History Of Ogba land and seperation of Ogba and Ekpeye
The historical origin of ogbaland east of the Niger is traceable to the ancient Benin Kingdom, During the reign of Ewuare the Great: (1440-1473) he introduced a number of reforms with the intention of transforming the insignificant territory to a stable kingdom.
at this period, Akalaka was the head of Ogna Village near the city, when his interest became jeopardised, he decided to leave. There are two explanations as to what actually prompted this departure, The first narrative had it that Aklaka openly and courageously demanded and explanation to justify a sudden increase in taxation levied on the subjects by the Oba. Another version holds that one of the servants in the Oba’s palace encroached on the farmland of OGBA VILLAGE to the disapproval of Aklaka and the palace; the stage was set for a show down.
Aklaka left Ogba village with his two sons Ogba & Ekpeye and his half brother Ochichi. The team, travelled eastwards to Agbo and from there settled at ONITSHA-UGBO, At Onitsha_Ugbo, chief Gbura offered them a parcel of land to settle, Aklaka did not feel comfortable here, Two factors may be basically responsible for his discomfort. in the first place, Onitsha_Ugbo was close to Benin. Secondly he would not want to surrender his identity. This Movement was Punctuated at Aboh where the team settled for a while/
When the team left Aboh, they continued their movement down the NIger and Later branched off the OrashiRiver and after sometime, came ashore and finally settled at Ahiahu, Aklaka died here leaving his two sons and half brother Ochichi. Here an unfortunate Event took Place
The Seperation of Ogba and Ekpeye (The Beginning of Elele & Ogba)
There was an incident which was called the Mboaki Tragedy. One of the sons of Ekpeye had a quarrel with one of Ogba sons. in the fighting which ensued, the son of Ekpeye was pushed down by the son of Ogba and he fell hitting his head against Mboaki ( a grinding stone) which was close by. He collapsed immediately and all efforts to revive him failed.
Following this incident, alarm rented the air as the children of Ogba and Ekpeye wailed helplessly. Attracted by the howling noise in their settlement, Ogba and Ekpeye hurried home to be greeted by the unfortunate incident. Disappointed by this event, Ekpeye moved southwards to Ulaubie, Ochichi to the East and founded the present day OMALELE (Elele) while Ogba, afraid of revenge, took his family and sought refuge in a faraway Umogba in Omuma Local Government Area close to the igbo boundary.
At Umogba, comfort was nowhere at sight. Ogba therefore organized his family to make a return journey to where his father had set a home for them. He got to the Present sight of Obigwe and was attracted by the land and the surrounding environment. He decided to settle here and named the place Obigwe (meaning “Our Settlement“). From the first settlement at Obigwe two groups emerged in Ogbaland, The Egi and the Igburu. Egi is the first son of Ogba and Igburu the Younger. The Igburu people began expansion here while Egi people moved southward. Oral tradition has it the while at Obigwe, Egi was still eager to locate the much talked about Ahiahu. He guided himself with Ogba Pendulum he determined to re-discover Ahiahu, he got to Okebta (Akabta) and was overwhelmed he had arrived Ahiahu
Towns and Villages in Ogba Land
There are more than Thirty_five towns and villages in Ogba, as well as a good number of settlements and camps scattered at distant farmlands. the largest is Omoku followed by Oboburu. Other towns and villages include;
- Akabuka
- Obagi
- Ogbogu
- Obite
- Ede
- Obiyebe
- Obukegi
- Ibewa
- Obigbo
- Obiosimini
- Akabta
- Egita
- Itu
- Ohali-Elu
- Erema
- Ohali-Mini (Igburu)
- Idu-Obosuku (Igburu)
- Idu-Osobele (Igburu)
- Aligu (Igburu)
- Ohauga (Igburu)
- Elehia (Igburu)
- Osiakpu (Igburu)
- Ikiri (Igburu)
- Obigwe (Igburu)
- Ogbidi (Igburu)
- Okposi (Igburu)
- Elieta (Igburu)
- Ama (Igburu)
- Egbada (Igburu)
- Uju (Igburu)
- Obiye (Igburu)
- Okansu (Igburu)
- Obrikom (Igburu)
- Okpurukpuali (Igburu)
- Ebogoro (Igburu)
All these make up towns and Villages in Ogba. the number of settlements and camps scattered in distant farmland are not included here as this is better handled by sociologists and ethnogrophers
Difference Between Ogba Language and Igbo Language
History Of Ogba land and seperation of Ogba and Ekpeye
Ogba language is grouped under the “qua-subfamily of the benue-congo language family“. This grouping suggests somewhat identical relationship between Ogba and Igbo Language. some writers basing their argument on this fact contend that rather than the ancient Benin Kigdom, Ogba people may likely have come from somewhere in Igboland, especially in view of the language and cultural similarities between Ogba and Igbo
Language similarities are factors in considering the places of ancient people. Howeve, this alone without other supporting evidence may be misleading. the Language similarities between Ogba an Igbo, is one of the Sojourn in Umuogba
Another factor is to explain this language similarity is what linguists refer to as language shift. this is a situation where people abandon their original language for another. several factors are usually responsible for this: for instance, Proximity. In the case of Ogba, a factor such as that given above cannot be ruled out
Next, is what we may call majority influence. Owing to the fact that Ogba people is less populated, coupled with the fact that they traded seriously with the igbos, the latter may have inevitably influenced the former as ability to speak the majority language would no doubt boost trading ability. In view of the above facts it appears rather inadequate to conclude on grounds of language similarities that Ogba people may Probably have come from somewhere in igbo land rather than the ancient Benin Kingdom. Again based on the circumstance that warranted the migration of Aklaka from their original abode near Benin City, those historians who have sympathy for Oba Eware hardly admit that Aklaka migrated from there, in addition, the discussions on the genealogy of Ogba Names will further prove no relationship with Igbo.
The first major threat to the sovereignity of Ogba people came from the Aros. In the prostine period, these people who were greatly involvedll in the slave trafficking took along with them the idea that their deity “Ibinaokpabi” was superior to other deities known to “man“ They made the people believe that this deity was capable of giving justice no matter the odds. At the time in question, the people were in need of unmitigated justice. This may be owing the growing cruelty among the people or the desire to constantly maintain and orderly society. yet , it is likely that the acceptance of the aros may have been made possible by those ogba traders who also noticed the same influence among their neighbouring communities.
When the Aros came of Ogbaland, their first point of call was Obrikon, they quickly identified with the Umuenyike kindred who later served as their agents in the long search for their Justice in faraway Aroland. Before long, Ogba people Lost their religious sovereignty. Gradually, “Ibinaokpabi” of Aro become integrated into Ogba Pantheon.
Last updated: March 13th 2024