Edo people

Edo people
An Edo children's cultural assembly
Total population
5 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, sometimes referred to as the Bendel people, are an Edo-speaking ethnic group. The Edo tribe who predominantly reside in 8 southern local government areas of the State of Edo, Nigeria are known as 'ÉDO'. They are speakers of the Edo language and are the descendants of the founders of the Benin Kingdom Ogiso Igodo. They are closely related to other southern Nigerian tribes, such as the Esan, the Etsakọ, the Isoko, the Igbo, and the Urhobo.[2]

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.[3]

  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. ^ "Édo – esd30plus". Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Yoruba leaders disagree over origin, meaning of their name". Vanguard News. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2021.

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