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.
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 17th 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 14th
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 16th 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 16th 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 3rd 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.
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)
.
