NAIJACLIFF:HOME OF EDUTAINMENT

 The Obolo language is spoken by over 500,000 people living in a riverine area of about 630sq.km on the south South coast of Nigeria. Obolo is a Benue Congo Language of the Lower Cross subgroup of the Cross River group of languages. There are six major dialect groups in the language, namely: (from west to east): Ataba, Unyeada, Ngo, Okoroete, Iko and Ibot Obolo. Ataba dialect is spoken in all the towns and villages of Ataba while Unyeaba dialect is spoken in all Unyeada and Asarama towns and villages, and in Egendem. Ngo dialect is spoken in all the towns and villages on the Island ( I.e Uyangala, Egwede, Agana, Agwot-Obolo, etc. except Okoroboile) and the adjacent islands from Oronja through Akaradi to Ebukuma. Okoroete dialect is spoken in Okoroboile. Okoroinyong, Ibot Ama Jaaba (except Okorobilom), Obianga, Emeroke, Amadaka Okoroete, Okoromkho and Okoroiti. Iko dialect is spoken in Iko, Atabrikang I, and Ikonta, while Ibot Obolo dialect is spoken in Ibot Obolo. N...

Obolo dominated the entire system of water-ways between the Bonny River and Qua Iboe River. They used age-old fishing devices like: Edek, Otunwa, Oket, Njin, Igba, Ukog, etc. To ensure that the fish caught in the traps did not disappear mysteriously, the obolo fisherman tied mgbek leaves and faggots to his traps as well as planted an Ogboloatasuk nearby. The leaves and faggots were believed to have the power of warding off evil spir its which, they saw fish like humans, while the ogboloatasuk was intended to scare away human beings and thus suggests that it was more than a scare crow. Types of fish caught by this methods includes: 1. Afari 2. Ikop 3. Ona 4. Obu 5. Ejeke 6. Inan 7. Ofuruma 8. Adot Women seem to have operated from their home villages rather than making a long distance expeditions made by their menfolk. Women went for: efie, nlori, mgbut, urion, ntutut, etc.

Wrapper has been the major clothing article of the Obolo people for both males and females. There are certain style of cloth tying in the community. The cloth called Mkpopu (George) was used for male elders, who were ‘free born’. This clothe was tied with the style known as utong-ikwi (it is tied to the right hand side by free born while slaves tie to the left side of the waist), mainly for identification purpose. -MALE'S DRESS CULTURE IN THE TRADITIONAL ANCIENT OBOLO SOCIETY Clothing article in pre-colonial Obolo, was Ekut-ikpo (towellike clothe), Alo (foreign wax), was later added then the elder’s clothe called Mkpopu (George). All these clothes were tied with the shirt called Afont jijini or Afroko. In Obolo communities, they were neither trousers nor pant. In the place of pant, the traditional Obolo people especially the elders, do what is called I...

Obolos were known for crafting unique weaponry during the pre colonial era which were then used for various activities like war, fishing, traditional ceremonies and some even for prestige. Most notable weapons were the broad-bladded spears, arrows, metallic head as well as the bow. The blackmiths made arrows, spear and other weapons from iron mined and smelted. In 1471, the quest for glory and profit brought Port uguese navigators to the Niger Delta and established contact with the local people. However, it was 10 years later that the first royal emissary visited the court of the Oba of Benin. The relationship between both sides was cordial with early reports of the Portuguese being allowed to speak in the Oba’s court. The relationship was formed over mutually beneficial trade, exchanges which saw the Oba offer peppers, ivory and slaves in exchange for coral beads, textiles, mirror and other products from a more developed European markets. During this period of slave ...

The provision of shelter is an important aspect of life no man can do without. The major comfort of man here on earth is enhanced by the construction of a residential home where man derives his convenience. To achieve this, buildings must be well designed and efficiently constructed to exclude not only the adverse environmental factors such as weather, noise and heat but s hould provide adequate light and ventilation. The construction of fantastic structures is a major attribute of man that distinguishes him from the beast. Over the years, Obolo man has developed some materials like thatches, sticks, etc. for the construction of house. The application of thatches in construction of shelter does not require much energy to manufacture it unlike brick cement, steel, concrete, etc. Thatch house building is simple and can be easily recycled. The house being constructed on island pro...

Canoe is a very crucial means of transportation in Obolo history. The canoe in Obolo was the equivalent of horse in the North among the Hausas and Fulanis. It enable them to move from village to village. Obolos are canoe-users, their canoe varied in size. The larger canoe were sometimes converted into house-boats ( Uji Ofo or Uji Agalaga), in which the owner might live for months on long distance fishing or trading expedition s. The canoe was also used as a means of transportation, it was responsible for the transfer of persons or goods from one location or village to another. Perhaps, the most important use of the canoe was in fishing (Uji Mbom).In so far as all fishing technique involved off-shore operations, however, all were equally dependent on the canoe. The canoe was also used for cultural festival ( Oke, Ofiokpo, Ikini, etc), and inter-village competition. Finally, the canoe was vital to Obolo warfare ( Uji Akon ), which was largely conducted in t...

*By Steven Clifford - I dream of united, stable and peaceful nation.  - I dream of a nation where citizens will reclaim their humanity and insecurity challenge will be a thing of the past. - I dream of a nation where public servants will be servant and not lords over citizens. - I dream of a nation that is wholly liberated and thus, Free from tyranny, corruption and greed. - I dream of a nation driven by politics of ideas rather than godfatherism. - I dream of a nation with reduced teenage pregnancy rates. - I dream of a nation where there is hope and bright future ahead of us. - I dream of a nation that will take her rightful place among other tribes. - I dream of a nation that is not ravage by poverty, war and diseases. - I dream of a nation where our youths will realise their worth and stop killing their brothers for selfish politicians and cultic belief. - I dream of a nation that rewards hard work and excellence. - I dream of a nation where their is no sentiments and di...

The former Executive Director, Projects, of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Architect E. I. I. Ettah has urged the people of Obolos in the Niger Delta and diaspora to work out modalities towards strengthening their unity. In a lecture titled “Unity, a panacea for Sustainable Development of Obololand” Architect Ettah said that the Obolos must be united to become relevant in the scheme of things. The former NDDC director described the present effort of the summit organizers as a re-enactment of the Obolo state union of old which comprises Oron, Eastern Obolo, Ibeno, Andoni as well as the Ohafia nations. While tracing the origin of the Obolo nation to East Africa, he noted that long year of migration has led to the establishment of Obolo communities across Nigeria and decried the marginalization of Ibeno and Eastern Obolo Local Government Area by the Akwa-Ibom State Government. Also speaking, the representative of Oron nation, Chief Nko Asuquo Offiong said that th...

EASTERN OBOLO LOCATION It is located in the Niger Delta fringe between Imo and Qua Iboe Rivers estuaries and lies between latitudes 4° 28` and 4° 53 ` and longitudes 7° 50` and 7° 55` East. It is bounded in the North by Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, North East by Onna, West by Ikot Abasi, South East by Ibeno Local Government Areas and in the South by the Atlantic Ocean. CULTURE The cultural heritage is not restricted to the people. Rather the entire Niger Delta with unique traditional dressing synonymous with “Etibo” and “ Wurkor“. The Nwantam masquerade of Eastern Obolo celebrated every first January is one of the highlights of Obolo festivities, which they share with the Opobo, Nkoro , Bonny Ijaws. Their ancient practices includes a writing system known as nsibidi , ofiokpo cult and the war dance. NATURAL RESOURCES Abundant mineral deposits with onshore and offshore oil wells at Elekpen, Iko Town, Otunene and Iko-Nta/Obianga. Eastern Obolo host several multinational oil f...

Obolo consist of twenty-one ancient foundations usually referred to in the ritual phrase: Obolo etip ijon mijon ge. However, the phrase is not only in reference to the twenty-one physical villages but also to the mystical and spiritual forces inhabiting the areas. Thus, the unity referred to in the phrase is also the unity of Yok-Obolo with the other deities that sustained the individual villages, which together constituted the nations s uch as: Ewitaraba of Ekede, Otuburu of Anyamboko, Adumu of Ichiama, Okpolodo of Agana, Adigide of Okoroete, Ofiokpo of Alama, and so on. Obolo was now a fusion of these deities of the people. Therefore, etip ijon mijon ge is not just the unity of the villages, but also the spiritual forces that held them together. Hence, other villages emerged and it's added to these ancient ones. 

MAJOR TOWNS AND VILLAGES IN OBOLO NATION (Exception of Oro) ---EASTERN OBOLO L.G.A: Akpabom Ama-Ngbuoji Ama-Nglass Ama-Uka Amadaka Atabrikang Atauko Ayama Bethlehem Elekpon Elile Emere Oke I Emere Oke II Emeremen Egwenwe Iko Ikonta Iwofe Kampa Obianga Okoro Inyong Okorobilom Okoroete Okoroiti Okorombokho Okoromobolo Okwon Obolo Otunene Otuawaji Ozugbo ---ANDONI L.G.A : Afradigi Agana Agafor Agbadam Agbakoroma Agbalama Agbama Agbanchichama Agwut Obolo Ajakajak Akaradi Akpakam Alaocha Ama Ekpu Ama Friday Ama Meri Ama Miller Ama Nmereke Ama Omuso Amankwu Amautile Anyamboko Asarama Asaramaija Asuk Ama Asuk Oyet Ataba Ayama Agana Ayama Ekede Ayama Unyengala Chiama Dema Dimama Ebukuma Echirichon Egbomung Egendem Egwede Emen Uko Emenudong Eppelema Galilee Gold Coast Ibot Ama Ibot Irem Ichama Ikuru Town Ilotumbi Inyong Edek Ukwa Inyong Nchicha Inyong Oron Isiama Isiobozien Isiodum Isioke Iwogono Iwokiri Iwoma Iw...

BRIEF HISTORY OF OBOLO PEOPLE  The OBOLO (Andoni ) people are a distinct tribe Living in the Niger Delta region of Rivers (Andoni L.G.A), Akwa Ibom State (Eastern Obolo, Ibeno and Oro) Prior to the British Colonial Era the Obolo's were among the first to come in contact with the Europeans and traded mainly with the Portuguese. Far back, Obolo people worshipped a national diety (god) called Yok-Obolo , Who is the founder /Spiritual head of the Obolo people elevated to a god upon death. Christianity was already Accepted in Obolo land long before 1699 ( As recorded when John Barbot visited Dony Town (Andoni) in 1699, he observed that the King of Dony Town accepted Christianity and Priests were regularly sent in from Sao Tome and Brazil, to minister to him, The king of Dony town also spoke Portuguese ) Despite Christainity The Yok-Obolo was still feared among neighbouring tribes (Bonny, Opobo, Ibibio/Efiks, Ogonis e.t.c ) Which made them to spread terrifying new...