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The Esan people, or Ishan people (Esan: ''Ẹ̀bhò Ẹ̀sán'') are an ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria who speak the Esan language. The Esan are traditionally agriculturalists, trado-medical practitionals, mercenary warriors and hunters. They cultivate yams, cassava, maize, groundnut, bananas, oranges, plantains, and various vegetables.〔Unknown. (), ''SIL International'', Dallas, 2009. Retrieved on 30 May 2015.〕 The modern Esan nation is believed to have been organized during 15th century, when citizens, mostly nobles and princes, left the neighbouring Benin Empire for the northeast; there they formed communities and kingdoms called ''eguares'' among the aboriginal peoples whom they met there. There are on the whole 35 established kingdoms in Esanland, including Ekpoma, Ubiaja, Uromi, Igueben, and Ewu. The Esan kingdoms often warred among each other. Despite the wars, the Esans kept a homogenous culture which was chiefly influenced by the Benin Empire. However, these kingdoms were colonized, along with the Benin Empire, by the British Empire during September 1897, only gaining independence 63 years later in 1960 when Nigeria became independent from British Colonial rule. After independence, the Esan people have suffered from civil war, poverty, and lack of infrastructure. The Esans primarily speak the Esan language, an Edoid language related to Urhobo, Isoko, Edo, and Etsako.〔Unknown and to a limited extent, the Fulani language (), ''U.S. Center for World Mission'', Pasadena, 2014. Retrieved on 1 November 2014.〕 It is considered a regionally important language in Nigeria, and it is taught in primary schools in addition to being broadcast on radio and television. The Esan language is also recognized in the Census of the United Kingdom.〔Unknown. (), '' Department for Education '', London, 2014. Retrieved on 30 May 2015.〕 It is estimated that the Esan people who reside in Esanland number about half-a million to 700,000 citizens in Nigeria,〔Rolle, Nicholas, (), ''University of California in Berkeley'', Berkeley, October 17, 2012. The aforementioned population data is contentious because there has not been any acceptable population enumeration regarding tribes in Nigeria. Retrieved on 1 November 2014.〕 and there is a strong Esan diaspora. Esan-speaking communities exist in the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Canada, Spain, and Italy. Pan-Esan groups such as the Esan World Congress have kept the Esan community tight-knit. ==Etymology== The term ''Esan'' has been applied to the Esan people for thousands of years, and was used before contact with Europeans. It is believed by many historians that the name 'Esan' (originally, 'E san fia') owes its origin to Bini (meaning, 'they have fled' or 'they jumped away'). 'Ishan' is an Anglicized form of 'Esan', the result of colonial Britain's inability to properly pronounce the name of this ethnic group. It is believed that similar corruption has affected such Esan names as ubhẹkhẹ (now 'obeche' tree), uloko (now 'iroko' tree), Abhuluimẹn (now 'Aburime'), etc. Efforts have however been made to return to status quo ante. For academic purpose, Esan refers to # the ethnic group that occupies central Edo State; # (''plural'' unchanged) a person or the people collectively from this ethnic group; # the language of these people which, linguistically, is of the Kwa subdivision of the Niger-Congo language family; # something of, related to, or having Esan origin e.g. uro Esan (=Esan language), otọ Esan (=Esan land), ọghẹdẹ Esan (=Esan banana). 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Esan people」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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