From Igbanke in Edo State to Aboh in Delta State, Anioma people are one because we share cultural features unique to us and not found among other peoples, this is why we are the Anioma people of Nigeria situated in Delta State. The people are distinguished as a group with similar enriching history and we treasure it notwithstanding what many have termed identification and image problems within the region the almighty has kindly situated us for with the creation of Anioma State, structured development and growth in every facet will be witnessed. It is for this reason that I have always seen myself in the frontline advocate for the creation of Anioma State because it will further unite us for development and give us recognition.
It is a known fact in history that the people of Anioma have been grossly marginalized and impoverished in the nation called Nigeria, the British colonial government’s failure to see the visible unique features that bound the people of Anioma were the very first to subject the people to disharmony not quickly realizing that the people were one group of people who shared cultural featured. In spite of the people’s contributions to the growth and development of the nation which has become so glaring, the Nigerian system has refused to give the people a state of their own for reasons known only to them.
Anyone who is still in doubt about the distinct heritage of the Anioma people should realize that all the communities proudly called the Anioma today are including Onicha-Ado (Onitsha) and Igbanke share similar culture which reflects in traditional attires. The Akwa-ocha is one form of native attire which distinguishes the people from the rest ethnic groups of the nation, not forgetting that the people naturally finds collective linguistic affinity in Enuani, the Enuani language is intelligible to all the communities that make up the Anioma whether from Agbor or Ika. The Anioma also have a way of conducting the funerals of their dead which is unique to the people and not performed anywhere else but in Anioma. You may therefore commonly see the people appear in Otogwu attire with Uya (Horse-tail) while doing their thing in the traditional way.
“Diokpa” is a common Anioma word used to describe the head whether within the family or village level, it is a word that today denotes an elderly man within the local parlance of the Anioma people. We show respect for our Diokpas and treat them like our biological fathers. In our marriage ceremonial rite, a lot of people outside the Anioma community wonder why the oldest man gloriously occupies a position that should have be meant for the Bride’s biological father but what they do not understand is that in our Anioma culture, a child is the child of everyone in the community, we celebrate together and grieve together when occasions demand, that’s how we do it in our Anioma larger community.
I am yet to see any single ethnic group in Nigeria where relationship is stronger compared with what obtains among the Anioma people, speak Enuani and we recognize you as “Nwanne Nmadu” thus a man from Onicha-Olona is a brother to a woman from Ezi because we are one and share same cultural heritage, this is what our fathers were quick to discover before advocating for the collective unity of the various people with one fate, coming together as a people. I am yet to see it happen in Nigeria. We are the Anioma people of Delta State, we are distinct.