Opanda Kingdom was an ancient African kingdom located in what is now Nigeria.
Ancient history
The ancient Opanda Kingdom was founded by the Egbiras ethnic group. Its growth culminated in the Umaisha (Yimaha), which is now the alternative seat of Opanda.
Opanda was first established in the 11th century, abandoned in the middle of the 16th century, and reoccupied around 1750. Opanda was ruled by the Jukun kingdom between 1349 and 1385 during the reign of King Yaji. In the middle of the 16th century, some of the inhabitants emigrated to Apa II, north of Idah, where groups such as the Egbira, the Epe and the Bassange had already settled. Ebele, the daughter and successor of Abutu Eje who was the founder of Igala Kingdom. A dispute over Idah's kingship which led to the migration of several groups. The group led by Ohemi Ozi Egye first settled at Onyokain, the present-day Kogi; later they moved to Okangbo in the present-day Florida State and then moved to Igugbaka in the present-day Kogi state.
Amid a succession dispute following the death of Ohemi Ozi Egye, Ohimi and Ohetenye took their followers west and settled at Girinya in the present-day Kogi state. Some years later Ohimi's brother Owutu founded the present-day Kotonkarfe (Igu). A third group, led by Ohimenegedu, the grandson of Ohemi, moved east in 1750 and reoccupied the city of Opanda in the present-day Nasarawa state. The sister kingdoms of Opanda and Kotonkarfe flourished side by side for some time until they were attacked by the Nupe/Nulani from the west and the Fulani from the north.