Info For You Lot Ijaw People: Nigeria`S Aboriginal H2o People Of Niger Delta

Ijaw (also known past times the subgroups"Ijo"or"Izon") are a collection of peoples indigenous mostly to the wood regions of the Bayelsa, Delta, as well as Rivers States inside the Niger Delta inwards Nigeria. Some are natives of Akwa-Ibom, Edo, as well as Ondo states also inwards Nigeria. Many are found as migrant fishermen inwards camps as far W as Sierra Leone as well as as far eastward as Gabonese Republic along the Western Africa coastline.They are believed to live some of the earliest inhabitants of southern Nigeria.The Ijaws currently numbering virtually xv meg have got long lived inwards locations close many sea merchandise routes, as well as were good connected to other areas past times merchandise as early as the 15th century. Ijaw people sit down on Nigeria`s rich stone oil lands.
                                      Ijaw people

Historical origin of Ijaws
The Ijos (Ijaws) of the Niger Delta are the descendants of the autochthonous people or ancient tribe of Africa known as the (H) ORU. They were known past times this scream past times themselves as well as their immediate neighbors. The Ijos have got kept the ancient linguistic communication as well as civilization of the ORU. The Ancient ORU People. As to what fourth dimension the ancient ORU people started to settle the Niger Delta is non clear as linguistic communication studies cannot properly betoken when a people settled at the region.
     Six women from Opobo [Igbo/Ijo/Obolo; nowadays solar daytime coastal Rivers State, Nigeria]. Unknown  photographer. 1882.

What is known is that they have got existed as a distinct linguistic communication as well as ethnic grouping for upwards 5000 years. Their settlements inwards the Republic of Benin region, Lower Niger & Niger Delta were aboriginal (i.e. existence the first) as well as past times 500 BC they may have got started inhabiting the Niger Delta. The traditional Ijo narratives refer to the ancestors (the Oru-Otu) or the ancient people (Tobu Otu) who descended from the heaven (were of divine origin). They are also referred to as the WATER-PEOPLE (Beni-Otu). It is ORU who established the ancient communities of mask-spirits as well as mermaids (mami-water) dedicated to spiritual initiation culture.


                             Ijaw women inwards their traditional African wear

  "Language as well as cultural studies evidence that they are  related to the founders of the Great Nile Valley civilisation complex (and perchance the lake Republic of Chad complex). They immigrated into West Africa from the Nile-Valley during antiquity. The ORU people who went as well as founded the Nile-valey civilisation complex of ancient Arab Republic of Egypt as well as Sudan were also known as the ONU or ANU people or followers of HORU (HORUS). Another of their names seems to have got been KUMONI. It was during the fourth dimension of King ADUMU-ALA (alias ODUDUWA), that ORU Princes who derived ultimately from Nubia (ancient Sudan) established metropolis states inwards the Southern Nigeria region. Their names have got come upwards downward to us as the ancestors ADUMU, ASARA, UJO, IGODO, NANA, ALA-FUN. These metropolis states gave nativity to unlike ethnic nationalities through the procedure of fusion as well as ethnic intermarriage. This is reflected inwards the ancestral traditions of the Ijos.

The ancestor who is known as Ujo or Ijo is also known inwards traditional Ile-Ife history as Idekoseroake. He is also known past times the titles “Kalasuo" as well as "Indo-Oru'. His identification as ORU, way that he was of the tribe of Oru. His identification as Kumoni, way that he was of the tribe of Kumoni (the department that hailed from Upper Egypt), hence he was Kumoni-Oru. In Ife traditional history it is believed that he died before his father. It is also stated that he died at Ife, although it is non known for for sure that he did. All that is known is that King Adumu (alias Oduduwa) lost the service of a number of powerful as well as warlike sons early during his reign. Where they went or what happened to them has never been explained past times contemporary accounts at Ife. On the other mitt Ijo traditions keep that Ujo (i.e. Idekoseroake) migrated from Ife along with some brothers as well as a large entourage. Since these traditions are accurate as well as tin can live corroborated inwards regards to the foundation of Republic of Benin as well as Ife , as well as then nosotros tin can take away it that they are also truthful inwards regards to the origins of the ancestors of the Ijo people.


BIRTH OF THE IJO PEOPLE OR ORUS

The 1st migration out of Otu-Ife (or Ile-Ife as it was later to live known) was led past times Prince Ujo (alias Idekoseroake) mentioned inwards the ancestral tradition as existence the initiative of all boy of King Adumu . Prince Ujo along with the warlord Ogu (Ogun) were state of war commanders inwards the armed forces alliance, who took portion inwards the battles that were fought to subdue the hostile Ooyelagbo communities as well as found the Yoba Kingdom. Between 650 -700 AD Prince Ujo led his migration out of Ife to the Republic of Benin region, where he encamped as well as established a settlement (Uzama) that later was to go the footing of Republic of Benin City. At this fourth dimension other ORU people, as good as the EFA people were settling the Republic of Benin region.
                                                        Ijaw women
Prince Ujo`s instructions were to go to the Niger Delta, as well as found a strategic base of operations from which to defend the coastal region. Clearly his virile soul parent King Adumu, regarded the whole southern part as a virgin territory which he would convey nether his direct control. Prince Ujo proceeded to the key Niger Delta with his followers as well as came across isolated ancient communities of ORU people inwards remote settlements of the key delta. Together with these people they formed feasible communities inwards the key delta originally based on the City-state formation. This was the nativity or genesis of the Ijo people. The Kumoni-Oru who settled the Niger Delta with the most ancient inhabitants known as the ORU (TOBU OTU) gave nativity to the Ijos. The original settlements were inwards the western & key delta, from where they spread out to people the whole Niger Delta. This menstruum has been estimated to have got occurred betwixt 500 BC to m AD. These original ancestors were spiritual initiates of the ancient African spiritual initiation scheme of the CREATOR TEM (TEMUNO). They made heavy symbolic ritualistic occupation of the water, as well as hence have got been referred to as the "water people" (beni-otu). Later on betwixt 1200 ? 1600 AD the Ijos of the Niger Delta received immigrants from their relatives living at Republic of Benin as well as the lower Niger regions, who were fleeing the diverse upheavals as well as ability struggles of Republic of Benin metropolis during the fourth dimension of the 2nd dynasty. They collectively gave nativity to the Ijo land with its City-states as well as collective Clan communities. This is the nativity of the Ijo people, otherwise known past times the ancient scream of ORU.

Some of the Kumoni/Oru remained behind at Republic of Benin region, indeed a department of the Oru known as the Beni, who had come upwards from the Sudan (NupaTU or Napata) through Nupe, gave the scream Beni to some of the newly emerging settlements. These were the Oru or Ijos of Republic of Benin City who later on betwixt the twelfth ?15th centuries AD fled into the delta to escape the upheavals of Republic of Benin City. Along with the EFA people they were quite prominent at Republic of Benin during the 1st kingdom betwixt 650-1150 AD.

Ijwa Clan Ancestry/Tribes


The ancestor UJO, IJO (alias IDEKOSEROAKE), also known as UZON, IZON, IZONOWEI, KALASUO, ORU, INDO-ORU & OGULABIOWEI. THE FIRST PERE (RULER) as well as ancestor of the whole ethnic nationality.

The ancestor ASAIN seer/priest as well as companion to UJO as well as founder of the original Ijo community at Abo

The ancestor GBARAN, ancestor of GBARAN town inwards Apoi (Southern-Ijo), GBARANMATU, AROGBO, TUOMO, KABO, KUMBO AND GBARAN CLANS.

The ancestor OPU-BENI, ancestor of the MEIN, IBENI (OYAKIRI), OBOTEBE KALABARI CLANS

The ancestor OPU-OKUN, ancestor of the OPUKUMA CLAN

The ancestor KALA-OKUN (alias ALUKU-DOGO), ancestor of the KOLOKUMA, APOI, IBANI CLANS, as well as sections of NEMBE, TUNGBO, BUSENI, OKODIA

The ancestor APOI, ancestor of the APOI, UKOMU & AKASSA CLANS

The ancestor TARA, ancestor of the TARAKIRI, & ANDONI CLANS

The ancestor OPU-OGBO, ancestor of the EKPETIAMA & SEIMBIRI, EPIE-ATISSA CLANS as well as sections of WAKIRIKE & NKORO

The ancestor KALA-OGBO (alias OGURU), ancestor of the IDUWINI & EGBEMA CLANS

The ancestor OPORO, ancestor of the OPOROMA & OPEREMO, BASAN, FURUPAGHA, OGBE-IJO, CLANS

The ancestor OLODI (alias IGBEDIGBOLO), ancestor of the OLODIAMA CLANS, as well as sections of NEMBE

The ancestor OGULA, ancestor of the OGULAGHA CLAN

The ancestor KURU, ancestor of the KRUS? of Liberia

The ancestor OYAN, ancestor of the OGBO-OYAN (OGBIA CLAN)

The ancestor BOMOU, ancestor of the BOMA CLAN

The ancestor IBI (OBI), ancestor of the OGBOIN, WAKIRIKE CLANS, as well as sections of NEMBE

The ancestor KENI-OPU-ALA, ancestor of the KE

The ancestor ORU, ancestor of the KULA CLAN

Some Secondary ancestors

The ancestor OPOROZA II, ancestor of the KABO, KUMBO AND GBARAN CLANS

The ancestor MEIN, ancestor of the MEIN & KALABARI CLANS

The ancestor PEREBO-KALAKEBARI (KALABARI), ancestor of the KALABARI CLAN

The ancestor KALA-BENI (alias ALAGBARIGHA), ancestor of the IBENI (IBANI, OR BONNY) CLAN

                   Ijaw woman
The ancestor OPUBO-PEREKULE, ancestor of the OPUBO (OPOBO) CLAN



The Ijaw ethnic grouping consists of twoscore loosely affiliated tribes. These clans are based along kinship lines and/or shared cultural as well as religious traditions.


NameStateAlternate Names
AkassaBayelsaAkaha, Akasa
AndoniRivers / Akwa IbomObolo
Apoi (Eastern)Bayelsa
Apoi (Western)Ondo
ArogboOndo
BassanBayelsaBasan
BilleRiversBile, Bili
BumoBayelsaBoma, Bomo
BonnyRiversIbani, Ubani
BuseniBayelsaBiseni
EgbemaDelta / Edo
EkeremorBayelsaOperemor, Ekeremo
EkpetiamaBayelsa
EngenniRiversNgeni
Epie-AtissaBayelsa
FurupaghaEdo
GbaranmatuDeltaGbaranmatu
GbaranBayelsaGbarain
IduwiniDelta
IsabaDelta
KaboDeltaKabowei, Kabou
KalabariRivers
KolokumaBayelsa
KulaRivers
KumboDeltaKumbowei
MeinDelta
NembeBayelsa
NkoroRiversKala Kirika
ObotebeDelta
OdimodiDelta
OgbeDeltaOgbe-Ijoh
OgbiaBayelsa
OgboinBayelsa
OgulaghaDeltaOgula
OkordiaBayelsaOkodia, Akita
OkrikaRiversWakirike
Olodiama (East)Bayelsa
Olodiama (West)Edo
OpoboRivers
OpokumaBayelsa
OporomaBayelsaOporomo
OrumaBayelsaTugbene
OyakiriBayelsaBeni
SeimbiriDelta
Tarakiri (East)Bayelsa
Tarakiri (West)Delta
TungboBayelsa
TuomoDelta
UkomuEdo
ZaramaBayelsa



The Ijaw talk nine closely related Niger–Congo languages, all of which belong to the Ijoid branch of the Niger–Congo tree. The primary partition betwixt the Ijo languages is that betwixt Eastern Ijo as well as Western Ijo, the most of import of the old grouping of languages existence Izon, which is spoken past times virtually 4 meg people.
There are 2 prominent groupings of the Izon language. The first, termed either Western or Central Izon (Ijaw) consists of Western Ijaw speakers: Ekeremor, Sagbama (Mein), Bassan, Apoi, Arogbo, Boma (Bumo), Kabo (Kabuowei), Ogboin, Tarakiri, as well as Kolokuma-Opokuma (Yenagoa).[citation needed] Nembe, Brass as well as Akassa (Akaha) dialects correspond Southeast Ijo (Izon).[citation needed]. Buseni as well as Okordia dialects are considered Inland Ijo.
The other major Ijaw linguistic grouping is Kalabari. Kalabari is considered an Eastern Ijaw linguistic communication but the term "Eastern Ijaw" is non the normal nomenclature. Kalabari is the scream of ane of the Ijaw clans that reside on the eastern side of the Niger-Delta (Abonnema, Buguma, Bakana, Degema etc.) who shape a major grouping inwards Rivers State, hence their involvement inwards the struggle for greater stone oil control. Other "Eastern" Ijaw clans are the Okrika, Ibani (the natives of Bonny, Finima as well as Opobo) as well as Nkoroo. They are neighbours to the Kalabari people inwards nowadays solar daytime Rivers State, Nigeria.
Other related Ijaw subgroups which have got distinct languages but real closed kinship, cultural as well as territorial ties with the residual of the Ijaw are the Epie-Atissa, Engenni (also known as Ẹgẹnẹ), as well as Degema (also called Udekama or Udekaama). These groups talk Delta Edoid languages. The Ogbia clan, Andoni people, as good as residents of Bukuma as well as Abuloma (Obulom) talk Cross River languages.[citation needed]
It was discovered inwards the 1980s that a nearly extinct Berbice Creole Dutch, spoken inwards Guyana, is partly based on Ijo dictionary as well as grammar. Its nearest relative seems to live Eastern Ijo, most probable Kalabari (Kouwenberg 1994).


The Ijaw were ane of the initiative of all of Nigeria's peoples to have got contact with Westerners, as well as were active as go-betweens inwards the slave merchandise betwixt visiting Europeans as well as the peoples of the interior, especially inwards the era before the regain of quinine, when West Africa was soundless known as the White Man's Graveyard because of the endemic presence of malaria.
                                  Nollyhood actress Dakore Egbuson,is an Ijaw

Some of the kin-based trading lineages that arose amid the Ijaw developed into substantial corporations which were known as "Houses"; each theatre had an elected leader as good as a fleet of state of war canoes for occupation inwards protecting merchandise as well as fighting rivals. The other main line of piece of work mutual amid the Ijaw has traditionally been line-fishing as well as farming.

Being a maritime people, many Ijaws were employed inwards the merchant transportation sector inwards the early as well as mid-20th century (pre-Nigerian independence). With the advent of stone oil as well as gas exploration inwards their territory, some are employed inwards that sector. Other main line of piece of work are inwards the civil service of the Nigerian States of Bayelsa as well as Rivers where they are predominant.
                        Issac Jasper Adaka Boro (September 10, 1938 – May 9, 1968). An Ijaw liberty fighter - known for existence a Niger Delta as well as Civil state of war hero.  Forming the Niger Delta Volunteer force, he along with other notable lieutenants that included George Amangala as well as Captain Boardman Esinkuma Nyananyo (I LOVE the Nyananyos ^_^),  led the Ijaw people inwards their initiative of all revolution inwards 1966 against oppression from the federal authorities inwards monastic say to redistribute stone oil wealth justly, and later against Biafran rebels.


The Ijaw people alive past times line-fishing supplemented past times farming paddy-rice, plantains, yams, cocoyams, bananas as well as other vegetables as good as tropical fruits such as guava, mangoes as well as pineapples; as well as trading. Smoke-dried fish, timber, palm stone oil as well as palm kernels are processed for export. While some clans (those to the east- Akassa, Nembe, Kalabari, Okrika as well as Bonny) had powerful chiefs as well as a stratified society, other clans are believed non to have got had whatever centralized confederacies until the arrival of the British. However, owing to influence of the neighbouring Kingdom of Republic of Benin private communities fifty-fifty inwards the western Niger Delta also had chiefs as well as governments at the hamlet level.


Political system: (chiefs, clans etc, wealth or condition classes):
People inwards the eastern part of the delta traditionally lived inwards little villages as well as towns that were run past times a scheme of chiefs who were theatre unit of measurement or clan heads. High condition is usually awarded inwards accordance with elaborate hierarchical systems as well as oftentimes results alone after payments have got been made to those already belongings titles. People from the western as well as key Delta regions acknowledged no key authorities until the British.

 Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan (an Ijaw man) as well as his Ijaw people at a ceremony


Marriage
There are 2 forms of marriage, both involving bride-wealth. In a small-dowry marriage, the groom must offering a payment to the wife’s family, which is typically cash. In this type of marriage, the children line their line of inheritance through their woman parent to her family. This way that when they grow upwards the children have got to a greater extent than choices as to where they tin can live: with their father’s or mother’s people.

The 2nd type of spousal human relationship is a large-dowry marriage, which way that the children belong to the father’s family. These marriages are rare, as well as wives are non usually from the local community.
There is high charge per unit of measurement of polygamy amid the Ijaws. Most men have got at to the lowest degree 2 wives. Each married adult woman has her ain chamber as well as kitchen, usually inwards a single house. Ijo wives are non ranked, as well as ideally, each is treated every bit as well as has equal access to her husband.

                                       Ijaw people
Ijaw Traditions
 Funeral ceremonies, especially for those who have got accumulated wealth as well as respect, are oftentimes real dramatic. Traditional religious practices centre around "Water spirits" inwards the Niger river, as well as around tribute to ancestors.

                                                  Ijaw women

Egbesu is the god of warfare as well as the spiritual foundation for combating evil. He tin can can alone live invoked inwards defense strength or to right an injustice past times people who are inwards melody with the universe.Recently, members of the cult, known as the Egbesu Boys, have got been fighting against authorities inwards the Niger Delta inwards response to environmental as well as economical problems caused past times stone oil exploitation. Young men who have got joined the cult undergo initiations which impart the powers of Egbesu. The initiation involves existence etched with scars on some hidden portion of the body. Followers oftentimes believe the charms as well as the cult initiations brand them bulletproof.

                               Ijaw human being of Niger Delta
Religion


Although the Ijaw are at nowadays primarily Christians (95% profess to be), with Catholicism as well as Anglicanism existence the varieties of Christianity most prevalent amid them. The Ijaw also have got elaborate traditional religious practices of their own. Veneration of ancestors plays a key role inwards Ijaw traditional religion, spell H2O spirits, known as Owuamapu figure prominently inwards the Ijaw pantheon. In addition, the Ijaw exercise a shape of divination called Igbadai, inwards which of late deceased individuals are interrogated on the causes of their death.
Ijaw religious beliefs handgrip that H2O spirits are similar humans inwards having personal strengths as well as shortcomings, as well as that humans dwell amid the H2O spirits before existence born. The role of prayer inwards the traditional Ijaw scheme of belief is to keep the living inwards the practiced graces of the H2O spirits amid whom they dwelt before existence born into this world, as well as each twelvemonth the Ijaw handgrip celebrations inwards honor the spirits lasting for several days. Central to the festivities is the role of masquerades, inwards which men wearing elaborate outfits as well as carved masks trip the lite fantastic to the trounce of drums as well as manifest the influence of the H2O spirits through the character as well as intensity of their dancing. Particularly spectacular masqueraders are taken to really live inwards the possession of the item spirits on whose behalf they are dancing.

                                  Ijaw masquerades

The Ijaw are also known to exercise ritual acculturation (enculturation), whereby an private from a different, unrelated grouping undergoes rites to go Ijaw. An instance of this is Jaja of Opobo, the Igbo slave who rose to go a powerful Ibani (Bonny) master copy inwards the 19th century.


Myths (Creation):
“There was a ane time a large field,and inwards this land stood an enormous Iroko tree with large buttresses. At the sides of the land appeared pairs of men as well as women, each adult woman belongings a broom as well as each human being a bag. As the women swept the land the men collected the dirt into their bags. And the dirt was manilas [wealth]. Some collected x or to a greater extent than manillas, others none, as well as when the land was swept create clean they disappeared dorsum into the edges of the field, 2 past times two. The heaven darkened, as well as at that spot descended on the land a large table, a large chair, as well as an immense ‘Creation Stone’, as well as on the tabular array was large quantity of earth. Then at that spot was lightning as well as thunder; as well as Woyingi descended. She seated herself on the chair as well as placed her feet on the ‘Creation Stone’.
 are a collection of peoples indigenous mostly to the wood regions of the Bayelsa Info For You IJAW PEOPLE: NIGERIA`S ABORIGINAL WATER PEOPLE OF NIGER DELTA
                                A Cross department of wakirike Ijaw women

Out of the earth, on the tabular array Woyingi moulded human beings. But they had no life as well as were neither human being nor woman, as well as Woyingi, embracing them ane past times one, breathed her breath into them, as well as they became living beings. But they were soundless neither men nor women, as well as so Woyingi asked them ane past times ane to select to live human being or woman, each according to their choice. Next Woyingi asked them, ane past times one, what way of life

each should similar to Pb on earth. Some asked for riches, some for children, some for brusk lives, as well as all way of things. And these Woyingi bestowed on them ane past times one, each according to their wish. Then Woyingi asked them ane past times ane past times which way of decease they would provide to her. And out of the diseases that afflict the ground they chose each a disease. To all these wishes Woyingi said, ‘So live it’.

                      Ijaw men inwards their traditional dress

Cultural stuff (art, music, games):
The most famous of the Ijaw fine art is definately the traditional river masks made from carved wood, which embody H2O spirits (owuamapu). Mostly these are depictions of human heads built upwards of geometric shapes as well as combined with beast as well as abstracting qualities.

Musically, the Ijaw have got traditionally used drums, percussion planks as well as other idiophones. These are soundless used during cultural festivals to accompany dances such as the Fisherman’s Dance, the Egbelegbele Sei as well as the Wind as well as Trees Dance inwards add-on to horns as well as other contemporary instruments.
New types of music have got popped upwards over the years as well, including a genre of gospel which sounds a chip to a greater extent than similar reggae or ska, making much occupation of trumpets as well as other horns, than American gospel. Popular music of the Ijaw seems to handgrip to this emphasis on horn, percussion, as well as steady, ho-hum beats as well.
Another fine art shape the Ijo are famous for is the memorial screen, which is a carved plank of wood depicting the deceased. They were made when members of trading families died as well as were kept inwards the trading theatre as well as given offerings of nutrient as well as drink.

 Death as well as afterlife beliefs:
It is believed that ane is e'er existence watched past times the spirit of his ancestors as well as must present appreciation to the dead as well as pray to them for hereafter good being. Before each meal, ane offers a chip of their nutrient to the ancestors past times tossing it to the ground as well as calling out the names of his ancestors, as well as every 8 days, nutrient as well as gulp are laid out specifically for them. Every 7 years a goat’s blood is sprinkled inwards front end of images or pillars representative of the ancestors. It is against tribal constabulary to talk badly of a spirit. If someone does talk sick of the dead as well as refuses to apologize, the insulted theatre unit of measurement retaliates past times speaking against his dead family. When apologies are made, they all perform an atonement ceremony.
One tin can also pray to the spirits at special shrines to inquire for aid inwards emergencies. Everyone has 2 souls - the eternal ego as well as the life strength that dies with the body. Both souls go out the trunk with the in conclusion breath, but the life strength tin can also go out before decease at times of bully fear. If this soul does non return, the trunk dies. The eternal soul leaves the trunk on the in conclusion breath as well as takes the shape of a ghost, shadow, or reflection, so it’s considered unsafe to mensuration on a shadow.  Mirrors are oftentimes used so evil spirits volition strike the picture of the soul reflected inwards the mirror as well as non the actual soul.
As inwards many religions across the world, at that spot is a Ghost King, Nduen-Ama; as well as a ghost messenger, Ffe,who appears as a skeleton as well as brings decease upon a soul past times striking him at the base of operations of the skull with a large staff; a ferryman, Asasaba, who brings practiced souls across the river of decease to live reincarnated into trees, animals or other living things.Although unlike ethnic groups believe inwards unlike forms of reincarnation for practiced as well as bad souls, all believe inwards karma. For example, inwards ane tribe, a practiced soul could go a cow, elephant, or leopard; inwards some other tribe, practiced people may live reborn as trees, whereas inwards a 3rd tribe, alone evil people go plants after they die.
Ijaws give honor their ancestors. Ancestors are revered as well as loved. To talk sick of them, though, is taboo.

Adornment

Women braid their pilus or crop it closed as well as habiliment it nether a caput cloth. Men crop their pilus short. Both men as well as women of all ages habiliment necklaces of huge coral beads on formal occasions. Beads are also made of ivory, but alone the rich habiliment these.

The solar daytime to solar daytime wears of the Ijaw human being is a shirt as well as trouser made of a wax material. While the ceremonial wearing clothing of the Bayelsa human being is a large long-sleeved shirt worn over a long slice of wrapper tied from the waist downward to the talocrural articulation as well as most times thrown over the shoulder.
A blouse is worn over a wind tied from the waist to exactly below the genu for immature girls as well as single women, spell married women habiliment a wind from waist to talocrural articulation as well as the blouse worn on top with a wind tied over it from waist to knee. The ceremonial wearing clothing for women is the same pattern, but with higher character textile as well as worn with a caput necktie as well as beads. Women of violet blood may habiliment the 2 wraps without the blouse, as tin can maidens during wedding ceremony ceremonies.

                                     Ijaw woman
Source:http://ogbia.webs.com/theijawsorigin.htm
           http://dice.missouri.edu/docs/niger-congo/Ijo.pdf
          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ijaw_people

Below is some Important History of Ijaws


THE PRIMARY DISPERSAL 700 ? 1200 CE (AD)
The PERE OR INDO-ORU instructed an expedition strength to go as well as guard the oral cavity of the delta as well as other of import places along the coast as stipulated past times his virile soul parent King Adumu. These people became the ancestors of several Ijo clans. Keni Opu Ala or Keni-Ala, the holy seer (Asain) of Adumu, the Supreme Intelligence, was the ancestor who founded Ke or Keni as well as its missy towns. Kula as well as Bille were also founded inwards this way. Ogulagha as well as Iduwini, were founded as a final result of proto ancestors settling inwards the western coastal delta, to guard that region. Oguru (alias Kala-Ogbo who gave his scream to Warri part (Ogbo Ijo) settled the expanse at nowadays known as Warri region, these ancestors were to live joined past times people from Oporoma. Others such as Kuru, founded the Kru people (they seem to have got been proto-Ijos), who eventual migrated to the nowadays solar daytime Republic of Liberia region, spell some ended upwards settling inwards nowadays solar daytime Republic of Ghana region.
                         Ijaw adult woman from Cross River State
According to tradition, after many years of dominion virile soul parent Ujo the Pere or Indo-Oru left his headquarters inwards Igbedi creek inwards accuse of the Agadagba of Egbesu (military officer), as well as decided to go dorsum to Otu-Ife (Ile-Ife). He traveled with nine companions including his grandson Apoi (Opoi) the boy of Kala-Okun. Without a skilled astronomer they got lost as well as decided to settle inwards a creek close the vicinity of the Nun river. It was hither they founded the hamlet of Apoi. Prince Ujo made his permanent dwelling with his grandson Apoi at the quarter at nowadays known as Okoto-aja. It was hither that he died as well as was buried. Ujo who was also titled Kalasuo, gave the championship to his grandson Apoi, since as well as then the rulers of Apoi clan have got been titled “Kalasuo?. From the key Apoi, a department migrated to the western delta, to found Apoi Ijo of the Ondo region. Also from the key Apoi, was founded Akassa clan along the coast.

                             Ijaw H2O home
The ancient town of Ujo-Gbaran or Gbaran for short, was founded past times Gbaran an elderberry boy of Ujo. Gbaran was given the scepter of Ujo on the decease of his father. Later on his descendants went as well as founded the town of Oporo-aja (Oproza) inwards the western delta part of Escravos, to give nativity to the Gbaranmatu as well as also Arogbo inwards Ondo area. Children of Ujo, Olodi as well as Oporo, went as well as established a mutual settlement, from which descendants founded Oporoma as well as Olodiama clans. From Olodiama inwards key delta ancestors left to found Olodiama inwards the western delta close Benin, as well as also ancestors left to found Olodiamabiri as well as Onyomabiri as well as other towns, to shape Nembe clan. From Agadagba-bou was also founded Ogbia (Ogbo-Oyan) clan who are the descendants of Oyan. From the same Agadagba-bou, led past times Opu-Ogbo, was founded, Isoma-bou or Opuan-bou, from which ancestors later migrated to found, Ekpetiama, as well as Seimbiri clans.
The in conclusion to go out the ancient town of Agadagba-bou, were the ancestors of the Opukuma, Kolokuma, Tarakiri as well as Andoni. Opu-Okun was the ancestor of the Opukuma, spell Kala-Okun was the ancestor of the Kolokuma, both were children of Ujo past times the same mother. Tara a younger kid of Ujo was the ancestor of the Tarakiri, spell Ayama the boy of Tara was the ancestor of the Andoni inwards eastern Ijo,. The Andoni (ruler known as the Andoni-Oru) town of Asarama was founded past times Asara or Assa an ancient ancestor descendant of Ayama.. At that remote menstruum most of the ancestors lived inwards Igbedi creek at Agadagba-bou as well as the immediate environs of the Nun river. Afterwards their descendants migrated all over the delta. Lastly Abowi, the Asain (seer) of Ujo who led the migration from Otu-Ife or Ile-Ife, journeyed upwards the river Niger to found a number of villages which gave rising to Abo as well as Atani (ruler known as the Atani-Oru). Abo or Aboh as well as Atani no longer talk Izon language..

SECONDARY DISPERSALS 1200 ? 1800 CE (AD):
From primary dispersal centres such as Isomabou, Orubou, Obiama, Gbaran Town, Ke, Oporoza as well as others, ancestors migrated for several reasons to found novel towns as well as eventually novel clans. They were joined past times ancestors who previously lived inwards the Republic of Benin region.

FINAL MOVEMENT OF THE IJOS FROM BENIN CITY
1200 ? 1600 CE (AD)
The ancestor of the Ijos namely the ORU as well as KUMONI-ORU people were the initiative of all autochthonous inhabitants of the site of Republic of Benin City. In ancestral tradition the symbolic ancestor of all Ijos PRINCE UJO, left ane of his brothers or sons, known as OPU-BENI or PRINCE ORUBO (in the Urhobo traditions) at the site of Republic of Benin City itself these ancestors founded a settlement known as UJO-AMA (UZAMA), as well as other settlements inside the same vicinity. Within the same menstruum the ancient people known as the EFA people settled the upland portions of the Republic of Benin region. When PRINCE IGODO some other younger blood brother to PRINCE UJO, left Ife inwards virtually 670 CE (AD) period, after inheriting the mystic warfare powers of his virile soul parent KING ADUMU (alias ODUDUWA) arrived inwards the Republic of Benin region, past times which fourth dimension PRINCE UJO had departed on his exploration of the Niger Delta, he centralised the existing communities as well as formed the initiative of all City State of Benin, otherwise known as IGODOMIGODO OR ADO. The descendants of Prince OPUBENI otherwise known as Prince ORUBO as well as IGODO (OGISO) continued to alive at Benin. Some of them intermarried with the EFA?s as well as other immigrants to shape the URHOBOS , spell other left betwixt 1200 as well as 1600 CE AD to the western, key as well as eastern Niger Delta to shape communities with the ethnic kith & kin. The immediate have of their leaving Republic of Benin has to do with the displacement of the OGISO DYNASTY inwards virtually 1170 CE (AD) as well as the the world confiscation as well as civil wars fought inwards Republic of Benin past times novel OBA kings betwixt 1500 ? 1600 CE (AD), notably the civil state of war betwixt Oba Esigie as well as Prince ORU-AYAN.
In Republic of Benin traditional history the Ijo autochthonous inhabitants of Republic of Benin (Beni-Ijo), ancestors of some sections of Ijos are represented past times the UZAMA (UJO TOWN) & OGIAME (CHILDREN OF OGISO) elements. Establishing the identity of the Uzama & Ogiama- According to P Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Talbot (The People?s of Southern Nigeria 1926 pp31-153

Miss delta
“The Republic of Benin province appears to have got been inhabited past times a people called Efa, the ancestors of the nowadays Edo as well as ruled past times a large number of petty chiefs, those at Republic of Benin City existence the Ogiame, as well as the Uzama Nihino (The 7 Uzama). By some accounts the later arrived from Ife at a later date?.
It was the Uzama as well as Ogiame people that set upwards the most critical resistance against the invaders (These invaders were non from Ile-Ife as is commonly supposed, but from some other Ife to the north-east situated close the Igala country). These grouping of invaders that displaced the Ogisos as well as introduced the Oba title, forced themselves onto the people inwards virtually 1170 AD. These people are erraneously referred to as the Yoruba element, their actual scream was IWERE. In fact they came non from Ile-Ife, as is commonly narrated, but from Igala country. These people also had to conquer the Ile-Ife part as well as found the Oranmiyan (Oranjan) dynasty.
According to the records, the in conclusion Ogiso prince, Kaladiran (Ekaladerhan inwards the Republic of Benin records) became a victim of pilitical intrigue as well as was exiled from Republic of Benin City. He fled into the delta as well as founded the town of Igodo with his retinue of exiles. When the Ogiso Prince Kaladiran as well as his people fled into exile, he founded the town of Igodo (now Ughoton) due south of Benin. It seems that it was from this identify that many people who were portion of the Ogiso dynasty migrated initiative of all to Oproaza to settle with their Ijo relatives, as well as and then finally into the Eastern Niger Delta to shape a department of the Kalabari Clan of Ijos (The Igodo-ame as well as Ogiso-ame or Ogi-ame) .

Oranjan (Oranyan), on his initiative of all elbow grease to conquer Benin, encountered resistance at the Ovia river past times the Ijos. After several attempts Oranjan circumvents the Ovia river route as well as conquers Uzama. It is at Uzama that he sets upwards base, but due to rigid opposition from the people he is forced to leave. By the fourth dimension he has left with his entourage, he has formed an alliance with the Uzama chiefs (the 7 Uzama) as well as also some of the leaders of the Efa (i.e Ogiefa). It is whilst hither that Oranjan has a boy past times an Efa woman. This boy is named Eweka. Eweka also encounters opposition inwards trying to establisha dynasty at Benin. It is alone after the forth Oba Ewedo that they gain some success inwards establishing dynastic command over the whole of Republic of Benin City. Which is to say that before Ewedo, the previous Obas did non really exercise monarchical ability over Republic of Benin City.
Ewedo also encounters major resistance from the Ijo ferrymen of the Ovia river complex as well as also the inhabitants of Ogiame (Ogiame). It was during this decisive battle that Ewedo obtained the violet stool of the Ogisos from the Ogiame. The remaining leaders of the Ogiame, custodians of the Ogiso stool as well as the leaders of the Uzama were as well as then invited to shape a authorities with Ewedo. The Oranjan or Eweka dynasty becomes established at Republic of Benin city. But resistance was soundless set upwards past times some sections of the kingdom.

The Eweka dynasty was non fully accepted. It faced increasing resistance from the City of Udo, which was W of Republic of Benin across the Ovia river. Due to this resistance ditches were dug around Benin. Oba Ogula marries ane of the daughters of the ruler of Udo to secure peace but to no avail. During an intense have against Udo, the resistance is destroyed, leading to many of the indigenes fleeing into the main delta. From fourth dimension to fourth dimension the leaders of the Uzama presented resistance to the illegimate regime at Benin. The Eweka dynasty alone becomes fully legitimise when Ogun (Ewuare) ascends the throne. Ogun it is stated was the kid of a noble adult woman who descended from the Ogisos, ie to say she was an Ogiso princess, an Ogiame so to speak. This may have got been a deliberate procedure on the portion of the indigenous chemical constituent to set inwards identify a ruler who was favourable to their interests (Ogun was before banaished), for Ogun ascended to the throne after a bully battle that lasted 2 days as well as 2 nights. So Ogun ascended the throne of the Ogisos as well as united inwards himself the 2 dynasties (the older indigenous Ogiso dynasty as well as the younger Oranjan-Eweka dynasty from an Ife close the Igala country). It was during Ogun?s fourth dimension that the problem ceased. It was from his fourth dimension that the monarchy became legitimate as well as stablised past times Ogun creating a province council integrating the Indigenous chiefs inwards a ability sharing arrangment.
By the fourth dimension of the Oba kings of Benin, the Ijo speaking chemical constituent of Republic of Benin had go a minority inwards the Republic of Benin region, due to intermarriage with the EFA with other things. This intermarriage gave nativity to some of the Urhobo clans so to speak.

Subsequently the Oranmiyan-Eweka dynasty started confiscating the the world of the truthful owners of the Republic of Benin region, which led to massive migrations out of Republic of Benin . We have got mentioned the battles betwixt the novel ruling Oba-Eweka dynasty as well as the Uzama/Ogiame indigenous ruling chemical constituent of Beni, descendants of the ORU/Kumoni as well as EFA aborigines of Republic of Benin kingdom, that led to some of them leaving Republic of Benin for the Niger Delta.. Hence the Ijo narratives from Mein-Ijo as well as other clans which attest to such really happening. Many of these people moved into the main key delta as well as coast to bring together their kith & Kin already estabished inwards the region. (Historians demand to query why was it that Mein fled Republic of Benin into the key delta from Aboh, which at the fourth dimension was soundless Ijo speaking? Why is it that the Urhobo keep fraternal relations with the Ijos upwards till the nowadays day? This is the ground why betwixt the twelfth to 16th centuries, a large department of the Ijo ancestors who ane time lived at Benin, migrated into the Niger Delta.
             Song-bird Anna Omak,an ijaw


And 

THE IJO ETHNIC NATIONALITY EVOLUTION OF THE CLANS
The original ancestral settlements founded past times the proto-Ijos inwards the Niger Delta were, Agadagba-bou (first dwelling of Ujo inwards the key delta) inwards Igbedi Creek, Isoma-bou (Opuan-bou) along the Nun river, as well as Orubiribua-bou, also inwards the same area. Abo with its villages, such as Atani, farther upwards the Niger. We also have got Amatu inwards the western delta, Ke inwards the eastern delta as well as Wari-Ife & Wari-Ige inwards the western delta. And lastly nosotros have got the Lagos part of Lagos Island itself, formally inhabited past times Proto-Ijos before existence absorbed into the later immigrant cultures.
APOI EBE - CENTRAL AND WEST: The Apoi took their scream from Apoi (Opoi) the boy of Kala-Okun, who accompanied his granddad Ujo on their way dorsum to Otu-Ife or Ile-Ife. In a grouping of nine they got lost inwards trying to line the route dorsum without the assist of a navigator. So they decided to settle inside the vicinity of the Nun river (Apoi creek), where the nowadays hamlet of Apoi is situated. Ujo who bore the championship Kalasuo (KALA-SUO or KALUSO i.e. little god,), died hither as well as his grandson inherited the title. Subsequently Kalasuo became a violet championship passing through the theatre unit of measurement lineage of Apoi. The nine lineage?s formed out of the migrating grouping founded nine quarters (Idumu), of which alone 5 are remembered, these include, Ogboinbou, Apoi, Okoto-aza or Okoto-aja (the original dwelling of Kalasuo or Ujo himself as well as the site of ane of his ancestral shrines called Oborowi), Umgbuluama, as well as Inikorogha. Some descendants of Gbaran migrated from Gbaran settlement inside the same area, as well as with the Apoi founded the villages of Keme-Ebiama, Ajama or Azama, Kassama, as well as Ogboinbiri, Kolokologbene, as well as Sampou. Together with Gbaran town, these have got collectively go known as Apoi Ebe.
The western Apoi who derived from the Okoto-aja or Okotoaza, Umgbuluama, Apoi as well as other Idumu’s, migrating with the violet theatre unit of measurement initiative of all settled at Ukomu inwards the expanse of Furupagha inwards the western Niger Delta. They stayed hither for a long menstruum of fourth dimension but had to go out due to the activities of soldiers from the Republic of Benin empire (this was the fourth dimension of the expansion of the Republic of Benin empire 1500 AD onwards). Most of the ancestors moved on westwards to found the town of Akpaka. After the reign of Five Kalasuo’s (approx. 150-200 years) a gradual procedure of dispersal laid inwards causing the foundation of the towns of Igbobini, Igbotu, Oboro, Ojuala (Oju-Ala), Gbekebo as well as Kiribo. The violet theatre unit of measurement moved from Akpaka to found Toru-Abukuba (Apukuba or Opukuba). Later on Toru-Abukuba became the towns of Oboro as well as Shabomi.

The Western Apoi telephone telephone Kalasuo, Kalashuwe as well as Oborowi, Oborowe, as well as they no longer talk Izon language, but a dialect made upwards of the fusion of Izon as well as Yoruba. Of belatedly they have got moved on to adopting the full general Yoruba which most of them do speak. At a later stage as portion of the Yoruba influence, the rulers took on the Oba title, before switching dorsum to the ancient titles of Kalasuo as well as Opuasa. As children of Ujo, at Ile-Ife the ancestral traditions scream them as ane of the sub-tribes that sprung from King Adumu-Ala (alias Oduduwa). The Apoi are pre-14th century.

AKASSA EBE: The founding ancestors of the Akassa came as well as settled that expanse pre-14th century, before the identify was abandoned, as well as and then during the 17th century from Kassama of the Apoi central. The leader of the migrants was on La or Lar. They had migrated from their ancestral dwelling during the fourth dimension of the slave trade, due to insecurity inwards the area. La as well as followers migrated due south as well as settled at Opu-Akassa on the eastern depository fiscal establishment of the Nun estuary. His boy Emere expanded the hamlet as well as it eventually became a town from which diverse migrants left to found the diverse villages of Akassa inwards the key delta coastal islands. Some ancestors came from Igbematoru inwards Boma Ebe, due to a slave raid on that hamlet past times a people called Tobukigi. These founded the towns of Kamatoru as well as Sangana. One Opunama boy of Emere, signed a treaty with the British inwards 1863.
GBARANMATU EBE: Gbaran a senior boy of Ujo was left with Kala-Ogbo (Oguru) the ancestor of the Iduwini Ebe, Ogula as well as his married adult woman Ereara the ancestors of the Ogulagha as well as others such as Kuru the ancestor of the Krus of Liberia, to guard the oral cavity of the Escavos Forcados estuaries. These early ancestors may have got met other proto-Ijos living inwards the region, hence their scream “Tobu-Otu? or “ancient people?. Gbaran gave his scream to the clan.
While these ancestors remained inwards the area, the descendants of Gbaran travelled upwards to the settlement inwards Igbedi creek, before travelling downward ane time again to found a settlement inwards the Apoi area, named after their ancestor Gbaran. (Ujo-Gbaran also spelt Gbara). Ujo-Gbaran (used to differentiate it from Gbaran Ebe), grew to go a town. At a later stage some of the ancestors left to found Oporo-aja or Oporo-aza (Oporoza or Oproza) inwards the Escravos expanse of the western delta. This is reflected inwards the traditions collected inwards the 1920-30s. According to the tradition as collected inwards a British colonial study of 1930 pp1-8;

“…The clan scream takes its origin from its woman parent town i.e. GBARA, a flourishing town which was visited whilst on land work, as well as situated inwards the piddling known expanse to the westward of EKOW inwards the old Brass Division… The clan scream GBARAMATU consists of 2 words GBARA-AMATU. The latter give-and-take signifies ” initiative of all town” or initiative of all settlement”. Thus the scream way GBARA, the initiative of all settlement. The GBARAS themselves are Ijaws of the western Ijo Sub tribe, as well as it was found that their linguistic communication was practically the same as the western clans of Gulani (Ogulagha) as well as Iduwini…… “With the growth inwards population of Gbara, congestion became acute, as well as dissatisfied families began to expect elsewhere for space. Thus then, it is asserted that ane Osako, [i.e. Esiaku or Usiaku], Son of OGBEYAMA, together with his family, left the parent town as well as finally made his novel dwelling on the river Escravos where the hamlet of OPURAJA [i.e. Oporoza] at nowadays stands… The initiative of all exodus occurred when ane grouping left Opuraja as well as joined their old towns people at Arugbo. Some fourth dimension later, a full general emigration took identify as well as the villages of KUNOKUNAMA, AJATITON, BAKOKODIA, BENIKURUKURU, OGOBE as well as OKERENGHIGHO were founded…”

The leading ancestors inwards a direct line of descent were Oporo or Oporo-aja (Oporo-aja or Oporo-aza), the founder of Oporoza village) the boy of Kenibira, the boy of Usiaku (Esiaku), the boy of Ogbeyama, the boy of Fieowi, the boy of Gbaran. Others include Labiri, Akpobiri, as well as Perebeinmo the boy of a priest ruler or Pere at Gbaran town, named as Ogbunu. The volume of the ancestors settled at Oproza, later on the next towns were founded, Kunukunama, Okrika, Benitu as well as Benikurukuru. From Kunukunama, Bakokodia as well as Ikantu were founded. Benikurukuru was also the parent of Ajama or Azama. The foundation of the Gbaranmatu is betwixt 700-800 CE (AD), i.e. pre-14th century.
AROGBO EBE: The founding ancestors of the Arogbo were portion of the same migration from Gbaran town. After a brief halt at Oproza, led past times Perebeinmo they went on to Ukparomo (now occupied past times the towns of Akpata, Opuba, Ajapa, as well as Ukpe). They stayed hither for some time, virtually the length of the reign of 2 Agadagbas (military priest-rulers of the shrine of Egbesu). They as well as then moved to the nowadays site of Arogbo. From this identify descendants spread out to found the Arogbo Ebe. It was from Arogbo that some ancestors migrated northwards upwards the old course of pedagogy of the Forcados river as well as settled close the site of Patani. Living nearby inwards the upland part were proto Edo or Efa people called Erowha. These ancestors later on intermarried with them as well as gave nativity to the Uvwei as well as Effurun (Efferun or Efferu the ancestor of the Effurun or Ephron was a descendent of Gbaran) sections of Urhobo people.
During the fourth dimension of the expansion of the Republic of Benin kingdom(1550), the Republic of Benin invaded Ukoruama (Lagos). The Arogbo sent soldiers to defend the Ijo living inwards that region. Their regular army army camp became known as Idumu-Arogbo later shortened to Idumagbo. The Arogbo also successful halted the advance of the Republic of Benin regular army into the western delta as well as afterward the whole of the Izon Ebe. The foundation of the Arogbo Ebe is clearly pre-10th century.
TUOMO EBE: The ancestors of the Tuomo (Tuama) were portion of the same migration grouping that left Gbaran town at the same fourth dimension as the Gbaranmatu, as well as Arogbo. They accompanied the Arogbo on their journey, before settling at Ukpe. From Ukpe some ancestors migrated upwards the Forcados river to the Patani expanse as well as founded a settlement close the Erowha (an aboriginal Edo people). Later on due to the slave raiding activities of the Okumbiri Mein, amid other circumstances, they were forced to flee the area. They as well as a department of the Erowha community migrated as well as settled at the nowadays site of Effurun (Efferun or Ephron) (later on Efferun was to go Edo speaking i.e. Urhobo speaking). The later ancestors of the Tuomo initiative of all lived at Effurun (upper Warri area, at this fourth dimension the Effurun were soundless Izon speaking) but later moved to Aboh. They left Aboh due to the activities of slave dealers, as well as went as well as lived at the site of the Tarakiri W hamlet of Isampou, before finally settling at the nowadays site of Tuomo town, which was as well as then called Toru Aghoro because ancestors from Okun-Aghoro (Aghoro past times the sea) had founded it (Okun-sea inwards old Izon). Later on ancestors arriving from the Patani department of Kabowi Ebe settled with them collectively giving nativity to Tuomo Ebe.
Tuomo got its scream from Tu, who was ane of the ancestors who left Aboh. His boy Osuku founded Tuomo i.e. Tuama. Some of their other towns include Torugbene, Tugbene, as well as Tamiegbe. The migrations from Aboh as well as Isampou as well as the subsequent foundation of Tuomo Ebe is mail 14th century. The ancestors that remained at Effurun became the Izon ancestors of the Effurun, Uvwei as well as Okpe department of Urhobo people..
KABO KUMBO AND GBARAN EBES: The ancestors of these 3 Ebes were portion of a theatre unit of measurement of eighteen that left Oproza (Oporo-aza or Oporo-aja) town situated along the Escravos coast, around the later portion of the 15th century. About this fourth dimension (1480) the Portuguese were visiting the delta coast trying to brand contact with Republic of Benin city. Since they were inwards the habit of raiding for captives, as well as upsetting the peaceful existence of the coastal communities, they caused a troubled insecure province of affairs inwards the expanse of the Forcados/Escravos. So a descendant of Oproza, exactly named Oproza II, after the town, decided to migrate upwards N with his entire theatre unit of measurement (18 inwards number). These included his married adult woman Mboara, boy Okita, grandsons as well as granddaughters, wives of the grandson’s as well as so on. They migrated upwards the old course of pedagogy of the Forcados river till they came to the territory of the Erowha, which was inhabited past times the Erowha as well as the Izon ancestors of the Effurun as well as Uvwei. Not feeling secure with the environment, they travelled dorsum downward the river as well as eventually settled at an expanse betwixt the nowadays site of Amatebe (Tebe- head, Ama-town, at that spot it way headquarters) as well as Kolowari. At the fourth dimension the Forcados branch of the river Niger was flowing through its old course of pedagogy ( what is at nowadays the little Kabobolou creek.).
Okita the boy of Mboara as well as Oproza II had 3 prominent sons Kumbo, Kabo, as well as Gbaran, as well as a number of daughters. Okita the virile soul parent died before the granddad Oproza, as well as so on the decease of their grandfather, Kabo, who was the eldest assumed the leadership of the settlement, which was the alone settlement below the Erowha as well as Effurun, as the ancestors of the Tarakiri W had non migrated to the main Forcados river from their Igbedi creek residence.
Kabo, the story is told, existence the eldest was believed to live closest to the departed ancestors. He was real powerful, a human being of rigid personality as well as domineering character. He was also cruel as well as real unpopular with his brothers as well as sisters. Before their granddad had died he could live tolerated. But as shortly as the human being died, things took a plough for the worst as well as opened upwards confrontation erupted. Kabo existence the senior, no spousal human relationship of his sisters or brother’s daughters could take away identify without his consent as well as blessing. It was also the duty of him to adjust the marriages of his younger relatives. If he had made a wise occupation of his responsibilities all would have got been good , instead he abused his privileges. He was e'er inwards the habit of contracting marriages of his sisters without their knowledge. He also arranged the marriages of his younger brother’s daughters without their knowledge. He fifty-fifty went as far as to sell some of his brothers daughters into servitude as well as slavery. Kumbo as well as Gbaran found Kabo’s dealings with them to live real oppressive.
The inwards a higher identify atmosphere led to the eventual break-up of the whole family. Gbaran left with his household as well as travelled downward the Nun river as well as settled contrary the nowadays site of Kaiama town. From hither he founded a settlement which was named after his boy Okoti, called Okotiama, From Okotiama other villages were founded past times his descendants these are Ogboloma, Nedugo, Koroama, Obinagha, Agbia as well as Ibiaye, which later became Poloaku as well as Okolobiri.
Next, Kumbo decided to leave, but did non settle far off as he was real mystically attached to the initiative of all settlement. He left with his 5 sons as well as remaining daughters to settle at the site of which Amatebe at nowadays stands. The 5 sons of Kumbo were Angi the ancestor of Angiama, Agolo the ancestor of the Agoloma, Apele the ancestor of the Apelebiri, Agbedi the ancestor of the Sagbama as well as Tungba the ancestor of the Tungbabiri. After the decease of Kumbo, as well as when the families had became quite large, the ancestors left the Kumbo settlement to found the towns of Angiama (Toru as well as Bolou) , Agoloma, Apelebiri (Toru as well as Bolou), Sagbama, as well as Tungbabiri. Those who stayed at Kumbo settlement made upwards the hamlet of Amatebe.
One Ofoma or Ofomo who was of the Agolo as well as Angi lineage(he lived at the old site of Agoloma), left with a theatre unit of measurement grouping to the nowadays expanse of Okparabe inwards southern Urhobo country. The ground for their leaving was of a quarrel with the Kabo. By this fourth dimension the sections of Oproza had intermarried with each other. The spousal human relationship custom of that fourth dimension was that children of little dowry spousal human relationship were the responsibleness of the mothers parents as well as brothers (matrilineal descent). And so they had the responsibleness of arranging marriages circumcision etc. for the daughters as well as sons. The Kabo went virtually changing this ancient custom, past times insisting that they have got the sole responsibleness over the children born to them past times Kumbo women. This did non go downward good with for sure sections of the Kumbo, especially with Ofomo who was a priest at the time. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 struggle broke out causing Ofomo as well as theatre unit of measurement to migrate. They ended upwards inwards the Okparabe area, inter-married with Edo speaking groups as well as gave nativity to the Okparabe department of Urhobo people. Ofomo afterward became the initiative of all Pere or Ovie of the Okparabe, retaining his priestly title.
The Kabo remained at the settlement of the granddad Oproza, nether the leadership of initiative of all Obodangha, the boy of Kabo, as well as and then his boy Eleme, where gradually they multiplied as well as migrated to found the diverse towns as well as villages of Elemebiri, Ekperiwari, Asamabiri, Torufani, Adagbabiri, Patani, Abari, Kolowari etc.
The original settlement founded past times Oproza was situated inwards what is at nowadays the Kabobolou creek. This was formally the old course of pedagogy of the Forcados branch of the Niger, but was diverted past times the Kabo as well as Kumbo for fearfulness of existence enslaved past times European slave raiders when they received tidings from the seaside communities that the European slave ships where coming upwards river to enslave anybody they could lay their hands on. The formation of the Kabo, Kumbo as well as Gbaran is mail 14th century i.e. belatedly 15th century.
OLODIAMA EBE CENTRAL AND WEST: The Olodiama Ebe took their scream from Igbedigbolo alias Olodi or Olode, who was an elderberry boy of Ujo left inwards the Republic of Benin part of Ado. As shortly as a settlement was established inwards the key delta, Olodi as well as theatre unit of measurement as well as others left the Republic of Benin part as well as moved to the Nun expanse of the key delta. Some dropped off on their way from Beni e.g. Ikoro, who founded the town of Ikoro close Republic of Benin city. At initiative of all all the ancestors lived at the same settlement which was the site of Oporoma (which was a settlement founded past times proto-Ijos inwards antiquity). The children of Olodi later left to found their ain settlement (Olodi-Ama). Olodiama was later abandoned as well as other settlements founded, these include Ikebiri (founded past times Ike or Neiama the blood brother of Ikoro), Ondewari, Olugbobiri as well as Ikeingha. Later on Korokorosei was to live founded past times ancestors from Kabo as well as descendants of Olodi. Some of the descendants of Olodi also went as well as founded Olodiama (Olodiamabiri) inwards Nembe, as well as Onyoma, also inwards Nembe.
The western Olodiama were as a final result of migration of descendants of Olodi dorsum to Ikoro founded past times a boy of Olodi when the theatre unit of measurement was emigrating from Ado (i.e. Benin). Pereziagha a descendant of Neiama or Ike, decided to pay a see to Ikoro. On getting at that spot he found out that it had been taken over past times Efa (Edo) speaking people. He returned to the key delta as well as reported the affair to his relatives. Taking with them reinforcements, as well as together with his boy Pereowi, Ogboinkoto, Atu of Ikebiri, Betidon as well as Kurokeaki, they subdued the Edo grouping as well as took dorsum the village. This breech of the peace inwards the expanse was reported to the as well as then King of Republic of Benin as well as Pereziagha was summoned to Republic of Benin The Oba of Republic of Benin invoking the ancestral traditions as well as the spirit of the ancestors settled with Pereziagha as a brother, as well as and then they swore a peace accord, an Edo volition non kill an Ijo as well as an Ijo volition non kill an Edo.
The Olodiama were good established inwards the expanse since it is on tape how Oba Orhogbua (1550-1578) on his way from a have inwards Lagos as well as Mahin, stopped at Ikoro to consult Egbesu as well as solicited the aid of the Olodiama to set downward a rebellion at Republic of Benin city.
The foundation of Ikoro is pre-14th century, but the establishment of the Olodiama as a clan is prior - 14th century onwards spell that of Olodiama key is clearly pre-14th century.. Some of the towns founded past times the western Olodiama include Ikusangha, Geleglegbene, Oboro as well as Inikorogha.
OPOROMA EBE: Oporoma Ebe took their scream from Oporo a proto-Ijo ancestor of whom tradition has shrouded inwards mystery (it says he descended from the sky, hence he was of divine origin as well as was a proto-Ijo). But since the Olodiama say that the ancestors of the Olodiama as well as Oporoma were brothers, nosotros take away it that Oporo was either a contemporary of Olodi, or that Olodi as well as theatre unit of measurement came to alive inwards the settlement founded past times Oporo. Oporo?s settlement became known as Oporo-ama, contracted to Oporoma. From this settlement descendants founded towns such as Angiama, Onyoma as well as Osokoma. Oporoma existence the site of the original settlement of the Oporoma as well as Olodiama, the high priest of Boupere the ancestral deity of Oporoma, had to see the shrine of Olodiama Egbesu at Ikebiri as portion of his periodic visits of all Oporoma settlements. This was due to the fact that the ancestors of the Olodiama had brought Olodiama Egbesu from its original dwelling inwards Oporoma. From Oporoma some ancestors left as well as settled upland amid Efa speaking people to shape the Ugbe (Ukpe) department of Urhobo people. From Onyoma ancestors left as well as founded Onyoma or Onyomabiri, ane of the original towns that became the Nembe metropolis state. The foundation of Oporoma Ebe is clearly pre-14th century, far dorsum inwards antiquity.
OPEREMO EBE: The founding ancestors of the Operemo came from Oporoma. Led past times ane Ekere (Akere), they had fled the town of Oporoma due to their existence defeated inwards a bloody conflict with some other department of the town (Angiama), who at that fourth dimension were all living at Oporoma. They migrated as well as settled initiative of all at a identify which they named Oru-Ekereama or Oru-Ekeremo. The dominant lineage settled at Amabilo, bringing with them a lodge of the shrine of Egbesu (now called Ekeremo Egbesu). From Oru-Ekeremo, descendants founded the towns of Ndoro as well as Ekeremo, spell others moved on to settle inwards Ogbe Ijo. From Amabilo the nowadays town of Ojobo was founded. Time of foundation virtually 14th century, i.e. Just before 1400 CE.
OGBE IZON (OGBO IJO or OGBE IJO) EBE: The proto ancestor of the Ogbe-Ijo was Oguru (alias Kala-Ogbo) an ancient ancestor who accompanied Ujo from Ife, but was left inwards the Forcados expanse with Gbaran as well as others. He gave the scream to the whole riverine expanse of Warri, that was known to live Ogbo-Ujo (meaning the world of Ujo). These initiative of all ancestors inhabited the riverine creeks of Warri province long before the migrations from Oporoma. They dug canals for fishing. With the advent of the Oporoma migrations, they fused with the Oporomas, as both were ancestral Ijo people. The subsequent ancestors of the Ogbe Izon were portion of the same migration that founded the Operemo uppercase of Ekeremo. The leader of the migration was ane Ewein, who along with his theatre unit of measurement had come upwards from Ekeremo spell his virile soul parent Ipoli had come upwards from Oporoma. These ancestors initiative of all settled at the Warri waterside expanse on what was to go known as Warri township. Ewein named the settlement Ogbo-Ijo inwards line with the full general scream of the area. It was also known as Oru-selemo or Iselema on business organization human relationship of the industry of camwood coral (Isele inwards Izon), later it was to go known as Warri, modification of the Ijo give-and-take “Wari? or “Ware?, pregnant “house? or “home?. Ewein’s settlement at Warri was of half-dozen lineage?s or quarters (Idumu), existence Arutiengha, Perebiri, Ikiyanbiri, Oturubiri, Lutebi as well as Tamubiri. Eweins boy known as Okorotimi, founded a settlement named after him, this was Okorotimi village, otherwise modified to Okorotumu or Okotumu quarters (later it became a portion of Ode-Itsekiri). Eweins novel settlement was later joined past times immigrants from the western delta town of Oboro inwards Seimbiri Ebe.

It was the theatre unit of measurement of Ewein who were at Warri when prince Ginuwa came from Republic of Benin metropolis via Amatu, to settle at Okorotimi hamlet otherwise known as Ode Itsekiri 4 miles from Eweins hamlet of Oru-Iselema otherwise known as Warri.
Oba Oluwa (Olua) the thirteenth Oba of Benin, the boy of Ewuare as well as descendant of Ewedo, was installed inwards virtually 1473 AD, at which dot a ability struggle broke out. Those that lost out inwards the ability struggle, along with others, became the ancestors of the Itsekiri people who settled inwards the western Niger Delta from virtually 1480. At this fourth dimension the Itsekiri were soundless known past times their ancestral scream of Iwere.
Ginuwa (Oginua) the boy or blood brother to Oba Oluwa left Republic of Benin City due to the ability struggle inwards which he lost. Subsequently he was condemned to decease past times existence offered as a sacrifice to the sea spirits past times Oba Oluwa (or Oba Ozulua). He as well as his associates were taken to a identify called Oghareki, where they were left to die, but later they escaped into the western delta swamps with the aid of benevolent Ijos who chanced upon their predicament. On reaching the Warri region, which at the fourth dimension was known as Ogbo-Ijo, as well as existence hotly pursued past times Republic of Benin soldiers, they were helped past times the same local Ijos who ferried them to ane of their towns called Amatu (of the Iduwini Ijo inwards nowadays solar daytime Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State).
Ginuwa as well as his people, having escaped the condemnation to sacrifice inwards the belatedly 15th century (1480) initiative of all made their way with the aid of local Ogbo-Ijaws, to Amatu of the Iduwini Clan. The ruler or Pere of Iduwini (or Ogulagha) at the fourth dimension was Pere Ogirijoka. Pere Ogirijoka gave some “bad bush? the world or “Seikiri? inwards Ijaw language, to Ginuwa as well as entourage, to settle on as well as this is the origin of the scream “Itsekiri?, applied to them past times the local Amatu Ijaws, who referred to them as “Seikiri-Otu? i.e. “Seikiri People?. It was hither that Ginuwa married an Ijaw lady named DERUMO. Derumo or Derimo, was the missy of Pere Ogirijoka, as well as he gave her inwards spousal human relationship to Ginuwa, because he took a liking to him. They stayed hither for upwards to xxx years as well as then moved on business organization human relationship of the mysterious decease of Derumo the married adult woman of Ginuwa. Now Derumo was murdered inwards mysterious circumstances spell quarrelling with her hubby Ginuwa. The Ijaw business organization human relationship maintains that he used her as a sacrifice substitute inwards his stead. The Ogulagha as well as Iduwini, on hearing the incident resolved to punish Ginuwa as well as his people. But before they could send out a punitive ambush, Ginuwa was advised past times ane of his Ijaw friends to decieve his Ijaw hosts past times claiming that her decease was an accident as well as a grief to all his people. Having done this he was advised to relocate. From Amatu, Ginuwa relocated to Ijala, as well as it was at that identify that he died as well as was buried (1473-1530?).
On the decease of Ginuwa, his boy past times his belatedly married adult woman Derumo, Ijijen past times name, led a migration to Okorotimi-ama (Okorotimi?s town), later modified to Okorotumu or Okotum. At the fourth dimension Okorotimi the boy of Ewein decided to welcome Ijijen the boy of the Ijaw princess Derumo. As a honor for royalty, he proceeded to give him the world to settle on close his ain settlement. Other Ijaw connections include the spousal human relationship of Olu-Erejuwa to a missy or descendant of Okorotimi named Ogiere. It was through such intermarriages that the people of Ginuwa binded themselves past times theatre unit of measurement ties, through which they could permanently settle inwards the area. These 2 settlements later fused inwards virtually 1800 AD to go Ode-Itsekiri the uppercase of the little Itsekiri kingdom. Other Ijaws came from Gulani or Ogulagha, namely Ibirikimo, Otu-Ekine, Ike as well as followers from Abala as well as settled at a site which is the nowadays Orugbo, virtually 2 miles off Ode Itsekiri. Likewise at that spot were other settlements inside that area, non founded past times Ginuwa?s entourage or Ijaws, but past times proto-Yoruba speaking immigrants from Akure area, as well as Ijebu, which include Gborodo, Ureju as well as Omadina as well as Urejusisi, said to have got emigrated from the Lenuwa lineage of Ode inwards Ijebu Ode waterside. They all fused with the Ginuwa lineage?s as well as entourage (some were from Igala region, via Benin) to make the nowadays solar daytime Itsekiri ethnic group.
As shortly as Ijijen was settled at Okorotumu, he proceeded to carve out a kingdom for himself, stressing that he was the descendant of royalty (on both sides!). The descendants of Okorotimi who refused to submit to his rules, eventually left Ode-Itsekiri to settle inwards other parts of Ogbo-Ijo. Also the descendants of Ginuwa as well as the other immigrants, intermarried with the pre-existing Ogbo-Ijos, many who had founded temporary line-fishing settlements. Some of these Ijaws left their settlements, never to return. In the Itsekiri traditions these ancestral proto-Ijos are referred to as ?UMALE? or “UMALE OKUN?, i.e. “SPIRITS of the SEA?, to mask their truthful identity.
We authorities notation that Orugbo was founded past times “umale?. We know that Orugbo was founded past times Ijaw from Ogulagha (Gulani). The “umale? are non other than a coded reference to the original ancestral Ijaws or proto-Ijos who were living inwards the part before the advent of Ginuwa. These Ijos were the descendants of Kala-Ogbo.
Ode-Itsekiri (a scream that derived from ODE, the Ijebu town, as well as SEIKIRI, the Ijo bespeak the Iwere immigrants) became the uppercase of the little Itsekiri kingdom that expanded to include other settlements such as Gborodo, Ureju, Omadina as well as Urejusisi, founded past times emigrants from Ijebu-Ode waterside as well as others from Igala.
For the most portion the Ginuwa grouping tried to impose their volition on the pre-existing Ijaws, causing many of them to migrate into other areas of Ijaw. But non all did, some of them intermarried with the Ginuwa group, spell others stayed on inwards their ain towns as well as villages. These are the nowadays solar daytime Ogbe-Ijaws of Warri, as well as Isaba Ijaw clan.
There is confusion as to how the scream of Warri came about. First at that spot is the Itsekiri claim that “Warri?, derived from “Iwere?, ane of their ancestral names, as well as secondly nosotros have got the claim past times the Ogbe-Ijaws that it derived from “Wari?, the Ijaw term for house. What ever the instance may be, at that spot was e'er a distinction betwixt Ode-Itsekiri (so called large Warri) as well as Iselema (Warri township or modern Warri), which has been accurately recorded inwards the colonial records. For accurate purposes, the Portuguese references to “the kingdom of Ouwerri?, is inwards reality a reference to Ode-Itsekiri as well as non modern solar daytime Warri township.
In all the Portuguese records the term “Warri is non mentioned, what nosotros have got are the names “Ouwerre?, “Ouwerri?, “Awerri?, as well as “Oery? (Hodgkin T, Nigerian Perspectives-An Historical Anthology, 1960, pp170, 177, 187). It is this term that has been misinterpreted to hateful Warri, whereas its original pregnant was Iwere, spell Ode-Itsekiri was the uppercase of the kingdom of Iwere, as well as non modern solar daytime Warri township.
Who arrived inwards the Warri part first? The Itsekiris claim that they arrived first, but all accurate historical documentation affirms that it was the Ijaws who were the initiative of all to settle inwards the Warri region. In fact it was the Ijaws who helped the ancestors of the nowadays solar daytime Itsekiri, displace from the mainland into the delta creeks, before they learnt how to occupation water-crafts.
During the Colonial menstruum the British came to settle at Warri (not Ode Itsekiri or large Warri) as well as expanded the town;
“…The traditional uppercase of the Itsekiri at nowadays called Ode-Itsekiri or Big Warri is 4 miles from the modern town of Warri, on an Island inside the creeks. British traders as well as consular officials built their ain settlements on the landward border of the swamps as well as this has grown to cover pre-existing Itsekiri, Urhobo as well as Ijoh settlements to comprise modern Warri…”

The Formation of Modern Warri: Iselema or Ogbe-Ijo (old Warri township) was Ijaw from the real beginning. The European records confirm this. Later on Warri township was expanded past times the British to encompass the Urhobos of Agbassa as well as Okere as well as Itsekiri settlements of Okere Itsekiri, Ajamogha as well as Ekurede. These 3 areas were formerly distinct communities, before the formation of modern Warri. This is how Warri came about. The British made life real hard for the Ogbe-Ijo forcing them to send the postal service as well as the Consul inwards a Hammock, to Sapele as well as other places inwards the interior. The Ogbe also found the township regulations of the British rather harsh. Coupled with deceitfulness on the portion of the British doing business organization with local Itsekiri lords, many of the Ogbe-Ijos were forced to displace out of Warri township, to settle inwards pre-existing villages or novel ones at their nowadays sites inside the creeks. Others remained at Warri. The foundation of the Ogbe-Ijo Ebe is clearly pre 14th century times, due to the ancient Ijo ancestors who were living inwards the expanse since remote times.

KOLOKUMA EBE: The Kolokuma Ebe took their scream from Kala-Okun, ane of the sons of Ujo at Igbedi creek. Kala-Okun who was nicknamed Aluku-Dogo (from the Ooyelagbo term Oluku), left his father’s town inwards Igbedi creek after all attempts at reconstituting it into a feasible polity failed after unsuccessful attempts at recovering of import ancestral symbols of business office as well as unifying the whole Nun river downward to the sea, he as well as then settled inside the vicinity of Ujo’s settlement. Ancestral tradition tells it thus;
“?Tarakiri, Opu-Okun as well as Kala-Okun with a few other brothers were the in conclusion to go out the settlement founded past times Ujo. They became so linked that they lonely could tell that they were children of ane virile soul parent who was known to them as Indo as stated inwards a previous chapter. Opu-Okun as well as Kala-Okun who were born of the same woman parent named Yeitariere became to a greater extent than attached than others. However, after some time, the best 3 brothers parted. Tarakiri left for a for sure creek inwards Western Ijo, Opu-Okun moved afield as well as settled at a creek known as Ofonitoru but Kala-Okun remained as well as settled at their father?s settlement of Agadagbabou..?KOLOKUMA- Kola-Okun settled inside the vicinity of Ujo?s settlement as well as the settlement which Kala-Okun founded became known as Kala-Okun-ama which was corrupted to Kolokuma. Kala-Okun desired to rebuild their father?s lost city, as well as with that objective inwards persuasion he sent out expeditionary forces?.?

The settlement that Kala-Okun founded with his household became known as Kala-Okun-Ama, later shortened as well as corrupted to Kolokuma. Kala-Okun collected his children, as well as with other settlers divided them into groups or theatre unit of measurement lineage?s which he called DANI). The diverse lineage groups that resulted from this arrangement were; Burudani, Abadani, Isedani, Oloudani, Ofodani, Egbebiridani, Opoidani, Osumadani, as well as Egbedani.
The Kolokuma were for a long fourth dimension highly unified until the decease of a immature priestess of Okpotu past times drowning. The circumstances of her decease was suspicious, at that spot were accusations as well as counter accusations that eventually led to disunity as well as strife which led to the dispersal of the Kolokumas from their fathers settlement as well as the foundation of to a greater extent than towns as well as villages such as Kaiama, Odi, Sabagriea, Okoloba etc. Some of the descendants of Kala-Okun moved dorsum into Igbedi creek to found settlements e g Igbedi. The Ikolos were the initiative of all to go out Kala-Okun’s settlement as well as settle inwards that portion of the Nun river at nowadays known as Kolokuma Toru.
As nosotros mentioned before the Egbebiridani ane of the lost houses of Kolokuma, their existence lost was either existence victims of a disaster (e g slave raid) or existence absorbed past times other lineage?s or both. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 large department of the Isedani lineage which had founded Okoloba migrated to the coasts as well as founded Ibeni (Beni) i.e. Ibani or Bonny. Some later solar daytime settlers from Odiama inwards Nembe area, left the Kolokumas as well as founded Umuoru (i.e. UMU-ORU or children of Oru called past times that scream past times the local Ibos). Due to inter-marriage with the Ibo, this has go a largely Ibo speaking town. The foundation of Kolokuma Ebe is clearly pre-14th century.
IBANI (BONNY) EBE: The Ibani took their scream from Kala-Beni (Ibeni) corrupted to Ibani. The founding ancestors of the Ibani (Ibeni or Beni the original name) came from the key delta Ebe of Kolokuma, specifically the Isedani lineage of Kolokuma who had founded Okoloba. The traditions say that they left Kolokuma because of civil conflict. Although the exact fourth dimension of the conflict is unknown, nosotros tin can identify the movement out of Kolokuma betwixt twelfth as well as 15th century CE (AD). The leaders of the migration were Opuamakuba, his blood brother Kala-Beni (Alagbariye or Alagba-ari-gha) as well as Asikunuma alias Okpara Asimini. Leading the families northwards, they initiative of all settled inwards the at nowadays Ndoki territory where they encamped for some fourth dimension (prince Edimini the bully grandson of Opuamakuba was born here). They moved from the Ndoki area, but left behind some of their people, these inter-married with the southern Ibo as well as gave nativity to the Ndoki people founding amid others villages such as Okolomakiri, Ayama, Osobie as well as Oruama or Azuogu. The ancestors as well as then settled inwards the at nowadays Ogoni expanse as well as encamped at a site where Opuoko town at nowadays stands (thus the scream Opu-Oko. from that identify a hamlet called Kala-Oko was founded).

Kala-Beni existence a hunter went hunting ane solar daytime as well as came across the site of Bonny town where he saw many birds. He returned to study to Opuamakuba that at that spot was practiced the world to settle on farther south. Opuamakuba as well as then made the determination to go out the main land, initiative of all to Orubiri (Orupiri) where Opuamakuba died. Kala-Beni as well as then Pb the grouping to the site of Bonny town which they named Okoloama, spell dorsum inwards the key delta their relatives called it Okoloba (after the Okoloba which they came from). Kala-Beni became the founder, as well as the whole grouping were afterward called the people of Ibeni (Beni) which was corrupted to Ibani. Kala-Beni also established a shrine dedicated to Opuamakuba which he called Kala-Ikuba. The initiative of all crowned ruler was ane Asimini, followed past times a succession of rulers called Amayanabo (Amananabo inwards the western delta).
The City State, which was to go known as Grand Bonny, was made upwards of the next towns as well as villages. Okoloma (Bonny town), Finima, Ayama (old settlement of the Andoni), Kalaibiama, Abalamabie, Ayambo, Asaramatoru, (old Asarama of the Andoni), Epelematubu, Oboma, Kuruma, Epelema, Oloma, Ayamina as well as lastly Orubiri (i.e. Orupiri the initiative of all settlement). In 1867-70 a civil state of war at Bonny resulted inwards the foundation of Opobo. Led past times ane Jaja of the theatre of Opubo they migrated as well as Jaja became their king.

OPUKUMA EBE: The Opukuma Ebe took their scream from Opu-Okun ane of the sons of Ujo, as well as elderberry blood brother to Kala-Okun past times the same woman parent named Yeitari-ere. Opu-Okun left Agadagba-Bou ahead of Kala-Okun as well as settled initiative of all at Ofonitoru before founding the caput hamlet of Opukuma or Opu-Okun-Ama, which is Okowari, named after his boy Oko. The settlement grew into a large hamlet as well as were later joined past times immigrants from other sections of Ijo. These with the Opukuma founded the lineage?s of Akaranbiri, Gbaranbiri as well as Oyubo. They constitute Tamu Opukuma. Most of the immigrants had come upwards from Ikibiri, Beni (Oyakiri), Gbaran, as well as Ogobiri. Later on men from Ogbolomabiri inwards Nembe came to settle at Okowari bringing with them the lodge of Egbesu, at nowadays called Opukuma Egbesu. Opukuma town was struck past times a national disaster causing the town to live severely depopulated (most likely they were victims of a slave raid). As an Ebe the Opukuma is pre-14th century.
TARAKIRI EBE (WEST): The western Tarakiri took their scream from Tara, ane of the younger sons of Ujo at Igbedi creek, His woman parent was said to have got been an Efa speaking maiden named. He was also ane of the in conclusion to go out the Agadagba-bou site. Eventually when Tara left the site with his household, he settled inside the vicinity as well as founded a settlement which was later called Tara-kiri (the the world of Tara). This settlement was the site where the town of Amatolo at nowadays stands. Tara left inwards the aid of Kala-Okun, ane of his son?s named Ayama, whose descendants migrated to the Andoni as well as Obiama expanse as well as gave nativity to the Andoni as well as Tarakiri key Ebes.
At Tarakiri settlement during the course of pedagogy of time, a number of lineage?s all tracing descent from Tara came into being, these include; Ekiobiri (ancestors of sections of Tarakiri), Awanran (ancestor of Ebido or Ebito, the founder of Ebedebiri) Kolo (ancestor of Kolobiri), Aranma (ancestor of Aranmabiri, Agberi, Ogelle, Angala the ancestor of Angalabiri) as well as Egbemo (ancestor of sections of Tarakiri).
Around virtually 1500 a large number of the Ijos Republic of Benin metropolis left Republic of Benin because of the oppressive ways of the as well as then King (Oba Esigie), who was fighting a civil state of war with Prince Aruaran (in the Izon traditions Oru-Ayan)) He was also inwards the habit of confiscating private land, levying on the people heavy tolls as well as to a greater extent than oftentimes than non making life insecure. These Ijos moved initiative of all to Aboh, as well as then into the Igbedi creek area, where they settled amid the ancestors of the Tarakiri. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 large portion of that migration was led past times Mein the ancestor of the Mein Ebe who founded Ogobiri inwards the same area. Not to long after that migration as well as the foundation of Ogobiri, the Tarakiri came into conflict with the Mein at Ogobiri. These events led to the Tarakiri abandoning their hamlet inwards the Sagbama/Igbedi creek as well as fleeing to the Forcados branch of the Niger river.
Because of the conflict they migrated to the western delta. On the site of Oru-assa contrary nowadays solar daytime Toru-Orua they settled. It was from hither that the diverse western Tarakiri towns as well as villages were founded, these include Orua (Toru as well as Bolou), Ebedebiri, Angalabiri, Sampou, Gbemangalabiri, as well as Ayamasa. The Agberi’s initiative of all settled at a site contrary Kpakiama, from whence they were driven past times the Kpakiama Mein. They initiative of all fled to Odi inwards Kolokuma from at that spot to Odoni inwards Oyakiri. The ancestors of the Odoni accepted them inwards the expanse as well as eventually the Agberi’s settled on virgin the world inside the vicinity as well as founded Agbere town.
The Ogelle department of Tarakiri was founded past times a missy (female descendant) of Tarakiri as well as a boy of ane of the Ogisos of Republic of Benin who had come upwards with his theatre unit of measurement to settle at Tarakiri settlement inwards the Igbedi creek area. Due to eventual inter-marriage, they ended upwards becoming a portion of Tarakiri village. Eventually this theatre unit of measurement of Ogiso descendants called Orua (Orowha inwards Urhobo traditions) left with most of their family, but the missy of Tarakiri hamlet side, refused to follow them to their novel settlement inwards nowadays solar daytime Urhoboland. They settled close the Ughelli expanse of Urhoboland. When the Tarakiris were at Oru-assa, the Ogelle department left as well as settled with their relatives inwards Urhoboland founding the town of Ughelli (Ogbo-Ogelle or the world Ogelle to the Izon).It was hither that they lost their Izon linguistic communication as well as civilization due to the intermarriage as well as absorption with Edo speaking people. It is the ancestral connexion with the Ogisos of the initiative of all Republic of Benin kingdom, that accounts for the declaration made past times Republic of Benin historians that Igodo the initiative of all Ogiso of Republic of Benin is the virile soul parent (i.e. ancestor) of the Ovie of Ughelli. From Ughelli some of the people of Ogelle Tarakiri made their way dorsum to the riverside as well as founded the towns Uduophori (Por Ogelle or waterside Ogelle to the Izon), Ofoni, Odorubuo. It is this connexion with the Tarakiri that makes the Ughelli department of Urhobo people say inwards their full general meetings that nosotros are Ughelli Tarakiri. The Tarakiri Ebe is pre-14th century, but their establishment inwards the western delta is mail 14th century i.e. 16th/17th century.

TARAKIRI CENTRAL, BOMA, OGBOIN, EKPETIAMA AND SEIMBIRI EBES: The ancestors of these Ebes derived from the same ancient settlement remembered inwards ancestral tradition as Isoma-bou, Opuan-bou or Orubiribua-bou, founded past times Proto-Ijos. It was founded due to an initial movement from Igbedi creek past times diverse ancestors including Opu-Ogbo who had taken with him some of import symbols of business office acquired from his virile soul parent Ujo. The settlement that these ancestors founded was divided into 3 sections. Later on they were joined past times immigrants from Tarakiri of Kolokuma (i.e. from Ayama boy of Tara) as well as from Republic of Benin during the fourth dimension of Oba Ewuare (1450 AD).
There were 2 major migrations from this region, ane for no apparent ground other than to seek a novel home, as well as the other due to a slave raid past times raiders from the Tarakiri key ! (we volition explain) which led to the dispersal as well as abandoning of that ancient site.
TARAKIRI CENTRAL: The Tarakiri key took their scream from Tara the boy of Ujo, who was ane of their ancient ancestors, through Ayama his boy whom he left inwards the aid of Kala-Okun.(their other scream is Ayama). During the separation at Obiama, the Tarakiri department also went their way, dorsum into the direction they had come. Some went to the Ogbia area; Odobio as well as Sangatama, spell the others founded initiative of all Obololi or Obelele which existence the senior, had the privilege of the Goddess Ayama-Zibaarau or Ayama Ziba. Later on Ayama, Oweikorogha, Ogeibiri, Sangama as well as Odobolo were founded. The foundation of Tarakiri key or Ayama Ebe is mail 14th century.
BOMA EBE: The Boma Ebe took their scream from Boma the boy of Obi. Obi or Ibi with his theatre unit of measurement had migrated along with some of the descendants of Ayama the boy of Tara from the Ikibiri expanse of Isoma-bou to the old army camp of Ujo when they (i.e. Ujo as well as exploration team) were coming upwards the Nun river. He settled at this army camp as well as it became known as Obiama or Ibiama. Others also migrated with him including some of the ancestors of the Ogboin. Obiama was marked out into a number of quarters of which 5 were from the Obi lineage, these include Obi-Idumu, Ogein-Idumu, Okpo-Idumu, Ele-Idumu as well as Ike-Idumu.
During the fourth dimension of the 3rd ruler or Amananabo, who was titled Opu-Ogulaya), at that spot was internal conflict leading to the separation of for sure sections of the town. These include ancestors of the Boma who eventually founded twelve settlements including Ekowe founded past times Ekea, Peremabiri etc. Ekowe was also divided into wards such as Ikitibobiri, Ogbobiri, Tamukunu etc. Ancestors also left Obiama to found Ogboin Ebe. The foundation of Boma is mail 14th century.
OGBOIN (OGBEIN) EBE: The initiative of all ancestors of the Ogboin Ebe where portion of the Ijos of Republic of Benin city. Because of the authoritarian dominion of Oba Ewuare (1440-1472 AD), 4 brothers, who were Beni-Ijo, left Republic of Benin metropolis during a mass exodus. They initiative of all made their way to Idah uppercase of the Igala kingdom before travelling downward the Niger into the delta, where they settled at Isomabou. One of the brothers parted at the confluence of the Nun as well as Forcados branches as well as made his way downward the Forcados river. He eventually settled inwards Urhobo the world as well as became an ancestor of the Urghwerun department of Urhobo people. The other 3 settled at Isoma-bou before making their way to Obiama, where they stayed on. It was from the Obiama dispersal centre that ancestors left as well as eventually founded the Ogboin towns of Amassoma, Amatolo, Otuan as well as Ogbono. The mutual ancestor was named as Ogboin, spell his descendants were Oboro, who founded Amassoma, (ama-suma,or swampy town), Otuan as well as Ogbono founded towns named after them, At Amassoma Amatolowi founded Amatolo, spell the 3 wards of Amassoma were founded past times Alumu, Okpotu, as well as Ogoni, boy of Oboro, boy of Ogboin. Time of formation mail 14th century
EKPETIAMA EBE: The ancestor who gave the Ekpetiama their scream was ane Ekpeti who derived from the Isoma-bou expanse (Opuan-bou). From this Isoma-bou expanse the ancestors founded a settlement which was named Ekpetiama, inside the same vicinity. From this settlement descendants founded the towns of Tombia, Bumodi Agudama, Akabiri as well as Gbarantoru. From Tombia ancestors left to found some other Tombia inwards the Kalabari area, as well as Swali inwards the Epie Atissa area, spell some went as well as settled inwards Assay as well as Okini inwards Umuoru, all places inwards the Isoko as well as Aboh areas. The migration of the ancestors of the Ekpetiama was good before the sacking of the Isoma-bou area, their ancestral home. It was also pre-14th century as the traditions of Ibani keep that Tombia was founded before their arrival. Therefore Ekpetiama Ebe is pre-14th century.
SEIMBIRI EBE: The ancestors of the Seimbiri also came from the same ancient town which was the Isoma-bou. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 raid on the ancient settlement past times the Tarakiri of Oweikorogha as well as other participants all of whom had obtained firearms from the Kalabari as well as Nembe, (everything points to a slave raid, since the Tarakiri province a vague ground that ane of their people was killed past times the Isomabou community). The raid was devastating as well as many of the surviving citizens dispersed to other areas of Izon. The eldest human being of the community with his theatre unit of measurement were hid inwards a pit, his scream was also Ogbo. Many of the survivors moved into the Ekpetiama expanse as well as founded the town of Ikibiri. They are the remnants of Ogbo (i.e. Ogbo the boy of Ujo). Other ancestors who descended from Oromo, Temezibai as well as Seimbiri, all offspring?s of Ogbo I as well as migrants from Republic of Benin City Izon (1500), moved to the western Delta as well as founded the communities of Oboro, Okpokunu, as well as Inikorogha. Some went eastward as well as became portion ancestors of the Okrika or Wakirikeni as well as Epie-Atissa. Others went N to Akiri inwards Aboh, as well as some to Opukuma (i.e. Akaranbiri) as well as lastly some stayed briefly with the Mein, before moving into the Obotebe area. One of the main principal ancestors, are the founders of Oboro led past times Zado, the boy of Pere Akan at Ogobiri, whose woman parent was from Isomabou-Ikibiri lineage. Other ancestors include Peremodenghan who founded Enekorogha (Inikorogha), Deinbunughan, who helped found Oboro, Alei who founded Aleibiri, Asonde who migrated westwards as well as founded some other Enekorogha along Beni (Benin) River, Die who founded Diebiri (Ogbe Izon inwards Warri). Temezibai the ancestor of Okpokunu was the boy of Aforo, who was of the Isomabou-Ikibiri lineage. The foundation of the Seimbiri inwards the western delta is post-14th century.
OBOTEBE EBE: The founding ancestors of the Obotebe (known collectively nether the personification of their ancestor Onido) were portion of the Ijos of Republic of Benin City, as well as are also descended from Olodiama at Ikebiri. They along with the ancestors of the Mein, Oyakiri (Beni) as well as others (they were absorbed past times the Tarakiri, Kolokuma as well as Opukuma Ebes as well as Isomabou community) left Republic of Benin because of the incessant wars there.(this was the fourth dimension of civil state of war betwixt Oba Esigie as well as Prince Oru-Ayan 1500).
These ancestors initiative of all migrated to Aboh, where they settled. Orumo or Orumo’s virile soul parent died at Aboh, spell Orumo moved out of Aboh as well as migrated into the key delta expanse of Igbedi creek, spell some went to the river Nun district of Isomabou. Oro or Orumo was the virile soul parent of Obotebe, spell Obotebe was the virile soul parent of Ogini. The human being Obotebe lived at the Ikebiri expanse of Olodiama, but had to go out the identify for diverse reasons. Him as well as his theatre unit of measurement as well as then migrated dorsum upwards the river to the Aboh town of Onya, spell ane of his descendants as well as his household left Onya to Ibeni (Beni or Oyakiri Ebe). From Ibeni they moved to the western delta as well as became the ancestors of the Obotebe Ebe. Because of conflict with the western Mein as well as Itsekiri ’slave’ raiding gangs, who raided the Obotebe for captives as well as sold them to European slave traders, most of the Obotebe dispersed, spell some went to Warri expanse as refugees of the Ogbe Izon, others stayed behind as well as founded settlements which became the Obotebe Ebe. The foundation of Obotebe is clearly post-14th century (i.e. 1500 upwards).

OYAKIRI OR BENI EBE: The ancestors of the Beni or Oyakiri also came from Republic of Benin City (they were Beni-Ijo), during the fourth dimension of civil state of war betwixt Oba Esigie as well as Prince Oru-Ayan). Again similar the Obotebe traditions, the ancestor Orumo who lived originally at Aboh, moved into the key delta as well as became the founding ancestor of Beni Ebe. Their alternative scream Oyakiri was from Orumo’s boy Oya whom they descended from. The ancestors initiative of all founded Toru-Ibeni, later ancestors moving into the Kunu creek as well as founding Ayama-Beni. (i.e. New-Town of Beni) It was from Ayama-Beni that the other settlements of Beni Ebe were founded. i.e. Adagbabiri as well as Odoni. Foundation fourth dimension post-14th century i.e. 1500 upwards.

BASAN, TUNGBO, FURUPAGHA EBE’s: The founding ancestors of the Basan came from a combination of migrations, i.e. from upwards flow Nupe, Oporoma, Oyakiri, Iselema (Warri) as well as from the Apoi as well as Arogbo of the western delta. The ancestors also came from the Arogbo via Oru-Furupa inwards the key delta expanse of Apoi central. The Ezetu came from Oporoma, spell the founders of Koloama came from Oyakiri. Some of the Iselema became portion founders of Ukubie, spell the ancestors of the Ekeni came from the ancient town of Ke (Keni). These were the founders of Azuzuama, Lubia as well as Akparatubo. Since other Izon refer to them as Tobu Otu (i.e. ancient people) at that spot must have got been other proto-Ijos living inwards the expanse at a real early date, i.e. pre-14th century.
The Basan may have got taken their scream from a grouping of immigrants from the Nupe Kingdom who were portion founders of the inwards a higher identify communities. These had come upwards from the remnants of the Beni clan of Nupe which had dispersed. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 department called the Basan (Basa), left during the initiative of all collapse (1300-1600 AD) as well as moved into the delta. It is clear that the Basa situated inwards Oru (i.e. Izon) Niger Delta are no other than the Basan Ebe. It would brand sense that ancestors fled Nupe due to the collapse of the initiative of all Nupe kingdom as well as Fulani Islamic invasion, to the Niger Delta, when it is understood that the Izon of the Niger delta have got closed ancestral links with the old Nupe kingdom, at ane fourth dimension speaking the same linguistic communication (Beni clan). Also the Kru connexion is that the Kru also came from the Proto-Ijos of the Niger Delta. Comparing the names of villages of the Basa of the Nupe area, such as AMARAN as well as AMAGEDDE, they are definitely related to Izon towns. (we tin can also compare the Amaran to an ancient town inwards Upper Arab Republic of Egypt also called Amara (or Amaran). The inwards a higher identify is inwards accordance with ancestral traditions that derive the ancestors from Nile valley through Ile-Ife, Nupe, Republic of Benin as well as finally the Niger Delta.
The founding ancestors of the Tungbo came from the Isedani lineage of Kolokuma via Ogbia, i.e. their founding ancestors descended from Otu-Okpotu (i.e. House of Okpotu) inwards Ogbia, spell the founders of Otu-Okpotu hailed from the Isedani lineage of Kolokuma. The founding ancestors of the Furupagha came from the key delta Ebe of Basan. The town called Furupa inwards that expanse was the woman parent settlement. The ancestors initiative of all settlement inwards the western delta was Ologbo. from Ologbo they moved to Ofiniama, the woman parent settlement of the Egbema, as well as then to Ukomu of the western Apoi. Led past times ane Dauyoumo they finally settled as well as founded Zide. Because of the activities of slave raiders from Republic of Benin as well as southern portion of western Izon, their descendants had to spread out to go the nowadays Furupagha Ebe. The arrival of the ancestors of the Furupagha inwards that expanse was a chip later than the Olodiama, Arogbo as well as Apoi, so it was post-14th century.
OGULAGHA (GULANI) EBE: The ancestors of the Ogulagha were portion of the exploration squad such as Oguru (alias Kala-Ogbo), the ancestor of the Iduwini, as well as Kuru, the ancestor of the Krus of Liberia, that was left to guard the oral cavity of the Forcados Escravos estuaries, with Gbaran inwards charge. The Ogulagha took their scream from Ogula, who with his married adult woman Ereara settled inwards that portion of the delta. In ancestral tradition it is told thus;
“?OGULA-The grouping of Ijos inhabiting Forcados as well as the suburbs are known as Ogula. They are the descendants of Ogula, the valiant boy of Ujo who was placed inwards accuse of Forcados the world when Ujo left that expanse for the Eastern region. They are the aborigines of Forcados the world as well as their clan is known as Ogula Clan??
.
Their initiative of all settlement was at Okibo which is at nowadays Idumu-Kpamu. Here they had a number of children including Sabagoni, Ikiriabo, Orugboabala (i.e. Abala) as well as Akiri. While most of their descendants settled inwards the area, some of the descendants of Orugboabala migrated into the Warri expanse as well as founded the hamlet of Orugbo, which is at nowadays a portion of Itsekiri.
As an Ebe the Ogulagha were clearly established inwards that expanse at a real early stage i.e. pre-14 century.
IDUWINI EBE: The founding ancestors of the Iduwini Ebe were also portion of the squad headed past times Gbaran inwards the Forcados estuary region. The founding ancestor is said to live ane Oguru (alias Kala-Ogbo), he as well as other proto-Ijos (Tobu Otu) founded the ancestral settlement of Amatu. Later on the Iduwini took their scream from Iduwi (Idu), ane of the sons of Igodo, younger blood brother to Ujo, as well as the initiative of all Ogiso of Beni (Ado). The descendants of Iduwi initiative of all lived at the quarters known as Aghoro or Ughoro (Ughonron inwards Republic of Benin traditions), close the violet palace of the Ogisos. In Republic of Benin tradition they are referred to as the “worshippers of the departed spirits of the Ogisos?. When the initiative of all kingdom came to an terminate with the flying of Ogiso Kaladiran into the delta to found the town of Igodo, named after his ancestor Igodo, the Iduwi?s also migrated as well as settled with their relatives at Amatu . Together with the descendants of Oguru as well as others, they founded the sub towns as well as villages of, Okun-Aghoro (i.e. Aghoro past times the sea) otherwise known as Eghoro-Ujo past times the Itsekiri, Letugbene, Odimodi, Oborotu (Eburutu or Burutu or Ofougbene i.e. to say Ofougbene was the orginal name, but became Burutu after recieving the Eburu immigrants known locally as Eburutu), Ogbotobu, Bilabiri, Agge, Ogbeintu, Amazo, as well as Azagbene.
The Iduwini were also called Tobu Otu (i.e. ancient people) past times other Izon who migrated to the western delta later on, because of the ancient settlement of proto-Ijos inwards that area, who may have got been the ancestors of the Kou, e.g. Ogbotobu (land of Tobu). The woman parent settlement of the Iduwini was Amatu pregnant “the origin of towns” , as well as it was from that town that most of the other towns sprung. The Itsekiri ancestors notably Prince Ginuwa settled hither for some fourth dimension before moving to the Warri area. Others who also came to settle briefly with the Iduwini as well as Ogulagha were the Efiks (Eburutu).
When the Portuguese arrived inwards that part the Iduwini whom they refer to as “Jos” were the people they came into contact with. Apart from Amatu, the Iduwini founded other towns such as Okun Aghoro (i.e. Aghoro past times the sea) or Eghoro-Ujo inwards the Itsekiri traditions, Orobiri as well as Kou to scream a few. Foundation fourth dimension pre-14th century.
BUSENI AND OKODIA EBES: The founding ancestors of these 2 Ebes derived from Kolokuma as well as Ado (Benin metropolis during the fourth dimension of Oba Ewuare 1450 AD, of his authoritarian rule). The Okodia have got as their Ebetemesuo or clan ancestral deity, Aluku-Dogo, the same as the Kolokuma. Of course of pedagogy Aluku-Dogo was the nickname of Kala-Okun the ancestor of the Kolokuma. Some of the ancestors initiative of all settled at Nembe or Debe, but due to civil conflict, they moved to Orumo as well as Agbobiri, giving nativity to those Ebe’s.
MEIN EBE: The Mein took their scream from Mein who along with his married adult woman Obolu were the ancestors of the Ebe. Mein was a noble human being or High Chief (lord) of the Ijo department of Republic of Benin city, a descendant of OPU-BENI. Along with a large number of other Ijaw as portion of his retinue, left Republic of Benin metropolis because of the devastating civil state of war (the state of war betwixt Oba Esigie as well as Prince Oru-Ayan virtually 1490-1500 AD). Of course of pedagogy Mein as well as his married adult woman along with the others fled to Aboh, which at this fourth dimension was soundless Izon speaking. Here Mein had a large number of children including Kor, Uge or Ogo, as well as Egbe who gave his scream to Egbedani lineage of Kolokuma.
Mein, his theatre unit of measurement with others of his retinue left Aboh after having caught a maiden tampering with their ancestral deity symbolised past times the elephants tusk. From Aboh they migrated downward the Niger into the Igbedi creek part as well as established at Ogobiri (named after Ogo the boy of Mein).
On the decease of Mein, he was succeeded past times Kor as the ruler of the novel settlement, who was succeeded past times his younger blood brother Ogo. During the fourth dimension of Kor or Ogo the Mein came into conflict with the Tarakiri W of which nosotros mentioned earlier. That conflict led to the Tarakiri existence dispersed to the W inwards the river Forcados region. Not long after that conflict, the Mein had internal problems of their own. Some lineage groups went upstream as well as and then downward flow through the Forcados river spell others went as well as settled with other Izon people. Descendants of Mein such as Kalanama (Kala-Nama) became the founders of Akugbene Mein, Ngbele became the founder of Ngbelebiri Mein, Ogbolu became the founder of Ogbodobiri as well as Ogbolubiri Mein. Those that remained inwards the Igbedi creek expanse lived at Ogobiri, as well as other Mein towns such as Okumbiri. Another portion of the migrating lineage?s moved upland as well as with Edo speaking people as well as Ibos founded the Eghwu as well as Ugheivwen sections of Urhobo.

The listing of the descendants of Mein as well as his political party of settlers from Beni-Ijo include the following; Kalanama the virile soul parent of Onorun, Dunobebe, Obrigho, Amapere as well as Akpanaka. Uge or Ogo (Ogobiri) the virile soul parent of Perebo-Kalakebari (Kalabari), Egbe, Agu, Kabe, Okoloba, Oyobu, Eria as well as Ewu-Agu (became Urhobo speaking). Ngbile the virile soul parent of Ogbiniki, Ogben, Ayagha, Gbale, Bodakeme, Ikaye as well as Jeyo, Gbolu (Ogbolu) the virile soul parent of Agbodobiri, Gbekebo, Egodo (Igodo), Ogbaingbene, Okirika (Ofonibeingha) as well as Obubugbene. Aje or Aze the founder of Ajebiri or Azebiri. Ogida the virile soul parent of Ogodo (Igodo or Godo) as well as Kolu the founders of Ogodobiri as well as Koluama. Akan the ancestor of the Kpakiama, Bomadi, Bilabiri, Okumbiri as well as Okumbiri settlements inwards Akassa ebe. Ikade or Ekade the ancestor of the Agoro, Esanma, Adobu, Agorogbene as well as Daganagbene. Ugbonagha (Obonagha) who had no family. Oghoro as well as Umolo the ancestors of the Ayama or Ovodopokpo, Okpare, Ovwor as well as Iwhreogoni inwards Urhobo. Perebo-Kalakebari which was shortened to Kalabari, the boy of Uge or Ogo as well as grandson of Mein, left Ogobiri at an early stage with his married adult woman named Mukoko from Itimi inwards Isokoland. He gave his scream to the Kalabari subsection of Izon people. The foundation of the Mein Ebe is post-13th century i.e. 1400 upwards.
KALABARI, KULA, KE AND RELATED EBES: The Kalabari Ebe took their scream from Kalabari or Perebo-Kalakebari the original name, the grandson of Mein. But before nosotros go into Kalabari proper nosotros volition bargain with the foundation of Keni (i.e. Ke) as well as other towns such as Kula, which are real ancient towns, but were incorporated into the Kalabari during its later metropolis province phase.
Kula was founded past times ancient proto-Ijos or Orus, as well as its foundation is shrouded inwards mystery. The names of the persons who really established Kula have got been lost to time, but as a coastal community it was founded along with others such as Bille as a community dedicated to the tillage of the mask H2O spirits (metaphysical intelligences). As such the proto-Ijos who settled to found Kula as well as Bille, were a community of people dedicated to spiritual realisation culture. Kula was a town or large hamlet past times the fourth dimension the Portuguese arrived along the coast inwards the 15th century.
The Beginnings of Ke: Keni traditions keep that the town was founded inwards phases past times 7 ancestors of whom the initiative of all descended from the sky.(of course of pedagogy they did non descend from the heaven but were ancestors dedicated to spiritual realisation sent to that expanse past times Ujo himself or fifty-fifty Adumu-Ala alias Oduduwa as the tradition maintains).
The initiative of all stage was led past times Keni-Ala or Keni Opu Ala (i.e. Keni the large Lord or Keni the Great Lord), priest of the Adumu lodge who gave his scream to the town. Keni-Ala was said to have got been sent past times Adumu himself to that portion of the delta, as well as that the lodge of the Adumu Spiritual initiation scheme was initiative of all based at Ke, before it spread to the other areas of the eastern delta. After giving the people suitable laws to alive by, the priest Keni-Ala died, as well as was deified as the ancestor deity Keni Opu Ala. Following him came other priests such as Keni-Opusuo, Opu-Ogbu, Ombiyi, Opu-Jaja, Ogbokiye, Opupiri as well as Opusiri, making them the 7 founding ancestors descending from the sky. It was during a menstruum of fourth dimension after the reign of Keni-Ala or Keni-Opusuo, that the monarchy was founded. As narrated past times the town historian Madam Kala-Dokku, as well as published past times Talbot inwards 1932, the initiative of all crowned ruler or Amayanabo of Ke was Omonie (i.e. Omoniye), who was followed past times a succession of 61 rulers at the fourth dimension of writing.
Talbot maintains that each was the boy of his father. This is non truthful as a number of them were daughters, as the prefix BA, tells us e.g., Omoni Odu-ba (baw inwards the Talbot document) would hateful “Omoni Odu’s daughter” ,likewise Anga-Sei Kineba would hateful “Anga-Sei Kine’s daughter” , as well as Kala-Pokku Gbainba, would hateful “Kala-Pokku Gbain’s daughter”. The championship AMAYANABO way “owner of the town” as well as could live assumed past times either virile soul or females. If it was a strictly virile soul establishment nosotros would have got the championship AMANANAWI, with the parallel woman soul establishment of the AMANANARA.
THE DEPOPULATION OF KENI: Keni became a real populous town along with Kula, good before the 16th century. According to tradition, Keni was depopulated inwards several ways. a. past times making state of war on what tradition calls foreign sea beings (probably European seafarers who came hunting for slave captives) , many people lost their lives or were carried away past times the sea on that occasion. b. some died inwards a natural disaster of which a large silk cotton wool tree fell on them. c. some died of a serious pestilence, spell others fled the illness to other areas of Izon, e.g. Ekeni inwards Koluama area, Abame inwards Okrika area, Okpoma inwards Nembe area, as well as Kalaibiama inwards Ibani area. Likewise other towns such as Kula as well as Bille were founded past times ancient proto-Ijo ancestors who belonged to the Adumu Spiritual Initiation lodge.
KALABARI: The Kalabari tok their scream from the ancestor PEREBO-KALAKEBARI, the grandson of MEIN, who left Ogobiri sometime inwards the 14th century AD. As stated before Kalabari the grandson of Mein married a adult woman from Itimi inwards Isokoland past times scream Mukoko. His theatre unit of measurement was non pleased with his choice of married adult woman as well as defendant her of witchcraft, going as far as plotting to kill her. When Kalabari found out virtually the plot, he left Ogobiri with his married adult woman as well as fled to Okogba-Idu (Idumu). It was hither that he came across a dead elephant as well as proceeded to extract the tusks. From the sale of the diverse products of the elephant, Kalabari became a wealthy private as well as was the envy of the people of Okogba. Noting this envy Kalabari left with his theatre unit of measurement of married adult woman as well as children as well as settled at a identify called Obu-Amafa, where he founded a settlement which was known as Kalabari Polo (Pelei)
Perebo-Kalakebari died at this Kalabari-Polo. On the decease of their virile soul parent the whole theatre unit of measurement decided to go out Obu-Amafa, as the local Ikweres were non accommodating. Led past times Ende the whole theatre unit of measurement eventually settled at a novel identify they called Iwo Kalabari Polo or “New Kalabari ward? (which the Europeans erroneously translated as New Calabar), At this novel settlement nearby was Kengema founded past times the ancient proto-Ijo ancestors of the Amabi-ame. Iwo Kalabari was shortly joined past times other settlers from Beni-Ijo, Andoni, as well as Ke who went at that spot to trade.
Through the procedure of time, these settlers founded the next quarters (Idumu) (1) Ende-me, (2)Akialeme, (3)Aturua-me, (4)Kro-me, (5)Miene, (6)Igodo-me as well as (7)Amabia-me. Endeme hailed from Ogobiri as well as were portion of the Mein migration from Benin. Igodome came from Republic of Benin as well as were the descendants of the initiative of all Ogiso Igodo, younger blood brother to Prince-Ujo.The Igodome & Ogiame migrated through Oporoza inwards Gbamaratu-Ijo, to the eastern delta. Ogisome (Ogiame) came from Benin, as well as were the theatre unit of measurement of the Ogisos or children of the Ogiso (Ogiame). Aki-Alame were the children of Beyegbolo, younger blood brother to Perebo-Kalakebari, migrated from Ogobiri-Mein, Iturume, Amabime as well as Bukome were likewise descendants of proto-Ijos. The Krome department was founded past times ane Opu-Koroye who had migrated from Andoni-Ijo.
It was during the fourth dimension of Owerre Daba (i.e. 1550-1600) that Awome-Kala-Suo, a beautiful priestess of Zibara (Ziba) came to settle at Iwo Kalabari inwards the Krome (Kurome) section. Being the grand missy of an Abo-Ijo adult woman named Oloma, as well as an Iselema chief, (her mother’s scream was Awo, spell her virile soul parent who was non married to her mother, was a fisherman named Akwaowi). Soon after her arrival as a priestess of Zibara, she established herself as the Supreme ruler of the novel community. After her decease she was deified as her identity as the Priestess of Zibara, as well as referred to as Goddess Awome-Kala-Suo. Owerre-Daba of the Krome lineage became the ruler as well as afterward it was from the Krome lineage that Priests of Awome-Kala-Suo (in reality the Goddess Zibara, or Woyingi Nanara) were chosen. Through the procedure of formal integration nether the leadership of Berembo (alias Kamalo or Akeamaoloye, also known as King Robert inwards the European records), the 7 wards agreed with themselves to the leadership of the Endeme as well as Krome wards which produced the Kiriyanabo or Amayanabo as well as Oru-Alabo (So-Alabo) respectively. givng rising to the Kalabari City State.
By the Middle 17th century (1650) Elem Kalabari had grown into a real large town. It as well as other towns because of their merchandise came to the notice of the European slave traders And it was during the fourth dimension of Daba (early 18th century), that the Keni (Ke) became closer to Kalabari. Omoniye (Omoni Odu-Ba i.e. Omoni Odu’s daughter), ruler or Amayanabo of Ke was the friend of old Daba virile soul parent of Kalagba.
During Amakiri?s fourth dimension Elem Kalabari became heavily involved inwards the trans-Atlantic slave merchandise inwards captives with its associated brutalities as well as tearing wars with neighbouring metropolis states to command merchandise routes. It also extended its influence over neighbouring towns as well as villages. With the influx of neighbouring peoples mainly the Ibo, as costless traders, as well as captives bought inwards the hinterland markets, Elem Kalabari became fairly populated with an Ibo speaking element. This modified the original Ijo linguistic communication that the Kalabari spoke giving nativity to the Kalabari dialect of today.
Although the ancestors who became the founders of the Kalabari metropolis State arrived inwards the expanse virtually the 14th century, diverse ancient Ijo settlers or proto-Ijos, referred to as gods inwards the traditions had arrived much earlier, founding ancient towns such as Kengema, Keni or Ke, Kula as well as Bille, populations, which were later on (17th/18th century) absorbed into the novel Kalabari City State.
EGBEMA OR EGBEMO EBE: The founding ancestors of the Egbema came from a number of Ijo communities. The initiative of all to brand it inwards that part were the proto-Ijos from Amatu of the Iduwini. Later on ancestors came from the Mein town of Gbekebo, as well as the Operemo uppercase of Ekeremo. The proto-Ijo ancestors from Amatu were settled inwards the expanse at an early stage as well as paid frequent visits to the Lagos region. Egbema traditions lift how ane of their ancestors called Inabiri was a closed friend of Kala-Diran or Kaladiran (i.e. Ekaladerhan inwards Republic of Benin tradition) the in conclusion Ogiso of Benin. Kala-Diran who was a medicine human being cured Inabiri of a serious ailment. This was virtually 1170 CE (AD), so the Egbema were settled inwards that part before that date.
The descendants of these early ancestors founded the towns as well as villages of Ayakoromo, Gbeoba, Ofinima (founded during line-fishing trips to Ukoruama or Lagos), Abere, Polo, Gbolukanga, Opuama, Ogbudugbudu as well as Ogboinbiri. Ofinima was the defacto ancient settlement. Although ancestors were living inwards the expanse at an early stage, i.e. pre-14th century, 2 mail 14th century ancestors named Alopomini as well as Opiti were declared the founding ancestors of the Egbema. As they arrived on the scene much later, they were never custodians or priests of Egbesu which was derived from the Suo Egbesu or Suo Eru (Oru) of the Iduwini. As a distinct Ebe, Egbema started to evolve pre-14th century, before the tenth century AD.
NEMBE OR DEBE EBE: The founding ancestors of the Nembe came from a number of unlike sections of Ijo at unlike times. They were joined later past times Yoruba speaking migrants from Republic of Benin city. The most ancient ancestors (known as the Oru-Otu or ancestral people) came from the Olodiama /Oporoma settlements, these include the founders of Olodiamabiri, as well as Onyomabiri. Some came from Kolokuma as well as founded Obolomabiri. From the Obiama dispersal came the founders of Ogbolomabiri. Later on were founded Emeinbiri, Oromabiri as well as Ekese, Kala-Bigama as well as Opu-Bigama. Okpoma whose ancestors originated from Obiama (Okpo-Idumu), was incorporated into the City State later on.
The initiative of all Nembe or Debe was also known as Ujo-Nembe or Ijo-Nembe. The most ancient quarters were Olodiamabiri, Obolomabiri as well as Onyomabiri. These quarters were originally private towns or large villages, with their ain priest rulers, thus nosotros have got Olodiama Pere, Oboloma Pere as well as Onyoma Pere with Olodiama as the most senior. Traditions lift a state of war betwixt Onyomabiri as well as Kula, which caused the demise of Onyomabiri;
During the fourth dimension of Kala-Ekule (1450) who was a descendant of Olodi, the boy of Ujo as well as the ancestor of the Olodiama, Ugbo migrants from Republic of Benin metropolis arrived at Nembe. Their arrival coincided with an internal dispute betwixt Olodiamabiri as well as Obolomabiri. The Ugbo migrants exploited the province of affairs with the aid of ane of their medicine women. She is said to have got supplied destructive charms to both sides of the conflict, resulting inwards such devastation that both the people of Olodiamabiri as well as Obolomabiri dispersed. The Ugbo migrants as well as then took command of the city. Not long afterwards the Olodiama led past times Kala-Ekule made a come upwards dorsum as well as took dorsum the town from the Ugbo migrants. Their settlement which was situated at Oromabiri was sacked, as well as many of the migrants fled to Ogbia area. From that fourth dimension Olodiamabiri as well as Obolomabiri united as well as had ane centralised political authority. In the instance of Onyomabiri, the people were dispersed past times the devastation of that town past times the Kulas. Most of them were absorbed past times the novel Olodiamabiri/Obolomabiri unification.
The Nembe were to go heavily involved inwards both slave raiding weaker communities, as well as trading inwards captives from the interior. Wars with the neighbouring cities to secure merchandise routes they also engaged in. The Nembe also incorporated a lot of neighbouring people into their lodge as slaves (or servants) as well as as costless citizens, The main people were from Yoruba as well as Iboland this contributed to the modification of the Ijo linguistic communication amid the Nembe;
The kinglist of the Nembe dates dorsum to the early 15th century, as well as at that spot was a menstruum before the times of the unification of the diverse towns, when priest-rulers ruled bearing the championship PERE (This was Ijo-Nembe). The beginnings of Nembe is clearly pre-14th century.
OKRIKA (WAKIRIKENI OR KIRIKENI) EBE: The founding ancestors of the Kirikeni came from a number of sections of Izon. One early foundation was led past times Opu-Ogulaya who hailed from the Isomabou area. Passing through Nembe as well as Kalabari areas they finally settled at the site of the nowadays town of Ogoloma. Their arrival inwards the expanse was such that no other people were living nearby, as well as so they went through a ritual so that blood brother could wed sister. Another grouping of ancestors arrived some the same fourth dimension as well as founded Okrika town. This grouping was led past times Opu-Tibeya. they hailed from Balabokiri inwards Andoni river area. They initiative of all settled on the mainland at a identify called Okobiri (Okopiri), before moving to the island.
It was on the isle that the 2 main groups met as well as so the leaders of the main groups namely Opu-Ogulaya, Opu-Tibeya, the women Sangataro as well as Tominaro with her husband, were said to have got exclaimed WA-KIRI-KENI, or O-KIRI-KENI, pregnant “WE ARE FROM THE SAME PLACE” i.e. they were all Izon. That is how the subgroup got its names. During that same early menstruum other ancestors arrived from Amassoma inwards Ogboin Ebe as well as founded some sections of Wakirike these include Oko boy of Alumu, boy of Oboro, boy of Ogboin (Oboro existence the founder of Amassoma). Together the ancestors founded the towns of Okrika or Kirikeni, consisting of twelve quarters namely, Tomobiri, Ogwemebiri, Bilemebiri, Agbabiri, Ambemebiri, Bulomebiri, Ederebiri, Awolomebiri, Adedemebiri, Ngemebiri, Amonongobiri as well as Anyungubiri, plus the towns of Ogoloma, Ibaka as well as Ogbogbo, Abuloma Ogu, Bolo, Isaka as well as Ele. In the instance of Kirikeni all the quarters were headed past times theatre unit of measurement nobles called Waridabo i.e. “the soul who heads the house” or Alabo or Ala i.e. “the governors” or “lords” i.e. “Chiefs?.
During the fourth dimension of the Atlantic slave merchandise chaos, the Okrika were sucked into the slave trade, as well as the consequences therein (raiding, merchandise wars etc.). They also came into contact with the Ibo, of whom many were absorbed into Okrika society, modifying the original Ijo linguistic communication that the founding ancestors spoke. Later soundless migrants left Okrika to found Kala-Okirika or Nkoro close the Andoni. The fourth dimension of foundation of Okrika is 14/15th century approximately.
Okrika as well as the Port Harcourt Old Township: Okrika lands, amid others extend into the old Port Harcourt Township, according to Okrika sources:
” The geography of Okrika also extends to Port Harcourt. By the Hargroove understanding of eighteen May 1913 betwixt the leading chiefs as well as headmen of the diverse communities which owned Port Harcourt on the ane hand, as well as Alexxander George Boyle as well as Saint George, Deputy Governor of the Colony as well as Protectorate of Southern Nigeria on the other hand, the portion of Port Harcourt owned past times Okrika consittutes the nowadays old Port Harcourt Township, stretching from the Borikiri/Marine Base axis to Elechi water-side, cutting accros Ikwerre route through Mile One marketplace spot Diobu to D/Line. The D/line periphery runs through Aba road, encircling the cree contrary the old Ministry of information. There is also the Trans-Amadi expanse including, Amadi-Ama, Abuloma, Okuru downward to the Zoo area?.?
OGBIA EBE: The Ogbia took their scream from the term Ogbo Oyan pregnant ” the the world of Oyan “. Oyan ane of the founding ancestors derived from Tara the ancestor of the Tarakiri of Agadagbabou inwards Igbedi creek. He as well as his theatre unit of measurement left as well as migrated downward the creeks as well as settled inwards that part named after him. Very much later, when the settlement had go a town, immigrants arrived from Nembe (i.e. Oromabiri). These immigrants were mostly Yoruba migrants fleeing Nembe after it was retaken past times Kala-Ekule of the Olodiama lineage. These immigrants had originally come upwards from Republic of Benin metropolis during the fourth dimension of Oba Ewuare or Oba Olua (1473). Some of the same grouping of people founded the Itsekiri.
The original founders of Ogbia founded the Oloi (Olobiri) as well as Okoroma lineage?s. They were joined later past times the settlers from Oromabiri inwards Nembe, as well as collectively gave nativity to the Ogbia clan comprising towns as well as villages such as Okoroma, Ologoama, Egelema, Abobiri, Akakiama as well as Amakalakala. Other immigrant groups from the Isedani lineage of Kolokuma founded the town of Otu-Okpotu or Etu-okpotu (House of Okpotu) which took its scream from Otu-onikpotu the boy of a missy of Okoroma, with a descendant of Ise ancestor of the Isedani lineage. The beginnings of the Ogbia is clearly pre-14th century.
ANDONI EBE: By the evidence of traditional history, the Andoni are descended from Ayama the boy of Tara who was left with Kala-Okun at Igbedi creek. The migrating ancestors are mentioned as Asara or Asa founder of Asarama, Ifop, Edeh or Edabiri, Alama as well as Abah to scream a few. They left the Igbedi creek expanse at an early stage taking with them the championship “Indo Oru” which they remembered as well as gave to their priest rulers. The championship “Indo Oru” was later corrupted to “Ando Oru”, spell during their sojourn inwards Iboland NI was added to give the term “Andoni Oru”. Leaving the key delta the early ancestors made their way through creeks as well as swamps felling trees to cross the waterways. They initiative of all encamped for sometime inwards the southern Ibo expanse before moving into the delta. Their initiative of all settlement was called Ayama after their ancestor. The site of Ayama was the site of Peterside inwards Ibani or Bonny town. They stayed hither for centuries manufacturing tabular array salt for the interior markets before moving. It was from Ayama that Asarama (i.e. Asara’s town) was founded.
A 2nd grouping moved on to the southern Cameroons. It was hither that they seem to inter-married with Bantu speaking people. Approximately around the twelfth century, these Andoni made a provide journeying into the Niger Delta as well as settled at Egwede, where they sited their national emblem called Oyobolo (Obolo). Migration patterns were caused past times the repeating conflicts with the Ibani (Beni or Bonny to Europeans), as a final result of the slave raiding confusion of those times. From the site of Peterside they moved eastwards to the Rio Real, as well as then to Asarama-Toru, as well as then farther eastward to Okoma the site which is contrary the nowadays town.
Again nosotros province that the old settlement was the site of Peterside inwards Bonny which was called Ayama (or old Asarama). Asarama existence the oldest of the Andoni towns. And other Andoni towns including Ayangala, spell Alabie was the other bespeak Egwede. In the 1940’s the master copy championship of the Andoni native courtroom justice was soundless Andoni Oru, acknowledging the ancestral connexion to Indo-Oru the original championship of virile soul parent Ujo the ancestor of Ijo people. The Andoni no longer talk the original Ijo language.
OTHERS: Other people who were of Ijo origin or related ancestrally are the Aboh (i.e. mixed Ibo as well as Ijo), the Ndoki (i.e. mixed Ibo as well as Ijo), Nkoro or little Okrika, Zarama, Egbema of Imo expanse (i.e. mixed Ibo as well as Ijo) as well as Oruma. Engenni, Abua as well as related groups (through intermarriage as well as adoption). Some Urhobo groups (i.e. mixed Edo, Ibo as well as Ijo) as well as the Ojos inwards the Badagiri creek part of Lagos (i.e. Ijo who have got adopted Yoruba linguistic communication fairly of late around the early 20th century. In the Awori-Lagos traditions, the original Proto-Ijo founders of settlements inwards Lagos are referred to as the “AROMIRE?S? i.e. “LOVERS OF WATER?). Opobo was founded past times Jaja who was of the theatre of Opubo (Opubo Wari) at Bonny (Ibani). Oruma’s other scream was Tugbene, the ancestor Tu hailing from Oboloma. The Epie-Attisa resulted from migrants from both Izon as well as Edo speaking people. The Izon chemical constituent coming from Ekpetiama or Seimbiri woman parent settlements.
It should also live noted that the whole of the eastern delta was faced with a province of affairs whereby immigrants as well as captives from the slave raiding as well as trading era had to live settled due to the abolition of the Atlantic merchandise inwards human beings. This of course of pedagogy led to a lot of mingling as well as mixing with a profusion of languages as well as dialects inwards that region. Thus the linguistic communication modification of the eastern Delta. So fifty-fifty if they do non talk the Ijaw language, they are related ancestrally speaking.
The formation of the Ijo ethnic grouping was a dynamic affair. The key delta department of the Niger Delta was the main expanse of activity. It was the site of the most ancient settlements of the proto-Ijos, places mentioned inwards tradition as dispersal centres include, Agadagba-bou, Isoma-bou, Opuan-bou as well as Orubiribau-bou, Oporoma, as well as Ke. Other ancient ancestral sites from which Ijos migrated to the areas of habitation include, Warife/Warige expanse inwards the western delta fringe, the site of the settlement of the Ijos on their migration from the Republic of Benin part (Ado), the Amatu part of Iduwini, as well as Oproza part of Gbaranmatu. On the Western coast, nosotros have got the Lagos part of Kurama. The key delta is non surprising, as inwards those times it was the main outlet to the sea, as well as ane of the initiative of all areas suitable for human habitation. The ancestors did non settle anywhere, but at places that were non prone to flooding, as well as had practiced farming as well as line-fishing grounds. It seems that internally the Izon were real frictional. This friction caused conflicts. The consequences of conflict was to flee the penalty as well as the results of internal disharmony. This gave rising to a lot of migrations. Internal friction as well as disharmony was also fuelled past times the European introduction of firearms to settle community quarrels. This resulted inwards whole communities existence sacked, captives existence sold into slavery as well as the survivors dispersing to areas of safety.
The nature of the Delta made it real hard, for unity witting rulers to effect a unified State stretching from ane terminate of the Izon Ebe to the other. War as well as strife were nevertheless non the main theme inwards the Izon experience. Superficially this may seem so, but for long periods of fourth dimension (centuries), communities lived inwards peace as well as tranquillity, but due to the absence of accurate dates, it seems that everything happened inwards ane long stretch. The reality is that the dispersal from the Isoma-bou expanse close Ikibiri was inwards 2 phases, ane which left peacefully as well as the 2nd which dispersed at to the lowest degree non before than 1500 AD after the European introduction of firearms. Likewise the ancestors of the Kumbo, Kabo as well as Gbaran alone left the coastal town of Oproza starting from 1485, because of the activities of the Portuguese inwards the area. The Tarakiri lived peacefully inwards the Igbedi creek part upwards to 1500 when they had a conflict with the Mein. And so on. Other causes of migration were exploration, adventure, overpopulation (the delta was inwards continued formation as well as at that spot was limited dry out the world at the time.), line-fishing trips. People would go on line-fishing expeditions, laid upwards line-fishing camps as well as later convey their families as well as closed associates to the novel line-fishing grounds. And all the other reasons why people migrate.
The Ijo recognised that they were from ane source, this is evident from the European records, where, the ancestors identified themselves with the variations of the scream Ujo, which were Ijo, Ojo, Ejo, Oru, Uzo, Uzon as well as to a greater extent than lately Izon. From Ke to Bonny upwards to Aboh as well as westwards to Lagos. Because of the loose network nature of the Izon Ebe, the Izon were to endure from the effects of 400 years of slave raiding, trading, kidnapping, as well as all the associated violence to a greater extent than than the empire of Benin. which was centralised inwards authority. During the long formation the Izon learnt to alive inwards harmony with the Delta environment, becoming the original “Beni-Otu” i.e. the “water people”. The Ijo enjoyed external relations with sis States as well as kingdoms, trading with the Aboh, Nupe, Benin, Ondo, Ile-Ife, Akwa of Iboland etc., as well as were portion of the intercontinental trading network. This is a brusk summary of development of the Ijo clans
notes
[1] Vogel JO (1997) editor, Encyclopedia of Precolonial Africa-Archaeology, History, Language, Cultures as well as Environment, p172.
[2] Ibid.
[3] In his volume with Tekena N Tamuno (Land as well as peoples of Nigeria-Rivers State 1989 pp54-55), Professor E J Alagoa ane time again comments on the Ijo (Ijaw) ethnic grouping stating; “Three types of tradition of origin may live identified amid the Ijo: claims to a identify of origin exterior the Niger Delta calculated to confer prestige on the group, second, claims to autochthony or indigenous origin, as well as third, tradition of migration inside the Niger Delta..However, the linguists suggest a north-eastern location as a probable identify of origin for the Ijo, rather than the to a greater extent than southerly locations inwards the key delta suggested past times traditions of origin? Now was this North-Eastern location inwards the vicinity of ancient NileValley (Sudan & Upper Egypt? Let us expect at Diop C Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 (1955, 1967, 1974), The African Origin of Civilisation-Myth or Reality, pp75-84. “?Amelineau designates the initiative of all Black race to occupy Arab Republic of Egypt past times the scream Anu. He shows that it came piece of cake downward the Nile as well as founded the cities of Esneh [Essene], Erment, Qouch, as well as Heliopolis [Annu or Onnu]?.According to Amelineau, this Black race, the Anu [Onu], likely created inwards prehistoric times all the elements of Egyptian civilisation which persist without important modify throughout its long existence. These Blacks were likely the initiative of all to exercise agriculture, arts, writing, the calendar. They created a cosmogony contained inwards The Book of the Dead, texts which go out no doubtfulness virtually the Negroness of the race that conceived them?.? Egyptologists are inwards understanding that it was ancient Black People (So called Sudanic Negroes) who gave nativity to Ancient Egyptian as well as Sudanese civilisation. And that the religious linguistic communication of the BOOK OF THE DEAD belongs to them. Comparing the religious terminology such as TEM OR TEMU (CREATOR) ATUM OR ATUMU, HERU OR HORU, as well as a host of other terms, with the existing Ijo terminology (TEMOWEI OR TEMUNO = CREATOR), ADUMU, ADUMU, ERU OR ORU, the similarity inwards audio as well as pregnant is also closed to dismiss as existence coincidental. The linguistic communication as well as much to a greater extent than such as cultural customs, kingship as well as priest functions makes us empathise that the ORU AND THE ANU were ane as well as the same people. Incidently Egyptologists refer to the ANU as the FOLLOWERS OF HERU OR HORU! Or inwards Ijo linguistic communication ORU - ORUBO! And is this the ground why some Urhobo (ORUBO) historians province that the Urhobo are descendants of Prince Urhobo (ORUBO) as well as the ancient ruling caste of ancient Egypt?
[4] Akinjogbin I Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 (1992) The Cradle of Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Race-Ife From the Beginning to 1980. “…One 19th-century commentator stated that the original Ife was situated farther to the north, perchance close the Niger. At some menstruum the people of this Ife migrated due south to the nowadays city.
[5] Many contemporary historians have got dismissed the Namurudu as well as Kisara legends as fabrications invented past times ancestral traditions. But how tin can they live fabrications if they are recorded inwards diverse traditions from ancient Songhai, Kano, Borgu, Nupe, Yoruba as well as Benin? The migrations from Upper Arab Republic of Egypt as well as the Sudan due to the Arab invasion did take away place. And the Nupe/Borgu traditions have got set a specific fourth dimension menstruum of betwixt 640-650 AD for main migrations OF ADUMU into Nigeria.
[6] Idowu E B (1962) Olodumare God inwards Yoruba Belief, pp24-28. “…Was Oduduwa a god or a goddess?” This 2nd query nosotros must tackle first….Our conclusion is that the scream Oduduwa belonged originally to a divinity as well as non to the personage to whom the scream was later given. It was this divinity who came into conflict with Orisa-nla…..In Ado, Oduduwa is indisputably a goddess. She is said to live the initiative of all of 7 divinity-children…The virile soul innovation of Oduduwa has real probable arisen inwards this way then. Oduduwa was the priest of the goddess as good as the caput of his dynasty. At the fourth dimension of his decease he won the honor of people far as well as wide, so that it was an piece of cake affair for him to go an Ancestor deserving a cult. Before real long, however, he became identified with his ain divinity as well as entered the pantheon on her attributes….”
[7] Fabunmi M Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 (1980) Ife The Genesis of the Yoruba Race. “Oodua tried state of war efforts which won him victory over the Ooyelagbo communities, but failed to subdue them. Oodua existence a wiseman applied other tactics. Instead of sacking them, he invited the Ooyelagbos to build a single community at a dot known as Ita-Ajamo where each of the communities was empowered to dominion over his domain but with allegiance to Oodua who was as well as then proclaimed the OLOFIN ADIMULA - the supreme Oba of Ile-Ife. It was after this that the “Oduduwa” empire started to expand.. Here nosotros have got it ADIMULA as a championship reveals the actual scream of Oduduwa as existence ADIMU or ADUMU.
[8] The translation of ALA-AFIN pregnant LORD OR CHIEF (ALA) OF THE FORTRESS OR PALACE (AFIN) is valid inwards the Ijo linguistic communication as good as some sections of Yoruba dialect. In the Ijo linguistic communication ALA-AFIN, COULD BE RENDERED ALA-EFIN. The AFIN or EFIN, existence a FORTRESS OR CASTLE NOT PALACE. The Ijos soundless have got the ALA championship to refer to CHIEF OR LORD (ALA) as well as governor/chief (ALABO)..
[9] Fabunmi MA opcit
[10] Idowu E B (1962) Olodumare God inwards Yoruba Belief, pp24-28.
[11] Dennett R E (1910) NIGERIAN STUDIES on The Religious as well as Politicl Systems of the Yoruba, p11. The ground why they are called Bornu immigrants is because on their way from Upper Egypt, the passed through Lake Chad, as well as then the Bussa (middle Niger region) before settling at Ife. This is corroborated past times traditions collected from Bussa. Now ODUDUWA OR ODUDUA as a Goddess is the local bespeak the GREAT MOTHER GODDESS CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, inwards Kumoni linguistic communication known as WOYINGI TAMARA, OUR MOTHER THE CREATOR. The ground why Adumu was given this alias Odudua was because he was a priest as well as spiritual initiate of the Great Mother Goddess, known as Woyingi, but as Odudua inwards the local Ugbo language.
[12] Ibid, pp74-75. Again Bornu is mentioned, but it was exactly a halt over. Here the existent scream of the frist King of Ife is revealed to live ADUMU, OR ADIMU, TITLED AS ADUMU-ALA, OR ADIMU-ALA. Here is traditional Ife documentary evidence that ADUMU as well as ODUDUWA are ane as well as the same person. That his actual scream was ADUMU, as well as that ODUDUWA was an alias, which referred to THE GODDESS CREATOR
[13](Ellis Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 B, The Yoruba Speaking Peoples of the Slave Coast of West Africa-Their Religion, Manners, Customs, Laws, Language (1894), p90
[14] Fabunmi M A, op cit.
[15] This is the ground why tradition maintains that ane of King Adumu (alias Oduduwa’s) elderberry boy founded Benin, although at that spot is confusion as to who was the eldest son, the ancestors Prince Ujo, or Prince Igodo. Ife as well as Ijo traditions are inwards understanding that Ujo (alias Idekoseroake) was the eldest son. Ife as well as Ijo traditions are also inwards understanding that Prince Igodo was an elderberry boy of King Adumu. While the original manuscript published past times J Egharevba called Ekhara vb itan Edo (1933) and its initiative of all translation A brusk History of Republic of Benin 1936) opened thus“Many, many years ago, Odua (Oduduwa) of Uhe (Ile-Ife the virile soul parent as well as the progenitor of the Yoruba Kings sent his eldest boy Obagodo who took the championship of Ogiso with a large retinue all the way from Uhe to found a Kingdom inwards this portion of the World. At the minute of his divergence his virile soul parent gave him a charm inwards the shape of a snail shell containing some ground to invest him with absolute ability as well as right over the lands that should come upwards nether his sway”. P7 Thus originally all 3 traditions from Ife, Ijo as well as Republic of Benin were inwards understanding that Igodo was an elderberry boy of Oduduwa. Compared to Owonaru’s narrative it corresponds inwards for sure areas, which are Oduduwa’s eldest boy left Ife to settle the Republic of Benin part (whether this was Igodo or Ujo has been lost to time). Oduduwa invested this eldest boy with ability as well as mightiness to rule. That Igodo inherited Oduduwa’s mystic armed forces powers of conquest. Now comparing it with the later narrative changed past times Egharevba, Igodo is a mere hunter, as well as Oduduwa reigned inwards Ife 500 years after Igodo at Benin? Why is this? The ground for the modify is this. There is a 500-year gap betwixt the fourth dimension of Oduduwa/Ujo/Igodo, as well as the fourth dimension of Oranyan, which makes it impossible for Oranyan to live Oduduwa’s direct son. The riddle is this “how tin can Igodo as well as Oranyan (who lived 500 years later) both live direct sons of Oduduwa?” Needless to say the riddle is solved thus. Igodo was the direct boy of Oduduwa, spell Oranyan was a conqueror who arrived 500 years later from the Igala region, as well as later claimed descent from the legendary hero. The original Oranyan invaders initiative of all inhabited Igala region. They invaded the Republic of Benin part as well as Ife part as well as laid upwards a novel dynasty during the 12th century AD 500 years after the existence of King Adumu (alias Oduduwa). Later on the Jukun displaced them at Igala.
[16] This needs farther research. But it is acknowledged indirectly past times historians.
[17]Egharevba E J, Twelve Works(1973, Kraus Reprint Nendeln). “…The Ogisos ruled for over 5 centuries. At that fourth dimension the the world was known as well as called as Igodo-m-igodo…”, p18.
[18] “…Urhobo is said to have got been derived from Uzobo which was a corruption of Ijobo pregnant “a native of Ijo”…”from OwonaruSK opcit. p95. as well as “…In the same way “Sobo” which is really an Anglacised shape of “Uzobo” is given inwards this study to the sub-tribe of Edo, which embraces the 2 clans of Uzobo (ie Urhobo) as well as Isoko…” Talbot PA (1926 vol4, p33).
[19] Adumu-Ala initiative of all Rex of Ife was Kumoni-Oru
[20] Owonaru’s narrative regarding the foundation of Republic of Benin kingdom past times Prince Igodo, the foundation of Ijebu past times Prince Ajibo, as well as Oyo past times Lufon, are supported past times traditions collected at those places as well as recorded.
[21] Alagoa E J (1964) The Small Brave City State, p7.
[22] Crowder S (1970 2nd Edition) Journal of an Expedition Up the Niger as well as Tshadda [Benue] Rivers undertaken past times Macgregor Laird inwards 1854 - Missionary Research as well as Travels no.15, p10.
[23] Ibid, p13
[24] Ibid, p194
[25] Ibid, p199
[26] From the metropolis of Ijon, so to speak.
[27] Owonaro SK. opcit
[28] Oduma Magazine 1/4/1976, vol 3 pp19-22. “It is suggested that the regulation migrations from this Central part to found communities inwards the Eastern as well as Western Delta occurred virtually a chiliad years ago, that is, before virtually AD 1000.
[29] According to both Urhobo as well as Ijo traditions, the Urhobo derived from Ijo or Oru men intermarrying with Efa women inwards the Republic of Benin part as well as southern forests bordering the delta. The 2 names URHOBO & SOBO, derived from ORUBO (FOR URHOBO) AND UJOBO, OR UZOBO (FOR SOBO).
[30] Tare-Otu Actor Lugard’s Waking upwards the sleeping Giant 1992 pages 27-28) “Ijaw is ane of the oldest tribes inwards Africa. It is the 4th largest tribes inwards Nigeria. They soundless lack comprehensive as well as authentic history on the footing of enquiry including archaeological information of the Ijaw people. It must live noted that some oral accounts have got traced the origins of the Ijaws to Oduduwa inwards Yorubaland, to Mecca inwards Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as fifty-fifty to the bully inundation of Noah when virile soul parent Ijaw was carried past times the H2O electrical flow to the W African coast. The line did non terminate hither but also to the Jewish metropolis called Ezon where Ijaw came from to the nowadays site. In all history, zip is to a greater extent than surprising of so hard to business organization human relationship for as the abrupt rising of the Republic of Benin empire as well as at that spot is a broad consensus that the Ijaw came from Republic of Benin inwards virtually the early 16th century next the disturbances which engulfed the Republic of Benin kingdom over the struggle for the Republic of Benin throne past times the “twin brothers Oruanya. Ijaw initiative of all left for Aboh with his 2 sons (perhaps more) Mengri ” who was most probable his initiative of all boy as well as Oporaza”.
[31] AME seems to live a shortened shape of AWOAME pregnant CHILDREN
[32] Tare-Otu Lugard. Opcit.
[33] An Assessment Report of the Gbaramatu Clan, 1930 past times Lt. Commander S E Johnson R N, Acting District Officer, pp1-8.
34] Ibid.
[35] Owonaru S K, op cit, p19.
[36] Ibid, p64.
[37] At Republic of Benin divergent traditions keep that ane Idu was the grandson of Ere, the grandson of Igodo, the initiative of all Ogiso of Benin. Refer to Olaniyan R (Certificate History of Nigeria), p63.
[38] Egharevba J U (1973) 12 Works-Chronicle of Events, pp2, 17.
[39] Amgbare JS Doutimi (Nov 2000) Independent Monitor (Nigeria).
[40] On p15 Owonaru states that “Ijo blessed Alagbarigha, offered him ane of his sea gods (represented past times the boa-constrictor) known as Adimu as well as dispatched him to that portion of the delta to guard as well as dominion there” Although the regulation grapheme Alagbarigha (Alagbariye) is a error as well as reference to the ane of the leaders of the Ibani-Ijo out of Kolokuma, which occurred at a later appointment (centuries afterwards), the lift of Adimu (Adumu) makes us empathise that the priests of the shrine (represented past times Keni-Opu-Ala) were dispatched to the eastern delta coast, past times the early ancestors. The fact that the priest Keni-Opu-Ala was said to have got been sent to that portion of the delta past times Adumu himself, must live a coded reference to King Adumu (alias Oduduwa) at Ife, as well as non the metaphysical intelligence, of which he was a priest of, as Oduma magazine vol 2, No 1, August 1974 states; “A farther evidence of the ancestral nature of the god Keni Opu Ala is the fact that the cult really refers to the worship of Odum, Adum or Adumu (the African python) ane of the most widespread cults inwards the Eastern Niger Delta. The informant expressed the python base of operations of the Keni-Ala cult inwards diverse ways; that the ancestor Keni-Opu-Ala as well as the others had been brought downward from the heaven past times Odum [Adumu] that “the sacred totem of Keni-Opu-Ala was Odum” We must authorities notation that Adumu was also the sacred totem of King Adumu at Ife, hence the original scream as his cultic name. It is on business organization human relationship of this that Adumu or Adimu was at ane fourth dimension worshipped inwards Yoruba-land. According to J O Lucas inwards his classic piece of work The Religion of the Yoruba, p146-147, 328; “..the give-and-take Adimu itself, which is a survival of the Atumu or Adumu, the scream of a good known Egyptian god. The ground for the divine honour paid to Adimu thus becomes obvious. Atumu or Adumu was ane of the most revered gods inwards Ancient Egypt. It may live added that Atumu or Adumu survives non alone amid the Yorubas but also amid other West African tribes. For example, an of import deity amid the Ijos is known as Adumu as well as also nosotros have got “..According to Egyptian mythology Tum [Tem], or Atumu [Adumu] was the god of the primordial ocean, the soul of the deep watery abyss..” Here nosotros have got evidence supporting Owonaru’s declaration of Adumu existence a sea god. In this sense it is spiritual symbolic linguistic communication that is existence used. Adumu is the Supreme Intelligence (sacred serpent) who dwells inwards the metaphysical or spiritual realm (deep sea or bounding main deep). The ancient Egyptian term translated as “Tem” or “Temu” or “Tumu” exactly way “Creator”, exactly similar the nowadays solar daytime Ijo term “Temewei” or “Temuno”. (refer to Dawn of Civilisation, p138).
[41] Ogan C (1988) Unity of Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 People (Search for Peace inwards Okrika Rivers StateNigeria. P8)
[42] Chief Amgbare JSD (The Origins of Kalabari) Independent Monitor No/Dec Editons.

History of Ijaws as well as their Neighbours

History of Ijaws as well as their Neighbours

(Source: ground Rights Institute – June 2004)

It is the duty of historians to investigate as well as brand it at the truth concerning the history of peoples. In truth the history of the Ijaws as well as our neighbours the Itsekiris, Urhobos, Binis, Edos, Yorubas as well as Igbos are intertwined as nosotros go farther dorsum inwards time. And it is because historians have got non come upwards to damage with this fact, that people tin can brand claims as well as counter-claims as to who owns the land, as well as who arrived inwards a part first.
In diverse historical documents that I have got sent inwards to this forum, I have got demonstrated that all the ethnic nationalities comprising Southern Nigeria, did non be as nosotros at nowadays know them to live now, 2000 years ago. Most are a production of fusion of ancient people, the Ijaw people existence ane of the most ancient survivals of the original ancient people that fused with others to give rising to the ethnic nationalities that be today.
What is meant past times the term Autochthonous?
The term “autochthonous” means native, aboriginal, indigeous, original. The available anthropological as well as archaeological evidence at our disposal makes it clear that the settlement of the Southern West Africa region is a recent event, going dorsum non to a greater extent than than 5000 years. While the Northern portion of West Africa, may stretch dorsum to 10000 years, if nosotros take away into consideration the Sahara grassland of antiquity.
The so called Proto-Niger-Congo language, of which the Ijo linguistic communication is classified into, is divided into the next linguistic communication groups - Kordofanian, which split into Kordofanian as well as Mande-Congo, which also split into Mande as well as Atlantic-Congo, which also split into Atlantic, Ijoid, Dogon, as well as Volta-Congo. Volta-Congo split into North Volta-Congo as well as Benue Kwa, which split into Kwa as well as Benue-Congo. Now the Ijoid linguistic communication split into Ijo as well as Defaka, spell the Benue-Congo split into Yoruba, Igala, Edo and Ibo as well as some other southern Nigerian languages.
According to the Encyclopedia of Precolonial Africa-Archaeology, History, Language, Cultures as well as Environment, edited past times J O Vogel (1997, p172);
“…The indigenous languages of western Africa belong to 3 of the 4 phyla of African languages established past times J H Greenberg inwards 1963: Afro-Asiatic, Nilo-Saharan, as well as Niger-Congo……Consequently, the homeland of Niger-Congo is usually placed inwards western Africa, whereas those of Nilo-Saharan languages as well as Afro-Asiatic are sought farther to the eastward as well as northeast respectively. From fourth dimension to time, suggestions have got been made that Nilo-Saharan as well as Niger-Congo are ultimately related. Recently Roger Blench has proposed that Niger-Congo is exactly a branch of Nilo-Saharan, most closely related to the Central Sudanic theatre unit of measurement of Nilo-Saharan inwards the centre of the African continent. If this persuasion is correct, Niger-Congo would have got originated farther eastward than is us ually assumed, perhaps to the northwest of the present-day central Sudan. The Congo family, in Sudan, is assumed to have got moved eastwards. The other families of Niger-Congo presumably were gradually compressed into West Africa as a final result of the desiccation of the Sahara. As Western Africa became to a greater extent than crowded, Adamawa-Ubangi as well as Bantu expanded southwards into key Africa as well as later, inwards the instance of Bantu, into eastern as well as southern Africa….Two relatively little families, Dogon as well as Ijoid, are thought to have got split off next. Dogon with piddling internal differentiation, remained on land, due south of the curvature inwards the Niger, spell Ijoid, with somewhat to a greater extent than internal differentiation into Defaka as well as the Ijo group, moved downward the Niger to its confluence with the Benue as well as and then either direct along the Niger or via the Benue as well as Cross River to the Niger Delta as well as associated waterways where it is found today….”[1]
If Niger-Congo is a branch of the Nilo-Saharan proto-language, as has been suggested, as well as then it gives acceptance to the declaration that the ancient linguistic communication differentiation of Africa took identify inwards prehistory inwards the regions of the Nile-Valley as well as the Old Sahara grasslands, as well as non inwards the vicinity of the Niger-Benue confluence.
The absence of the anatomical remains of early human beings, as well as the lack of evidence for stone historic menstruum as well as bronze historic menstruum cultures inwards the West Africa region, rules out whatever claims past times a grouping of people, to live genuinely autochones or aboriginal to West Africa. All West African peoples migrated to the expanse at ane fourth dimension or another, from either North, East or South Africa, as such, West Africa has been peopled at unlike times past times successive waves of migration from East Africa and North Africa/Sahara part respectively.
Taking the combined evidence of linguistic communication studies, ancestral tradition, anthropology as well as archaeology, it is for sure that past times at to the lowest degree 2000 BCE the West Africa region was existence peopled. As to who arrived initiative of all is of no number as the the world infinite is also vast for the initiative of all arrivals to lay claim to ownership. By m BCE nosotros have got the emergence of the Lake Chad civilisation of Daima as well as the Nok Culture of the Niger/Benue Confluence. We tin can also discern a number of ancient peoples who entered the expanse of the Niger & Benue virtually the same time. They include the following:
The Ancient Oru (Anu) founders of the Great Nile Valley civilisation complex (and perchance the lake Republic of Chad complex); The Ancient Ugbo or Igbo (or Kwa people) who seem to have got been the founders of the Nok complex; The inwards a higher identify ancient people belong to the branch of Black African referred to as Sudanese or Nilotic Negroes. And the Ancient Bantu, who migrated from East/Central Africa.
There were, of course of pedagogy other ancient peoples who were migrating into the West Africa region, but the aforementioned ones serve the purpose of tracing the origins of the Ijos, Yoruba, Edo and Igbo.
An unbiased reading of the works of notable Ijaw historians such as S K Owonaru (History of Ijos as well as her Neighbours inwards Nigeria 1949), E J Alagoa (The History of the Niger Delta) as well as the works past times other historians from the Yoruba, Edo as well as Igbo volition demonstrate that indeed the Ijaws are ane of the ancient tribes to have got settled West Africa, who later on intermarried with other every bit ancient tribes to give nativity to the ethnic nationalities that at nowadays inhabit Southern Nigeria today.
The ancient people from which the Ijaws descended from were non known as Ijaw (Ijo, Ujo, although this scream has been traced to a legendary ancestor who established inwards the Niger Delta with his people). The ancestral scream was ORU. That is why inwards colonial documents the Ijaws are also referred to as ORU people. It was the ancient ORU people that fused with others to make our immediate neighbours.
In the ancestral histories of the Ijaw, Benin kingdom and Ife, non to lift the Borgu as well as Nupe kingdoms, at that spot is reference to a number of migrations from the Sudan and Egypt into the West Africa region. This narratives cannot live dismissed as were fairy tales. Now historical query that nosotros demand to inquire is, were the ancestors of the Ijaws a portion of these bully migrations into West Africa from Egypt and Sudan? If indeed the reply is yes nosotros volition go deeper into this root, if the reply is no, historians demand to come upwards with an answer, where did the ancestors come upwards from?, considering the fact that no West African people are genuinely autochthonous to West Africa. Each arrived during antiquity or recently.
Glancing at the Benin narratives of the history of the foundation of the Benin kingdom, at that spot is reference to migrations from Egypt via Sudan to Ife and then Benin region, where it is stated that the migrating grouping met an before grouping of settlers which had come upwards from the Sudan. These initiative of all settlers or aborigines from the Sudan, were they the ORU people? The migration from Egypt/Sudan is non confined to Benin. Independent of Republic of Benin influence nosotros have got traditions recorded from Seimbiri-Ijo clan as well as Andoni-Ijo clan than claim that the Ijo ancestors ane fourth dimension lived in Egypt. Again these traditions cannot live dismissed as fairly tales or fabrications, as at that spot were no ground to prevarication past times the ancestral traditionalists.
The job with the histories of Borgu, Nupe, Ife, Benin, Ijo is the deliberate confusion created around as to who were the actual people who migrated from Arab Republic of Egypt & Sudan as well as else where to found these kingdoms, brought virtually past times studying these migration traditions inwards isolation. Could they non live all referring to the same migrations?
The migrations from Egypt & Sudan mentioned inwards the ancestral narratives of the Ijaw, Benin and Yoruba, as good as the Borgu as well as Nupe refer to ane as well as the same people known as the KUMONI (a branch of the ORU people that settled in Upper Egypt)and the ORU. This fact has been obscured, but nosotros are at nowadays inwards the spot to found this historical fact. The original autochthonous people that were settled inwards the Benin region prior to the arrival of the KUMONI, were the ORU people, who as the traditions province had also come upwards from the Sudan at an unknown before appointment inwards antiquity. Other ancient people’s that had settled inwards the Republic of Benin part were the EFA, as well as Ife part were the OYELAGBO or UGBO (IGBO) peoples, spell eastward of the Niger nosotros also have got the IGBO’s
The error many modern Ijo historians have got made was to believe that reference to Ife and Benin as places of origin way originating from the Yoruba and Edo peoples as nosotros know them today. Whereas a deep investigation into the histories of both Ife and Benin indicate that to a greater extent than than ane ethnic grouping were responsible for the genesis of these 2 city-states. For the earliest dynastic menstruum of Ife and Benin an unnamed people associated with both the legendary Oduduwa at Ife and Ogiso Igodo dynasty at Benin was responsible for establishing the earliest forms of monarchy inwards these 2 metropolis kingdoms. Whereas in Ife, the proto-Yoruba ancestors called OOYELAGBO OR UGBO are mentioned, as well as at Benin the proto-Edo ancestors called EFA are mentioned, the scream of the tribe of the dynastic founders are not. What was the scream of the tribe that Oduduwa belonged to? What was the scream of the tribe that Igodo the initiative of all Ogiso of Benin, belonged to? Why has Oduduwa’s original scream ADUMU non been emphasised to a greater extent than than his alias ODUDUWA?
An exam as well as comparing of the names ADUMU, OGU (OGUN) & OGBOGBODIRI the initiative of all 3 kings of dynastic Ife, IGODO, ERE & KALADIRAN the initiative of all 2 as well as in conclusion Ogisos of Republic of Benin with the Ijo language, reveals that these names are soundless existence borne past times Ijo individuals upwards till today, but the nowadays solar daytime Yoruba as well as Edo do non behave these names. What does this suggest? It suggests that the dynastic founders of Ife and Benin were ethnically related to the nowadays solar daytime Ijo people as emphasised past times ancestral tradition.
The facts that nosotros have got gained through the understanding of the related traditional narratives of the Ijos, Urhobos, Binis, Yoruba, has enabled us to reconstruct the sequence of events that led to the emergence of the City State complexes of Ife as well as Republic of Benin as well as the Ijos of the Niger Delta. Our outline throws lite on the seemingly confusion of the ancestral traditions of the aforementioned peoples as well as demonstrates that instead of looking at the traditions as isolated events, or at worst invented fables, nosotros should persuasion them as the private perspectives of the whole story that has until now, non been fully told. So allow the total story unfold. Based on the enquiry nosotros have got done nosotros are bold to assert the following:
Starting from virtually 500 BC (although the peopling of West Africa goes dorsum to at to the lowest degree 2000 BC) diverse ancient African peoples indigenous to the continent started to settle the Lower Niger, Savannah fringe as well as wood regions of nowadays solar daytime Southern Nigeria. These ancient peoples had come upwards from unlike parts of Africa namely the old Sahara grasslands, North Africa, North east Africa (Nile-Valley) as well as the East African Great lakes region: which were the homes of to a greater extent than ancient civilisations going dorsum at to the lowest degree 10,000 years. As to who arrived initiative of all is of no consequence, since the the world was also vast for whatever ane people to lay claim to the whole.
For our enquiry topic nosotros have got singled out 4 distinct ancient peoples whose names have got come upwards downward to us through tradition, who combined as well as came together inwards diverse ways to give nativity to the kingdoms of Southern Nigeria. These ancient people have got been identified as:
  1. The ORU or KUMONI (also known as the ONU or ANU people) they were an aquatic based culture, settling the banks of rivers as well as watersides. They were indigenous to the Nile Valley as well as Lake Republic of Chad regions before moving due south (an exhaustive comparing betwixt the ancient religious as well as cultural scheme of the twin Nile-Valley civilisations of Arab Republic of Egypt as well as Sudan, plus linguistic communication studies enables us to conclude that the ANU or ONU were ethnically the same as the ORU.
  2. The IGBO or UGBO (also known as OOYELAGBO) a branch of the Kwa, they were the world based. They were originally situated in East Africa, before migrating to the N of the Niger/Benue confluence part inwards antiquity.
  3. The EFA, they were also the world based. The EFA & IGBO seem to have got descended from a people ane time known as the KWA or KWARA people, who inhabited the Middle Niger/Benue confluence part (hence its original scream of Kwara river).
  4. The BANTU & SEMI BANTU of unknown names, from eastward as well as central Africa.
THE EVENTS THAT GAVE RISE TO THE FOUNDATION OF IFEBENIN & DELTA STATES
The menstruum betwixt 500 BC & 700 AD was a fourth dimension of bully demographic modify as well as population migration inWest Africa. From a key location situated inside the Niger/Benue confluence valley, some sections of the KWA people namely the IGBO as well as EFA started to migrate as well as settle the at nowadays Western and Eastern Nigeria regions. Also around virtually this period, from the Nile Valley as well as Lake Republic of Chad regions, the ancient ORU or KUMONI people started to settle the middle Niger, Lower Niger as well as Mid-west regions of nowadays Nigeria. Some, fifty-fifty settling as well as making their way to the Niger Delta coast.
By virtually 500 AD scattered primordial isolated communities of all the aforementioned ancient peoples began to come upwards into existence throughout the Southern Nigeria region.
This isolated as well as stateless existence province of affairs was changed with the arrival of fresh immigrants from the NileValley due to the Arab onslaught from virtually 640 AD. In the diverse traditions these immigrants are referred to as having came from EGYPTSUDAN, & ARABIA (MECCA) To clear upwards this point. The occupation of the term MECCA or ARABIA is exactly a reference to the EAST, While references to Egypt and Sudan have to a greater extent than factual foundation, as these civilisations were clearly indigenous Black African civilisations upwards until their colonisation past times the Arabs. The migration route of these flow of refugees fleeing the upheavals of North East Africa was through the Lake Republic of Chad – Middle Niger (Borgu/Bussa/Nupe) as well as then on to the IfeBenin and Lower Niger regions.
The fusion of these newly arrived immigrants with the older communities was similar a seeding process, causing a condensation of populations to converge inwards metropolis similar communities. It was this procedure that gave nativity to the initiative of all dynastic City State centres, of which Borgu, Nupe, Ife and Benin became the most prominent.
From the ancestral traditions nosotros tin can reconstruct the next facts regarding the foundation of Ife & Benin.
From virtually 500 AD a branch of the UGBO referred to as OOYELAGBO started to brand it inwards the Ile-Ife region, from an ancestral dwelling situated inwards the Niger/Benue confluence region. They laid upwards dispersed communities inside the at nowadays Ile-Ife region. Shortly afterwards (650 AD) a branch of the ORU known as the KUMONI, migrated from Upper Egypt to the Bussa region. In the Bussa part they fused with the local population as well as established the BORGUKingdom. From the Bussa part a department decided to settle inwards the Ile-Ife part as well as found a City province to live known as YOBA (YEBA) derived from the original scream of the Upper Egyptian province that they had hailed from.
They establishment of this novel metropolis was opposed past times for sure sections of the OOYELAGBO communities led past times the master copy Obatala priest ORELUERE, who argued that since it was they who arrived first, the Rex of the metropolis must live from with them. This led to a state of war told inwards the ancestral traditions as the “war betwixt ODUDUWA & OBATALA” In reality it was a conflict betwixt 2 theocratic systems of government. On the ane mitt nosotros had the novel shape of centralised Government based on a theocratic monarchy focused on the SUPREME MOTHER GODDESS (Woyingi). The OOYELAGBO shape of traditional chief’s council opposed this with the caput master copy existence focused on the GODHEAD (Obatala).
With the aid of dissatisfied sections of the OOYELAGBO communities, led past times Oba-Meri, as well as also ORU people living inwards the Nupe region; the leaders of the KUMONI people headed past times a prince original named as ADIMU (ADUMU) went to state of war as well as defeated the opposing factions of Ooyelagbo as well as established his centralised government. Prince Adimu was also a priest of the SUPREME MOTHER GODDESS LODGE (known inwards Kumoni linguistic communication as Woyingi, as well as inwards Ooyelagbo linguistic communication as Oduduwa) as well as at the same fourth dimension a high initiate of the ancient ADUMU (ADUM) spiritual Initiation lodge of ancient Egypt.
Before the in conclusion setting upwards of the government, Prince Adimu invited the leaders of the hostile Ooyelagbo communities as well as his ain allies (the Oru as well as Ooyelagbo supporters) to a constitutional conference, where it was agreed to shape a confederacy where all the communities living inwards the expanse would swear allegiance to Adumu, but have got command over their ain internal affairs. At that conference Prince Adumu was declared the LORD OF THE FORTRESS ‘ALA – AFIN’ (ALA-lord or chief, AFIN-fortress) as well as henceforth addressed as “ALA-AFIN ADUMU-ALA”. (ALA is soundless a Chief championship with the Ijaws). He also took on the alias ‘ODUDUWA’, as it was the term inwards the Ooyelagbo linguistic communication for the Mother Goddess of which he was a priest.
In monastic say to unite the opposing factions intermarriage was decreed. This is told inwards the tradition as the spousal human relationship betwixt Obatala & Oduduwa with the nativity of the xvi gods as well as goddesses. Indeed Prince Adumu took several wives from the local Ooyelagbo women as good as his ain Kumoni/Oru women. This policy was adhered to past times his successors. Prince (now King) Adumu administered the new City state (military, theocratic confederacy) so skilfully that he was remembered inwards ancestral tradition as the ancestor of the YOBA NATION, pregnant the ORIGINATOR OF THE YOBA NATION. This was how the initiative of all Yoba land came into existence as well as how Ife became the centre of the 1st dynastic city-state in Southern Nigeria. This was also the Ife of the 1st dynastic period. Later on YOBA was corrupted to YORUBA as well as the term applied to all the people who spoke related dialects/languages, who had centuries later integrated to go ane people. The original Kumoni linguistic communication spoken past times the Rex as well as his people (Kumoni-Oru) was later on absorbed into the Ooyelagbo linguistic communication to give rising to Yoruba linguistic communication as well as its diverse dialects.
Meanwhile at this early stage, fifty-fifty spell the unification was yet complete, some sections of the KUMONI-ORU leftIfe to found themselves elsewhere, after accomplishing their undertaking of setting upwards the City province with Prince Adumu (alias Oduduwa) as the initiative of all dynastic king. The 1st migration out of Ife was led past times prince Ujo (alias Idekoseroake) mentioned inwards the ancestral tradition as existence the initiative of all boy of King Adumu. Other migrations, such as the ane past times Prince Nana, ended upwards inwards nowadays day Ghana region.
Prince Ujo was a state of war commander who took portion inwards the battles that were fought to subdue the hostile Ooyelagbo communities as well as found the New Kingdom. Between 650 –700 AD Prince Ujo led a migration out of Ife to theBenin region, where he encamped as well as established a settlement that later was to go the footing of Benin City. At this fourth dimension ORU people, as good as the EFA people were settling the Benin region. These all these people combined to shape the genesis of the Benin Kingdom, later to live joined past times other settlers from Igala as well as elsewhere.
Prince Ujo’s instructions were to go to the Niger Delta, as well as found a strategic base of operations from which to defend the coastal region. Clearly his virile soul parent King Adumu, regarded the whole southern part as a virgin territory which he would convey nether his direct control. Prince Ujo proceeded to the key Niger Delta with his followers as well as came across isolated communities of ORU inwards remote settlements. Together with these people they formed feasible communities inwards the key delta originally based on the City-state formation. This was nativity of the Ijo people.
Some of the Kumoni/Oru remained behind at Benin region, indeed a department of the Oru known as the Beni, who had come upwards from the Sudan through Nupe, gave the name Beni to newly emerging settlements. These were the Oru or Ijos of Republic of Benin City who later on betwixt the twelfth –15th centuries AD fled into the delta to escape the upheavals of Benin City. Along with the EFA people they were quite prominent at Benin. Shortly after the 1st migration, a 2nd migration from Ife led past times Prince Igodo established the early foundations of the Benin Kingdom dynastic authorities of the Ogisos.
Prince Igodo (Godo) led the 2nd migration from Ile-Ife. At the decease of King Adumu, Igodo was sidelined inwards the scheme of things. It seems that what happened at this dot inwards fourth dimension was that King Adumu’s master copy state of war officeholder Ogu (Ogun) temporarily took over the reigns of authorities until a successor could live chosen. It was decided that a boy whose woman parent was an Ooyelagbo should occupy the throne, as well as so Prince Ogbogbodiri (alias Ala-Fun or Lufon I) assumed the kingship.
Prince Igodo as well as a few companions decided to go out Ile-Ife for good, acquiring the mystic source of powers which aided his virile soul parent inwards the defeat of the hostile Ooyelagbo, Prince Igodo migrated to the Republic of Benin part as well as met upwards with the followers of Prince Ujo who remained behind as well as had established settlements at Republic of Benin (Uzama, Ogiama, etc). Later on similar his virile soul parent before him, Prince Igodo centralised the existing ORU as well as EFA communities as well as was proclaimed the 1st PRINCE OF THE REALM or OGI-SUO (OGISO). Also similar his virile soul parent he allowed the existing communities internal autonomy, thus the leader of the EFA communities was proclaimed OGI-EFA. These communities later on came together to give nativity to the 1st dynastic province of Republic of Benin Kingdom (IGODOMIGODO).
IJOS IN THE NIGER DELTA
The Kumoni-Oru who settled the Niger Delta with the most ancient inhabitants also known as ORU (TOBU OTU) gave nativity to the Ijos. The original settlements were inwards the western & key delta, from where they spread out to people the whole Niger Delta. This menstruum has been estimated to have got occurred betwixt 500 BC to m AD. These original ancestors were spiritual initiates of the ancient African spiritual initiation scheme of the CREATOR TEM (TEMUNO). They made heavy symbolic ritualistic occupation of the water, as well as hence have got been referred to as the ‘water people’ ‘beni-otu’. Later on betwixt 1200 – 1600 AD the Oru or Ijos of the Niger Delta received immigrants from their relatives living at Republic of Benin as well as the lower Niger regions, who were fleeing the diverse upheavals as well as ability struggles of Republic of Benin metropolis during t he fourth dimension of the 2nd Oba dynasty. They collectively gave nativity to the Ijo land with its City-states as well as collective Clan communities.
THE SECOND PERIOD OF IFEBENIN & IJO
The 1st Adumu dynastic province of Ife founded past times the legendary Prince Adumu (known inwards Yoruba tradition as the legendary Oduduwa) as well as the Ogiso dynastic province of Benin existed for upwards 500 years starting from virtually 650 AD. Later on novel conquering forces that came from the Niger/Benue heartlands of the ancient UGBO overthrew them.
We at nowadays know that at virtually 1150 AD a conqueror remembered as ORANJAN (ORANMIYAN) from Takpa-land (situated inwards the Niger/Benue region) took over the Old Oyo kingdom which was closely connected to IfeIfe was attacked next, but the old Adumu dynastic rulers were non deposed, but made to pay tribute to ORANJAN at his base of operations inwards Oko. It was from this base of operations that ORANJAN made state of war on Benin, which had past times this fourth dimension fallen into decay with the fleeing into exile of the Ogiso Prince Kaladiran. It took several attempts as well as centuries for the Oranjan forces to gain total command of Benin. When they did gain control, they changed the championship of the Ogiso kings to OBA. Eweka was the initiative of all Oba of the 2nd Benin dynasty (1170 AD).
Meanwhile at Ife the Adumu dynasty was finally overthrown, with the exiling of Lufon II as well as the instalment of Lajamisan who claimed to live a direct descendant of Oranjan.
In monastic say to gain existent legitimacy at Ife, Oyo as well as Benin, the novel dynastic fraternity of Ife, Oyo as well as Republic of Benin was mythologised (distorting history inwards the process) as the in conclusion sons of King Oduduwa, the founder of the initiative of all Yoba kingdom of Ile-Ife (as the original founder, all legitimacy derives from him), fifty-fifty though at to the lowest degree 500 years separates the menstruum of the establishment of the metropolis province of Ife past times King Adumu (alias Oduduwa) around 650 AD, as well as the emergence of Oranjan (Oranmiyan) inwards virtually 1150 AD.
And lastly, virtually belatedly 15th to 16th centuries, a large department of the Ijos who ane time lived at Benin, migrated into the Niger Delta.
CLEARING UP THE CONFUSION BETWEEN IJAW AND BENIN HISTORIES
Due to distortions inwards the nowadays history of Ife and Benin, at that spot is a lot of confusion as to the actual foundation ofBenin, the fourth dimension of the 2 major dynasties, as well as how the Ijos relate to both.
The original founding inhabitants (aborigines) of the Benin region were the ORU people. They were later joined past times the KUMONI from Upper Arab Republic of Egypt as well as the EFA from the East Africa via Niger/Benue confluence region. These peoples came together nether Prince Igodo (Godo) to found the first Benin kingdom of the Ogisos. In Benintraditional history they are represented past times the UZAMA , OGIAMA (OGIAMWEN) & IYASE elements. This initiative of all kingdom lasted some 500 years. (it is noted that the names IGODO as well as ERE, the initiative of all 2 kings of the Ogiso dynasty are soundless Ijo names borne past times Ijaws to the nowadays day).
Establishing the identity of the Uzama & Ogiama- According to P Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Talbot (The People’s of Southern Nigeria 1926 pp31-153 “The Republic of Benin province appears to have got been inhabited past times a people called Efa, the ancestors of the nowadays Edo as well as ruled past times a large number of petty chiefs, those at Republic of Benin City existence the Ogiame, as well as the Uzama Nihino (The 7 Uzama)”.
This declaration is inwards understanding with ancestral Ijaw hsitory as compiled past times S K Owonaru as well as extant Ife traditions. The site of Benin City itself was the site of the initiative of all habitation of the Ijos (Kumoni) before moving into the Nigerdelta. Those that remained behind founded the settlements of Uzama (Ujo-ama or Uzo-ama), whilst the Igodo chemical constituent founded Ogiame (Ogi-ama). Further proof comes from the fact that the most ancient quarters of Benin City are prefixed IDUMU pregnant quarters inwards Ijo language. It was the Uzama as well as Ogiama people that set upwards the most critical resistance against the invaders (Oranjan from Ife). These invaders were non from Ile-Ife as is commonly supposed, but from another Ife to the north-east situated close the Igala country.
A 2nd grouping who displaced the Ogisos as well as introduced the Oba title, forced themselves onto the Benin people inwards virtually 1170 AD. These people are erraneously referred to as the Yoruba element. In fact they came non from Ile-Ife, as is commonly narrated, but from Igala country. These people had to conquer the Ile-Ife part as well as found the Oranmiyan dynasty. It should live noted that the Igala as well as nowadays solar daytime Yoruba have got a direct ancestral link. Indeed the Igala part is the ancestral dwelling of the nowadays solar daytime Yoruba speaking people (historians demand to seriously enquiry this).
According to the records, the in conclusion Ogiso prince, Kaladiran (Ekaladerhan) became a victim of political intrigue as well as was exiled from Benin City. He fled into the delta as well as founded the town of Igodo with his band of exiles.
Oranjan (Oranyan), on his initiative of all elbow grease to conquer Benin, encountered resistance at the Ovia river past times the Ijos. After several attempts Oranjan circumvented the Ovia river route as well as gains a foothold at Uzama. It is at Uzama that he sets upwards base, but due to rigid opposition from the people he is forced to leave. By the fourth dimension he has left with his entourage, he has formed an alliance with the Uzama chiefs (the 7 Uzama) as well as also some of the leaders of the Efa (i.e Ogiefa). It is whilst hither that Oranjan has a boy past times an Efa woman. This boy is named Eweka.
Eweka also encounters opposition inwards trying to found a dynasty at Benin. It is alone after the forth generation during the fourth dimension of Ewedo that they gain some success inwards establishing dynastic command over the whole of Benin City. Which is to say that before Ewedo, the previous Obas did non really exercise monarchical ability over Benin City.
Ewedo also encounters major resistance from the Ijos of the Ovia river complex as well as also the inhabitants of Ogiama (Ogiame). It was during this decisive battle that Ewedo obtained the violet stool of the Ogisos from Ogiama.
The leaders of the Ogiama, custodians of the Ogiso stool as well as the leaders of the Uzama were as well as then invited to shape a authorities with Ewedo. The Oranjan or Eweka dynasty becomes established at Benin city. But resistance is soundless set upwards past times some sections of the kingdom.
The Eweka dynasty was non fully accepted. It faced increasing resistance from the City of Udo, which was W ofBenin across the Ovia river. Due to this resistance ditches were dug around Benin. Oba Ogulua marries ane of the daughters of the ruler of Udo to secure peace but to no avail. During an intense have against Udo, the resistance is destroyed, leading to many of the indigenes fleeing into the main delta. From fourth dimension to fourth dimension the leaders of the Uzama presented resistance to the illegimate regime at Benin.
The Eweka dynasty alone becomes fully legitimise when Ogun (Ewuare)of the twelfth generation ascends the throne. Ogun it is stated was the kid of a noble adult woman who descended from the Ogisos, ie to say she was an Ogiso princess. This may have got been a deliberate procedure on the portion of the indigenous chemical constituent set inwards identify a ruler who was favourable to their interests (Ogun was before banaished), for Ogun ascended to the throne after a bully battle that lasted 2 days as well as 2 nights. So Ogun ascended the throne of the Ogisos as well as united inwards himself the 2 dynasties (the older indigenous Ogiso dynasty as well as the younger Oranjan-Eweka dynasty from an Ife near the Igala country). It was during Ogun’s fourth dimension that ‘the problem ceased’ so to speak. It was from his fourth dimension that the monarchy became legitimate as well as stablised past times Ogun creating a province council integrating the Indigenous chiefs inwards a ability sharing arrangment.
By the fourth dimension of the Oba kings of Benin, the Ijo (Oru) speaking chemical constituent of Benin had go a minority inwards the Beninregion, due to intermarriage with the EFA with other things. This intermarriage gave nativity to some of the Urhobo clans so to speak, who later migrated from Benin.
Subsequently the Oranmiyan-Eweka dynasty started confiscating the the world of the truthful owners of the Benin region, which led to massive migrations out of Benin. Hence the Ijaw narratives from Mein-Ijo as well as other clans which attest to such really happening. Many of these people moved into the main key delta as well as coast to bring together their kith & Kin already estabished inwards the region. (Historians demand to query why was it that Mein fled Benin into the key delta from Aboh, which at the fourth dimension was soundless Ijo speaking? Why is it that the Urhobo keep fraternal relations with the Ijaws upwards till the nowadays day?

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