Idama
The Idama (E'dama) clan of the Ijaw people lives in central Rivers state, Nigeria. The small clan is sometimes classified as a Kalabari clan rather than as its own clan.
Location
Idama is an island located in the creeks of the mangrove forest of the oil rich Niger Delta area of Nigeria.it is part of Akuku Toru local government area of Rivers. There are numerous settlements in the Idama territory, which combine with the Idama clan to form the Idama Kingdom. These are situated in various locations around the area, the Idama clan is the major settlement in the kingdom, which serve as the headquarters. Idama kingdom, like other coastal kingdoms, is a low-lying land in the vast mangrove forest region and is only few feet above sea level. It is situated in the south-western part of Present Akuku Toru Local government area of Rivers State. It is an island on the bank of Idama Creek, a tributary of the sombriero River (Olulo Toru) and the San bartholemew River. Someone coming from Abonnema will sail along the sombriero River south-west into the Idama creek, Welcoming you into a warm embrace.
History
Before King Amachree I became the ruler of the main Kalabari people at their "ELEM AMA" or the Old shipping settlement near the north of the Atlantic Ocean in the New Calabar River, in the 17th century, and brought about the amalgamation and unification of all the kalabari kingdoms of today, under his over-riding power and Rulership. The Idama Community was existing as a distinct and autonomous community of its own. Still in the area presently occupied by the community between the axis of the San bartholemew and sombriero Rivers. The Idamacommunity People, by history were Ijaws who migrated from Okpoin-AMA, the native place of the Idama people, in the present day Ijaw Area of Bayelsa State, in Pre-colonial days, in time immemorial. The people left Okpoin-AMA in search of a better place of abode and fortune, as Okpoin-AMA was frequently threatened by devastating Flood. Six headmen, lead the migration, these were; Opu-adwein Ebe Otukpo Obio Akain Atumogoli Being predominantly migrant fisher folks, the people sojourned from one fishing camp to another along their route, settling in such notable places like Aba -AMA and Boro-AMA in the tributary of the San-Bartholomew river, Kala-EKULAMA and Darima near Ke, in present-day Degema Local government area of Rivers state of Nigeria. After a period of time at Lele-AMA the people finally settled at a firmer and bigger bush land in the interior, but close to the open sombriero River, a place they christianed Okpoin-AMA after the recent place of the EKULAMA people. The only people at that time around the Okpoin-AMA where the Ebema and Bille people. Ebema was founded by EBE who shifted camp from Okpoin-AMA to a dry land just across the sombriero river on the opposite side of Okpoin-AMA and settled there with his family. While living at Ebema, Ebe the Amayanabo of Ebema became friends with Agbani the Amayanabo of Bille. This relationship made Agbani to marry a woman from Ebema, who gave birth to a male child named Agbaniye- OKIO. While living at Ebema,