The Asagba Famly Of Okpe Urhobo of Nigeria By Prince Joseph O Asagba – A scientific follow up. Correcting Isekiri Okpe Relations - Scientific Overview

The Asagba Famly Of Okpe Urhobo of Nigeria
By Prince Joseph O Asagba – A scientific follow up
Asagba raised a lot of issues in his article and it will be totally wrong to ignore him. Some of these issues are lies to reduce and ridicule the great Warri kingdom, and it will be wrong to let Asagba be, without straightening out most of his erroneous or at least biased presentations.
1. Asagba claimed that Okpe is a kingdom. Okpe is not a kingdom! Ikime (1995); Talbot(1926); Roth(1903); Ajayi, Tekena Tamuno etc who are renowned masters of History , made it clear that no kingdom emerged in Urhobo-Isoko area, or what is now termed Delta-Edoid region. Only Warri and Aboh were kingdoms in the Niger Delta sub region.
2. Unbalanced chronology. According to Asagba Igboze lived about 1500. His direct son Okpe lived between 1664-1740 AD. This means Igboze was more than 150 years older than his direct son. Readers ! imagine the type of terrible historian Asagba is!
3. Okpe kingdom was established by a wicked, brutal and terrible king – Esezi, according to Asagba – who lived between 1770- 1779. This was a period when the Portuguese, the French, the Dutch and other Europeans were trading along the coast of the Niger Delta. Yet, no chronicler wrote on such a wonderful king. The Kings of Jukun, Igala, Katsina – far in the hinterland were mentioned. The chroniclers were mostly in Ode-Isekiri and Benin, yet they did not hear of KING ESEZI – the brutal – in the neighbourhood.
4. Slave trade issue . Asagba mentioned that Owhere, Ogiegba(Odjegba) and Orholor were slave traders, without citing any historic document to back himself. Asagba, you lie. The Okpe were no slave traders. Talbot(1926), Bradbury, Adams(1823) Roth (1903) etc, said Urhobos (including Okpe) were no slave dealers; that they themselves served as slaves to Jekri(Isekiri) and Binis(Roth 1903).
5. Owhere led the revolution that ousted Esezi I. Esezi I was a fake monarch. A creation of Urhobocentricism in modern Nigerian historiography. Ovie Atua of a section of Isoko(Ifediora 1999), Ogoni Erhowhuo of Effurun((Uvwie) together with other kings purported to have ruled in Oghara, Udu, were all BRUTAL KINGS coined by Delta-Edoid groups to make them equal to Isekiri. Read Ekeh (2005), Onigu(2003), Osume(2007) for these wonderful kings. Only in Urhobo land you have such wonderful kings whose influences never extended for more than one kilometer from their little hamlets. Asagba! Owhere never caused any revolution against King Esezi! Such a king only existed in Urhobo imagination!
6. Ogoni was son of Evwreke. This is a lie from the pit of hell. Oguni(corrupted to Ogoni by Okpe) was a son of Olu Atogbuwa – 14th Olu of Warri.(Honsbira and St.Ifa 2011; 2013); Atigbiofor 1987(Oral interview). When Oguni(Ogoni) became annoyed after being shortchanged by Erejuwa in becoming Olu, he decided to move towards Okpe to found a chiefdom. Oguni met some Bini people serving Aghalokpe tree at the present site of Aghalokpe. He chased them out and established a town which he called Aghalokpe after the tree worshipped by the Bini people(Honsbira and St.Ifa 2011;2013); Olu Erejuwa II(1982 oral interview). Because Oguni refused to return to Ode-Isekiri(Iwere, laterWarri) the Isekiri created his name into a title (Ogoni of Warri Kingdom). The name of one of his sons (Itive) ; was also made into chieftaincies in Isekiri(Moore 1936). It was because the Ogoni descendant are warming up for Orodjeship that they are claiming to be sons of Evwreke, Michael Affe(2015) was totally wrong in his position for saying that people wanted to scheme them out of Orodjeship that is why they are saying they are Isekiri. It is they who are fighting for Orodjeship that are now claiming Okpe. In RB Kerr intelligence report on Okpe Urhobo, they claimed that Ogoni went to stay with Olu. Why will he go and stay with Olu. They also lied that Oguni brought swords from Oba of Benin, while in reality he brought swords(ada) from Olu. So much for discrepancies in Okpe history. Let a DNA test be carried out on Aghalokpe people and they will sooner or later be chased with hot coals to Bateren to join the Olu descendants. Too much of lies! This DNA test must be carried out. Enough of these dangerous lies. Asagba! Enough!
7. Ogiegba (Odjegba) defeated Olomu(the father of Nana and another 105 children , including Igben, Oghanrandukun, Atsagbede, Omaghomi etc) . To reply to this gross lie we see the character of Olomu. Obaro Ikime(1995) quoting an earlier writer declared ‘Olomu was the wisest man on the Niger(sic the confluence area to the Atlantic). Roth(1903) describes Olomus house as “more [polished than that of the Oba of Benin, The walls are like marble”; Anderson described him as the wisest of all traders in the deltan coast. Nobody knew Ogiegba in history. How did such an unknown personality defeat Olomu in warfare? The Asagbas of this world should learn to tell their children the truth.
8. The founding of Amukpe and the hold of Sagay. Asagba claimed that Ogiegba founded Amukpe. After the founding of Amukpe and the ‘defeat’ of Olomu , Ogiegba asked for Sagay to be collecting rent. This is far from the truth. After Olomu defeated Ogiegba , he sent Sibogi(an Igbo/Kwale slave) to monitor Ogiegba , who was brought from Arhagba Okpe to Amukpe(which in Isekiri means Okpe(referring to Odjegba has been captured) .Later , Sibogi called Sagay(Olomu’s in-law) to monitor the movement of Ogiegba. Sagay controlled Sapele and the whole length of the Ethiope River(Sagay – The Warri Kingdom-undated)
9. Ogiegba founded Sapele. It is a lie. Olomu founded Sapele as a trading post to checkmate Ogiegba. Ikime (1995) agreed that Olomu defeated Ogiegba. Sapele is the name of an Isekiri juju at Eghoro. Sapele is not founded by Ogiegba.
10. Olomu was a slave trader. Olomu was not a slave trader. Slave trade was disbanded in 1807, Olomu came to lime light in 1835-1883. It is clear, therefore, that Olomu never participated in slave trade as Asagba alleged. It is true that Olomu once in a while raided some Urhobo villages(particularly Okpe) , but he never sold slaves, those slaves ended up as his domestic servants as Roth(1903) Adams(1823) ; Talbot(1926) etc talked about. But the truth is OLOMU NEVER SOLD SLAVES TO EUROPEANS. Asagba, you lie.
11. There are many other lies in this write-up which I will not touch as they are in no way related to me or helpful to me. I have only revealed the lies that are directly offensive to my historical consciousness and nativity. Asagbas and people like him can continue to tell his people fictions and fables as history, but whenever they say anything that concerns me, I must retaliate immediately to cure the lie.
By
Augustine Oritseweyinmi Oghanrandukun Olomu(St.Ifa) ; a member of Warri Scientific History and Literary Society; a branch of Yoruba Ancient History Society.

YORUBIC INFLUENCE IN THE NIGER DELTA: ISEKIRI COLONISATION OF OKPE: A SCIENTIFIC OVERVIEW

YORUBIC INFLUENCE IN THE NIGER DELTA: ISEKIRI COLONISATION OF OKPE

A direct reply to fiction as history in Ekeh Peter(2008); Michael Afe(2015) ; Obioma ; Okumagba MP, Ejoor, and a host of other mis-representers of Isekiri-Urhobo Relations

Introduction

This is an article on the Okpe and Isekiri people. The Isekiri are sometimes referred to as Yoruba (Talbot1927; Lloyd 1957 etc) sometimes they are referred to as Yoruboid; the Okpe are sometimes referred to as Urhobo (Onigu 2003), sometimes as Edoid (Osume 2005). At times the Isekiri resent being called Yoruba; sometimes the Okpe resent being called Urhobo. By linguistic analyses the Isekiri are most related to the SE Yoruba – Ilaje, Ikale, Ondo etc and to Olukumi in Anioma area of Delta state, when judging by lexicostatistics; while by accent they are most similar to Igala, Ebu and Olukumi. The Okpe are most similar to Uvwie, Isoko, Agbon , etc. These people are referred to as Urhobo , sometimes as Urhoboid.  However Isekiri and Okpe are neighbours. Most Okpe speak Isekiri; they intermarried and shared a lot of things together. In this discourse, we shall show how the Okpe are an Isekiri colony and thus they have a lot of Yorubic influences from being an Isekiri colony. Okpe is 72% similar to Urhobo(Osume 2005), while Isekiri is 82% similar to Ikale – a SE Yoruba dialect.

Overview of Okpe and Isekiri cultures

1.       Isekiri was a kingdom(Talbot 1927; Roth 1903; Egharevba 1948; Kenny 2003 etc) ; Okpe was a republic or a public(Ekeh2008; Horton 1977; Obayemi1977;Ryder 1968;Ikime1969etc)

2.       Isekiri had a bead industry(Lloyd 1957) Okpe did not(Osume 2005)

3.       Isekiri had a cloth industry (Kenny 2003, Lloyd 1957; Talbot 1927) ; Okpe had no cloth industry.

4.       Isekiri had a bronze industry (Lloyd 1957); Okpe had none.

5.       Isekiri had metallurgy (Lloyd 1957, Okpe had none.

6.       Isekiri controlled long distance trade route (Alagoa 1977; Irim 2003; Fage 1969) Okpe could not.

7.       Isekiri and Benin had diplomatic relations with European powers – Portugal, Spain, France, Dutch , England etc, Okpe did not.

8.       Isekiri had diplomatic contacts with Ife; Okpe did not.

From the picture and the references drawn above, it is clear that the Isekiri would have subjugated the Okpe if they came in contact in ancient times. Because they were and are still neighbours, they came in contact and the Isekiri subjugated the Okpe .There are about 4 periods of the subjugation and colonization of the Okpe people by the Isekiri. These periods are – the ancient period and the formation of the Okpe state; the Ogoni revolution and the growth of pseudo kingdom; the Akengbuwa-Olomu era of a full colony; and the post Akengbuwa-Olomu era of everlasting colonization. These periods fall in two eras – The pristine period of Benin; the fall of Benin

GENETIC MAKE UP OF ISEKIRI AND OKPE

1.       Isekiri – like all Yoruba had counter melanone metastasis gene: which increases IQ  by 20 points;(Olubunmi 2007; American Institute of genetic Studies)

2.       The Okpe are weighed by keratin cluster near 17Q12 and FLD6, which reduces IQ by 20 points.

3.       The Isekiri - like their Yoruba siblings - had a resistance to Lassa fever, the Okpe have not (professor Christian Happy (http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/yoruba-genetically-immune-to-lassa-fever-virus-don). LARGE is the name of this gene.

4.       Isekiri had Neanderthal gene which supports intelligence, the Okpe had not; Reichs findings (Nature, DOI: 10.1038/nature12886)

Without doubt, this favorable genetic factors make the Isekiri – and by extension their Yoruba brothers – way smarter than the Okpe, the Delta-Edoid and all other Negroes for that matter. It is desirable to look at the stages of Okpe colonization by the Isekiri and how they have been civilized by Yorubic influences through Isekiri colonization.

Stages of Okpe colonisation

1.       THE FIRST COLONISATION OF OKPE(Pristine era of Benin )

Unknown to the whole world, the Okpe state was formed due to Isekiri imperial power. About 1520-1540 Olu Irame rose as a power. He drove Olague and Amapotu from Ode-Isekiri (Ilaje Intelligence Report: RA Ajetumobi(Ph.D)( http://www.edoworld.net/THE_BENIN_FACTOR_IN_THE_HISTORY_OF_LAGOS.html). In the same period, Irame commissioned his son to be the first Ovie of Agbarha-Otor. The name of his son, the noisy prince who came from the Benin River, was Ebelle(Moore 1936; Onigu 2003; Honsbira and St.ifa2011;2013). Irame’s activities also reached Isoko land and great was the shake. Ebelle left Isoko came to where Orere-Okpe now situates and was the first person to live there. The popular Otomewo family of Orere-Okpe is descended from this Prince Ebelle(Moore 1936).

FALL OF BENIN

Kenny 2003 and Adlimina Report (Catholic Documentary) reports that by 1644(The era of Dom Antonio Domingos) the Isekiri was independent of Benin. Alagoa(1977) claims that by the mid 17^th century direct Bini influence faded in the western Niger delta, and Isekiri were having more direct autonomy to control the western Niger delta where the Okpe belong . Roth 1903, Bradbury, Cyril Punch etc also talked of this Isekiri influence. Whitney Foster 1969 went as far as saying that the history of the lesser known peoples – Okpe inclusive – cannot be known unless Isekiri history is placed in a better chronology. From 1650 to 1700 there was a direct weakening of the Bini state and the Isekiri were rising at the same pace that Benin was being decimated (Alagoa 1977, Obayemi1977, Ikime 1969). At this period, the Isekiri did the natural thing. They took the Okpe state under them. Some children of Olu Irame first settled in Elume(where they are chased by 1997). Isekiri were the first settlers in what is now Okpe clan.

2.       OGONI – THE SECOND COLONISATION OF OKPE

About seventeen fifty, the Okpe came to the present site of Orere-Okpe. The Isekiri were not unconnected to this development. The Mehini war of Olu Atogbuwa  which included the Ijaws of Kabo, Kumbo, Mein,etc, on the stretches of the River Niger, also reached the territories of the Isoko. It was due to this war that the Okpe moved from Okpe in Isoko towards Orere to found Orere-Okpe( Honsbira and St.Ifa 2011;2013; Ogbobine 1976). The upheaval led four Isoko men – Orhue( a hunter), Orhorho, Evreke and Esezi – who claim to be brothers, to migrate to Orere-Okpe. Another who claimed to be the ancestor of the Uvwie people joined the group in the great migration (Onigu 2003). Sources say these people were escaping from the heavy tribute levied by Olu Atogbowa in the whole area.  About 1770 when Oguni(Ogoni) became a man , after being prevented from being Olu ran towards his mother’s side Orere in Okpe to colonise the new intrants. Ogoni was born during the Mehinni war fought by his father Olu Atogbuwa, the 14^th Olu of Warri. He naturally became a leader there. His descendants are about ¼ of the Okpe state. He settled at present day Aghalokpe, where he chased the Binis away with his canon power (St.Ifa2016 online).

 

THE GAINS OF OGONI CIVILISATION TO OKPE

a.       The wearing of the costume of the Order of Christ given to Dom Domingos by the Catholic authorities in 1608 became worn by the Okpe for the first time, during the Oguni(Ogoni) revolution.

b.      The first semblance of a pseudo-kingdom appeared. Ogoni being a prince from a far more civilized polity raised the quality of the Okpe. The Okpe saw bead and cannon for the first time in their existence. Ogoni did not let them have it however. Only his descendants had it.

c.       Okpe entered the pepper trade for the first time, hence the name of Aja-Ogolo; whose name has now being changed. A shame to historical relics.

d.      The evolution of the sword of power from Ogoni(Kerr intelligence Report).

e.      The evolution of Okakuroship, brought by Ogoni

f.        The growth of semi-kingdom, controlling not only Okpe but most of the Urhobo polities. Ojokor, the founder of Ughrughelli in Agbarho was a direct son of his.

g.       The final subjugation of Benin power in the core Delta by the chasing of Bini worshippers from the Aghalokpe tree.

3.       THE THIRD COLONISATION OF OKPE –  AKENGBUWA-OLOMU ERA

Okpe suffered a third colonization in the hands of Isekiri during the reigns of Akengbuwa to the period of Olomu. Erejuwa(the 16^th Olu) who drove out Ogoni seems not to be interested in the Okpe area. His pre-occupation was mostly the Ijaws. He might have neglected them because of the cannon power of Ogoni. But Akengbuwa the 16^th Olu had interest in the Okpe enterprise. He was more particular about the Aghalokpe area. Amakatse, Ofokunije etc were regents he placed between present Sapele and Aghalokpe. At Olomu’s period, he made Sagay his adopted son, regent in the whole area, and along the length of the Ethiope River (Sagay undated).  Olomu defeated Ogiegba( part Okpe ,part Isekiri)(Sagay undated ; Ikime 1969)  and he used Sapele as his farm and trade depot . Olomu ordered Ogiegba(through Sagay) to bring the present people claiming Sapele to work in his farm. These people are the amorphous chiefs (WACA 1943). Since the people were menial workers, they could not marry Isekiri women. They – of different stock ( Badagri, Ishan, Yoruba, Calabar, Ghanains etc) – married from nearby Okpe community particularly Amukpe(Amuokpe – where Okpe are captured). Their descendants are today claiming to be Okpe.  After Olomu’s death, his son Nana, who came into his power by ascending as the Olori-Ebi continued his ruling of the Okpe. Dore standing on the same power leased Sapele by December 3^rd 1908. Ikomi became a warrant chief in Sapele. Imele of Aja-Imele was also given warrant chieftaincy title, but it was handed to his younger brother , Natiku(Reuben Imele 2015 oral interview)

4.       THE EVERLASTING COLONISATION OF THE OKPE

Today there is an everlasting colonization of the Okpe. These are

1.       The adoption of Isekiri attire. Kingsley Mary (1898); Eve de Negri 1976 confirm Isekiri as cloth weavers , who gave fabrics to others in the Delta of the Niger , Okpe inclusive.

2.       Adoption of Isekiri names of both individuals and towns. The present change of place names cannot alter the old maps. Sapele is the main deity of Eghoro, Urhiapele-Ame in Laboard road in Sapele is new, coming only after the civil war, archaeology will confirm this statement.

3.       Adoption of Isekiri religion. Igbe is a caricature worship of Umale-Okun(www.globalpeacearithmetic.blogspot.com) .

4.       Adoption of Isekiri food type. Cassava was first given to Isekiri by the Portuguese. All Okpe based cassava meal is therefore got from the Isekiri, since they had no Portuguese access.

5.       Adoption of Isekiri leisure style. Okpe masks – Oki, Ipi, Adumu etc are very recent as recent as 2005 and they are not organised in the Trinitarian fashion of the Isekiri masters.

6.       Adoption of Isekiri ways of life

Conclusion

The work shows how Yorubic influences from Isekiri sources infiltrated the Okpe and made them perhaps the most civilized of the Edoid cluster( Esan, Afemai, Ora, Degema Epie, Isoko etc) apart from Benin with a direct colonization of Ife.

Augustine Oritseweyinmi Oghanrandukun Olomu(St.Ifa)

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GA –YORUBOID RELATIONS(SCIENTIFIC OVERVIEW)

GA –YORUBOID RELATIONS(SCIENTIFIC OVERVIEW)

There are many stories of the Ga of Ghana having relations either with Ife, Oyo, Benin or Isekiri; or having historical relations at one time with all or either of them (Egharevba 1948, Johnson 1921, Fage 1969, Honsbira and St. Ifa 2008 etc).  An analyses of Ga and the Yoruboid languages – Yoruba, Isekiri, Igala, Ebu , Olukumi etc will scientifically highlight this relationship.

SN	English	Ga	Yoruboid	Explanation
1	Take	Kor	Ko(pack)	All Yoruboid
2	Steal	Dzu/juu	Ji	All Yoruboid
3	Welcome	Ekwaaba	Ekabo	Oyo Yoruba
4	Black	Edin	Adin(black pomade)	Yoruba
5	Black	Edin	Uden(black pomade)	Isekiri
6	Left	Abeku	Abiku(negative child of the left)	All Yoruba
7	black	Edin	Din(night fall)	Isekiri
8	Coconut	Akokoshi	Kokodie(Isekiri)	Possibly a lone from Portuguese. Isekiri and Ga had ancient contacts with Portugal
9	Rudeness	Atua	Atua(Extreme suffering /rudeness/insult	Isekiri
10	Judge	Kodjolor	Kwejolor(remove the case)	All Yoruboid
11	Aroma	Nma	Emi	All Yoruboid. Emi is aroma in Egyptian
12	Mother	Nye	Iye/iya	All Yoruboid
13	Mat/bed	Saa	Su(sleep) all Yoruboid	Mat/bed used for sleeping. Su is to sleep in Kamitic
14	Cry	Fo	Fo(talk) all Yoruboid	Crying and talking – all sounds made by mouth.
15	Prison	Kpabu	Kpabu(arrest/seize)	Isekiri
16	Prison/jail	Mon	Mu(arrest)	Oyo Yoruba. Mu is to grasp in Kamitic
17	Oil	Mu	Omi(water) all Yoruboid	Oil and water are all liquids
18	Spirit	Mumor	Mumor(brain) Isekiri	Brain and spirit are all inner faculties. Mumor corresponds with the Kamitic
19	Breathe	Muu	Mi( all Yoruboid)	Presence of the consonant. M is the sound for water and breath  in Egyptian
20	Grandmother	Nana/naa	Nene(Isekiri/Igala)	Presence of the same consonant
21	Water	Nu	Eno(water god) Isekiri	Presence of the consonant , the name corresponds with the Kamitic
22	Wife	Nya	Aya	All Yoruboids
23	Wife	Nya	Yawo	All Yoruboid
24	Fishing season	Obue	Obue(rainy season	Isekiri
25	Meaning	Shishi	Shishi(having the same meaning)	Isekiri
26	Definite	Shishi	Shishi(it is like)	Isekiri
27	Love	Sumo	Sumo(near)	SY. Suma is near in Egyptian
28	Ear	Toi	Eti(All Yoruboid)	Presence of the consonant
29	Attend/go to	Ya	Ya(fast)	All Yoruboid
30	Eat	Ye	Je(all yoruboid)	J and Y interchangeable like Yaqob and Jacob
31	Ask	Be	Be	All Yoruboid
32	Stars(many)	Otukwadzan	Utukpa(light)	All Yoruboid)
33	Black	Edin	Edun	Isekiri. Dudu is the black image of Osiris
34	Grey/dark	Wansu	Esu(dark god) Si dye the hair	Ife/Isekiri. Sut is an evil deity in Egypt
35	Barren	Kene	Agan	K interchanging g
36	Sea/ocean	Nsao	Osa(tide)	All Yoruboid). Osa is tide in Egyptian
37	Royalty	Ablade	Ade	Ife
38	Creation	Adeboo	Ade(created) boo(come forth)	SY
39	Creation	Adebolo	Ade(create)boo(come forth) lo(surpass)	SY
40	Monkey	Adun	Edon	SY
41	Crown	Akekre	Akoro(crown for all)- kings of the second migration from Ife	Ife
42	Palanquin	Akakpai	Kpakpo(plank)	All Yoruboid)
43	Witch	Ajer	Ajer	All Yoruboid
44	Child	Bi	Bi – to give birth	All Yoruboid. Bi is to give birth to a child in Egyptian
45	Darkness	Dunn	Dun(black)	Isekiri/Olukumi
46	Dance	Dzoo/joo	Zo(dance),Jo(dance)	Olukumi/Yoruba
47	Bad	Efon	Ifon(craw craw)	SY
48	Broken	Eku	Ku(broke)	SY
49	Easy	Ewa	Ewa(beauty)	SY
50	Better than	Fe	Fe(like)	SY
51	Untie/unravel	Fene	Fene	Isekiri
52	Run	Foi	Fo(fly) all Yoruboid)	This tallies with the Kamitic
53	Lung	Fuflaa	Foghofogho(lung)	All Yoruboid)
54	Road	Gbe	Gba(to take a street)	All Yoruboid
55	Death	Gbele	Gbele(burial ground)	Isekiri
56	Dry	Gbin	Gbe	Yoruba
57	Hill/mountain	Gon	Go(high)	All Yoruba. This has similarity to the Egyptian ka, go
58	Hazzi/hajji	Twins	Eji(two) ibeji(twins)	All Yoruba
59	Jealousy/hate	Hetse	Etse(evil)	All Yoruboid
60	Bite	Koo	Koo	Isekiri

Conclusion

A picture is worth a thousand words. The picture drawn shows that Ga-Adangme people of Ghana have close historical relationship with Nigeria and more especially to the Yoruboid peoples- Yoruba, Igala, Isekiri. Further exploration in the linguistic elements show the relationship of Ga and the Yoruboid goes back to the days of ancient Egypt, as words that link the Ga and the Yoruba in most cases, also link them to the Kamitic language of the ancient Egyptians. The Ga like the Nupe and Ebira are Yorubanised, but not Yoruboid. Perhaps they were initially Yoruboid, but corrupted by Ghanaian ethnics – Akan Ashanti, guan etc. further research should be carried out – genetics and linguistics etc – concerning this wonderful people of Ghana.

By

Oritseweyinmi Oghanrandukun Olomu(St.Ifa)