According to Archives record -Enwan lie at the southern part of the Igarra ridge. The Onyami river flows south-west ward and in, at its nearest point two miles south of Enwan.
Historical Background
According to Achieves reports Enwan was founded by one Onyaro who left Benin as a result of a dispute regarding the division of sacrifice at a festival. He and his family settled first at Emai which is now regarded as Onwa and subsequently to Okoto which now has no existence and which lay some distance to the south-east.
As a result of trouble arising from the murder of an Okpella man a further move was made to the present site. The conditions under which the Enwan obtained their land are the subject of a long-standing dispute. They say that they bought it from Igarra and Akuku for slaves and money, but the Igarra claim that the agreed to pay an annual rent of 25 tins of palm oil and fish. About the middle of the last century they were driven by the yoruba raids, they take refuge in the hills and settled near Somorika where they remained until 1917.They were compelled to accept a Nupe "ajele" and paid tribute in slaves and guinea corn.
According to Chief Okarah the Enwans migrated from Benin to Afuze . They left Afuzewhen there was a problem and settled at okpella .They later settled finally at Ukpomozole hill that is the hill at Enwan from where they came down to settle at their present location
Administration
According to Achieves record - Enwan is divided into three quarters (a) IMIEZAKOR(b) IMIEVANNE(c) IMIEVANNESub divided into families namely:
IMIEZAKOR
IMIEVANNE
IMIEVANNE
Imika
Imiakobomo
Imishige
Imiazeki
Imionobe
Imiomonekor
Imite
Imiokaku
Imiedebe
Imiogdobu
Imiomatie
Imimote
Imiora
Imiokpezoke
Imikhana
Imiteremi
Imiazeje
Imiareghe
Imiaremi
Family heads are elected by their members and the oldest title holders in each quarters acknowledge as its head . The quarter remains a coheres administrative unit.
Every three(3) years an age group is formed of youth about 16 or 17 years old and given a name by the elders of the village. Some of the function of these age groups especially the junior ones is clearing the paths and markets places.
The Clan head of Enwan is called the ODAFE even till present day. Women have no traditional political rights. There are three (3) women’s age groups in Enwan namely (¡) Inyaro (¡¡)Omakika and (¡¡¡) Egbedeguwa. This women’s age group has no special functions or duties.
Judiciary
Crime were punished in the following ways in the olden days
Theft: The person can be held for public ridicule
Pay Assault: Monetary fine, a goat and other compensation.
Arson: Pay for damages.
Murder: Self hanging in the market square.
Manslaughter: Compensation of one (1) girl and One (1) boy to the deceased family.
Clan Headship:
Clan headship is rotational at Enwan not necessarily from any ruling family kindred, there is nothing like ruling family. Headship rotate rotates within the three quarters that makes up Ewan
Religion
Apart from Christian and Islamic religion African religion is practice in Enwan
Shrines and Deities
lniagbo is one of the traditional gods in Enwan. lniagbo god them claim gives them maximum protection from enemies.
In Enwan each quarter has its own deity and priest. Iyahgbo deity is found in
Imieazua ruling house. The oldest man in this quarter is the Chief priest of this deity. He also has a responsibility of crowing the Odafe whenever is the turn of their quarter to produce an Oba.
Iyonkheze: This is a deity that is worshipped in Imiezakor quarters. The custodian priest which happen to be the oldest man in that quarter is Chief
Achiko. He also has responsibility of crowning the Odafe when it is the turn of his quarter to produce one.
Irimihyo: This is the deity worshiped in Imievaneh quarter. The oldest man of the quarter in the Chief priest of deity. He also crown Odafe when it is the turn of his quarter to produce one.
Marital Rites
According to Chief Okarah the approved bride Price In Enwan is N1250, N1000 for the father of the bride then N250 for the mother of the bride. Then the husband is expected to bring 25 tubers of Yams and many more. Akokheche is a sort of tradition hereby the couple are asked to show their teeth something like a traditional staff is used to touch the couple’s teeth, to mark that both of them has been joined together traditionally as husband and wife.
Before a woman settles fully in her husband's house the night of the eve.The husband is expected to perform a ceremony which can be regarded as bachelor’s nights, food like pounded yam and varieties of soup will be prepare with drinks for entertainment after which the woman can then go to her husband.
They do not give preferential treatment to an indigene. Both the stranger and indigene has the same opportunity.
It is important to note that in Enwan a man have a legitimate claim of children only when he have paid the bride price of the woman he called his wife.If not he cannot claim ownership of those children, he is only regarded as a friend to the woman. They do not forbid marriage with any clan in Akoko-Edo.
The Enwans have a sign of identification for their married women they wear either bead or medal around their neck.
Custom and Norms in Enwan
(i) The practice a matrilineal system of tradition. 'This is a whereby a child have higher regard for his or her mother side more his father (biological) according to Chief Okarah.
(ii)It is a taboo to kill fish from the Ogudu River.
(iii) It is also a taboo to speak vernacular at the source of the Ogudu River
Judiciary
According to archives reports - In the olden days village court, consisted of the Chief priests and the members of the senior title age group, sat in an open space in the quarter in which crime was committed or the dispute arose.
At Enwan all debt and matrimonial cases except murder, manslaughter and arson could be settled privately by the heads of the families of the parties.
Decision as to dispute to fact was given on the outcome of oath or ordeal. The parties are required to pick palm -kernel out of hot palm oil
Crime and penalties
Adultery: Compensation of a he-goat, fowl, and dog to the husband and a goat for sacrifice to village fetish. Note the fine is shared by the brother s of the husband.
Occupation
They are mainly farmers. Enwan can be said to be the food basket of Akoke-Edo They cultivates crops like cocoa, cashew, palm produce ,plantain, banana, guinea beans, cassava, maize etc.
Dressing
The dressing applicable to the people of Enwan is Shokoto. Buba, Agbada.
Delicacies
Their major staple is pounded yam and good soup.
The Enwans have a lot of festival but the one that is most pronounced islwehima Festival which is an annual event that usually comes up in April.This festival has a deity that homage is paid to during the event.During this festival the indigene are not expected to go to the farm.
