𝙃𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙊𝙛 𝙊𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙪𝙣 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙙𝙤𝙢 (𝙐𝙧𝙝𝙤𝙗𝙤)

 

𝐈𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐚

THE URHOBO KINGDOM OF OROGUN

Orogun Kingdom is in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. The name Orogun was derived from Efe's son who was called Orogun. Orogun's  father, Efe migrated from Benin to Urhobo land and got married to Owhowa's daughter called Orhiara. Orhiara was the  mother of Orogun and the only daughter of owhawa. Orhiara was also the only sister to Ughelli and also only sister to her step brothers, Ogoh and Agbarha. That means from Orogun mother's side his grand father was Owhowa an original Urhobo man.  Orogun also have other step brothers from his father with another wife from Aboh... His step brothers are (Owolukpo) Abbi, Amai, and Umukwata .

Orogun migrated from Owhowa's village (his grandfather's village) for Aboh Umuli due to misunderstanding with Ogoh, his Uncle.
Ogoh propelled an issue against Orogun that he slept with the wife of Ughelli so that ughelli will be angry with him. Recalled that after the death of Owhawa, Ogoh the eldest son wanted to disinherit other children but Orhiaria, Oroguns mother resisted Ogoh who became angry and decided to fight against her son, Orogun.

Oroguns father and mother , Efe and  Orhiaria  decided to migrate from Oviri to Aboh Umili. Note that Orogun did not offend Ogor is uncle.

In Aboh, he helped to kill a Benin war general by origin called Obiegbe, who  waged wars against the Abohs. Orogun was victorious during the battles and was dangerously feared and respected throughout Aboh . 

The Obi of Aboh, for fear of the powers of the Oroguns was believed to have prepared a spell that made the Oroguns migrate from Aboh to the present day Orogun. Children of Orogun are Umusu, Imodje, Emonu, Unukpo, Ogwa. 

Orogun settlements include Imodje, Orhokpokpo, Ekridjerhue, Oko-Idiovwa, Oko Eduviere, Ugono, Emonu, Sanubi, Onyobru, Ovara-Umusu, Ovara-Unukpo, Orhomuru, Igbuku, Okpe, Oku-Uno, Eboh, Arhagba, Obodoeti, Idjerhe, Erhobaro, Ozuaka and Obiogo.

FESTIVALS...
EROSE-EFE FESTIVAL 

Her husband who brought Erose, an Ukwani Shrine to Orogun while migrating, celebrates Erose-Efe festival annually to mark the war prowess of Orogun. During the celebration all the antics of war are re-enacted. This includes the preparation of potions for war. Cutlass and bullet potions protected natives from harm.

The celebration starts in the morning with war dance by the youths who dance across the main streets of Orogun in groups brandishing guns and cutlasses. Later in day each of the towns and villages that make up Orogun Kingdom will then dance from their respective towns and villages to Erose-shrine in Orogun with their various warlords (Ochu) leading each of the dancing troupes for cleansing from any shortcoming over the year.

The "Ochu" wear headgear made of eagle bird feathers and cleansing is done with a white cock, at the presentation of special long shaped native chalk. In the evening, after the various village troupes have visited the shrine, they would dance back to their villages while the women and young girls will take over.
The dance of the women is known as "Ighomon", it is Largely done with the singing of vulgar songs and marking of vulgar statements and gestures. The festival continues into the night with social parties. The next seven days is for the exchange of pleasantries. During the festival farmers are forbidden to go to farm and no form of burial ceremonies are allowed.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FESTIVAL
The festival was a war festival in the early days. When it was believed that the "juju" gives power to the warlords of the communities and protects sons and daughters of Orogun wherever they are. If they are in danger at any time the juju can hide and show them the way to where they will be safe. Because of the believe in this juju, two animals (the Iguana and Dog) are forbidden by the Oroguns.
On getting to riverside while escaping, they could not find their boats, but instead the saw what appeared logs across the river, on which they crossed the river. Upon successfully crossing the river, they discovered that it was Iguanas that formed a chain across the river for them to get to safety.

That was how the IGUANA became a god and savior for the Orogun people. Eating Iguana by indigenes bring rashes to their body and the only cure to it is to go to Erose shrine where you will be giving native chalk and sand from the shrine. The affected person will now use the sand and native chalk to robe his body for seven different Oroguns market days before the rashes can be cured.

IGUANA 

The Iguana is sacred animal to the Orogun people who may not kill or eat it. The myth has it that Orogun people were initially settled around the Aboh area where they had problems with Benin traders which resulted in the killing of the Benin traders, fear of possible reprisal from the great ancient Benin kingdom made them to move to their present location.

A very great and powerful Kingdom of the Urhobo people. Senator Ovie Omo Agege is from Orhomurhun -Orogun.

Author: McCarthy Obanor