Etsakọ people

The Etsakọ people are the major ethnic group in the northern region of Edo State, Nigeria. They are historically linked to the ancient Benin Kingdom and are part of the Edo linguistic family. Administratively, they presently occupy three Local Government Areas of Edo State. These are: Etsako East, Etsako West and Etsako Central, with Agenebode, Auchi, and Fugar as their administrative headquarters respectively.

The people of Owan are also known as Etsako. The Etsako, Owan, and Akoko-Edo people are often collectively referred to as the Afenmai people that are indigenous to Edo North senatorial district. Afenmai is a land of brave warriors, renown civil leaders, fearless and industrious men and women, occupying the sprawling hills and beautiful valleys of Northern Edo state. The people were derogatorily tagged Kukuruku people by the invading European colonialist, in memory of the rallying "battle cry" code-sound of the people during wars. The Afenmai people have closely-knitted linguistic, cultural and historical relationships. The local tradition of origin traces their migration from Benin, which many oral traditionalists attribute probably to have happened around the 14th century. It is believed their ancestors settled in south Ibie before groups started moving to populate the other area they occupied like the Weppa Wanno lands, Okpella land, Uzaurue, etc.