Fact about the 21 Villages in Obolo

-



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 such 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. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

DRESS CULTURE IN THE TRADITIONAL ANCIENT AND MODERN OBOLO SOCIETY

-
Image
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
Read more

Brief History of Obolo People

-
Image
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
Read more

Missionary activities and the establishment of Churches in Obolo Nation

-
Image
MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CHURCHES IN OBOLO NATION   In Western Obolo  (Andoni), Christianity started spreading from the two earlier established center of influence: Bonny and Opobo. A Christian mission was first established at Bonny in 1864. And the first Obolo converts seen to have been traders from Ataba, who went there to sell palm oil and fish. Although this fish convert were made as early as 1870, their impact on the society seems to have been small. However, in 1895, a group of traders who hailed from Agwut-Obolo were converted, but suffered persecution as They were forced to swear various oaths to the effect that Yok-Obolo (The National gods) would kill them if they continue with Christian worship. Despite the beatings and the forced oaths, however, members of the group sail through. After the punitive expedition in 1904, many Christians became scared as this almost lead to total failure in establishing Christianity in Western Obolo. In 1910,
Read more