Prehistoric site Before the
17th-century, Onitsha was the capital of the Onitsha Province in
British Nigeria, West Africa. During that time, it was inhabited by the Igbo tribe that emigrated from the
Benin empire about the seventeenth century. Azikiwe wrote that they left with a view to settle and establish their own customs and laws. The site was located in the centre of Nigeria and was bounded to the north by Ogrugu, to the south by
Aboh, to the west by
Asaba, which served as the capital of Southern Provinces of Nigeria, and to the east by
Awka. Because the site was watered by the
River Niger, with its tributaries: Omambala, Ide-Mili, Nkissi-Umudei, Nkissi-Otu, Nkissi-Ogboli, Nkissi- Aroli, etc. Prior to the 17th-century, there was no town called Onitsha; it was then called , and was a subordinate district of the
Benin empire. Ado N' Idu was a very close ally of the
Benin Kingdom. The inhabitants were ruled by the
Oba of Benin although the town has a dictator. The people of Ado N'Idu waged war against the Benin people after the king sent his Army Council, which was headed by Gbunwala to fight them following the assault of his mother Asije, the Queen-Mother of Benin City, who was assaulted by farmers when she trespassed the farm. The Benin forces were about 5000 soldiers. After weeks of war, Chima realised that the Benin forces had upper hand and may win them, hence he summoned the tribal chiefs, who passed a resolution to emigrate the land. During their emigration, and few miles to their destination, they made an agreement that anyone who will disembark and make an , a telegraphic drum would be their king. One of Chima's son fulfilled the agreement, but also left the kingship to his father because he was a minor. Upon reaching Onitsha, they confronted the Ozes, a hostile tribe then. It took days for the people of Ado N'Idu to drive the Oze people out, but also enslaved them. However, the people of Oze founded other towns such as
Obosi,
Asaba, Abo, Atani,
Oba, Nkwele, and
Aguleri. Chima made Onitsha his headquarters. He divided it into nine principal divisions and other subdivisions: Umudei, Umuasele, Ogeabu, Odojele, Ogbe-ozala, Umuaroli, Ogboli (divisible into Ogboli Eke, Iru Obodo, Ogboli Agbor), Ogbo-odogwu, Ogbe-ikporo, Umuikem, Umuotu, Isiokwe, Iyawu, and Ogbembubu. Other divisions were founded and they included Onitsha-Ugbo, Onitsha-Olona and Onitsha-Mili. Onitsha was then called Onitsha-Mili or Onit- sha-Ado-N'Idu, which means that the place is watered by various rivers, or that the place is the foster daughter of Ado N'Idu. Chima created the Order of Ozo inorder to distinguish the nobles from the general inhabitants. Chima's rule favored political and economic imperialism. He established the Onitsha
Ofala Festival, where the king comes out and interviews his subjects once in a year. Historians agree that the traditional sacredness and secrecy of the festival has been affected by the "pax Britannica".
19th-century Onitsha was overthrown during the
Colonial Nigeria under the British rule. The
Roman Catholic missionaries supported Okosi, the then Obi. The economy increased since trade became part of the town. Neighbouring towns such as the Ijaws, Jekris, Yorubas, Sobos, Efiks, Hausas, Igaras, Nupes, Igabos, Kwa-Ibos, Igbos and many other Nigerian tribes came to trade at the
Main Market, Onitsha. Motor transport served the north eastern boundary, the Eastern Railway of Nigeria served the east, the Nigerian Marine served the south, and the Nigerian Western Railway served the west. During this time, the
Onitsha market literature was popularised as well as fables and legend stories.
Early history Onitsha was founded between 1630 and 1680 by Igbo 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. In 1857
British palm oil traders established a permanent station in the city with Christian missionaries joining them. In 1900 Onitsha became part of a British
protectorate. The British colonial government and Christian
missionaries penetrated most of
Igboland to set up their administration, schools and churches through the river port at Onitsha. In 1965, the
Niger River Bridge was built across the
Niger River to replace the ferry crossing. This has helped to grow trade routes with western Nigeria and created significant economic linkages between Onitsha and
Benin City and Lagos particularly.
Nigerian Civil War The
Nigerian-Biafran war brought devastation to Onitsha as the city was a major theatre of war for forces entering
Biafra from the western front. The subsequent oil boom years of the 1970s and early 1980s witnessed a huge influx of immigrants into the city. The result has been hastily constructed and haphazard building which has created a huge number of slums.
Late 20th and early 21st century In the early 1960s, before the
Nigerian Civil War (see also
Biafra), the population was officially recorded as 76,000, and the town was distinctive in a number of dimensions; the great Nigerian writer
Chinua Achebe (born and raised in the contiguous town of
Ogidi) characterized it as harboring an "esoteric region from which creativity sallies forth at will to manifest itself," "a zone of occult instability" (see "Onitsha Matters"). Onitsha has played a creative role in the transformation to urban life in Eastern Nigeria famous as the setting for
Onitsha Market Literature and as one of the hubs for the financing and distribution of
Nollywood films. Infrastructure has not kept pace with urbanization and haphazard building practices without zoning regulations has left in its wake a chaotic and congested city rife with lawlessness. The
World Health Organization Global Urban Ambient Air Pollution database's 2016 update indicates that Onitsha is the most polluted city in Africa. In recent times with the encroachment of neighboring communities, the Onitsha people have been involved in disputes over land ownership in the surrounding area with the people of Obosi and Nkwelle Ezunaka. Fegge, Awada, and 3–3 are Onitsha metropolitan areas being disputed by the communities of Obosi and Nkwelle Ezunaka, respectively. == Geography ==