HISTORY OF IGUEBEN KINGDOM.
Igueben kingdom is one of the last settlements in Esanland and their current Ojie name is HRH Ehizojie Eluojiror 11. There are many dialects in Esan language. Igueben speak one of the dialects.
During the industrialisation of Esanland and then Igodomigodo about 925 A.D when Ojiso Ere was on throne, a particular stock in our family tree, called Uneme. Decided to move close to Igodomigodo from Esanland and these Esans/Uneme were the only humans gifted with iron melting and blacksmith production in that era.
The settlements they founded in Igodomigodo was 1. Idumuigun Ugboha. 2. Igun- Adaha, 3. Igun – Eyanugie and 4. Igun Iselu. These Esans/Uneme were responsible for the production of blacksmith, weapons of war and tools for farming. They also invented Ada and Eben.
After the collapse of Ojiso dynasty and the introduction of Obaship. A certain Oba called Esigie was on the throne and he had a war with the Igala kingdom. Knowing how dreadful the Esan warriors are, he decided to hired the service of ENOWE THE GREAT from Ugboha Kingdom, Esanland, a powerful Esan warrior.
Similarly, he hired the service of THE GREAT EBEN, a native of Idumuigun Ugboha, Igodomigodo or Benin.
Note the difference. Ugboha kingdom in Esanland and Idumuigun Ugboha in Igodomigodo/Benin. The Esan Uneme stock are the two founders.
After the Benin – Igala war in 15 century. On their way to Benin through Esanland, EBEN AND ENOWE halted at a particular spot in Esan and noticed the yam they left on their way to Igalaland has matured. Astonished to see the amazing fertility of Esan soil in that area, EBEN decided to settle and founded IGUEBEN KINGDOM along with ENOWE THE GREAT.
Later, other Esans from Uromi Kingdom, Ubiaza kingdom etc joined the settlement. This is how Igueben kingdom was founded.
It is important to state here. There is only one ENOWE THE GREAT from Ugboha Kingdom. A renowned war leader, the expert blacksmith and the respected physician both in Ugboha Esan, Igueben Esan and Benin.
In gratitude to the victory the Esan warrior Enowe the great brought to Benin during Idah war. He was honoured with deification and has a shrine at Iduigun Ugboha Benin till date.
He is also honoured in Igueben kingdom. All Iduigun which was the original settlement founded by Great Eben began to worship Enowe’s.
Reference
Esan Native Laws and Custom, Okojie 1953
The Cultural History of Uneme From Earliest Time till 1962, Harunah 2005.
