Rumuchorlu - & Relating Ikwerre & Nkwerre: A History Lesson in Five Minutes

[Bolaji]

 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Community of Rumuchorlu - and Relating  Ikwerre & Nkwerre:  A History Lesson in Five Minutes
 

by
 

Mobolaji Aluko
 
 
October 7, 2009

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
 

Dear All:

As we continue to learn more about the peoples of Nigeria, the following two maps show the location of Rivers State in Nigeria, and its constituent 23 local governments.

 
 

 

Map of the 23 local governments in Rivers State

 
 

LGAs - Hqtrs

Port Harcourt - Port Harcourt
Bonny - Bonny
Ogu/Bolo - Ogu/Bolo
Okrika - Okrika
 
Obio/Akpor- Rumuodamaya
Omuma - Eberi
Etche - Okehi
Oyigbo - Oyigbo
Ikwerre - Isiokpo
Emohua - Emohua
 
Ahoada West - Akinima
Ahoada East - Ahoada
Degema - Degema
Asari-Toru - Buguma
Akuku Toru - Abonema
Ogba/Egbema/Ndori - Omoku
Abun/Odual - Abua
 
Tai - Saakpenwa
Eleme - Nchia
Gokanu - Nkpor
Khana - Bori
Andoni - Ngo
Opobo/Nkoro - Opobo

Rivers State  is also composed of about the following fourteen dominant ethnic groups:
 
- Abua
- Ekpeye
- Eleme (Ogoni)
- Etche
- Ibani (Bonny and Opobo)
- Ikwerre
- Igbo
- Gokana (Ogoni)
- Kalabari (Ijaw)
- Khana (Ogoni)
- Ndoni
- Odual
- Ogba/Egbema (Ijaw)
- Okrika (Ijaw)
 
 
as well as the following six major linguistic groupings:
 
(1) Ijoid - Kalabari, Bile, Okrika, Ibani, Nkoro dialects
(2) Lower Niger (Igboid) - Ekpeye, Ikwerre, Ogba, Egbema, Ndoni, Etche and Igbo dialects
(3) Ogoni - Khana, Gokana, Eleme and Ogoi dialects
(4) Lower Cross - Obolo dialects
(5) Central Delta
(6) Delta Edoid
 
 
With the above background, and noting that the Ikwerre people are alternatively called the "Iwhuruoha People" [ as in  "Iwhuruoha bu otu" or "Ikwerre bu otu"  which means that the Ikwerre people are always together as one indivisible people], I will let allow the Rumuchorlu-Ikwerre community of Rivers State tells its own story.
 

________________________
 

QUOTE

http://www.rumuchorlu.org/history.htm
 
 
 

The chart above shows the organogram of the genealogy of Chorlu people known now as Rumuchorlu.
 

 
 
LOCATION

Rumuchorlu is in ward 3, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria. Rumuchorlu is bounded in the South by Shell Petroleum Development Co.  Ltd. Residential Area (1A) in the North by Elelenwo and part of Rumuikeani. In the east particularly Rumuorianwo and in the west by Rumuibeke. Elelenwo  road is in Rumuchorlu while the old Aba road passes through the community. There are other rivers in Rumuchorlu aside from Mini Chinda. The Mini Chinda also divides the community into two. Rumuchorlu people have vast portion of land at Egbelu, we are surrounded by Iriebe, Rumuikeani, Etche and Oyigbo land...

 
THE COMMUNITY

Rumuchorlu means the children of Chorlu. Chorlu is the first son of Okwurusi: and the children of Okwurusi are called Rumuokwurusi. The ancestral place where  Chorlu lived is the present day Okporo, made up of what is currently known and called: Mgbuesilara,Rumuodara and Eliowhani. The first son of Chorlu Chida moved out of Okporo where his father resided in search of hunting ground and discovered the present place called Rumuchorlu in Nvuike. It was not easy for him to settle in this  present place because of the occupants or lriebe used to settle them. And the stream water originally known as lriebe River (mini Ocha lriebe) was then changed to Chida  river (mini Chida), which is the name of that river till today. That river is the river that divides present day oil market (Rumuokwurusi market) and the place where predominant people of Chorlu resides till today.

After Chida must have settled at the present place where we live, his other relations joined him later. These relations are: Ijiminiewhu and Owhorlu. This is how the  children of Chorlu moved down to the present place called Nvuike. There is still one son of Chorlu who still resides at Okporo. He is known and called Kurukuru. His  children are the present day Rumukurukuru in Okporo. They live in Mgbuesilaru village in Okporo. 
 
Okwurusi the father of Chorlu is the first son of the Asara and Esara is the third son of Evo while Evo is the first son of Obio. The other relations of Esara are Evo (junior) and Opotoma while the brother of Evo was Apara. While Obio is the son of lwhuruoha.
 

The chart shows the organogram of the genealogy of Chorlu known now as Rumuchorlu.
 

Note: There are other children of lwhuruoha but for the purposes of this write-up,we will limit ourselves to the geology that will limit our write-up to only Okwurusi.
                    
             
The Chorlu residents who reside presently at Nvuike are: Rumuchida, Rumuwele, Rumuijiminiewhuy and Rumuowhorlu.
 
a. Rumuchida
b. Rumuowhorlu
c. Rumuwele
d. Rumuijiminiewhu, respectively.

 

GOVERNMENT

The Rumuchorlu community is made up of villages. The villages are made up of families. The families are headed by the husband while the villages are headed by the  Owhor-holders. Decision making takes place in what we call lkwu i.e., the gathering of adult male in that village or family. But the whole community is headed by the Eze  who controls the administration and management of the community.
 
The Eze consults the elders especially the village Heads. presently he also consults the elites in addition with the elders. I.e. the oji-owhors.
 
Men are dominating all aspect of government. The distinction between Executives legislature and judiciary as is practiced in modern is not so in our government. And the separation that exists in the three arms of government does not also exist.

Occupation:

The Rumuchorlu people are predominantly farmers, contractors, traders and artisans. We trade mostly on agricultural products such as yam, cocoyam, plantain, fruits, cassava, and peppers etc. and also engage in fishing.
 

Culture

 

a. Language:

The Rumuchorlu people are Ikwerre people by nationality. And they speak Ikwerre Language. Before the advent of colonialism, we were already relating with Ibos and we  speak their language fluently. At the advent of colonialism, we were exposed to English language and special English called Pidgin language.
 

b. Dancing:

 

(1) We engage in Eregbu dance. Eregbu dance. Eregbu dance is a dance where two players or drummers sit opposite each other and play the selected styles that give different  tones while the players mainly male play the instrument, the women and some men dance in circle to the admiration of the spectators. It is a beautiful dance and highly cherished  by the  Rumuchorlu people of Ikwerre Ehtnic nationality.
 

(ii) Eri-Ndudu: this dance is mainly played by women .Different drumming ,instruments used, such as: Ndudu; Ngele, Osha, kwirikwe, etc. At times men assist the women in drumming.while these instruments are being played, the other women dance in circles or as they may think fit. Spectators watch with utmost joy, happiness and admiration.
 

(iii) Eri-Oboh: Eri –Oboh is another dance in Ikwerre land. It is a dance whereby the chief drummer directs the play. He Playes with local made instruments. The main Oboh is  made with thick Calabash with strong strings. There are other instruments used in the dance. While the play is on, some dancers dance lkwere dance according to the rhythm of  the instrument and song. The dancers could be male or female. While the music is going on, spectators gather and watch with joy. Some notable artists are: majority cultural dance group, Jimmi Couter cultural dance group etc.
 

Wrestling Festival

Wrestling is an integral cultural of our people. In our wrestling competition, different types of drumming the instruments are used such as: Ikwirikwu, Ekwenkalu, Ngele, Mbamba of different types, shapes and sizes, etc. Two competing camps will gather opposite one another with each camp having somebody who motivates their camp to wrestle well. The  motivator holds some grasses, which he uses to whip the wrestlers. He whips their hands and buttocks and that is the activator to start wrestling. Whowver throws the other wins.

If they (wrestlers) were unable to throw each other, we say they have equalized or ogba-oga. The side of the wrestlers that throws his opponent will lift him up with utter jubilation.
 
They will dance round the playground where the wrestling takes place. Women will dance and dance. These kinds of activities arouse the wrestlers.

The wrestling takes place mainly among age-grades. Different age grade will wrestle beginning from the younger ones.
 
Wrestling is a festival that is well celebrated in our place. Wrestling can take place between villages in the same town; two different towns. It can also take place between nationalities  e.g. Rumuchorlu people and Okrikas.
 

DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION OF RUMUCHORLU

Rumuchorlu is in Nigeria , Rivers State , in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, in ward 3. Presently, we are under ……senatorial Area in Obio/Akpor Federeral constituency. Rumuchorlu is bounded in the South by Shell Petroleum Development Co. Ltd. Residential Area (IA) in the North by Elelenwo and part of Rumuikeani in the East particularly Rumuorianwo and in the west by Rumuibeke and Elelenwo road is in Rumuchorlu while the old Aba road passes through the community .the mini Chida also divides the community  into two. There are other rivers in Rumuchorlu aside from mini Chinda,which was then pollution free. The Rumuchorlu people have vast portion of land at Egbelu, we are  surrounded by  Iriebe, Rumuikeani,Etche and Oyigbo land.
 

RELIGION

Before the advent of colonialism, the people of Rumuchorlu practice traditional African religion but with colonialism, Christianity spread into our places and almost took over.

Today,our people are predominantly Christians with handful of traditional African Religion .It is important to explain the religion that our people practiced before colonialism. It is called tradition African Religion .In this religion, our people worshipped various deities such as: Amadioha, Ojukwu, Mimiochamba etc. we engage in sacrifices and rituals in appeasement to our gods. We also recognize the presents of the almighty God, which we refer to as and called Chiokike:- God of creation
 
We equally worship communal gods, ancestral gods etc. sacrifice and appeasement take place in our holy places like the face of the deities for gods while for our ancestral gods, appeasement and ritual takes place in our holy place like the face of the deities for gods while for our ancestral gods, appeasement and ritual takes place in what we call Rukani. This Rukani appeasement and ritual are still practice by our people even up till today In fact, it is the basis of authority and power in the governance of our place. The Owhor- holder, who is usually the eldest male person in the village, carries out the practice and he weilds the authority and power of leadership and priest
 

GOVERNMENT
 
The Rumuchorlu community is made up of villages. The villages are made up of families. The families are headed by the husband while the villages are headed by the Owhor-holders. Decision making takes place in what we call lkwu i.e., the gathering of adult male in that village or family. But the whole community is headed by the Eze who controls the  administration and management of the community.
 
The Eze consults the elders especially the village Heads. presently he also consults the elites in addition with the elders. I.e. the oji-owhors.
 
Men are dominating all aspect of government. The distinction between Executives legislature and judiciary as is practiced in modern is not so in our government. And the separation that exists in the three arms of government does not also exist.
 

THE EZE CHORLU STOOL

The Eze Chorlu is the head of Rumuchorlu Community, comprising of the four villages, Rumuchida, Rumuowhorlu, Rumuwele and Rumu-ijiminiewhu.These are the Rumuchorlu  villages that produce the Eze Chorlu from the family of Worgwu-Wokeke-Chida-Chorlu..
 
After the death of the Eze Chorlu, the Rumuchorlu people gathers and instructs the Rumuchida people to go and give them who will be the next Eze Chorlu. The Rumuchida people will go and select the next Eze Chorlu from Worgwu family and bring him to the gathering of Rumuchorlu. As soon as the new Eze is presented to Rumuchorlu people, arrangement is made for his installation and coronation.
 
The Government of women in Rumuchorlu

The women of Rumucholu have their own meeting membership to the meeting is open to all married women in Rumucholu .the women from the four villages of rumuchida, Rumuchorlu, Rumuwele and Rumuijiminiewhu comprise the member of the meeting. They have their chair lady and other executive's members and women Elders who assist in piloting the affairs of the meeting
 
They hold the meeting on Riagbo Day that day all the women gather together and discuss their affairs. The importance of the segment of Rumuchorlu cannot be over emphasized

UNQUOTE
 
 
_______________________
 

 
ALUKO COMMENTARY

 

Very interesting stuff, I would say!

But I would like to call attention to the Ikwerre organogram above in which there are entries "Okwurusi", son of "Esara", and compare it with the  following Nkwerre organogram  where there are two "Okwaraeshis", son and grandson of "Eshi".
  

 

 

The Nkwerre people are in the contiguous Imo State to Rivers State.

 

Might these pairs ["Okwurusi"/"Esara", and  "Okwaraeshi"/ "Eshi] be the same people, and hence be the hidden relationship between the Ikwerre and the Nkwerre, explaining such similar names of the two ethnic groups?
 
Inquiring minds want to know.
 
 
 
 
Bolaji Aluko
Linguistic and Cultural Sherlock Holmes
 
 
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________