owan

Owan is a term used to describe an Edoid ethnolinguistic group as well as the geographic area they inhabit in Edo State, Nigeria. The Owan people form one of the Edoid subgroups and speak the Owan language, a member of the Edoid branch that is closely related to Esan and other Edoid languages. The language has several dialects and speakers are typically bilingual or multilingual, using Owan at home and other Nigerian languages in education and public life.

Geographically, the name Owan refers to two Local Government Areas in Edo State: Owan East and Owan West. These LGAs lie in the central-southern portion of the state and are part of the wider Owan region. The area is predominantly rural, with agriculture playing a central role in the local economy, alongside small-scale trade and craft.

Historically, the Owan people have been part of the diverse ethnolinguistic mosaic of central Edo State. They maintain distinct cultural practices, social structures, and traditional leadership systems within the framework of the state and Nigerian governance.