This political system bears a striking resemblance to the Ancient Greek city-states (poleis), which, though sharing a common language and culture, operated as sovereign entities with their own rulers and governance structures.

They cultivate palm trees, Irvingia gabonensis (erhonhiele), Cherry (Otien), bell pepper (akoh) coconut, betel nut, kola nut, black pear, avocado pear, yams, cocoyam, cassava, maize, rice, beans, groundnut, bananas, oranges, plantains, sugar cane, tomato, potato, okra, pineapple, paw paw, and various vegetables.

[3] The origins of the Esan people are complex, involving multiple waves of migration spanning centuries.

Their mother, Queen Oakha, is said to have led them back to Esanland, where they settled in Uromi, Uzea, and Ekperi before the 10th century.

During this period, some Esan groups who had previously lived in Benin (Igodomigodo) migrated back to Esanland, escaping the centralization and expansionist policies of the Oba dynasty.

Although Esan maintained cultural ties with Benin, they developed their own unique traditions, governance systems, and identity.

[6][7] There are on the whole 35 established kingdoms in Esanland, including Amahor, Ebelle, Egoro, Ewohimi, Ekekhenlen, Ekpoma, Ekpon, Emu, Ewu, Ewato, Ewosa, Idoa,[8] Ifeku, Igueben, Ilushi, Inyelen, Irrua, Ogwa, Ohordua, Okalo, Okhuesan, Onogholo, Opoji, Oria, Orowa, Uromi, Udo, Ugbegun, Ugboha, Ubiaja, Urhohi, Ugun, Ujiogba, Ukhun, and Uzea.

[13] 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.

[18][19] 'Ishan' is an Anglicized form of 'Esan', the result of colonial Britain's inability to properly pronounce the name of this ethnic group.

[26] They created a pre-Esan, pre-Edo society that built advanced structures such as moats and walls around family properties.

[27] Modern-day digs in the region have found that these walls were situated in the eastern Benin Empire and northern Esanland.

[28] [29] Esanland's culture, language and growth were majorly influenced by the mass exoduses to Esan territory from all adjacent polities[30] Communities on Esanland's southern and eastern fringes (Ewohimi, Ewatto, Ekpon, Amahor) were heavily populated by Igbos and Igalas (into Uroh);[31] from the north came the Emai into Ukhun, Idoa, and Amahor and the Etsako into Irrua;[31] and from the south came the Itsekiri (into Ekpon) and Urhobo (into Ujiogba).

In 1460, Oba Ewuare passed laws of mourning that prohibited sexual intercourse, bathing, drumming, dancing, and cooking.

This exodus shaped Esanland's modern cultural identity and gave rise to the term "Esan," or "refugee."

This was due to the Oba, at ascension on the throne, sending white chalk to the Esans as a term of friendship.

Ekhen procured cloth, ivory, peppers, and slaves for European merchants in Yorubaland, Esanland, and Afenmai.

[38] The war lasted from 1502 to 1503, and resulted from a refusal of friendship from Oba Ozolua of Benin by Onojie Agba of Uromi.

Defeated Benin chiefs like Ologbosere and Ebohon were still resistant to British rule inadvertently guarded Esan soil from the west, by establishing military outposts and blocking roads.

[47] This process was duplicated in most of the kingdoms that fought with Britain; guerilla warfare was excessively used by the Esans, resulting in prolonged battle time in spite of inferior weapons, and reinforcements from Benin City for the British.

Even when villages were captured, internal resistance was fierce; continued guerilla warfare in Uromi forced the British to release Prince Okojie.

Igbabonelimhin could be danced annually to mark end of year celebrations, new yam festivals and organised social functions, like burial ceremonies.