Ogba people

Last updated
Ogba
Ndi Ogba
Total population
531,000 [1]
Regions with significant populations
Nigeria 531,000 [1]
Languages
Ogba
Religion
Christianity 98%[ citation needed ]
Related ethnic groups
Igbo, Ikwerre, Ekpeye, Ndoki

The Ogba is a tribe in Rivers state. The Ogba people speak the Ogba language. [2] The Ogba reside in a local government called Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni in Rivers state Nigeria. The Ogba language has three dialects namely; Usomini, Igburu, Egi dialect. [3] The Ogba kingdom is made up of three clans which includes; Egi, Igburu, Usomini clans, and its largest urban town is Omoku. [4] Ogba people speak two sub-dialects of the Ogba dialect, the Egi and Igburu. Eligbo and Ukporomini are two Ogba communities in Ahaoda East Local Government Area, while Itu II in Emohua LGA also speaks Ogba language. [2]

Contents

History

The Ogbas or Nde-Ogba are a distinct group in Rivers State. Nde-Ogba shares historical ties with the Ekpeye and Ikwerre tribes. The later would go on to establish the Ogba ethnic nationality. This history of the community, written by its current King, sets out to cover the entire sweep of its history, from ‘the origin of the Ogbas' (attributed to the fourteenth century) to the colonial period (post-independence history being treated only cursorily). It is based mainly on local oral traditions, taken partly from colonial Intelligence Reports, but also including extensive new material collected by the author; some use is also made, for the colonial period, of contemporary documents from British and Nigerian archives, and for prehistory, of archaeological evidence. [5]

Politics

The Ogba people are ruled by the Ọba also called Eze Ogba of Ogba land, Barr. Nwachukwu Nnam Obi III.[ citation needed ]

Nchaka festival

NchakaEgwu Ogba is an annual cultural festival celebrated within November or December to mark harvest season to thank God (Chukwuabiama) and other divinities for giving them fertile soil and good harvest. [6]

It is symbolized with Yam rituals. The festival begins with a royal proclamation made by the Oba (king) at the traditional market square known as Ahiankwo. The proclamation is marked with a royal feat when the Oba of Ogba Land entertains clan heads traditional title holders and other elites. [7] The festival last for five days. Yam is the main food throughout the festival period. The festíval features sanitation and purification exercises involving painting and decoration of houses, clearing of shrines, bush paths, leading to farms, streams, sacred grounds, and market square. The festival features processions, courtesy visits and wrestling competitions. The climax of events is displayed by Nchaka dance and magical displays. [8] There are two categories of Nchaka masquerade, namely Nchaka-ki Iyenwa (the female) and Nchaka ki-ikenwa (the male).

The festival offers an opportunity for all communities in the kingdom to come together also to interact with their neighbors. Ogbas particularly those in Diaspora seize the opportunity to return home, some with their foreign friend. [6]

On the occasion of 2010 Nchaka festival, the reigning Monarch, The King. Chukwumela Nnam Obi II (0ON,JP) observed that:

"The objectives of any cultural policy for the country (Nigeria) should aim at ensuring the continuity of traditional skills. Sports, and cultural festivals and their progressive adaption to serve modern needs and establish a disciplined, moral and enterprising society". [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eze</span> Igbo word meaning King

Eze is an Igbo word which means King. Such words as Igwe and Obi, plus others, are used by Igbo people as titles of respect and homage to the Eze. Igwe is derived from the Igbo word Igwekala or Eluigwekala, "the sky or heaven above the sky is higher or bigger than land", implying that the Eze is a higher servant of the people. Obi usually refers to the centre building for receiving visitors within an Igbo leader's or man's homestead. When used as a title of respect for the Eze, Obi implies: "the one who sits in the throne house or heart of the Kingdom."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nnewi</span> City in Anambra State, Nigeria

Nnewi is a commercial and industrial city in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria. It is the second largest city in Anambra state after Onitsha. Nnewi as a metropolitan area has two local government area, which are Nnewi North and Nnewi South, all centred around the Nnewi town. Even Ekwusigo local government area is now part of Nnewi urban area, as urbanization continues to spread from Nnewi to neighbouring communities. The Nnewi town which is the only town in Nnewi North, comprises four villages: Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim, and Nnewichi. Nnewi had been the centre of economics and commerce, being at a time the fastest growing industrial city east of the Niger, being the home of many industries such as The Ibeto Group, the Chicason Group, Cutix Cables, amongst others. The first indigenous car manufacturing plant in Nigeria is located in the city while the first wholly Made-in-Nigeria motorcycle, the 'NASENI M1' was manufactured in Nnewi.

The Eleme people are one of the various groups of indigenous peoples that inhabit the Niger Delta region of South-South Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ekpeye people</span> Ethnic group in Nigeria

Ekpeye is an ethnic group predominantly found in Ahoada East and parts of Ahoada West Local Government Areas of Rivers State, in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The Ahoada metropolis serves as the administrative headquarters of the Ekpeye nation. As regards the origin of the Ekpeye, some align with the narrative of migration from Benin. In contrast, others believe they are originally Igbo, as major aspects of the language and culture indicate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omoku</span> Capital City & headquarter of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Rivers State

Omoku is a town in Rivers State, Nigeria with about 200,000 people. It Is located in the Northern part of the state, near the boundary with Delta State and Imo State. It is the headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area and one of the major cities of the Ogba people and Rivers State of Nigeria with latitude 5° 20' 37.97" N and longitude 6° 39' 24.62" E. It is also the capital seat of the Oba of Ogba land, and a home to the Federal College of Education (Technical). The indigenes speak Ogba of the Igboid language family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Nri</span> Ancient African kingdom

The Kingdom of Nri was a medieval polity located in what is now Nigeria. The kingdom existed as a sphere of religious and political influence over a significant part of what is known today as Igboland prior to expansion, and was administered by a priest-king called an Eze Nri. The Eze Nri managed trade and diplomacy on behalf of the Nri people, a subgroup of the Igbo-speaking people, and possessed divine authority in religious matters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ikwerre people</span> An Ethnic group in Rivers State, Nigeria

The Ikwerre, natively known as Iwhuruọhna are an ethnic group in Rivers State, Nigeria. The Ikwerre People in Rivers State, spans over four Local Government Areas; Port Harcourt, Obio-Akpor, Ikwerre, and Emohua..

Egede is a town in the Udi Local Government Area in Enugu State of Nigeria. It is situated between Ebe in the south; Umuoka in the north; Affa in the west; Okpatu and Awhum in the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Yam Festival of the Igbo</span> Annual Igbo cultural festival

The New Yam Festival of the Igbo people is an annual cultural festival by the Igbo people that is held at the end of the rainy season in early August.

Igbere is a suburban town in Bende local government area of Abia State of the South-Eastern geopolitical region Nigeria. Also popularly known and referred to as the Igbere Ebiri, the town is the core "part of Old-Bende Division of the former Eastern Nigeria". The people of Igbere, relating to, or characteristic of Igbere or its inhabitants and heritage are called Igberian.

Ogba–Egbema–Ndoni is a Local Government Area of Rivers State, in South-South Nigeria under Rivers West Senatorial District, with its headquarters at Omoku. With about 258,700 People according to 2006 Census. It is bounded by Imo, Delta, Bayelsa, and Anambra States and also by Ahoada West, Ahoada East and Emohua Local Government Areas of Rivers State. They are part of the Igboid speaking Areas of Rivers State with three Tribes starting with Ogba as the dominant tribe with 12 legislative wards, the Egbema and Ndoni people who are also found in Ogbaru L.G.A and Ukwuani L.G.A both with 2&3 legislative wards respectively. It is majorly upland and home to the highest upstream Oil and Gas exploration/exploitation activity in the State since the early 1960's with about 12 mining/producing fields operated by AGIP, Total Energies and Shell/NPDC with many other reserve/untapped fields. It is part of the Ogba / Egbema / Ndoni / Ahoada West constituency of the Nigerian House of Representatives. Hon. Vincent Job is the Executive Chairman of ONELGA.

The Umuoji people are those whose roots can be traced to the town of Umuoji in Idemili North, a local government area in Anambra State, Nigeria. These people are from Igbo-speaking ethnic group whose early history is adversely affected by a lack of, or non-existent, written records. Umuoji is bounded by Ogidi, Ojoto, Uke, Abatete and Nkpor and has an estimated population of 80,000 people which includes local residents in its 23 villages and citizens in diaspora.

Eziorsu is an autonomous community on the South bank of the Oguta Lake, southeastern Nigeria. Its one of the foremost territories that witnessed western or European expedition during colonization and used as a gateway by the British to advance the Igboland further. As at the 1991 census in Nigeria, the population of Eziorsu was estimated at 14,560. It is one of the Oil and Gas producing communities in Imo State, being the second largest producing community in Oguta L.G.A after Izombe. The community promised to continue to protect and support Addax Petroleum at all times, especially as the Company remained the best partner to the communities in terms of best practices in corporate social responsibility.

Okpara Inland is a community located in the Ethiope East local government area of Delta State Nigeria. This community is a progeny of the Agbon Kingdom. Local history has it that it is the first son of Agbon whose traditional seat of leadership is Isiokolo. The previous king of the community, now deceased, HRM Chamberlain Oyibocha Orovwuje, Ogurimerime Okpara I, used this community as his centre of leadership bypassing the ancient satellite of Isiokolo.

Onikwu is a community in Rivers State, Nigeria. Onikwu is self-contained district or community within Ndoni town, distance is about 6.4 km from Ndoni to Onikwu. The name "Oni-kwu/Nd-oni, Ndoni also pronounce Nde-Oni means Oni people while Oni-ukwu meaning the elder of Oni people. In Ukwuani-Aboh-Ndoni language (Igboid) ukwu means elder, and Nde means people of. Onikwu and Ndoni are of same ethnic group located in Ogba Egbema/Ndoni Local government of Rivers State. The community alongside them have other neighboring villages which include Ase-Azaga, Isukwa, Odugiri. Agwe, Ugbaja, Isala Ase-Imoniteh and Ogbe-Ogene. All of the said communities are located in the Central Niger Delta region, south-south Nigeria.

The Waawa clan of Northern Igboland, also referred to as Ndi Waawa, Wawa People, are a unique sub-group of the Igbo people in Enugu and Ebonyi State, Nigeria, consisting of several communities, who all speak a unique dialect of Igbo called Waawa. The most notable among these are the Agbaja and Ngwo which consist of peoples between the wooded lands of Awka to the rocky valleys of Enugu. The Agbaja are made up of communities in present-day Ngwo clan, Udi, Ezeagu, Umulokpa, Igbo-Etiti, Oji River, greater Awgu, Aninri and Enugu East Local Government Areas. Other notable parts of the Waawa clan include Nkanu, Nsukka, Abia, Nike, Agbani, Owo, and other communities in Enugu State. The Waawa are most notably associated with Chief Onyeama's people from Eke, who was the paramount ruler of Agbaja in the early 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ofala Festival</span>

The Ofala Festival is an annual ceremony practiced by Igbo people, particularly the indigenes of Onitsha, Umueri, Umuoji and other neighboring communities such as Aguleri, Nnewi and Ukpo in Dunukofia Local Government Area. It serves as a rites of renewal of the king or Igwe or Obi and it is similar to the Igue festival in Benin and the Ine, Osi or Ogbanigbe Festival in many mid-West Igbo communities of Nigeria. The term ofala, is derived from two Igbo words - ọfọ and ala. The festival is celebrated within two days mostly in October by the Obi and is a customary obligation that must be performed every couple of years without fail.

Oloko is one of the four clans that make up Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Oloko is from the Isuogu group. It borders Oboro to the north, Olokoro and Ngwa to the west, Ariam/Usaka to the east and Ikono; a clan in Akwa Ibom State to its south. Oloko is one of 18 Igbo clans of the Old Bende Division. It was classified in the Ohuhu-Ngwa cluster of the Southern Igbo area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ikeji festival</span> Festival observed annually by the Igbo people of Nigeria

The Ikeji festival is an annual four-day festival held by the Igbo people of Arondizuogu, in Imo state, Nigeria, between the months of March and April to celebrate the harvest of new yams and the Igbo culture. It is arguably the largest masquerade parade in West Africa. The inception of the Ikeji festival dates back five centuries and is an Igbo festival which unites all Igbo race across the globe as they return to the south-eastern regions of Nigeria to witness and partake in the festival. The festival is marked with the display of numerous masquerades dancing around the villages, music, and practice of the Igbo traditional religion.

References

  1. 1 2 Wokocha, Ritchard (March 2008). "State and Citizenship Among the Ogba People of Nigeria". 1 (1). University of Nigeria.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. 1 2 Oriji, J.N. (1990). "Traditions of Igbo origin : a study of pre-colonial population movements in Africa". archive.org. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
  3. ↑ Ngulube, Isaac. Ogba Orthography.
  4. ↑ "ali-ogba origin". www.umuogbausa.org. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
  5. ↑ "Igbo | Culture, Lifestyle, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  6. 1 2 Edozie, Victor (2021-05-16). "Nchaka festival: Where humans commune with spirits". Daily Trust . Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  7. ↑ "Omoku: Photos From the Just Concluded Nchaka Festival" . Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  8. ↑ "Nchaka Cultural Heritage Of Ogba Kingdom In Omoku, A Tradition Worth Preserving". constative.com. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  9. ↑ Onyige, Chioma Daisy; Stephen, Okodudu (2016). Nigeria Peoples and Culture. School of General Studies (5th ed.). Port Harcourt: University of Port Harcourt Printing Press. p. 140.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.