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Onitsha
Onitsha (Igbo: Ọ̀nị̀chà Mmílí or simply Ọ̀nị̀chà) is a city on the eastern bank of the Niger River, in Anambra State, Nigeria. Onitsha along with various cities and towns in southern Anambra State, northern Imo State and neighboring Delta State on the western bank of the Niger River, form a continuous metropolitan area.
As of 2016, the greater Onitsha area had an estimated population of around eight million people in central and southern Anambra state extending into neighboring Delta state to the west and Imo state to the south. Spread across parts of these three states, the greater Onitsha area is regarded as one of the largest metropolitan areas in Nigeria by both population and landmass. The continuous urban sprawl or conurbation of greater Onitsha spreads across several separate cities and their satellite towns and suburbs including Asaba, Obosi, Oba, Ogbaru, Nnewi, the Anambra State capital Awka down to Orlu in Imo State. As of early 2024, Onitsha city proper has an estimated population of 1,695,000.
The indigenous people of Onitsha are Igbo and speak the Igbo language with Onitsha being the largest urban area and commercial hub of the Igboland region of Nigeria, the Igbo people’s indigenous homeland. The Onitsha people are referred to as Ndi Onicha in Igbo. English and Nigerian Pidgin English are also widely spoken. Although the population is largely Igbo, there are many other ethnic groups in the Onitsha area mainly from other Nigerian ethnicities indigenous to the southeast of the country due to Onitshas position as an economic hub in the region.
According to Africapolis, the greater Onitsha metropolis will be regarded as one of the most densely populated areas in the world by 2050. In 2023, McKinsey predicted that the greater Onitsha metropolis area will double in human development by 2045 with the current expansion rate.
Onitsha was founded between 1630 and 1680 by immigrants from Benin. The city developed when the trade expedition led by Macgregor Laird reached the settlement. Among the expedition associates was Samuel Ajayi Crowther, who led the Church Mission Society (CMS) in the region. The Roman Catholic mission later arrived, hence both missions contributed to the history and development of Onitsha, including building educational institutions, the Central Primary School, Odoakpu, among others. Since its foundation, Onitsha has exercised more political, economic, and social influence over Nkpor, Oba, Ogidi, Nkwelle Ezunaka, and Umunya, which existed before it.
Some sources argues that Onitsha began in the 16th century, when Eze Chima, a native doctor who descended from Eri, was invited by Oba Esigie of Benin during the Benin-Igala war. Esigie had heard of a native doctor and of the tales of his diabolical powers, he ordered his men to bring Chima to his palace so he may help Benin win their war. After the war was won, Chima would found the kingdom of Ado N’Idu, after having been given land by Esigie.
However, a collapse in the relationship between Esigie and Chima would occur due to, depending on the account, of the Queen Mother, Idia, having either been beaten by Chima’s men for intruding on their farmland, or having been denied tribute, would demand retribution from Esigie. Esigie, would call upon Gbunwara, the leader of the Benin army, to wage war on Ado N’Idu, and Chima informed of this gathered his men, and fought a fierce war against the armies of Benin for several days, before being overwhelmed by their superior numbers, and for the survival of his people, mounting a retreat.
Eze Chima, and his retinue of warriors and extended family, would leave their kingdom of Ado N’Idu to seek a new pasture, and many of the retinue branching off to found their own settlements, such as Onicha-Olona, Onicha Ugbo, Obio etc. Eventually, once reaching the west bank of the Niger, Chima would die before they could cross, leaving the rest of the retinue to be led by his son, Oraeze, who lead them across the river and named their new settlement, Ọ̀nị̀chà Mmílí, or Onitsha-on-water, the kingdom of Onitsha was founded.
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Onitsha
Onitsha (Igbo: Ọ̀nị̀chà Mmílí or simply Ọ̀nị̀chà) is a city on the eastern bank of the Niger River, in Anambra State, Nigeria. Onitsha along with various cities and towns in southern Anambra State, northern Imo State and neighboring Delta State on the western bank of the Niger River, form a continuous metropolitan area.
As of 2016, the greater Onitsha area had an estimated population of around eight million people in central and southern Anambra state extending into neighboring Delta state to the west and Imo state to the south. Spread across parts of these three states, the greater Onitsha area is regarded as one of the largest metropolitan areas in Nigeria by both population and landmass. The continuous urban sprawl or conurbation of greater Onitsha spreads across several separate cities and their satellite towns and suburbs including Asaba, Obosi, Oba, Ogbaru, Nnewi, the Anambra State capital Awka down to Orlu in Imo State. As of early 2024, Onitsha city proper has an estimated population of 1,695,000.
The indigenous people of Onitsha are Igbo and speak the Igbo language with Onitsha being the largest urban area and commercial hub of the Igboland region of Nigeria, the Igbo people’s indigenous homeland. The Onitsha people are referred to as Ndi Onicha in Igbo. English and Nigerian Pidgin English are also widely spoken. Although the population is largely Igbo, there are many other ethnic groups in the Onitsha area mainly from other Nigerian ethnicities indigenous to the southeast of the country due to Onitshas position as an economic hub in the region.
According to Africapolis, the greater Onitsha metropolis will be regarded as one of the most densely populated areas in the world by 2050. In 2023, McKinsey predicted that the greater Onitsha metropolis area will double in human development by 2045 with the current expansion rate.
Onitsha was founded between 1630 and 1680 by immigrants from Benin. The city developed when the trade expedition led by Macgregor Laird reached the settlement. Among the expedition associates was Samuel Ajayi Crowther, who led the Church Mission Society (CMS) in the region. The Roman Catholic mission later arrived, hence both missions contributed to the history and development of Onitsha, including building educational institutions, the Central Primary School, Odoakpu, among others. Since its foundation, Onitsha has exercised more political, economic, and social influence over Nkpor, Oba, Ogidi, Nkwelle Ezunaka, and Umunya, which existed before it.
Some sources argues that Onitsha began in the 16th century, when Eze Chima, a native doctor who descended from Eri, was invited by Oba Esigie of Benin during the Benin-Igala war. Esigie had heard of a native doctor and of the tales of his diabolical powers, he ordered his men to bring Chima to his palace so he may help Benin win their war. After the war was won, Chima would found the kingdom of Ado N’Idu, after having been given land by Esigie.
However, a collapse in the relationship between Esigie and Chima would occur due to, depending on the account, of the Queen Mother, Idia, having either been beaten by Chima’s men for intruding on their farmland, or having been denied tribute, would demand retribution from Esigie. Esigie, would call upon Gbunwara, the leader of the Benin army, to wage war on Ado N’Idu, and Chima informed of this gathered his men, and fought a fierce war against the armies of Benin for several days, before being overwhelmed by their superior numbers, and for the survival of his people, mounting a retreat.
Eze Chima, and his retinue of warriors and extended family, would leave their kingdom of Ado N’Idu to seek a new pasture, and many of the retinue branching off to found their own settlements, such as Onicha-Olona, Onicha Ugbo, Obio etc. Eventually, once reaching the west bank of the Niger, Chima would die before they could cross, leaving the rest of the retinue to be led by his son, Oraeze, who lead them across the river and named their new settlement, Ọ̀nị̀chà Mmílí, or Onitsha-on-water, the kingdom of Onitsha was founded.