Okpella

Okpella^[a] is a clan situated along Benin-Abuja federal high way.^[1] Going by the last National Census figures, it has the population of 500,000, and is one of the three main towns that make up Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. It is made up of two sub-clans, each with their villages; Ogute sub-clan, which is made up of Ogute-Oke, Awuyemi, Imiekuri and Imiegeli villages, and Oteku sub-clan, comprising Komunio and Iddo.^[2] The language spoken in the clan is Okpella, a dialect of Bini which has evolved. Okpella is known for its natural sedimentary rock based mineral resources, which include limestone, calcium, and granite, feldspar, talc, clay, marble,^[3] and it plays host to the defunct Bendel Cement Factory, BUA Cement Factory and Dangote Cement Factory.

The people of Okpella are predominantly farmers, and are known to grow in large numbers, yams,^[4]cassava, tomatoes and ogbono. Its Ewo market, located at Okugbe in Oteku sub-clan and on the busy Benin-Abuja Road and congregates every fourth day. Okpella is a natural town with citizens who share a communal bond prevalent in most African societies, the town also consists of Muslims and Christians who live peacefully among themselves despite their religion backgrounds.^[5]

History

The origin of okpella people was not documented, it was preserved in oral traditions like African people.

The sub-clans in Okeplla were created as a result of clashes between HRH. Abdulmalik Asekhomhe Afegbua and Chief Sado Ikor in 1935. Afegbua, who had assumed the position of Clan Head in 1916 later became the district head of the Kukuruku Division in 1920,^[2] leaving the Clan Head position vacant for Sado to become the Clan Head. In 1929, the district system in Nigeria was abolished,^[6] Afegbua returned to Okpella to contend for the position of Clan Head, which led to communal clash that ended up to an election conducted for both Afegbua and king SADO. King SADO was the reigning Eramhe (father of the clan) and won the ballot and continued as the sole clan head till his demise in 1952. Chief Afegbua thereafter returned to ascend the clan head of Okpella again.

The Late Clan Head, HRH. Andrew Yesufu Eshioramhe Dirisu who reigned for 48 years came from Ogute Sub-Clan.^[7]

Tradition

The Okpella people believe in a supreme deity called Eshinegba, which is known as creator of all things both in the physical world (agbo)^[8] and the spirit world (ilimi).

Villages

• Afokpella, Awuyemi, Iddo, Imiegele, Imekuri, Ogute-Oke, Okugbe, Oku^[2]

See also

Borgatti, Jean (1980). The festival as art event : form and iconography : Olimi festival in Okpella clan, Etsako Division, Midwest State, Nigeria. University Microfilms International. OCLC 645789117.

Notes

1. Okpella has been administered as one entity

References

1. Hao, Yaguang (2023), "Political Relations and Role of the Village Chief in Grassroots Village (Sub-District) Governance", Grassroots Governance in Taiwan, Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore, pp. 165–194, doi:10.1007/978-981-19-9829-4_9, ISBN 978-981-19-9828-7, retrieved 2023-01-31
2. Afegbua, Isa S. (2003). Okpella : origins, communities, and neighbours, 1400-2000. Okpella, Edo State, Nigeria: Centre for Development & Documentation. ISBN 978-062-073-7. OCLC 173261409.
3. Owogram (2021-07-04). "Edo State In Nigeria - Interesting Facts to Know". Owogram. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
4. "How 'systemic' is a large corpus of English?", Language, People, Numbers, BRILL, pp. 43–60, 2008-01-01, doi:10.1163/9789401205474_008, ISBN 9789042023505, retrieved 2023-01-31
5. Borgatti, Jean M. (1976). "Okpella Masking Traditions". African Arts. 9 (4): 24–91. doi:10.2307/3335050. ISSN 0001-9933. JSTOR 3335050.
6. Etebom, J.M (October 2023). "The Historical Development of Local Government Administration and Its Contemporary Realities in Nigeria". 3: 12. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
7. "Cole, Simon, (born 20 Feb. 1958), Chief Executive Officer, 7digital Group plc (formerly Unique Broadcasting Company, then UBC Media Group plc), since 1989", Who's Who, Oxford University Press, 2017-12-01, retrieved 2023-02-01
8. Claeys, Gregory (2021). "'That all facts yet known to man indicate that there is an external or an internal cause of all existences, by the fact of their existence; that this all-pervading cause of motion and change in the Universe, is that Incomprehensible Power which the nations of the world have called God, Jehovah, Lord, etc, etc, etc: but that the facts are yet unknown to man which define what that hitherto Incomprehensible Power is.'". The Selected Works of Robert Owen. Vol. III (1st ed.). Routledge (published 1994). pp. 198–201. doi:10.4324/9781003113157-40. ISBN 978-1-003-11315-7. Retrieved 2023-01-31.