Aro history

= Ibibio Control =

Before Igbo arrival to the Aro territory, a Semi-Bantu group of the Ibibio arrived around 300 AD from the Benue valley. Mainly inhabiting between the Imo-Cross River they dwelled in many scattered communities. A prominent settlement was Ibom and Obong Okon Ita. These hunters and farmers perhaps lived peacefully until new arrivers of a different origin invaded.

Igbo Migration and Invasion

The Igbo migration led by Eze Agwu among the Ibibio in the Aro territory started around 1600 AD due to population, land, business, etc. These were business, land hungry people, slaves from perhaps Southern and Northeastern Igboland. Tensions escalated between the Igbos and Ibibios resulting in the Aro-Ibibio Wars instigated by several indivisuals like Urunk-nta, Ulu Kakpokpo Okon, Urunk, and Ulu Akpan Okon. Neither groups had a victorious position in the war. The Igbo called Priest Nnachi of the Edda clan near Afikpo for assistance. Nnachi wasn't able to complete the mission so through his son Oke Nnachi, he called on Eastern Cross river allies for assistance.

Akpa arrival and the foundation of Arochukwu

Osim and Akuma Nnubi were Akpa merchant princes from the Calabar area. They led Akpa mercenaries into the Aro territory to assist their Igbo allies to victory but with the cost of Osim losing his life in the start of the 18th century. With the Akpas and Igbos being victorious, the Arochukwu kingdom was found with Akuma being the first king or EzeAro. The Ibibio people were either killed, enslaved, thrown out, or faced discrimination from other Aro groups. After Akuma died, the Igbo took over the throne starting with Nnachi's son Oke Nnachi in 1720. Many changes occurred as 19 city-states formed due to the increasing population which resulted in the foundation of Aro colonies abroad from the Niger Delta to some claims as far as Equatorial Guinea.

Aro Confederacy

The Aro Confederacy was a strong Aro state which truly started when forming allies and starting colonies abroad in the 1730s. With the powerful Oracle God Ibini Ukpabi in Arochukwu, the Aros had a lot of fame and they used this advantage to supply slaves to the coastal allies like Calabar, Opobo, Bonny, Brass, and other states controlled by the Efik, Ijaw, Igbo, and Ibibio. Sometimes using slave raiding and kidnapping gangs, the Aros and their neighbouring allies razed through Igbo and Ibibiolands. Aro colonies benefited and really thrived from the slave trade. Colonies like Ajalli, Arondizuogu, and Bende became one of the most powerful Aro states through commerce and warfare. Military action in the Aro Confederacy was at times needed in order to surive and expand. The founders of Arondizuogu, Izuogu Mgbokpo and Chief Iheme are examples of Aro commanders who used great military strategy to defeat enemies in combat in the mid 18th century. They influenced later legendary Aro commanders such as Okoro Idozuka also of Arondizuogu who expanded the state's borders through warfare in the starting of the 19th century. But mostly the Aro Confederacy's power was through religious and economic ways. But with European colonists on their way in the conclusion of the 19th century, things would change.

European Colonists

British colonialism in the late 19th century turned Anglo-Aro relations bad. Aro leaders knew that Christianity, colonialism, and end of their monopoly would destroy Aro economic rule. Also the British knew that there was no way to avoid war due to repeated Aro attacks so they made plans for war in 1899. The problem wasn't only religion but business. Aro traders and the Royal Niger Company, had their own issues. An Aro invasion of Obegu in 1901 started the Anglo-Aro War. After the direct attack on Arochukwu and months of fighting, the British were victorious in 1902. The Aro Confederacy's power shattered which made it easier for the British to take over the Eastern Nigerian region.

Nigeria

When Nigeria won independence from Great Britain in 1960, ethnic tensions rose between the regions resulting in the Nigerian Civil War in 1967-1970. After the war, the Aros and the rest of the Igbo People suffered discrimintation from other Nigerians. Many Igbo have moved out of Nigeria since. Aro culture has suffered but prominent Aro men around the world are working hard to unify all Aro people and revive its lost identity.

References

* [http://www.aronetwork.org/geography.htm Arochukwu Network geography page] (http://eabuja.com/index.html)