The Emergence of Collective Identity among the Anioma People of Nigeria

This study examines the complex identity of Anioma people living in Southeastern Nigeria. It addresses critical problems ingrained in Anioma’s experience to the emergence of their collective identity. It traces their origins primarily to the Igbo hinterland with some Edo influence. It analyzes the effects of migrations on their identity, examines the impact of colonialism, and the Nigerian Civil War, which disrupted Anioma traditions and distorted their socio-political structures. The study relies on primary source materials, including archival records and oral testimonies gathered from the field, complemented by relevant secondary sources. Anioma’s experience is portrayed as a complex evolution constrained by the challenges and transformations sustained within Nigeria’s intricate ethnic and political framework.