History of Ebira People of Nigeria.
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
Ebira People can be found in Central part of Nigeria and they are an ethno- linguistic People many come from Kogi State, Kwarw State, Nasarawa State, Okene.
It is said to be one of the the one of the eldest its roots can be traced to Present day Taraba State where they were an Integral part of Kwarafa confederation in about 1680 AD, their Ancestors migrated along with the Idoma and Igala which they migrated out of Present day Wukari over chieftaincy dispute then later spit into groups and later settled in Present day Nigeria between 1680 AD and 1750 AD.
Ebira Tano first migrated with Igalas at Idah then later crossed the river of Niger settled at Ebira Opete located In the vicinity of Ukpake in Ajaakuta LGA, their Fore fathers of Ebire known as Ebire Tano led them to their settlement in Ebiraland which was Itaazi, Itaazi had five Children who later migrated from Ebira Opete and were the founders of various districts in Ebiraland .
The Children was believed to have founded districts , Adaviruku or Ohizi, Adavi Opete were descendants of Itaazi’s Children he had five of them who were progenitors of the five traditional Adavi clans named after them these are Upopouvete, Apasi, Uka, Idu, Aniku, Adeyika, Uhwami, another group from Eganyi known as Ezi Onogu clan can be found in Adavi.
It is believed the sons of Ododo were the Forefathers of the Okechi clans including Okovi Oviri and Enwgukonyai, Obaji the founder of Eika had ten children constitute the Present day Okovi and Agada group of the clans due to a sizeable concentration of the other Ebira clans in Okengwe district, they formed a sociopolitical coalition known as Adaehi, Ochuga was believed he gave birth to six children and their descendants formed the six clans in Ihima.
The Clans are Emani, Oha or Idu, Ohueta, Ure, Ohongwa, Odumi, another clan was formed which became the 7th clan they migrated from Present day Okengwe, Itaazi had a daughters known as Anavapa, Ogodo.
Aningere was a craftsmen founded in all districts, however more concentrated in Okengwe and Adavi, they constitutes one of the ethnic groups in the middle belt zone of Present day Nigeria but they were not envolve a centralized form of leadership until the advent of the British Colonial authorities , which brought the various Ebira clans under the leadership of Attah Omadivi in 1902, 1902 was marked as the evolution of a monarchical form of administration and the gradual development of central administration in Ebiraland.
They celebrate annual frstival such as Echane, Eche Ori and Ekuechi, Echane is an annual masquerade festival celebrated between April and June It is believed during the period of marriage there were bethroned girl were given away in marriage to their suitors.
Echane festival women festival masquerades though carried long canes, this festival is also known for entertainment, receiving of gifts , bringing unity and peace among each other, Eche Ori is a Yam festival followers of the Ebira Spirituality give offerings to Ori the god who lived at the mountain, they also seek for the blessings, good health and protection from Eche Ori from the evil ones or the enemies, Ori which represent Strenght, during Eche Ori festival women who are traditional singers perform music and the People can eat yam and sell new farm yam but it is a taboo to do that before the festival in Ihima and Eganyi.
Ekuechi is a festival celebrated at the end of Ebira Calendar year and the begining of the new year, Ododo is a diviner and Initiator for the masquerade that take place at night, Akatapa masquerade is held during the begining of the festival they used phrases like ” Irayi Ododo Si gu, Irayi Akatapa Osi gu, meaning the yeat of Ododo has ended.
Akatapa year has ended and there is another year. The festival begins with folk songs and folk singers known as Ome Ikede which they perform to delight of both men and women, people sing and dance throughout the festival it is believed it is restricted to men and only women stay Indoors.
It is believed the dead relatived will return to the earth to visit so they prepare beans and goat meat for visitors, women also at times visit dead relatives the meal and gifts are neatly delievered to beneficiaries who only the mrn have privilege of seeming and Interacting with that night. The Ebira had warriors throughout history such as:
�1. Itaazi= the Father or progenitor of Ebira Tao People.
�2. Adaviruku= the Son of Itaazi and founder of Adavi district.
�3. Ododo= the son of Itaazi and founder of Okenchi district.
�4. Obaji = Son of Itaazi and founder of Eika district.
�5. Uga = Son of Itaazi and founder of Okengwe district.
�6. Ochuga = Son of Itaazi and founder of Ihima and Ohumnene daughter.
�7. Obege Ikaturu = The Greatest Traditional Priest ( Prophet) and Herbalist.
�8. Otase = marksman for Atta Omadivi
�9. Abonika = Commander of Ebira war during 1885, Ajinimo War the Nupe Invansion of Ebiraland and Nupe was defeated.
� It is said the migration of the Ebira Tao first started in Gongola basin and ended their migration to the lower Benue Valley others claimed the Idoms Ancestors met Ebira Tao around the 15th Century- 16th Century.
�According to Research a list of Ebira Natives from the Ebiraland.
2. Halima Abubakar she hail from the Kogi State but she grew up in Kano Northern part of Nigeria.
�3. Jummai Nene Musa- Ebira.
�4. Tonis Ohuene- Ebira.
�5. Rahmah Hassan- Ebira.
�6. Governor Yahaya Bello- Enita.
�7. Nuhu Yusuf- Ebira
�8. Lola Alao- Ebira
�9. Banjo Moses- Ebira.
�In Ebira Culture the People are known for being peaceful, loving and welcoming people, Marriage among them is very Important in their tradition a man sees a lady he intends to marry, he dicuss his Intentions with her, and If She is interested, ask him to bring his people to express his Intentions to her parents.
A man does not walk to the parents of the woman but the woman disclose his Intentions, his parents or elders mostly women do this, by going to the lady’s parents themselves and also Introduce to inform them for their reason for coming to the house .
A date is chosen for formal Introduction of both families this is ” Ise Ewere”, meaning what has been simply in secret is now open, during the celebration usually the presentation of gifts items made by family of the groom to the Bride family.
Ebira have unique cultures as well they performed many cultural dances such as Rambo, the dancers of Rambo are referred as Onyeze Oziete, Anebira this envolve body twisting skills and they also celebrate a festival known as Aba festival the Origin of dance can be traced back as far as 1678 in Present day Nigeria, this festival is about the Victory of the hunters over Initial settlers of the land known as Igarra Etuno, most of the songs of the hunters were the original ones used but other one was composed by traditional Singers.