzerem Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Aro Ikwo Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Aro Ndi okoro Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Aro Ikot Ukana Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Aro Obuoro ite Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Aro Idoma Benue State, Nigeria Ukpabi of Ochu Idoma
Aro Umudara Njiaba Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Umuejike Njiaba Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Nempi Oru West LGA Imo State, Nigeria
Aro ibiasoegbe Mbgidi Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Ezial Mgbidi Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Ugbele Mgbidi Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Uzun’umu-mgbidi Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Eleh-oru West Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Ubulu-Oru West Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Nde Ikokwo-Uli Anambra State, Nigeria
Aro Ndi Egungwu-Uli Anambra State, Nigeria
Aro Ubuluisiuzo-Ihiala Anambra State, Nigeria
Aro Umuezeawara-Ihiala Anambra State, Nigeria
Aro Iseke-Iheala
Aro izzi Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Aro Awonmanma-Oru East Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Otulu-Oru East Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Amiri-Oru East Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Amuro-Okigwe Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Amuzari na Aro Anara-Isiala Mbano Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Nkwesi-Oguta Imo State, Nigeria
Aro ndi-Okparaeze-Orumba North Anambra State, Nigeria
Aro Umudike-Ikwuano Abia State, Nigeria
Aro oji/Aro Ndeokoroji, na Aro Ndinwafor-Okigwe Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Nike-Nike Enugu State, Nigeria
Aro Amawom-Eziala-Isialangwa Abia State, Nigeria
Aro Atah [Atani Agbor] Isiala Mbano Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Umuororonjo [Nde ujah] Owerri Municipal Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Azia-Ihiala Anambra State, Nigeria
Aro Ikwo Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Aro Effium Ohaukwu LGA Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Aro Isu na Aro onichi-Onicha LGA Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Aro Uburu Ohazara LGA Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Aro Abakaliki na Aro Ezillo Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Aro Nkerefi Nkanu East LGA Enugu State, Nigeria
Aro Obohia-Ahiazu Mbaise Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Umulolo-Okigwe Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Nkalunta na Nde Totty na Aro Oboro Ikwuano Abia State, Nigeria
Aro Ndi itee na Nde Okereke Abam - Arochukwu LGA Abia State, Nigeria
Aro Ndi okpalaeke na Ndi Aguluezechukwu Aguata LGA Anambra State, Nigeria
Aro Mbutu Aboh Mbaise Imo State, Nigeria Emeka Ihedioha


Aro Ndi Akweke Orsumogho Ihiala Anambra State, Nigeria
Aro Ndi Oji Ukpor/Ihembosi
Aro Ozubulu Anambra State, Nigeria
Aro Egbuoma Oguta LGA Imo State, Nigeria
Aro panya, na Aro Fernando poo Equatorial Guinea
Aro Itu-Nta Ibere Ikwuano Umuahia LGA Abia State, Nigeria
Aro Ikot Ukana Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Aro Onicha Ngwa Ìsì ala Ngwa Abia State, Nigeria
Aro Ntalakwu Bende Abia State, Nigeria
Aro Mbala-Isuochi Abia State, Nigeria
Aro Ikot Umo Essien Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Aro Onicha Ngwa Abia State, Nigeria
Aro Udi Enugu State, Nigeria
Aro Effium
Aro Isuikwuato
Aro Uturu Okigwe
Aro Amaokwe
Aro Nta Mbaise Imo State, Nigeria
Aro Itu-Nta Ibere Ikwuano Abia State, Nigeria
Aro Eziala Nsulu Isiala Ngwa Abia State, Nigeria Nde Ujah in Atani
Aro Mbiabong Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria Nde Akweke, Obinkita


References

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  1. ^ Olson, James Stuart (1996). The Peoples of Africa: An Ethnohistorical Dictionary. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 234. ISBN 0313279187.
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