The Ekumeku Movement consisted of a series of uprisings against the rising power of the Royal Niger Company of the British Empire by a network of communities in present-day Delta North (Anioma region) of Nigeria. The British penetration of Nigeria met with various forms of resistance throughout the country. In the south, the British had to fight many wars. This resistance is notable for its organisation, longevity, and use of guerrilla tactics. Rather than being a spontaneous uprising, the Ekumeku movement operated through coordinated efforts across various Anioma communities. Local leadership and traditional institutions played a key role in planning and sustaining the resistance over three decades.
The Ekumeku Movement is a significant part of Anioma history, and stands out in Nigeria’s anti-colonial record for its structure and duration. Though often associated with broader regional resistance in southern Nigeria, it was rooted specifically within the Anioma communities of Delta North, reflecting the political will and cohesion of these groups during the colonial period.
Bibliography Igbafe, Philip A. (July 1971). "Western Ibo Society and its Resistance to British Rule: The Ekumeku Movement 1898–1911". The Journal of African History. 12 (3). Cambridge University Press: 441–459. doi:10.1017/s0021853700010872. S2CID 153829516. Ohadike, Don C. (1991). The Ekumeku Movement: Western Igbo Resistance to the British Conquest of Nigeria, 1883-1914. Ohio University Press. ISBN 978-0821409855. Iweze, Daniel Olisa (2016). "The Role of Indigenous Collaborators during the Anglo-Ekumeku War of 1898-1911". Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies. 39 (1). University of California: 90–97. doi:10.5070/F7391029819.
External links "Britain Nigeria Ekumeku Resistance 1883-1914". Onwar.com. Retrieved 2 October 2017.