Opobo is a community in Rivers State, in the South South region of Nigeria. The kingdom was founded in 1870 by Jubo Jubogha, popularly known as JaJa, an Igbo man who was a slave in Bonny and grew to become a Chief and eventually wanted to be King in Bonny. He was followed and supported by Chiefs from 14 major houses that left Bonny to establish Opobo. The native language of Opobo is the Ibani language that is spoken in Bonny. A greater part of the city state is still referred to as Opobo in Rivers State. Opobo is made up of several islands and communities which is in Opobo–Nkoro Local Government Area in the South South Senatorial District of Rivers State Nigeria.
The communities include Opobo Town, which is its headquarters, Queenstown, Kalasunju, Oloma, Ayaminimah, Iloma, Minimah, Okpukpo, Iwoma, Ekereborokiri, Kalaibiama, Epelema, Ozuobulu, Muma Down Below, Inokiri and Abazibie. Opobo's geologic setting is similar to the coastal and estuarine settlements of the Niger Delta region. It is located at the mouth of the Imo River, one of the main estuaries that break the Nigerian coastline. The approximate geographical co-ordinates of the kingdom are 04°34'N latitudes and longitude 07°12'E, located about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from the Atlantic Ocean. Opobo is two meters above sea level and the very close interfaces between the sea water. Opobo is located about 80 kilometres (50 mi) from Port Harcourt and has been accessible by sea and air and only recently by land.
Opobo is divided into 14 sections ("polo"), made up of Sixty Seven War Canoe Houses. The Fourteen sections are Adibie, Biriye, Diepiri, Dapu, Dappa Ye Amakiri, Epelle and Fubarakworo. Others are Iroanya, Jaja, Kalaomuso, Ukonu, Kiepirima, Owujie and Tolofari.[1][2]
Opobo is located to the east of the Kingdom of Bonny. Bonny and Opobo are of the same origin, both associated with the Ndoki people.[a] an Igbo subgroup.[3]Jubo Jubogha rose from slavery to lead the Anna Pepple chieftaincy house of Bonny [4] In 1870, Jubo first arrived in what is now Opobo, having moved there due to a civil war in Bonny between his followers and those of Chief Oko Jumbo, the leader of the rival Manilla Pepple chieftaincy family.[5][6] The king named his new state after Amanyanabo Opubo "Pepple" Perekule the Great, a Pepple king in Bonny that had reigned there from 1792 to 1830.
Jubo Jubogha became involved in palm oil trading with Europeans. He started a trading post at Opobo Town, close to Ikot Abasi and 4 miles southwest of the Opobo river. Due to his dealings with them, he soon acquired the trade nameJaja. Jubo Jubogha was never on good terms with the Annang and the Ibibio the east, as he declared himself as the middleman in palm oil trading, thus asking them to stop trading directly with the Europeans. This resulted in a war (the Ikot Udo Obong War) between Jubo and the Annang and Ibuno people as recorded by Nair.[7] In 1887, he was deceived when he was told to go and negotiate with the Queen of the United Kingdom by the British. He was captured upon his arrival on the consul's flagship, and was sent into exile in Saint Vincent in the West Indies thereafter.
Traditions
The following are a few of Opobo's unique customs:[8]
Dogs are forbidden. This tradition, which has its roots in ancient times, is one of the most important taboos the people of this coastal town hold on to. While the people are free to bring in dog meat to eat in their homes whenever they feel like it, they are not allowed to keep dogs as pets or bring them into the community.
Shooting a gun is not allowed. Such a thing is only to occur by royal sanction during a war.
Individuals are forbidden from wearing caps while passing through the gateway linking one compound to another. The gateways are small roofed passages, essentially a series of tunnels, connecting one compound to another. On the floor of such gateways is a crossbar, which those passing are forbidden to set foot on. Adhering to this rule while passing through the place is a mark of respect for the high chief of a particular compound, which is also referred to as a war canoe house.
Making noise, pounding or quarrelling at night is forbidden. Making any form of noise at night is one of the biggest offences anyone can commit in this island community. You could be labelled an enemy of the town. Similarly, quarrelling and fighting at night is taboo here as well. Regardless of how provoked you are, you must wait till the break of dawn to vent your anger on whoever has provoked you.
Breaking any of these rules attracts a fine each or a serious punishment by the compound heads.
Initiation into womanhood
A certified wife who has not been initiated into womanhood with the appropriate initiation ceremony, known as the Egerebite and Bibite, is not allowed to tie a special wrapper called 'George'. Such a woman would also be denied many other rights: there are sacred places that she cannot enter and she will not be entitled to mix freely with women that have been initiated. In fact, she can be traditionally disgraced by the other women in the community at any time.
^. Opoboregatta.com. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
^Ucheoma, Otuka (7 November 2015). "Egwu-onwa Among The Ndoki Of Rivers State". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
^"General Minimah, his Opobo ancestry and the burden of history, By Eric Teniola | Premium Times Nigeria". February 21, 2014.
^G. I. Jones (2001). The trading states of the oil rivers: a study of political development in Eastern Nigeria. James Currey Publishers. p. 15ff. ISBN0-85255-918-6.
^"The Izon of the Niger Delta by Onyoma Research Publications - Ebook | Scribd" – via www.scribd.com.
^"Opobo: Land of the 'great' King Jaja where making noise at night is forbidden". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
^"Traditional States of Nigeria". World Statesmen. Retrieved 2010-10-17.
Further reading
Burns, Alan. History of Nigeria, George Allen & Unwin, 1929.
Dike, Kenneth O. Trade and Politics in the Niger Delta, 1830-1885, Oxford University Press, 1956.
Annang Heritage Preservation,
Britannica article on Ikot Abasi
Nair, Kannan K. (1972). Politics and Society in South Eastern Nigeria 1841-1906, Frank Cass, London.
External links
"Pictures of Ikot Abasi". Picsearch. Retrieved 2010-10-17.
January 13, 2023
opobo, community, rivers, state, south, south, region, nigeria, kingdom, founded, 1870, jubo, jubogha, popularly, known, jaja, igbo, slave, bonny, grew, become, chief, eventually, wanted, king, bonny, followed, supported, chiefs, from, major, houses, that, lef. Opobo is a community in Rivers State in the South South region of Nigeria The kingdom was founded in 1870 by Jubo Jubogha popularly known as JaJa an Igbo man who was a slave in Bonny and grew to become a Chief and eventually wanted to be King in Bonny He was followed and supported by Chiefs from 14 major houses that left Bonny to establish Opobo The native language of Opobo is the Ibani language that is spoken in Bonny A greater part of the city state is still referred to as Opobo in Rivers State Opobo is made up of several islands and communities which is in Opobo Nkoro Local Government Area in the South South Senatorial District of Rivers State Nigeria Opobo OpuboCity stateCoordinates 4 30 41 N 7 32 24 E 4 51139 N 7 54000 E 4 51139 7 54000 Coordinates 4 30 41 N 7 32 24 E 4 51139 N 7 54000 E 4 51139 7 54000Country NigeriaStateRivers StateGovernment AmanyanaboDandeson Douglas Jaja VTime zoneUTC 1 WAT The communities include Opobo Town which is its headquarters Queenstown Kalasunju Oloma Ayaminimah Iloma Minimah Okpukpo Iwoma Ekereborokiri Kalaibiama Epelema Ozuobulu Muma Down Below Inokiri and Abazibie Opobo s geologic setting is similar to the coastal and estuarine settlements of the Niger Delta region It is located at the mouth of the Imo River one of the main estuaries that break the Nigerian coastline The approximate geographical co ordinates of the kingdom are 04 34 N latitudes and longitude 07 12 E located about 7 kilometres 4 3 mi from the Atlantic Ocean Opobo is two meters above sea level and the very close interfaces between the sea water Opobo is located about 80 kilometres 50 mi from Port Harcourt and has been accessible by sea and air and only recently by land Opobo is divided into 14 sections polo made up of Sixty Seven War Canoe Houses The Fourteen sections are Adibie Biriye Diepiri Dapu Dappa Ye Amakiri Epelle and Fubarakworo Others are Iroanya Jaja Kalaomuso Ukonu Kiepirima Owujie and Tolofari 1 2 Contents 1 History 2 Traditions 2 1 Initiation into womanhood 3 Rulers 4 Notable people 5 Gallery 6 Notes 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksHistory EditFurther information Jaja of Opobo King Jaja of Opobo Memorial Opobo is located to the east of the Kingdom of Bonny Bonny and Opobo are of the same origin both associated with the Ndoki people a an Igbo subgroup 3 Jubo Jubogha rose from slavery to lead the Anna Pepple chieftaincy house of Bonny 4 In 1870 Jubo first arrived in what is now Opobo having moved there due to a civil war in Bonny between his followers and those of Chief Oko Jumbo the leader of the rival Manilla Pepple chieftaincy family 5 6 The king named his new state after Amanyanabo Opubo Pepple Perekule the Great a Pepple king in Bonny that had reigned there from 1792 to 1830 Jubo Jubogha became involved in palm oil trading with Europeans He started a trading post at Opobo Town close to Ikot Abasi and 4 miles southwest of the Opobo river Due to his dealings with them he soon acquired the trade name Jaja Jubo Jubogha was never on good terms with the Annang and the Ibibio the east as he declared himself as the middleman in palm oil trading thus asking them to stop trading directly with the Europeans This resulted in a war the Ikot Udo Obong War between Jubo and the Annang and Ibuno people as recorded by Nair 7 In 1887 he was deceived when he was told to go and negotiate with the Queen of the United Kingdom by the British He was captured upon his arrival on the consul s flagship and was sent into exile in Saint Vincent in the West Indies thereafter Traditions EditThe following are a few of Opobo s unique customs 8 Dogs are forbidden This tradition which has its roots in ancient times is one of the most important taboos the people of this coastal town hold on to While the people are free to bring in dog meat to eat in their homes whenever they feel like it they are not allowed to keep dogs as pets or bring them into the community Shooting a gun is not allowed Such a thing is only to occur by royal sanction during a war Individuals are forbidden from wearing caps while passing through the gateway linking one compound to another The gateways are small roofed passages essentially a series of tunnels connecting one compound to another On the floor of such gateways is a crossbar which those passing are forbidden to set foot on Adhering to this rule while passing through the place is a mark of respect for the high chief of a particular compound which is also referred to as a war canoe house Making noise pounding or quarrelling at night is forbidden Making any form of noise at night is one of the biggest offences anyone can commit in this island community You could be labelled an enemy of the town Similarly quarrelling and fighting at night is taboo here as well Regardless of how provoked you are you must wait till the break of dawn to vent your anger on whoever has provoked you Breaking any of these rules attracts a fine each or a serious punishment by the compound heads Initiation into womanhood Edit A certified wife who has not been initiated into womanhood with the appropriate initiation ceremony known as the Egerebite and Bibite is not allowed to tie a special wrapper called George Such a woman would also be denied many other rights there are sacred places that she cannot enter and she will not be entitled to mix freely with women that have been initiated In fact she can be traditionally disgraced by the other women in the community at any time King Jaja of Opobo s PalaceRulers EditThe rulers of Opobo were 9 Start End Ruler25 December 1870 September 1887 Jubo Jubogha Jaja I b 1821 d 1891 September 1887 1891 Perekule chairman Council of Chiefs 1891 1893 Cookey Gam political agent 1893 12 October 1915 Obiesigha Jaja II Frederick Sunday 1916 1936 Dipiri Arthur Mac Pepple 1936 1942 Sodienye Jaja III 1st time Douglas Mac Pepple d 1980 1942 1946 Stephen Ubogu Jaja IV acting 1952 31 July 1980 Sodienye Jaja III 2nd time Douglas Mac Pepple 1980 2002 Vacant1 October 2004 King Dandeson Douglas Jaja V b 1947 Notable people EditKenneth Minimah CFR a Nigerian infantry soldier and the former Nigerian Army Chief of Army Staff Atedo Peterside CON a Nigerian entrepreneur investment banker and economist Dakuku Peterside former Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA Adawari Pepple businessman and former senator Amaopusenibo Sim FubaraRivers State 2023 PDP Governorship candidateGallery Edit Notes Edit For more on the Ndoki and inter relationship see Umuagbai and Akwete two major settlements of the Ndoki References Edit Ikot Abasi Encyclopaedia Britannica 9 January 2009 Retrieved 8 October 2014 About Opobo Opoboregatta com Archived from the original on 25 December 2012 Retrieved 8 October 2014 Ucheoma Otuka 7 November 2015 Egwu onwa Among The Ndoki Of Rivers State The Guardian Nigeria News Nigeria and World News Retrieved 6 April 2022 General Minimah his Opobo ancestry and the burden of history By Eric Teniola Premium Times Nigeria February 21 2014 G I Jones 2001 The trading states of the oil rivers a study of political development in Eastern Nigeria James Currey Publishers p 15ff ISBN 0 85255 918 6 The Izon of the Niger Delta by Onyoma Research Publications Ebook Scribd via www scribd com Cf Nair 1972 page 183 Opobo Land of the great King Jaja where making noise at night is forbidden Punch Newspapers Retrieved 2019 09 01 Traditional States of Nigeria World Statesmen Retrieved 2010 10 17 Further reading EditBurns Alan History of Nigeria George Allen amp Unwin 1929 Dike Kenneth O Trade and Politics in the Niger Delta 1830 1885 Oxford University Press 1956 Annang Heritage Preservation article on Annang Britannica article on Ikot Abasi Nair Kannan K 1972 Politics and Society in South Eastern Nigeria 1841 1906 Frank Cass London External links Edit Pictures of Ikot Abasi Picsearch Retrieved 2010 10 17 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Opobo amp oldid 1132512914, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
