Edo people

Edo people
An Edo children's cultural assembly
Total population
10 million[1]
Regions with significant populations
Edo State
Languages
Edo and English
Religion
Predominantly Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Afemai, Esan, Isoko, Urhobo

The Edo people, also referred to as the Benin people,[2] are an Edoid-speaking ethnic group.[3] They are prominently native to seven southern local government areas of Edo State, Nigeria. They are speakers of the Edo language and are the descendants of the founders of the Benin Kingdom, Ogiso Igodo.[4] They are closely related to other Edoid ethnic groups, such as the Esan, the Etsakọ, the Isoko and Urhobo as well as other southern ethnic groups, such as the Yoruba and the Igbo.[5]

The name "Benin" (and "Bini") is a Portuguese corruption, ultimately from the word "Ubini", which came into use during the reign of Oba (ruler) Ewuare, c. 1440. "Ubini", an Edo word meaning Livable, used by Pa Idu, the progenitor of the Edo people to describe the area found as a Livable Locale, during their sojourn from lower Egypt. Ubini was later corrupted to Benin by the mixed ethnicities living together at the centre; and further corrupted to Benin around 1485, when the Portuguese began trade relations with Oba Ewuare giving them coral beads.[6]

  1. ^ Shoup III, John A. (2011). Ethnic Groups of Africa and the Middle East: An Encyclopedia: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 130. ISBN 9781598843637.
  2. ^ "Edo | Benin City, Igarra, Uzebba | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Who are the Edo people?". www.edoworld.net. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  4. ^ History, Benin. "The Ogiso Era". Benin History. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Édo – esd30plus". Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Yoruba leaders disagree over origin, meaning of their name". Vanguard News. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2021.

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