The Aro Confederacy was a large slave trading network and league of Igbo and Cross River allies led by the Aro people which flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries. Their influence and presence was distributed across parts of Nigeria's West Delta region, entire Eastern region, and Southern Igala. It is claimed that it extended through parts of present-day Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. The Arochukwu Kingdom was a economical, political, and oracular center as it was home of the powerful Long Juju oracle, the Aro King, Chiefs, and High Priests. This Confederacy was born with the rise of the slave trade in the hinterland. Image:Antigua and barbuda coa. ... An official language is a language that is given a unique legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... Igbo is a language spoken in Nigeria by around 18 million people (1999 WA), the Igbo, especially in the southeastern region once identified as Biafra. ... Ibibio is a Cross River language spoken by 1,5 to 2 million Ibibio in the Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. ... The Ijaw (also known by the subgroups Ijo or Izon) are a collection of peoples indigenous mostly to the forest regions of the Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States within the Niger Delta in Nigeria. ... Delta-Ibo (sometimes spelt Delta-Igbo) refers to a group of languages related to the Igbo language and spoken in Nigeria. ... The Urhobo are a people of southern Nigeria, near the northwestern Niger River delta. ... The Isoko language is spoken in the Isoko region, Nigeria, by the Isoko people. ... The Itsekiri (also called the Jekri, Isekiri or Ishekiri) are an ethnic group of Nigerias Niger delta area, particularly the city of Warri. ... This article is about a city that serves as a center of government and politics. ... Arochukwu (formerly and sometimes still Arochuku) is the third largest town in Abia state in southeastern Nigeria. ... Arochukwu (formerly and sometimes still Arochuku) is the third largest town in Abia state in southeastern Nigeria. ... Economics (deriving from the Greek words οίκω [okos], house, and νέμω [nemo], rules hence household management) is the social science that studies the allocation of scarce resources to satisfy unlimited wants. ... A confederation is an association of sovereign states or communities, usually created by treaty but often later adopting a common constitution. ... A variety of rulers A 2 metre carpenters rule Retractable flexible rule A ruler or rule is an instrument used in geometry, technical drawing and engineering/building to measure distances and/or to rule straight lines. ... Area is a physical quantity expressing the size of a part of a surface. ... Species Cypraea annulus Cypraea moneta Cypraea pantherina Cypraea spurca Cypraea tigris Cypraea vitellus Cyprea linx Various species of Cowry from all over the world Cowry shells (also spelled “cowrie”), are marine snails of the genus Cypraea (family Cypraeidae), found chiefly in tropical regions, especially around the Maldives or the East... The Buxton Memorial Fountain, celebrating the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire in 1834, London. ... Events Giovanni Domenico Cassini observes differential rotation within Jupiters atmosphere. ... 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Aros of West Africa, is a large group of people who originated in Arochukwu. ... The Igala or Igara are a people of Nigeria. ... Arochukwu (formerly and sometimes still Arochuku) is the third largest town in Abia state in southeastern Nigeria. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

[edit] The Rise

The slave trading Confederacy was founded shortly after Arochukwu formed. Making alliances with several Igbo and eastern Cross River neighbours, the Aro people began slave trading activities around Igbo and Ibibio lands. Aro oracle agents used the god, Ibini Ukpabi, popular in midwest and southeast Nigeria, to capture slaves. As this continued, Aro businessmen from Arochukwu migrated across southern Nigeria and mabey to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea and founded numerous settlements. There they spread the Aro trading monopoly. Arochukwu (formerly and sometimes still Arochuku) is the third largest town in Abia state in southeastern Nigeria. ... Cross River might mean: A river that flows through West Africa Cross River State in southeastern Nigeria which is named after the river above. ... The Aros of West Africa, is a large group of people who originated in Arochukwu. ... The Igbo, sometimes (especially formerly) referred to as Ibo, are one of the largest single ethnicities in Africa. ... The Ibibio people are a tribe in southeast Nigeria. ...

[edit] The Confederacy Era

This activity became very popular as coastal Niger Delta city-states became important centres for the export of slaves. Such city-states included Opobo, Bonny, Brass, Calabar, as well as other slave trading city-states controlled by the Ijaw, Efik, and Igbo. The Aros formed a strong trading network and incorporated hundreds of communities that formed into powerful kingdoms. The Ajalli, Arondizuogu, and Bende Kingdoms were the most powerful Aro powers in the Confederacy after Arochukwu. Some were founded and named after great Commanders and Chiefs like the legendary Izuogu Mgbokpo and Iheme whom led Aro forces to destroy and conquer Ikpa Ora and founded Arondizuogu. The Niger Delta, the delta of the Niger River in Nigeria, is a densely populated region sometimes called the Oil Rivers because it was once a major producer of palm oil. ... Opobo is a city in Rivers State, southern Nigeria. ... Bonny is a town in southeast Nigeria, on the Bight of Biafra. ... For other uses, see Brass (disambiguation). ... Location of Calabar in Nigeria Calabar is a city in south eastern Nigeria. ... The Ijaw (also known by the subgroups Ijo or Izon) are a collection of peoples indigenous mostly to the forest regions of the Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States within the Niger Delta in Nigeria. ... This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... Arondizuogu is a town in the Imo State in Nigeria. ... Chief Izuogu Mgbokpo of Amankwu, Arochukwu of the 18th century was a warrior in the Aro Confederacy. ... Chief Iheme of Isi-Akpu Nise near Awka was a chief servant of Maazi Izuogu Mgbokpo. ...

[edit] Decline

In the late 19th century, European colonists moved into Igboland. Their power was not affected as Germans colonized Cameroon in 1884 and Spaniards colonized Equatorial Guinea in 1900, because either minor colonies and settlements of Aro were located there or they didnt exist. The Royal Niger Company of Britain bore friction with the Aros because of their alleged human sacrifice, trading network, and economic control of the hinterland. Aro control was threatened with Europeans pressuring their territory and populations and with Christian missionaries like Mary Slessor. This led to a war known as the Anglo-Aro War which began in 1901 with an Aro invasion of British-controlled city of Obegu. The British retaliated with the Aro Expedition and repeated invasions on the Arochukwu Kingdom, resulting in it's collapse in 1902, after a final attack captured the state and destroyed the oracle, Ibini Ukpabi. Aro leaders were arrested, tried and either executed or exiled. The Confederacy was disbanded and went to British hands. The Royal Niger Company was a mercantile company chartered by the British government in the nineteenth century. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Mary Slessor Mary Slessor (2 December 1848 - 13 January 1915) was a Scottish missionary to Nigeria. ... Combatants Great Britain and allies Aro confederacy Commanders L.T. Col. ...

[edit] References

• http://www.aronetwork.org
• http://www.arookigbo.com
• http://countrystudies.us/nigeria/7.htm
• http://www.nigeriafirst.org/article_3791.shtml
• http://apuncna.com
• http://www.aronewsonline.org/html/articles_on_arochukwu.html