THE URHOBO PEOPLE

The Urhobo King of Oria Kingdom

The Urhobos are people of the southern Nigeria, near the North-Western Niger Delta. Urhobo is the major ethnic group in Delta state which is one of the 36 states of the federal Republic of Nigeria. The Urhobos speak the Urhobo language and their culture is related to several cultures in the Niger Delta. The Urhobo nation is made up of twenty-four (24) sub-groups, including Okpe which is the largest of all.

The king of Urhobo which is known as Ovie, is the highest political figure in the kingdom. He is the symbol of his kingdom’s
culture and also of his royal predecessors. His councillors are called, Otota (speaker), Ohoveworen Okakoro, addressed collectively as Ilorogun (singular: Olorogun). Other title holders are the executioners (Ikoikpokpo) and warriors called Ogbu.

A number of Urhobo cultural divisions have other titles other than Ovie; the Okpe call their traditional ruler Orodje, Okere-Urhobo call theirs Orosuen, Agbarho uses Osuvie, Orogu uses Okpara-Uku (mainly due to their proximity with Ukwuani people) and the Urhobos in Olomu kingdom call their king Ohworode.

The Urhobos have several festivals but the most prominent ones are;
·         Eravwe Oganga (Huge Beast) of Ohworu festival of Evwreni people.
·         Iyeri festival of the Ughelli people.
·         Okere-Urhobo festival of unity.
Some of the notable people from Urhobo include;
·         Felix Ibru (Nigerian Architect and Senator)
·         Alibaba Akporobome (Comedian)
·         Richard Mofe Damijo (Actor and Politician)
·         Chief Onanefe Ibori (Former Governor of Delta State)
Just to mention a few.

The Urhobos have two foods that are considered to be Urhobo in nature and they are; Ukodo (a yam and unripe plantain dish), and Oghwevwri/Starch. Other delicacies are Amiedi or Banga soup (Palm nut oil soup). Culinary delicacies include Iriboto, Iriberhare and Okpariku.

The Urhobos have a popular belief that an unfaithful wife will be punished by the Erivwin (supernatural).












TINA BALLDANCE

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