THE HISTORY OF OGBIA KINGDOM

Ogbia kingdom is founded by Ogbeyan who originated from Benin.  His two sons namely Okoroma and Oloi ventured into the present site of Ogbia kingdom, after the death of their father.

Later the two children hosted other immigrants namely Obutoru, Tarabiri, Oboloma, and other miscellaneous groups to constitute sic major ethnic groups in Ogbia kingdom.

There are Oloi group, Okoroma, Tarakiri, Oboloma, Obutoru, and the miscellaneous group called Odinade.

Otoi group consists of the following villages; Oloibiri, Otnabo, Otuogidi, Otabi, Otakeme, Otuogidi, Omorokeni, Emeyal I, Emeyal II, Otuaseiga, Elebele, Otuoke, Otuaba, Ewoi and also Otuedi.

On the other hand the Okoroma villages are; Otuabagi, Kolo I, Kolo II, Kolo III, Imirigi, Otuagire II, Emadike, Owoma, Otuakpein, Otnaganagu, Okiri, Ologoghe, Aidyasara, Owuebu, Otuogori, Otwagire I and Otuokpoti.

The Taraki group migrated from Diobin area in Southern Ijaw.  The villages are; Okodi, Ologi, and Ayakoro.

The Oboloma group came from Oboloma in Nembe.  The villages are Oruma dn Ibelebiri.  The Obutoru came from the deserted town of Obutoru in Akassa Koloama area.  The villages is Epebu.  The Odinade group immigrated from different points to the deserted Ebela kingdom.   The villages are Opunde Emakaka, Akipelai and Idema.  All these groups are loyal to Ogbeyan as the founder of Ogbia kingdom.

Traditionally, the Ogbai man is an agriculturalist women are farmers practicing subsistence system of farming while the men are palm cutters.  Fishing is not a major occupation of the Ogbia man.  During the era of the slave trade, the Ogbia man mostly the Chiefs were capturing slaves in their respective domains and selling them to the Nembe traders who in-turn sold them to the white-men.  As a result of this slave trade business, the people settle in hideout in the forest to avoid raiding of the buyers.  Hence Ogbia kingdom is having scattered settlement.

With the abolition of the slave trade and establishment of the Oil trade, the Ogbia man fully participated in the trade.  They were middle men between the oil producers and the whitte-men.  Nembe middle men who ventured into Ogbia had serious confrontations with the Ogbia Chiefs and middlemen.

As a follow up, Ogbia middlemen also purchased canons and arms from the white-men at Bonney, Brass and Akassa.  Such confrontations however led to series of wars with the Nembe middlemen.  Prominent among them were the wars between the Nembe middlemen and Opume, Oloibiri, Okiki and Amyama respectively.  These wars led to the desertion of towns like Otuobhuom and Otuaki.  Unlike the Okoroma district unit, Ogbia kingdom was not colonized by the Nembe forces; only that Nembe influence affected some of the village in Oloibiri group.

Spread of Christianity

Christianity spread into Ogbia kingdom between 1900 to 1920.  there was no serious confrontation with the idol worshipers.  It is because the Ogbia men had the belief that the world was created by the Almighty God; hence, Ogbia had not national deity like other areas in Niger Delta.

The spread of Christianity into Ogbia was through two major routes namely Okari in Engenne and also through Akassa/Brass by the Nembe missionaries.  Generally the spread of Christianity into Ogbia greatly minimized the frequent inter village wars or confrontations with the Nembe traders.  Also Nembe influence was greatly entrenched into Ogbia culture because most of the missionaries were Nembe Christians.

Colonial Administration

With the revocation of the chatter of the Royal Niger Company and the establishment of the British Rule in Nigeria in 1900, the British ventured into Ogbia kingdom.  Oloibiri was the seat of Government. 

The first thing they did was to recognized some warrant Chiefs such as Apata Amangala, Chief Amakaro Onwiga and Chief Obonin.

Subsequently, three customary courts were established at Oloibiri (1929), Emeyal (1936), and Amyama (1937) respectively.  Later these three courts were recognized as clan centers.

Oloibiri clan consists of Oloibiri, Otuabo, Otnogidi, Otuabi, Otakeme, Otabagi, Otmegila, Opume, Emakalakala, Akipelai, Idema, Oturabala I, Oturabala II, Ewoi, Otuaba, Otuoke and Idema.

Emeyal clan consists of Amorakeni, Kolo I, Kolo II, Kolo III, Emeyal I, Emeyal II, Elebele, Imiringi, Otuasega, Oruma, Ibelebiri and Otuegwe II.

The Amyama grou also consist of Emadike, Epebu, Ewoma, Okiki, Ologoghe, Otuobhi, Anyama, Otnedu, Ologi, Ayakoro, Onimbur, Otuogori, Otuegwe I, and Otuokpoti.

Also other administratively, Ogbia was brought together with the headquarters at Oloibiri, the status of our kings were relegated to the background.  They owe allegiance to the British Residence at Brass.

Name of Some Eminent Chief/ Leaders in Ogbia

• Chief Apata Amangala of Oloibiri
• Chief Iworiso of Opume
• Oto of Akipelai
• Anzakwro Onunga of Kolo
• Ekpodidi of Emeyal
• Obonin of Imiringi
• Isaiah Awudese of Kolo
• Chief Amos of Imiringi
•  Odogu of Otakeme
• Chief William Owyewe
• Agbori of Okodi
• Chief Paul Nathan
• Chief M. N. Dangosu
• HRM Rev. George Amangala
• HRM Modork Ogbogi (Oloibiri)
• Chief Alex Malford Okilo
•  HRM King George A. Lawson of Kolo Creek
• HRM King Theophilus of Amyama.

Culture

The belief of the Ogbia man about the creator is that the Almighty God created the Ogbia kingdom.  This is the reason why Ogbia kingdom had no national deity like the Nembe group. That the first people created were a tortoise (Odughul) and a species of frog traditionally called Anu petupe.

Traditionally, there are nature spirits.  Among them is the was gods such as Osokolo of Otuasega, Ekpe of Imiringi, Okueduin of Kolo, Ikpesu of Amyana, Egirandi of Otuokpoti and Obenari of Oloibiri.  Another is the spirit that gives wealth to people such as Amanywota. Since the Ogbia’s does not have a national deity, they have not common festival.  However, the Odinade group  celebrates the Eyala Otudul signifying the desertion of Ebela kingdom and also Eyal Odemi ran of Otuoke at Iyiakpokizo in Otuoke striving to unite.

Traditionally, like other places, Ogbia kingdom had similar beliefs about bush and water spirits.  Generally in Ogbia, people do not go to bush on every 4th day called Ake.  It is believed that spirit like Egbafido moves about on that day.  This belief started at Ebela bush wehre the deserted Ebala kingdom stationed.  On that day, the dead people of Ebila kingdom emerged to plant about.  However such beliefs are gradually dying away because of the rapid spread of Christianity.  Similarly, the water spirits called mamiwota existed which was purported to have been bringing wealth to people.  Occasionally, sacrifices have been offered to them as to appease the spirits.

Ogbia kingdom also had mask display like the Odemimorm of Otuoke and Agelepele of Kolo.  They are traditional play to gladdens the people mind. Generally in Ogbia, masquerades is more of dancing except the odemimon festival of Otuoke which is to some extent related to their culture. There is not general festival in Ogbi.  Only that the Odinade group celebrated the Eyal Odudal-Ogbia in march/April, the Kolo creek celebrated a fishing festival in April and the Otuoke people celebrated Odemirom in October.

Traditionally, ancestors in Ogbia are though to have power and influence over the living who must perform prescribe ritual duties towards the ancestors lest they be displaced.  If a person fails to perform his duties, the ancestors may make them sick but if he is in trouble, it can appear to him in a dream and suggest a remedy.

Divination – it is among the tradition of the people of Ogbia.  Diviners has power to diagnoses illness or misfortune by determine what spirit or ancestor may have been offended and also look for a possible remedy.

There are three types of marriages that is recognized by the people of Ogbia kingdom.  There are the love marriage where only drinks are served; traditionally marriage where the dowry is paid and finally the wedding church or court. Ogbia has a rich cultural heritage in terms of inheritance, the culture of Ogbia is simple and clear to inherit a chieftaincy stool, i.e paternal, it is always the first male childe.  For a women, it is the first female of the women.  In terms of properties, it is only males that inherit properties of the father.  The same is also applicable for women.

In Ogbia, the economic mainstay of the people is farming for women and palm cutting for men fishing lumbering, canoe carving are hobbies.  Local gin is distilled by Ogonigi and Ibibios. There are different categories of leaders in the clan of Ogbia.  There are the Obanema (king), compound chiefs, family chiefs and the ordinary chiefs.  The Obanema is paternal from the Royal Family.  To day the Royal Family system is fading away.  Compound chiefs and family chiefs are also paternal.  Mostly an elder and responsible figure is chosen.  The ordinary chiefs are those who buy the title because of their wealth. In Ogbia kingdom, we have three first class chiefs, six second class and ten third class chiefs all recognized by the government. There are all being elected to govern their respective zones and their functions are administrative, judicial and some traditional functions.