Urhobo people

Urhobo people
Ihwo r' Urhobo

Total population
c.1.2 million(est.)
Languages
Urhobo language Isoko Okpe Uvwie English Nigerian pidgin
Religion
Christianity93% Igbe religion3% Others 4%
Related ethnic groups
Isoko,Bini,Esan,Afemai,Ijaw,Itsekiri

TheUrhobosare people located in southernNigeria,near the northwesternNiger Delta.

The Urhobos are one of the three major ethnic groups inDelta State,the other two being theItsekiriand theIjaw.The Urhobos speak theUrhobo language.Their population is approximately 1.2 million.

The Urhobo people live in a territory bounded bylatitudes6° and 5°, 15° North and Longitudes 5°, 40° and 6°, 25° Eastin theDeltaandBayelsa Statesof Nigeria. Their neighbors are theIsokoto the southeast, theItsekiriandIjawto the west, theBinito the north, the Ijaw to the south and theUkwuani peopleto the northeast.

History

TheUghelliandAgbon Kingdomsare the oldest kingdoms in Urhoboland. The Ughelli and Agbon Kingdoms can be traced to about the 14th century.Ughellioral tradition has it that the great ancestor and founding father of Ughelli (Ughene) is the second son of Oghwoghwa, a prince from Benin Kingdom.The Okpe Kingdom is also one of the twenty four kingdoms in Urhobo land.The Kingdom has been in existence since before the arrival of the Portuguese in the 15th century. The Okpe Kingdom was established formally in the 17th century.The Okpe people are known to have migrated to found the present daySapeleand the Orodje of Okpe still exercises authority over the land of Sapele.

Indigenous government and politics

The people are organized either by elders or by the wealthy.

Urhoboindigenousgovernments have anOvie(king), who is the highest political figure. The Ovie is the symbol of the kingdoms' culture and royal predecessors. His Councillors consist of theOtota(speaker), and theOhonvworeorOkakuro,addressed collectively asIlorogun(singular:Olorogun). Other title holders are the executioners (Ikoikpokpo), and the warriors (Ogbu). Other political titles are specific to the different kingdoms. Thejudicial systemplaces a clear distinction between civil and criminal offenses.

The queen is calledOvieya,and her children are known asỌmọ Ovie.Presently, this name is given to children without royal heritage. Some Urhobo cultural divisions adopted titles other than Ovie. For example, theOkpecall their traditional rulerOrodje,Okere-Urhobocall theirsOrosuen,AgbarhousesOsuivie,Orogun useOkpara-Uku"(mainly due to their proximity withUkwuani people), and the Urhobos in theOlomuKingdom call their kingOhworode.Some southern Urhobo clans and communities also practice the Odio system, which is widespread in theIsoko region.

Location

19th-century map of Nigeria; the Urhobo are marked "IRHOBO".

Urhobo territory consists of evergreen forests with many oil palm trees. The territory is covered by a network of streams, whose volume and flow are directly affected by the seasons. Thewet seasonis traditionally from April to October, while thedry seasonranges from November to March.

Urhobo is physically embedded in the Atlantic forest belt that stretches from Senegal in West Africa to Angola in central Africa. Historically, this region was the most pristine in all of Africa. Until the Portuguese burst into its territories in the late fifteenth century, its forest peoples cultivated their own forms of civilization, untouched by outside influences. This forest belt of western Africa was reached neither by ancient Christian influences, which had a large foothold in North Africa, nor by Islamic forces that came as far south as Hausa land by the eleventh century. While East Africa and even Central Africa were touched by Asian and Arab influences from across the Indian Ocean, as the amalgam of Swahili language bears out, no similar trans-Atlantic influences breached the forest belt until the Portuguese arrival in the late fifteenth century. "

— Professor Peter Palmer Ekeh, founder of the Urhobo Historical Society,Studies in Urhobo Culture

The bulk of the Urhobo people reside in the southwestern states ofDeltaandBayelsain Nigeria, also referred to as theNiger Delta.Ofoni is an Urhobo community inSagbama,Local Government Area, inBayelsa.Ofoni is about 40 kilometers by water toSagbama.Many Urhobos live in small and major cities in regions or local government areas inUghelli,Warri,Abraka,Orerokpe andSapele.Some major Urhobo towns and cities includeEffurun,Aladja,Ovwian,Orerokpe,Eku,Oghara,Evwreni,Agbara-otor,Okpara Inland,Egini,Kokori,Olomu,Kiagbodo, Isiokoro, Jesse, Ogharaefe, Effurun-Otor, Ewu, Jeremi, Emadadja, Okwagbe, Ovu, Orogun, Otor-Udu, Ekpan, Jeddo, Uwheru,Orhuwhorun,etc.

The following are local government areas where Urhobo traditional homes are located inDelta,BayelsaandEdo State:

• Ethiope East
• Ethiope West
• Okpe
• Sapele
• Udu
• Ughelli North
• Isoko
• Ughelli South
• Uvwie
• Warri South
• Patani
• Sagbama(inBayelsa State)
• Ikpoba Okha(inEdo State)
• Orhionmwon(inEdo state))

Urhobos also have large settlements in Ore,OwoandOkitipupainOndo State,Ajegunleand other places inLagos State,Oro inKwara State,as well as other clusters acrossNigeria.

Culture

Festivals

The Urhobos live very close to, and sometimes in boats on theNiger river.Most of their histories, mythologies, and philosophies are water-related. Annual fishing festivals include masquerades, fishing, swimming contests, and dancing, and have become part of theUrhoboheritage. An annual two-day festival called Ohworu takes place in [Evwreni], in the southern part of the Urhobo area. During this festival the Ohworhu water spirit and the Eravwe Oganga are displayed.

Victory dance of Urhobo people

Marriage

Marriage in Urhobo culture requires prayers to the ancestors (Erivwin), and God (Oghene). The marriageritual,known asUdi Arhovwaje,takes place in theancestralhome of the bride or a patrilineal relation of the bride.

The groom goes with his relatives and friends to the bride's father's home, bringing gifts of drinks, salt, kola nuts and occasionallyfoodrequested by the bride's family. Formal approval for marriage is given by the bride's parents, or whoever is representing the bride's family, as are the traditional rites of pouringgin,brought by the groom, as atributeto the father's ancestors in order to bless them with health, children and wealth. After this marriage rite the husband can claim a refund of the money (bride price) should the marriage fail. It is believed that the ancestors witness the marriage, and only the physical body that is sent to the husband in the marriage, theErhi(spirit double), remains in the family home. This explains why a woman is brought back to be buried in her family home when she dies.

In the ancestral home of the man, the wife is welcomed into the family by the eldest member. She is expected to confess all of her love affairs during and after her betrothal to her husband, if any, and is then absolved of them. She becomes a full member of her husband's family after this ritual, and is assumed to be protected by thesupernatural(Erivwin). This ritual symbolizes an agreement between the wife and theErivwin.

If the wife later becomes unfaithful, it is believed that she will be punished by theErivwin– this could be the reason Urhobo women have an enduring reputation as loyal and faithful wives.

Urhobo

Urhobo has always been an homogeneous linguistic entity. Since time immemorial, Urhobo has been colored by variation that occur on various levels. These variations manifest in the various Urhobo kingdoms. A specific dialect of Urhobo has broken off and become an individual ethnic nationality (Isoko). Another dialect is prospecting at this option (Okpe). The main reason for this break-off is mainly because of crude oil revenue. James W. Welch once asserted thatIsokois a dialect of Urhobo. For many years, most historians, linguists and cultural anthropologists are of the opinion that Isoko is just a dialect and a cultural unit of Urhobo. In fact, this was upheld by the British that these two ethnic groups were once referred to as the "Sobo" people. Later on, the Isokos were called the Eastern Urhobos. Till now, some people are of the belief that these two ethnic units are one due to similarities in culture, language, food and virtually everything. The Isoko and Urhobo names for most items are mostly the same. They greet the same way ( Urhobos say Migwor and Isokos say Digwor ), marriages are in the same tradition, traditional religion and philosophy is akin and even dressing is the same.The Urhobo nation is made up of twenty-four sub-groups, including the largest,Okpe.

Urhobo calendar

The UrhoboOkpo(week) is made up of four days, based on regulated market cycles, religious worship, marriages and other community life. The four days areEdewo,Ediruo,EduhreandEdebi.Edewo and Eduhre are sacred days to divinities, spirits and ancestors. Most markets are held on these days. OnEdewo,ancestors are venerated. Most traditional religious rituals are held onEduhre.

Spirits are believed to be active in the farmlands and forests onEdewoandEduhre.Therefore, farmers rarely work on these days so as not to disturb the spirits.

Urhobo months are calledEmeravweand are made up of 28 days. Most of the annual festivals are held during the months ofAsa,Eghwre,OrianreandUrhiori.These are the months of harvest, when farming activity is at its lowest, so most farmers are free to partake. These are also months to honor the gods of the land, as well as spiritual forces that brought a good harvest.

Food

The very popularBanga Soupalso known asAmiedioriginated from the Urhobo tribe. It is a soup made frompalm kernel.This prestigious soup can be eaten withStarch(Usi), made from thecassavaplant.It is heated and stirred into a thick mound with addedpalm oilto give the starch its unique orange-yellow colour. Banga soup and starch have gone on to become a continental favourite. Other notable delicacies from the Urhobo tribe areUkhodo(ayamand unripeplantaindish prepared with eitherbeef,poultry, or fish, and spiced withlemon grassandpotash),Oghwevwri(Oghwo soup), and starch (Usi) also have their origins from the Urhobo tribe.Oghwevwri(Oghwo Soup)is composed of smoked or dried fish, bush meat, unique spices, potash and oil palm juice. Other culinary delicacies includeIriboto,Iriboerhanrhe,UgbagbaandOkpariku.

Religion

The main focus of Urhobo traditional religion is the adoration of "Ọghẹnẹ"(Almighty God), the supreme deity, and recognition of Edjo and Erhan (divinities). Some of these divinities could be regarded as personified attributes of Ọghẹnẹ. The Urhobo also worship God withOrhen(white chalk). If an Urhobo feels oppressed by someone, he appeals to Ọghẹnẹ, who he believes to be an impartial judge, to adjudicate between him and his opponent. Oghene is the fundamental factor and manifestation of all divinities. Urhobo divinities can be classified into four main categories, which probably coincide with historical development. These categories are Guardian divinities, War divinities, Prosperity divinities and Fertility and Ethical divinities.

Erivwin,which is the cult of ancestors and predecessors (EsemoandIniemo), is another important element. The dead are believed to be living, and looked upon as active members who watch over the affairs of their family. Urhobos believe in the duality of man, i.e., that man consists of two beings: physical body (Ugboma) and spiritual body (Erhi).

It is theErhithat declares man's destiny and controls the self-realization of man's destiny before he incarnates into the world.Erhialso controls the overall well-being (Ufuoma) of the man. Ọghẹnẹ is like a monarch who sets his seal on the path of destiny.

In the spirit world,Erivwin,man's destiny is ratified and sealed. In the final journey of theErhi,after transition, the Urhobo believe the physical body,Ugboma,decays while theEhriis indestructible and joins the ancestors inErivwin.The elaborate and symbolic burial rites are meant to prepare the departedErhifor happy re-union with the ancestors.

Despite this age-old and complex belief system, the influence ofwestern civilizationandChristianityis fast becoming an acceptable religion in most Urhobo communities. Many belong toCatholicand newevangelicaldenominations.

Ephadivination, similar to theYorubaIfáand practiced by manyWest Africanethnic groups, is practiced with strings ofcowries.There are 1,261ejo(deities), including the one-handed, one-legged mirror-holding whirlwind-god Aziza.

Notable people

AuthorBen Okri

• Ufuoma McDermott,Nigerian actress and model
• Ufuoma OnobrakpeyaNigerian artist
• Fred Aghogho Brume,senator and industrialist
• Richard Mofe Damijo,actor and politician
• Harris Eghagha,career soldier and diplomat
• M. G. Ejaife,Urhobo nationalist, first republic Senator and the first principal of Urhobo College
• David Ejoor,retired Nigerian army and governor of the now-defunctMid-Western Region
• Justus Esiri,actor
• Mabel Evwierhoma,Professor of Theatre Arts, University of Abuja
• Felix Ibru,Nigerian architect, senator and governor
• Michael Ibru,Nigerian pioneer industrialist
• Akpomudiago Odje,Senior Advocate and Officer ofNigeria
• Tanure Ojaide,poet and writer
• Blessing Okagbare,IAAC silver medalist and Olympic bronze medalist
• Isidore Okpewho,scholar and novelist
• Ben Okri,poet and novelist
• Bruce Onobrakpeya,visual artist, sculptor and painter
• Gamaliel Onosode,administrator and politician
• Igho Sanomi,businessman
• Onigu Otite,Professor of Sociology (retired)
• James Ibori,Former Governor ofDelta state(1999–2007)
• Adego Erhiawarie EferakeyaNigerian Politician
• Akpor Pius EwheridoNigerian Politician
• Ovie Omo-AgegeDeputy Senate President of theFederal republic of Nigeria
• Fejiro OkiomahAmerican football player
• Igosave,comedian
• Sheriff Oborevwori,Governor ofDelta state
• SaintGideon Meriodere Urhobo,Founder of God's Kingdom Society,

See also

• Agbassa
• Warri Crisis