The Rh Negative Blog

Who are the Edo People?

Researching the Yoruba people of Nigeria, I have come across a few other tribes and one stood out:
The Edo People.

This study shows that out of 7 people 2 were rh negative which would be 28.6 percent. Of course with only 7 people being tested, this cannot be a study indicating the overall percentage properly. It is however something that I need to look into more.
Another study examines the entire region which both, the Yorubas and Edo People were a part of and also the Ibo who seem to also be a lot higher in rh negative blood than the African average.

A total of 160,431 blood samples were grouped for ABO and Rh-D at the blood bank of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. Blood group distribution among these samples showed phenotypes A, B, AB and O as 23.72%, 20.09%, 2.97% and 53.22%, respectively. The Rh-D negative phenotype was found among 6.01% of the samples tested.

It continues …

The population structure of Benin City, with over 9 million people, mainly comprises ethnic groups including: the Binis, Esans, Afemai, Urhobos, Ijaws, Ibos of the Delta and the Yorubas in Akoko-Edo. The collation of immunohaematology data would, therefore, enhance sustainable regional blood bank services in the region of Niger-Delta. This study seeks to provide data on ABO and Rh-D blood group distribution in the Benin region of Niger-Delta.

Source:
Distribution of ABO and Rh-D blood groups in the Benin area of Niger-Delta: Implication for regional blood transfusion

Edo, also called Bini, people of southern Nigeria who speak a language of the Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Congo language family. The Edo numbered about 3.8 million at the turn of the 21st century. Their territory is west of the Niger River and extends from hilly country in the north to swamps in the Niger Delta. Edo is also the vernacular name for Benin City, the centre of the Benin kingdom, which flourished from the 14th to the 17th century.


Conclusion:
There are strong indicators urging an examination of these groups further. However, we need to take into consideration that there are likely no “pure Edos” left and after tribes mixing, we can use data just as indicators as to the frequency the original people might have had, likely much higher.