Agbon Kingdom
The Agbon Kingdom (also Agbon ẹkpotọ, Agbon clan)[1] is one of twenty-two subunits of Urhobo culture that have been in existence since before the rise of the Benin Empire in the 1440s and before the arrival of the Portuguese in the Western Niger Delta in the 1480s.[1] It is located in the Delta State of Nigeria which occupies a large space of about 375 square kilometres. This kingdom is surrounded by other Urhobo communities in the locality. The traditional seat of government in this kingdom is at Isiokolo.
History
Oral tradition speaks of migrations from the ancient Bini kingdom by the Urhobos that gave rise to this area.[1]
The founders of Agbon migrated through Kwale, probably from Erhowa, settled at Ehwen and Erhivwi or Irri in present Isoko division of Delta State. From there they moved down to Utokori, close to Ughwerun; then to Olomu and through the present Ughelli territory of Ekuigbo to found Otorho r' Agbon now known as Isiokolo. Isiokolo is now the recognised ancestral place of leadership by the members of this kingdom. The current king of Agbon Kingdom is His Majesty, Michael G. Omeru, (JP) Ukori I, The Ovie of Agbon.
Natural resources
This kingdom produces a variety of food crops, mostly yam, plantain and cassava. Cash crops as palm produce and rubber plantations also flourish here. Agbon holds a large reservoir of crude oil which is a major source of income to Nigeria; the Erhorike oil wells are considered to be among the shallowest in the world and are found here.
Population
The kingdom is highly populated as it has an extensive range of towns and villages under its territorial domain. It has been ranked the second most populous cultural unit in Urhoboland, coming only after Okpe. The population of this kingdom alone amounts for more than 40% of the Delta state population.
Language
The people of Agbon speak Urhobo as their mother tongue with little or no dialectical forms. The Nigerian pidgin is also widespread in this kingdom as well as English, the lingua franca of Nigeria.
Composition
This kingdom is made up of a wide array of sub-kingdoms and villages or towns. These sub-kingdoms are the consequences of migrations from one terrain to another.
Sub-kingdoms
- Okpara (first son)
- Kokori (second son)
- Eku (third son)
- Orhoakpor (fourth son)
- Igun
- Ovu (descendant of Okpara)
Towns and villages
- Isiokolo
- Ekrebuo
- Kokori
- Erhomeghwu
- Okuidjerhe
- Samagidi
- Egbogho
- Urhwokpe
- Ekraka
- Erhonaka
- Erhorike
- Okpara Inland
- Okurutuyo
- Okurekpagha
- Unumane
- Okoradaode
- Okurufor
- Okururhujevwe
- Umiaghwa
- Okurihohi
- Okwibada
- Erhokori
- Orhuakpor
- Ekrudu
- Okwukpokpo
- Okureghwro
- Eku
- Igun
- Otumara
- Okpara W/S
- Okorogba
- Okurekpo
- Okredafe
- Oviorie
- Ovu Inland
- Okuemeka
- Okurekpagha
- Okuogbamu
- Ovwere
- Urhodo
- Okumodje
- Obadjere
- Ekpan
- Igwevwore
- Okwokpokpo
- Ekusioro
- Okurobi
- Okuronika
- Okuighele
- Ekirugbo.
- okuomoise
- okuisalubi.
- oku ohwosiri salubi.
- oku influence salubi.
Notes
- 1 2 3 Peter P. Ekeh (April 26, 2008). "On the Matter of Clans and Kingdoms in Urhobo History and Culture". Urhobo Historical Society. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
References
- "Agbon Home Page". Urhobo Historical Society. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
- Agbon Kingdom at Asemeyese.com
Further reading
- "Ovie Of Agbon Kingdom, HRM Okpara I, Dead". The Nigerian Voice. 23 September 2012. Retrieved 2014-08-16.
- Onajite Igere Adjara; Andy Omokri (1997). Urhobo kingdoms: political and social systems. Textflow Limited. ISBN 9789782783028.
- Peter Palmer Ekeh, ed. (2007). History of the Urhobo People of Niger Delta. Urhobo Historical Society. ISBN 9789780772888.
- Onigu Otite (2003). The Urhobo people. Shaneson C. I.
- Andrew G. Onokerhoraye (1995). Patterns of development in Urhoboland, Nigeria. Benin Social Science Series for Africa. ISBN 9789782027580.
- Patricia Dede Otuedon; Obafemi Awolowo (1981). Awo in Urhobo Land. P.D. Otuedon.