Afemai or Afenmai are used interchangeably to refer to the people located in the northern part of Edo state of Nigeria. It is home to a great people organized into several clans and kingdoms. Afemai or Afenmai is, as at today, made up of six local government areas which are:
- Akoko Edo local government area with headquarters at the town of Igarra
- Etsako Central local government area with headquarters at the town of Fugar
- Etsako East local government area with headquarters at town of Agenebode
- Etsako West local government area with headquarters at town of Auchi
- Owan East local government area with headquarters at the town of Afuze
- Owan West local government area with headquarters at the town of Sabongida Ora
History of Afemai
Majority of the people of Afemai trace their history of origin to the great Benin Kingdom. However, there are few communities in Afemai that traces their history of origin to outside Edo state.
In the colonial era, the present six local government that make up Afemai were administered as one unit and was first referred to as Kukuruku division. The name Kukuruku is believed to have been derived from the kukuruku hills in present day Akoko Edo local government area.
However, the people considered the name Kukuruku derogatory. This prompted the leaders of major communities within Edo north to demand that the colonial authority changes the name from Kukuruku division to Afemai division. Afemai literarily translate to our home.
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