Photo caption : Austin Isikhuemen
The two names are interchangeable. In our native language, we are Esan people. We speak the Esan language. Even our Benin brothers call us Esan, like ovbi’Esan when they mean an Esan person..
However, when the British came, they spelt it in their own way in error. So they called us, in writing and spoken word, Ishan. That was how the current Esanland became known as Ishan Division before it was split into Agbazilo and Okpebho LGAs.
It was B.I.G. Ewah, after whom Ewah road in Benin is named, who first mooted the idea of adding the prefix ‘Esan’ to the LGA’s in Esan when we hosted Esan Students Association of Nigeria (ESAN) in Uniben in 1983. Esan Students from all higher institutions in the then Bendel State were invited and most sent delegations. I was President of that Association at the time.
It was the creation of the four LGAs of Esan North East, Esan West, Esan Central and Esan South East that formalised the use of “Esan” prefix in official government documents. Only Igueben LGA, created later with Chief Tom Ikhimi’s influence, that does not have that prefix today. The formal name change from Ishan Grammar School to Esan Grammar School, for example, followed the same trend. Emu Grammar School, in order to distinguish it from another school of that name, was called Emu Grammar School, Emu-Ishan. This was because there was another Emu in Isoko area in the same Bendel State.
Yes, we are Esan people. The British called us Ishan and English writing and historical texts have Ishan as our name. It is not derogatory and those who say illiterates are the ones that answer Ishan may have missed this bit of history.
While I prefer Esan today, I do not take offense at being called Ishan. Lagos, as Eko, still answers Lagos today, a name given by the Portugese. It doesn’t diminish them.
The Uromi that my hometown answers today is an anglicised name. In our language, we are Urhomhun. Ubiaja in real Esan language is Ubiaza, but Ubiaja people have no quarrel with that. Irrua is anglicised Uruwa.
Do you know that Ekpoma is actually Ekuma (Ekuman) but the people have come to live with the Ekpoma name? Ewu, in native Esan is called Elu. Ask those who know. Ewohimi is Ebho-ikhimhin or a variant of that spelling.
I have gone to this extent to try to throw some light on the issue of which of Esan and Ishan is correct and which is wrong. None is wrong. One is an accident of history. I do not claim to know it all. Others with more knowledge on the matter can wade in and add their own understanding and stand on the matter.
I thank the sister, Gloria, who threw up this question for debate on Esan People and Culture facebook group. Let me also say that our homestead was historically famous for the production of cotton as our main cash crop that was known globally as “Ishan cotton”. It was acclaimed to have the longest fibre and was most in demand by fabric manufacturers of England. If you Google Ishan cotton, you will still see it today though we have since left the farming of cotton and the prolific art of weaving behind….
So, I feel proud and will answer, whether you call me Ishan or Esan.
The place called England today, and the English who inhabit it, originally did not bear those names. History alters names. History christened us Nigeria. There was nothing like that till the colonisers came. And today, we are all proudly Nigerian.
Austin Isikhuemen is a Public Affairs Commentator, Manufacturing Consultant, Writer and Poet based in Lagos.
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