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Brief History of Ebiraland
Brief History of Ebiraland
Many of us are from Kogi State, Kwara State, Nasarawa State, Fed
Okene is said to be our administrative centre, the Ebira-speaking people in Kogi state, are not far from the Niger-Benue
Origin of the Ebiras
An elder beats the Agidibo to salute the spirits (Photo by EbiraView) Ebira Tao is the largest of the several Ebira groups f
Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Our sister groups are Ebira Koto and Ebira Mozum (Kogi state), Ebira Panda, Ebira Oje/To
Ebira Agatu (Benue state) Ebira Oloko (Ondo/Oyo/Osun states). The history of our origin were those compiled from Atta
British colonial administrators in early 20th century. Our elders, through oral tradition, trace our descent to Wukari (in th
integral part of the Kwararafa confederation. In about 1680 AD, our ancestors (along with the Idoma and Igala) migrated
people later split into various groups and settled in different locations between 1680 and 1750 AD. We Ebira Tao first so
the River Niger and settled at Ebira Opete located in the vicinity of Upake in Ajaokuta LGA.
Our 'father' of Ebira Tao who led us to this premier settlement in Ebiraland was Itaazi. Itaazi had five (5) sons who all late
founders of the various districts in Ebiraland. The children and the districts they founded are Adaviruku/Ohizi (Adavi), Od
Ochuga/Onotu (Ihima). His daughter named Ohunene settled in Eganyi district. Members of the various clans in Ebiralan
had five children who are progenitors of the five traditional Adavi clans named after them. These are upopo-uvete (Apas
migrant group from Eganyi known as Ezi-Onogu clan is also found in Adavi. The sons of Ododo who are the ancestors of
Obaji the founder of Eika had ten children named Ohiaga, Iyewe, Avassa, Ehemi, Anchi, Epoto, Egiri, Ubobo, Ogu and Eyi
constitute the present Okovi and Agada group of clans. Due to a sizeable concentration of other Ebira clans in Okengwe
known as Ada-ehi. Ochuga had six children and their descendants make up the six clans in Ihima. These are Emani, Oha/
seventh clan is Akuta who migrated from Okengwe. Though Itaazi's daughter named Ohunene was the founder of Egany
Eganyi clans are Ede, Esugu, Eheda, Ogu, Onoko, Idu, Anavapa and Ogodo. The Aningere who are skilled craftsmen are fo
concentrated in Okengwe and Adavi districts.
We constitutes one of the ethnic groups in the Middle Belt zone of Nigeria. But, however, did not evolve a centralized fo
colonial authorities, which brought together the various Ebira clans under the leadership of Attah Omadivi in 1902. there
monarchical form of administration and the gradual development of central administration in Ebiraland.
Location and size of the Ebira community
Ebiraland is a small hilly inland area that stretches roughly for twenty three kilometres west of the Niger at Ajaokuta and
Benue confluence. The range of hills occasionally rises to six hundred and sixty seven metres above sea level. Ebiraland,
senatorial District of Kogi state. It has a landmass of 3,426 km2. The 1991 national census puts the population of the are
undertaken in 2006. The provisional figure of 884,396 released by the National Population Commission (NPC) is being di
(320,260), Adavi LGA (202,194), Okehi LGA (199,999), Ajaokuta LGA (122,321) and Ogori Magongo LGA (39,622). Our com
joined together as near towns, gradually and progressively expanding towards one
another with Okene as a city in modern times. Ebiraland thus presents an aerial view of one huge near urban settlement
Our Culture and Administration
We are republican by nature, outspoken and very hard working. Farming and cloth-weaving are occupations for which E
five Local Government Areas of Kogi state namely: Adavi, Okene, Okehi, Ajaokuta and Ogori-magongo. A sizeable numbe
Government Area, Ondo, Ogun, and Oyo states. Our paramount ruler is called Ohinoyi of Ebiraland. The Pre-Colonial Ebi
consisted of five principal clans among several others, namely, Okengwe, Eika, Okehi, Adavi, and Ihima. The respective p
Ohindase, Adeika, Ohiomahi, Asema and Obonbanyi. Each clan was selfgoverning and did not regard any other as superi
Significantly, the clan was the main unit of political organization. The post of the clan head was normally conferred on th
religious duties and disciplinary powers were, however, limited to his own family. His political influence was quite small
his clan, his judgement was determined largely by the consensus of opinion of the elders. The administration of all the c
lay in the hands of the elders, influential individuals and the chief priest (Ohinoyi).
Economically, the clan head held in trust for the clan, part of the income from all the clan lands, such as the produce fro
colonial period. Also, the leg of whatever game that was killed was given to him, which he shared with the kindred head
spite of the infiltration of some negative tendencies in recent times.
Our people were used to coming together in the face of crisis. Thus, in moments of war, we come together as a united fr
Indeed, our people have built strong confidence inour warfare and ‘superior’ weapons – bows and arrows. The invasion
not make them doubt our military superiority. Our Nupe invaders were successfully resisted by our people under our am
Omadivi. The Nupe invasion was organized in the form of raids for slaves. But the our people were soon to realize that o
defend us against the British super superior weaponry in 1902.
In 1895, an outstation was placed at Kabba by the Royal Niger Company and a fort was built there by Captain Turner, an
1st January, 1900, Frederick Lugard took over the government of Northern Nigeria from the Royal Niger Company and h
formed into a province which included the Akoko, Kukuruku and Ebira countries, and was administered from Lokoja, wh
protectorate of Northern Nigeria, with Sir William Wallace as its first Resident.
In 1902, a small military escort led by Mr. Malcom and Lt. F.F.W.Byng-Hall sent into Ebira country was seen by the our pe
the British demand for the supply of food, seeing this as a direct insult on their persons. Mr. Malcom and his party, outn
Ebira and escaped by a night march to Kabba, arriving the next day. The British soldiers used this as casus belli and marc
was subjugated and pacified. The resident in Ebiraland described the result of the expedition asfollows: “The Ebira were
expedition and I now find them very afraid of the whiteman”
With the defeat of our people, the British then imposed their rule on us, politically uniting the various clans by force. Du
of the notable personalities among the Ebira, led an armed resistance against any form of British rule. In 1902, he and hi
Malcom, the political officer. Who barely escaped death. After this event, Ebiraland was declared a land of ‘savages’ and
African Frontier Force (WAFF) to sit among our people in order to ‘tame’ them.
In 1903, a punitive expedition under Major Marsh, Lieutenants Sparrenbarg, Moran, Byng-Hall, Gallway, Smith, Oldman
order and to establish permanent peace in Ebiraland. In this expedition, the British received the whole hearted cooperati
Ohindase Abogunde – the chief priest at the time. Omadivi, like Ohindase, was from the Okengwe clan.
Omadivi supplied vital information, most especially on how to capture Agidi who was his political rival. In fact, both Oma
influential individuals in the Ebira of that time. While the former was loyal to the Chief priest, the latter was not. By 1904
the Resident of Kabba province, was able to say with confidence that the Ebira people now feared the ‘‘whiteman” and
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Re: The History Of Ebira People (itopa Ane Ebira) Modified By Aliyu Abdullahi Onumo by Yujin(m): 10:17am On Oct 05, 20
Thanks for sharing this very detailed history of the Ebira people. I must say the Ebira people seem to posses more of the
present region- the masquerades, the style of marriage and New yam festivals among others. It is interesting I must say.
Now, I will appreciate it if someone can shed more light about the Ihima and Eganyi clans. The article states that they ar
the New Yam festival is celebrated. Pls, where is their location in Kogi(Ebiraland) and where possibly did they migrate fro