Ikwerre people
Iwhuruọha | |
|---|---|
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Rivers State, Nigeria | |
| Languages | |
| Ikwerre | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, Omenali | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Etchie, Ndoni, Egbema, Ogba, Ekpeye |
The Ikwerre, natively known as Iwhuruọhna, is an ethnic group in Rivers State, Nigeria. The group is spread across four Local Government Areas: Port Harcourt, Obio-Akpor, Ikwerre, and Emohua.
Traditional history has classified Ikwerre into seven groups called "Ikwerre Essa". They are Elele, Isiokpo, Rumuji, Emohua, Choba, Aluu, Igwuruta and Obio group. This division was first documented by Forde and Jones; (1950) in their ethnographic study of the native languages and peoples of South-Eastern Nigeria. It was also in line with this grouping those seven customary courts were established in Ikwerre during the Colonial administration. These courts were located at Elele, Isiokpo, Rumuji, Emohua, Choba, Aluu and Obio in Ikwerreland.