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Ugbokhare is a village located in the northern part of Esan central local government, Irrua [1] in Edo State, [2] Nigeria with its political zone in ward four. Ugbokhare [3] is about 20 to 30 minutes from the local government headquarters by car. Ugbokhare is surrounded by the villages of Udowo, Ewu, Ivue and Ibore.
According to history the origin of the Ugbokhare. [4] It is not possible in any circumstance for people to migrate from Otuo to farm in Ugbokhare Irrua. Ugbokhare people came from villages, perhaps neighbouring villages as farm settlers. Hence the name Ugbo a re re ( It was farming we came for) The names of the villages have not been historically proven. The neighboring village, Ibore came from Otuo, This has been histo-culturally proven. The first settlers in Ugbokhare are known as Ikpokhulun, which constitute one of the families in Ugbokhare.This is the original history as confirmed from the elders according to tradition.
The people of Ugbokhare [5] are under the leadership of the eldest man who is called Odion Ugbokhare, who has a messenger or personal assistant called Ukor Idion and other subordinates. The Odion Ugbokhare in turn takes directions also from the Onojie of Irrua who is called the Okaijesam of Esan land. The land of Ugbokhare comprises three clans which is named after the three brothers they are referred to as Uwelen Uzebu who is said to be the eldest brother followed by Uwelen Eneghi the second and the third is Uwelen Edomae. These clans are located in different areas of the village which are Egbemia, Abughe, Ibhiagbe, Ichechiala, Otoukho, Ukpagor, Izebu and Ukpofan.
There are some honourables in the land of Ugbokhare whom the Onojie of Irrua (the Okaijesan of Esan land) rewarded with chieftaincy title, they are the late Imoisili who was called the chief aloh, late j A Aikore who was called the esanfure and thomas ohimua who is now the only chief at present.
There are three main age groups in the land of Ugbokhare namely Egbonughe, Igene and Enedion. These age groups are giving different traditional responsibilities unlike the Igene, the Enedoin and the Egonughe have major responsibilities. The Egbonughe are responsible for the sweeping and clearing of the major roads and town plannings they also maintain the borrow pit from which the villagers get water in dry seasons. While the Enedion maintain law and order and also directions, rules and regulation and they settle disputes among the villagers.
Apart from the new yam festival which is referred to as iluotu celebrated by the ugbokhare people they also have other festivals: izomi which is dedicated to their local borrow pit and the iluekpe which is dedicated to their shrine ekpe bio olan which is said to be their god, where ekpe is the god and olan is his wife. This god is represented by bees and snakes, both of which were their protector in time of war. The ugbokhare youth movement both home and abroad celebrate their togetherness/annual meeting every Easter using ugbokhare primary school as their venue.
The people of ugbokhare are known for igbabornelimi, asono and Igieleghe. the igbabonelimi is in the form of masquerade and is mainly danced by the uwelen edomaes and is mainly done by males while the asono and Igieleghe are done by both.
The people of Ugbokhare like all other Esanland eat traditional African foods [6] made from Root Tubers like Cassava, Yam, and Cocoyam. They have their traditional Staple made from cereals like Maize or Corn, which they refer to as Okwo-Oka (Corn Meal). Other dishes includes food like Rice eaten with Stew, Beans, Egusi, Ogbono, Pounded yam, masa (corn cake), aha (matched roasted yam), esiuro, etc.
The Esan people (Esan: are an ethnic group of southern Nigeria who speak the Esan language. The Esan are traditionally known to be agriculturalists, trado-medical practitioners, mercenary warriors and hunters. They cultivate palm trees, Irvingia gabonensis, Cherry, bell pepper coconut, betel nut, kola nut, black pear, avocado pear, yams, cocoyam, cassava, maize, rice, beans, groundnut, bananas, oranges, plantains, sugar cane, tomato, potato, okra, pineapple, paw paw, and various vegetables.
Ogbidi Okojie, Onojie (king) of Uromi, was a ruler of the Esan people in what is now Edo State in Nigeria, still remembered for his opposition to British rule.
Christopher G Okojie OFR DSc (1920-2006) was a Nigerian doctor, politician, administrator and historian. He was born in Ugboha, in present-day Edo State, Nigeria. He was leader of the Mid-West Regional House of Assembly from 1964 to 1966. He was a former Health Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1992) and president of the Nigerian Medical Association (1974-1975). As minister, he was instrumental in pushing ahead a National Insurance Health Scheme. He died on October 7, 2006, at the age of 86. During his tenure as minister, he was able to bring roads and bore-hole water to the people of Esan.
The Etsakọ people are the majority ethnic group in the northern region of Edo State, Nigeria. They are historically linked to the ancient Benin kingdom. Administratively, they presently occupy three local government areas of Edo State. These are: Etsako East, Etsako West and Etsako Central, with Agenebode, Auchi, and Fugar as their administrative headquarters respectively.
Nigerian cuisine consists of dishes or food items from the hundreds of Native African ethnic groups that comprise Nigeria. Like other West African cuisines, it uses spices and herbs with palm or groundnut oil to create deeply flavored sauces and soups.
Esan North-East is a Local Government Area located in Edo State of Nigeria. It has an estimated population of 119,346. Its headquarters are in Uromi/Uzea.
Uromi is a city located in north-eastern Esan, a sub-ethnic group of the Edo people in Edo state, Nigeria. At various points in Uromi's history, the city and people have been an important part of the Benin Empire.
Esan Central Local Government Area is a Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its administrative headquarters is located in the town of Irrua.
Owan East is a Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. The headquarters is in the town of Afuze. The Owan East Local Government Area comprises 69 towns/villages made up of eight clans.
Ekpoma is a town in Edo State, Nigeria. It is the administrative headquarters of the Esan West Local Government Area. Ekpoma lies on the geographical coordinate of latitude 6°45′N6°08′E. The town has an official Post Office, and it is home to the Ambrose Alli University. Currently Ekpoma town is developing with major infrastructures, hospitals, schools, modern eateries and roads. The town is also secured.
Ewu is a Nigerian town situated in Esan Central Local Government Area in the Edo State of Nigeria. The city, an Esan tribe, lies on 200 feet in the plateau region of central Edo State, 100 kilometres north of Benin City, the capital of Edo State, Nigeria.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ibore+Primary+School/@6.7805373,6.2879107,888m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x10469971d1cdd059:0xa4ee050796069788!8m2!3d6.78077!4d6.2899666
Ogwa is a town in Esan West Local Government Area in Edo State, Nigeria. It is among the constituent communities of Esanland. The people of Ogwa speak the Esan language. The language of the Esan people shares the same name as the name of the land itself. Esan and Ishan are interchangeably used to refer to the same place, language and people. Ishan is the anglicized variant for Esan. The Ogwa people in Edo State identify themselves as Esan or Ishan people. Ogwa has four clans: Eguare, Ukpogu, Izogen and Eha. These clans are headed by most elderly men in each of them.
Esanland, otherwise known as Esan Nation, is a cultural region located in Edo State, Nigeria. It is composed of five Local Government Areas in Edo State. Esanland lies west of the banks of the Niger River. It is bordered by Kogi State, Delta State, Edo South Senatorial District, and Edo North Senatorial District. Esanland covers about 2,800 square kilometers and is home to over half a million people. The Esan people and culture of Esanland are generally homogenous.
Ebelle, one of the major Esan kingdoms in Edo State, Nigeria, is a populated place located in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Within Ebelle are the villages of Owa, Ologhe, Okuta, Okpujie, Idumowu, and Eguare.
Clifford Ordia is a Nigerian engineer and politician who hails from Usugbenu Irrua in Esan Central local government area of Edo State. A Senator of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria from 2015-2023,who represented the people of Edo Central senatorial District, Edo State. in the Nigerian Senate and he is a member of the People's Democratic Party, PDP.
Agba N'Ojieof Uromi, originally called Agba, was the ruler of the Esan people from 1483 AD until 1507 AD. He is an important Onojie in the history of the Esan people. He was instrumental in the independence of Esanland from the old Benin Empire. He stopped tributes from Enijies in Esanland from being paid to the Oba of Benin, and stopped any appeal cases being taken from Esanland to the Oba's Palace for retrial during the time of Ozolua n'Ibarmoi.
Idoa is an Esan community in Edo, Nigeria. The city, an Esan tribe, stretches through the highlands and plains of central Edo State. It is 120 kilometres north of Benin City, the capital of Edo State, having boundaries with Ekpoma in the west, Ukhun in the south, Ewu in the east and Agbede in the north. Residents are mainly farmers and grow crops, including yams, rice, cassava, taro and cocoa. The city of Idoa is currently made up of the following five clans: Afuku-N'Edo, Afokolo, Atologua, Ubi and Ofie.
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Edo traditional food consists of dishes or food items common among the people of Edo State. The State is home to various ethnic groups including the Binis, Ishan (Esan), Afemai, Etsako, Uzebba Iuleha people [Owan] and others. The Traditional food found among these people usually involves soup and swallow. 'swallow' is a term for Nigerian meals that are taken with soup and ingested without chewing.