Background and History

The history of the Esan people is rich, complex, and closely tied to that of their neighbors. Esanland falls within the Shabua province of pre-colonial and pre-independence Nigeria and is part of present-day Edo State. The Esan people contributed to diverse areas of human endeavors including agriculture, transportation, education, labor, medical care, and military service. While the Esan people had a long and storied history of participation in pre-colonial and pre-independent Nigeria, the Esan Association of New England was started in 2011 as present-day people came together to form the association in response to a need to come together for regular social interaction, host events focused on our culture and values, and discuss politics as well as issues of primary importance to the immigrant community.
The Esan Association of New England, known as EAONE, is based in the Greater Boston area of Massachusetts and consists of Esan people domiciled in the New England area of the United States. The Esan people inhabit Edo State in Nigeria. Edo State is one of the 36 political entities that constitute the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The purpose of this overview is to provide a better understanding of the organization and to set in motion the process of documenting the history of the organization. In addition, it will enable those interested to understand the roots, approach, and achievements of the Association, and possibly learn from it. The objectives and ideals of the Esan Association of New England (EAONE) are starkly simple but were greatly informed by and resonate with the experiences of our predecessors in the history of a multicultural society.