BASAN

BASAN: The Basan are in present day Bayelsa State. The Basan derived their name from a group of settlers from the Nupe district who were part founders of the above communities. These had come from the remnants of the Beni clan of Nupe, which existed up to the 12 century AD, but later dispersed. A section called the Basan (Basa), left during the first collapse (1300-1600 AD) and moved into the delta.  It is clear that the Basa situated in Oru (i.e. Ijo) Niger Delta are the Basan Ibe. It would make sense that ancestors fled Nupe due to the collapse of the first Nupe kingdom and Fulani Islamic invasion, to the Niger Delta, when it is understood that the Ijo of the Niger Delta have close ancestral links with the old Nupe kingdom, at one time speaking the same language (Beni clan).

The founding ancestors of the Basan thus came from a combination of migrations in phases, i.e. directly from Oporoma the mother settlement, from the Nupe district, from Oyakiri, Iselema (Warri) and from the Apoi and Arogbo of the western delta. The ancestors also came from the Arogbo via Oru-Furupa in the central delta area of Apoi central. The Ezetu came from Oporoma, while the founders of Koloama came from Oyakiri. Some of the Iselema became part founders of Ukubie, while the ancestors of the Ekeni came from the ancient town of Ke (Keni). The founders of Lubia derived from the Nembe clan and were joined by the northern (Nupe) settlers. Azuzuama and Akparatubo were founded from Lubia.  The foundation of the clan is post 14th century AD.