Anyama, Ogbia

**Anyama Town**, also called **Anyama-Ogbia** or the **Kingdom of Anyama-Ogbia**, is a historic Ogbia community and traditional monarchy with Ijaw roots in the 17th century. It was founded in 1655 by Adih, a fisherman and trader, and grew into a key center of trade in seafood, palm oil, and other goods.

Located in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, it is the ancestral headquarters of the Anyama Clan. The town was first known as Otu-Egbesu, meaning “home of Egbesu,” showing its spiritual link to the Ijaw deity of war, justice, and protection.

Today, despite its importance, the town faces serious challenges such as coastal erosion, which continues to threaten its land and infrastructure. Based on INEC’s 2019 voting data, the population of Anyama-Ogbia is about 4,970.

Bayelsa State has two towns named Anyama, located in different local government areas. Anyama-Ijaw is in Southern Ijaw LGA and speaks Central Ijaw, while Anyama-Ogbia is in Ogbia LGA and speaks the Ogbia language, a branch of the larger Ijaw languages. Both towns belong to the larger Ijaw ethnic group and share cultural ties, but their languages set them apart, making Anyama-Ogbia distinct within the wider Ijaw community.

## Anyama Clan

The **Anyama Clan**, a key part of the Ogbia Kingdom, is rich in crude oil reserves, which has drawn many international oil companies to its land. It is led by _His Royal Majesty King Omie Theophilus, the Obanobhan of Anyama Clan_. The clan is made up of 17 communities, and despite its resources, it faces serious challenges that threaten its stability and growth.

Major issues include flooding, gas flaring, and especially coastal erosion, which has destroyed homes and infrastructure, forcing people to relocate and form new settlements. In addition, sea piracy creates security risks, endangering lives and disrupting economic activities in the clan’s communities.
The 17 Communities that make up Anyama Clan are;
|Communities/Towns||
| --- | --- |
|Anyama Town|Ancestral Headquarters of Anyama Clan|
|Ayakoro Community||
|Epebu Community||
|Ewoma Community||
|Emadike Community||
|Okodi Town||
|Otuebule 1||
|Onuebum Community||
|Otuorbhi Community||
|Otuokpein Town||
|Orrkiki Community||
|Otuokenegu Community||
|Ologierye Community||
|Otuedu Community||
|Ologi Community||
|Otuogori Community||
|Otuoegwe Community||

## Infobox (settlement)

- **name**: Anyama-Ogbia
- **official name**: Anyama Town
- **other name**: Kingdom of Anyama-Ogbia
- **settlement type**: Town
- **native name**: Ọ̄tù-Ēɠɓéṣū,
- **native name lang**: Ogbia
- **founder**: Âɗih
- **named for**: Ēgbéṣū
- **seat**: The Palace, Anyama Town
- **parts type**: Royal Houses
- **government type**: Traditional Monarchy
- **governing body**: Community Development Council
- **leader title**: Sovereign Dynasty
- **leader name**: Ọ̄bíh-Âdih, Royal Dynasty
- **timezone1**: GMT + 1
- **postal code**: 562103
- **iso code**: NG.BY.AY
- **blank name sec1**: Inaugural Monarch
- **blank info sec1**: King Adih, Obenema I
- **established title**: Founded
- **established date**: 1655
- **population est**: 4970 (Source-INEC Voting Data)
- **pop est as of**: 2019
- **leader title1**: Obenema
- **leader name1**: [https://en.mepedia.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=House_of_Okori Obih-Âdih Royal Family]
- **area total acre**: 842.28
- **area water acre**: 149.84


## Infobox (settlement)

- **name**: Anyama Clan
- **official name**: Anyama District
- **settlement type**: Municipality
- **seat**: Anyama Town
- **government type**: Traditional Monarchy
- **governing body**: Anyama Ruling Council
- **leader title**: Obanobhan
- **leader name**: His Royal Majesty, King Omie Theophilus
- **timezone1**: GMT+1
- **other name**: Anyama Group
- **population est**: 17750 (INEC Voting Data)
- **pop est as of**: 2023