Full List of Tribes in Edo State, Nigeria

Edo State is one of the 36 states that make up the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is situated in the South-South geopolitical zone of the country and has a rich cultural heritage. According to the 2006 National population census, Edo State was ranked as the 24th most populated state in Nigeria, with a total population of over 3 million people.

Over the years, Edo State has experienced significant growth in population, and it is estimated that the state’s population figures will increase to about 8,000,000 by the year 2022. This growth is attributed to various factors, including the state’s fertile agricultural land, its strategic location as a transportation hub, and its status as a major commercial center in Nigeria.

Edo State is home to several ethnic groups, including the Edo, Esan, and Afemai. The people of Edo State are known for their rich cultural heritage, which includes traditional music, dance, and festivals. The state is also home to several tourist attractions, such as the Benin City National Museum, the Oba’s Palace, and the Okomu National Park.

In terms of economic activities, Edo State is known for its thriving agricultural sector, which produces crops such as rubber, palm oil, cassava, and yams. The state is also home to several industries, including textile, rubber, and plastics manufacturing, as well as a growing technology industry. With its rich cultural heritage, natural resources, and strategic location, Edo State is poised for continued growth and development in the years to come.

Contrary to what a lot of people think, Edo state is not just occupied by the Binis and Esans. It is occupied by nine other tribes. Edo state was created in 1991 and has Benin city as its capital. It is one of the states in Nigeria with tribes that have a lot in common with tribes from other states. This state occupies the mid-western region and is the 22nd biggest state in Nigeria.

Below are the tribes in Edo state.

Okpamheri Tribe
The Okpameri people of Edo state are found in Akoko-Edo local government area. The Okpameri people are very peaceful and hospitable people and are majorly farmers.

Although Christianity is the major religion of the Okpameri people a few of them still practice their traditional religion. The people of Okpameri are known to feed on pounded yam and vegetable soup.

Uneme Tribe
The people of Uneme are found in Afemailand. They occupy present day Akoko and are made up of 6 communities. It is believed that the people of Uneme migrated from the old Benin kingdom after they had a misunderstanding with the Oba.

This people are known for their skills as blacksmiths and are predominantly Christians. They mostly feed on pounded yam and soup.

Yoruba Tribe
The Yoruba tribe located in Edo state is a minority tribe. Unlike the Yorubas in other states, the Yorubas in Edo sate are politically and economically disadvantaged. The Yoruba tribe in Edo is located in a part of Edo that is close to Ore in Ondo state. Although this people speak the Yoruba language, their dialect is influenced by the Bini language.Although the Yorubas in Edo are predominantly Christians, some of them still practice their traditional religion. This people are farmers and traders. They are known to feed on soup and processed yam flour.

Igbo Tribe .The Igbo people of Edo state are primarily the Igbanke, They are also called Ika Igbos .they are found in Delta also.These Igbos were victims of Benin slave raiders in the 15th,16th centuries and due to proximity, have adopted some Benin cultural practices but their language has since remained Igbo. There are several Igbanke communities with Benin names. They are located in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state.Their monarchy is titled “EZE” e.g
Eze Ake, Eze IdumuOdin, Eze Igbon, Eze Oligie, Eze Omolua, Eze Ottah.

Esan Tribe
The Esan people are one of the most dreaded tribes to come out of Edo state. This is probably because of the fact that they are traditionalists to the core. The Esan peole are located in present day Edo central senatorial district.

The Esan tribe is made up of about 35 kingdoms. They are quite similar to the Bini people. Farming is the major occupation of the Esan people. Also Christianity is widely practiced in this tribe.

Benin tribe
The Benin tribe is one of the few tribes in Nigeria that was once an empire. The bini people are found in Benin City, in present day edo state. They are known for their very superior diabolic powers. The average Bini man is believed to have some form of spiritual fortification. This makes them dreaded by people of other tribes.

The people of Benin are farmers and are predominantly Christians. Although, Bini people practice Christianity, traditional worship is still very common. They eat egusi soup and pounded yam.

Owan Tribe
The Owan tribe is a minority tribe in Edo state. The Owan people speak the Afemai language, a language that is very closely related to other Edo languages.

The Owan people occupy the Owan local government area. They are not a politically significant tribe because of their population. Farming is practiced by the predominantly Christian community of Owan.

Etsako Tribe
The Etsako tribe is a tribe that occupies three local government areas in Edo state. These local government areas are Etsako central, Etsako west and Etsako east. Etsako has thr highest Muslim population in Edo state.

Other Tribes are :

Ebu Tribe

Etuno Tribe

Iru people

Usen people

Ekpon people

Ijaw people

Oza people

Source: GBD