Draft:Anyama-Ogbia

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Anyama Town, also known as Anyama-Ogbia, or Kingdom of Anyama-Ogbia, has its origins dating back to 1655, when it was founded by Âɗēh, a prosperous migrant trader and fisherman, who initially settled in what is now recognized as Anyama-Ogbia. Initially called Otu-Egbesu, meaning 'home of Egbesu,' the town's initial name reflected its connection to its traditional deity, Egbesu, revered by the Ijaw people as a deity of war, holding significant cultural importance for Anyama Town and the broader Ijaw community.

Anyama-Ogbia Ọ̄tù-Ēɠɓéṣū, Kingdom of Anyama-Ogbia
Town
Anyama Town
Coordinates: 4.76018,6.23104
Founded	1655
Founded by	Âɗēh
Named for	Ọ̄tù-Ēɠɓéṣū, (Ijaw diety of war)
Seat	The Palace, Anyama Town
Government
• Type	Traditional Monarchy
• Body	Community Development Council
• Sovereign Dynasty	Ọ̄bí-Âɗẹ̄h, Royal Family
• Obenema	Obi-Âɗēh Royal Family
Area
• Total	340.86 ha (842.28 acres)
• Water	60.64 ha (149.84 acres)
Population
• Estimate  (2023)	4,970 (Source-INEC Voting Data)
Time zone	GMT + 1
ISO 3166 code	NG.BY.AY

Located within the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, nestled in Nigeria's Niger Delta region, Anyama Town serves as the administrative centre for the Anyama Clan, one of the four clans constituting the Ogbia Kingdom. According to INEC's 2023 voting data, Anyama-Ogbia is estimated to have a population of 4,970.

It's noteworthy that Bayelsa State is home to two towns named Anyama: Anyama-Ogbia in the Ogbia Local Government Area and Anyama-Ijaw in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. Both communities are part of the Ijaw tribe, with Anyama-Ogbia predominantly using the Ogbia language, while Anyama-Ijaw primarily communicates in Central Ijaw. This article exclusively explores Anyama-Ogbia

History

Anyama town in Ogbia was founded in 1655 by Âɗēh (pronounced Ādî or Ad-deh), a wealthy migrant trader and fisherman who first settled in what is now known as Anyama town. Initially called Otu-Egbesu, meaning ‘home of Egbesu,’ the town’s traditional deity.  Egbesu, is revered by the Ijaw people as a deity of war and holds significant importance for Anyama.

Anyama Town developed into a bustling fishing and trading hub, renowned for its palm oil, fish, and seafood trade. The town's first traditional ruler, Âɗēh, founded the Obi-Âɗēh Royal Dynasty, which continues to hold the royal lineage.

Under King Adeh’s leadership, Anyama thrived by trading seafood, palm oil, cassava, yam, cocoyam, rice, and other agricultural products with neighboring Ijaw tribes and Europeans. Although the town briefly engaged in the slave trade by acquiring Igbo slaves via the Onitsha route, this practice was soon discontinued.

Adeh’s son, Ekpor, succeeded him as Obenema and expanded the community's trade networks eastward and southward by sea. Traditional historical accounts suggest that Ekpor named his son Obi after a friend he met during one of his trading voyages. Ekpor was famed for his extraordinary longevity, allegedly living to 138 years, earning the title “dume-dume-nekpala,” which means one who continuously adds years to his life. As legend has it, the community, believing he had lived too long, conspired to end his life by sealing him in an anthill. Before his death, Ekpor cursed the town, proclaiming that no one would live as long as he had.

Obi, Ekpor’s son, fathered 25 children, including Samuel Okori Obi, Stanley Obi, and Julius Obi. From these descendants, five royal houses were established: the House of Ekpor, House of Okori, House of Jokori, House of Âɗēh, and House of Obi. In the Anyama-Ogbia dialect, "Okori" means “to be settled in favor,” and "Obi" translates to “a king’s house,” reflecting the importance of these names to the royal lineage.

As Obenema, Obi Ekpor, also called “obi-te-ekpor” (Obi, son of Ekpor), guided Anyama into a prosperous era. His son, Samuel Okori Obi, continued this legacy, enhancing the town’s wealth and influence. Samuel earned titles such as “ekpor-na-mobiozoh (I)” meaning a person from the house of kings, and “odidia-markwe (I)” meaning the pillar of the family. He was also known as the “money man” for his vast wealth.

The Obi-Adeh Royal Family maintains strong ties with other notable families, including the Eleibiri family in Nembe and the Eruani family in Brass. Prominent figures include HRH Chief (Engr) Okori Obana Christopher, of the Royal House of Okori, who became Obenema of Epebu Community through his matrilineal lineage in the House of Apiri, and HRH Rev. Lawrence Samuel Okori, a former Chairman of the Anyama Rural Development Authority. Numerous members of the royal family have held governmental and community leadership roles throughout the Anyama Clan.

Economy

The vibrant community of Anyama persists in its trading activities, specializing in a diverse array of seafood such as fish, prawns, and crab, alongside the cultivation and sale of palm oil and various agricultural produce. This enduring tradition reflects the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit ingrained within the fabric of Anyama’s cultural and economic landscape.

Environmental Issues

Anyama Town is faced with several environmental issues including flooding, erosion and gas flaring. These issues affect not just Anyama Community but several other communities within the Anyama clan.

Building and other infrastructure has been washed away. Coastal erosion is a huge problem. The erosion has brought about untold hardship. Over 500 houses have been washed away over the years. A new settlement was formed because the old original Anyama has almost been eroded away. People have moved out to other places because of fear of coastal erosion.

The erosion has washed away houses, economic trees and vital government establishments earlier cited in Anyama-Ogbia. Pubic property lost to the coastal erosion includes a government courtyard established around 1935, St. James Anglican Church established around 1910, two rice mills established around 1977 a primary school, three jetties, the general post office established around 1935 and a police station, while an old oil mill established around 1955 is on the verge been washed away.

Anyama Clan

The Anyama Clan, one of the constituent parts of the Ogbia Kingdom, is famed for its abundant crude oil reserves, attracting numerous international oil companies to its communities. Governed by traditional monarchy under the leadership of His Royal Majesty King Omie Theophilus, the Obanobhan of Anyama Clan, the clan faces a host of challenges jeopardizing its stability and prosperity

Anyama Clan Anyama Group Anyama District
Municipality
Anyama Clan
Government
• Type	Traditional Monarchy
• Body	Anyama Ruling Council
• Obanobhan	His Royal Majesty, King Omie Theophilus
Population
• Estimate  (2023)	17,750 (INEC Voting Data)
Time zone	GMT+1

Among these challenges are environmental issues such as flooding, coastal erosion and gas flaring, which disrupt the lives of residents. Coastal erosion, especially, has resulted in the destruction of homes and vital infrastructure, necessitating the relocation of many and the establishment of new settlements.

HRM King Omie Theophilus, Obanobhan of Anyama Clan

Furthermore, the Anyama Clan grapples with security threats posed by sea pirates, compounding the hardships faced by its communities and posing risks to both residents' safety and economic stability.

Addressing these complex issues requires collaborative efforts from stakeholders. Strategic partnerships with the leadership of all 17 communities within the clan, the Ogbia Local Government Council, Anyama Rural Development Authority, Bayelsa State Government, Niger Delta Development Commission, and local and international non-profit organizations are essential. Proactive measures must be taken to confront these challenges and safeguard the well-being and stability of the Anyama Clan. Through concerted efforts and effective collaboration, solutions can be found to these urgent issues, paving the way for a brighter future for the clan's residents.

The 17 Communities that make up Anyama Clan are;

Communities/Towns
Anyama Town	Headquarters of Anyama Clan
Ayakoro Community
Epebu Community
Ewoma Community
Emadike Community
Okodi Town
Otuebule 1
Onuebum Community
Otuorbhi Community
Otuokpein Town
Orrkiki Community
Otuokenegu Community
Ologierye Community
Otuedu Community
Ologi Community
Otuogori Community
Otuoegwe Community

Anyama Clan has produced notable people including:

• HRH The Honourable (Chief) Justice- Emmanuel Joel Igoniwari, Obanobhan-Elect of Ogbia Kingdom and former Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, who passed on in 2007. He hailed from Otuedu Community in Anyama Clan.
• Billionaire industrialist, Dr. Eruani Azibapu Godbless CFR, son of late King Alwell Eruani, Obanema of Emadike, Aguda the IX. He is former Commissioner of Health for Bayelsa State and Chairman of Azikiel Group, His matrilineal lineage can be traced to the House of Okori in Anyama-Ogbia and House of Apiri in Epebu Community.
• Rev. Lawrence Okori, former Chairman of Anyama Rural Development Authority, (popularly known as Anyama Local Government) who paternally hails from the House of Okori in Anyama-Ogbia. His matrilineal lineage can be traced to the House of Apiri in Epebu Community.
• Hon. Munalayefa Gibson, a member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, who hails from Epebu Community
• Hon. Robert Enogha Ayalla, a former member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and Chairman of Ayalla Hotels Limited, who hails from Orkiki Community.
• HRH Late Paul I. Nathan, Obanobhan of Anyama Clan and Acting Obanobhan of Ogbia Kingdom