Geographically, Afenmai is situated in the northern part of Edo State, precisely in the north-east of Benin City, the State's Capital, and it is often referred to, simply, as Edo North.  Politically, Afenmai is the North-Senatorial District of Edo State. Afenmai is a region named Kukuruku Division after the invasion of the Nupe slave raiders of the nineteenth century. Historians have it that from the encounter with the Napes, Onwan, Akoko-Edo and Etsako jointly got the name 'Kukuruku' of which a 'Division was later created.

Kukuruku Division, which comprises Etsako, Ivhiosakon and Akoko-Edo was formally renamed Afenmai Division in 1956 by the then Western Region House of Assembly. The First District Council Election in the then Western Region of Nigeria in 1954 gave birth to Etsako District Council. Akoko-Igarra (or Akoko-0ki) was renamed Akoko-Edo in 1963 when it was carved out of Afenmai Division as an independent Division. Etsako and Ivhiosakon remained united under Afenmai Division until 1968 when Afenmai Division was further split into two separate Divisions: Etsako and Ivhiosakon (renamed Qnwan at its creation). 

Today, Afenmai is made up of six Local Government Areas. The six Afenmai Local governments and their administrative headquarters are: Agenegbode (Etsako East), a town located on the bank of the River Niger; Fugar (Etsako Central), the Administrative Headquarters of the defunct Kukuruku Division until 1920; Auchi (Etsako West), the Administrative Headquarters of all Afenmai from 1920 to 1963; Afuze (Owan East); Sabongida Ora (Owan West); and Igarra (Akoko-Edo). 

Structurally, Afenmai is made up of Akoko-Edo, Etsako and Qwan sub-regions, and it consists of thirty-eight (38), organized clans. The word organized used in this contxt means that some clans are federated, i.e. made up of sub-clans, while others are 'chunks' from split clans. Each clan consists of villages, which are divided into kindred composed of extended families. An extended, family is composed of nuclear families.   A clan is made up of people who trace their origin to a common ancestor whose name,

as it stands or combined with an affix, the clan bears.    For example, the name Avhianwu is derived from Anwu (the name of the Ancestral Father and Founder of Avhianwu Clan) and the. Prefix, Avhi (.i.e Ivhi) meaning 'the children or descendants of.'  Generally, clans, villages, kindred and subkindred are named after their ancestral founders.  

Afenmai Fathers are believed to have migrated from Benin between the 13th and 15th centuries. The only exception is Igarra (Etuno), a clan that traces its descent to Igalaland of which Idah is the seat. And with the exception of igarra, Afenmai Fathers form one of the Edo-speaking groups. 

Lingually, the peoples of Afenmai speak Edo. Dialectally, differences abound between the Afenmai and the Binis on one hand and between the peoples of Afenmai on the other. The peoples of the various sub-regions, as dictated by proximity, however, speak closely related dialects and have a common culture. 

Afenmai is a land rich in culture and tradition.  Afenmai is a mixture of traditional worshippers, Moslems, and  Christians groups. Their marriage and death ceremonies are streamlined alongside these religions. Traditional Festivals are held throughout Afenmai at various times and in various places. There are religious festivals. Harvest, age-grade, and marriage, festivals are also held.