History & Origin

The history of the migration of ghara people like other Urhobo Kingdoms is characterized by several factors which range from inter communal wars, adventure, restiveness, family feud, to the desire to expand on over exploited and over populated existing territory. However, the reasons for these movements can be summarized as the desire for the pursuit of one’s interest, of well-being and happiness nurtured by the dreams of wealth, freedom and the desire to live in an egalitarian society. Oral history has it that ghara people left Agbarha-Otor before I 200AD. And settled between the Jamison and the Osiomo Rivers (Ologbo). The Miller intelligence report of 1929 stated that the names of these forest groups of founder’s first were not known as they left no names or children. However; oral history says that the leader of the group was Oghara hence the settlement was named Oghara which is also the name of the parent village where they came from in Agbarha-Otor. This first group almost went into extinction due to constant raid by more powerful tribes. The remnants who survived these attacks went deep into the hinterland away from the river thus were able to survive from one generation to another until the arrival of the second wave of Urhobo people from the same Agbarha-Otor. The first founders of Oghara settled first in present day ghareki and well known during the Ogiso dynasty in Igodomigodo country (Benin Kingdom). Oba Olua who reign in the Benin Kingdom between 1473 and 148l set his son Iginuwa adrift at Oghareki at about 1478 A.D. As at then, Oghara people were well established in their present location near the River Ethiope. The people could not be made to follow the boat in which Iginuwa drifted into the creek to Ode-Itsekiri (Big Warri) since they like the Binis were land based people. (Egharevwa 2004 p 202l). The second wave of Urhobo people recorded in oral history were Ogbraa Ekakabo, Agoo and Emeta from Agbarha-Otor, Eghoro and Ediagbon from Eku and Kokori in Agbon Kingdom respectively. According to the peoples oral narration, Eghoro, Emeta and his son Akojeve came to present day ghareki where they met Ogbraa Agoo vand Ekakabo their uncles who have arrived earlier and were well settled. Overtime, other parties were invited to join them. Remnants of the first group who were driven into the hinterland due to slave raids who have been there for generations somehow came back to the river side to join them and organized themselves to ward off the slave raiders. After some years in Oghareki, Emeta and Eghoro moved secretly to Edjeba (gharefe) due to quarrels may be between them and their uncles or between their followers. A search party was organized for Emeta and Eghoro and when eventually found; they were asked “Etine wa djeba” meaning “is this the end of your fight”. Hence the native name for gharefe is Edjeba. To this question, they answered in the affirmative and added that there were too many (ero) gossips. They made peace with their brethren and were persuaded to return but they opted to remain in their new found land while maintaining close relations with them at Oghareki. Over time, Eghoro and Emeta who were skilled hunters decided to explore the surrounding land. Eghoro went westward reaching as far as the Osiomo River in Ologbo. Emeta did not go too far before reaching the river where he saw a fisherman from Agbarha-Otor who informed him that there were other Urhobo people in the hinterland. Emeta followed the man’s description and later met Ediagbon and his group at Urhiokiri. Ediagbon is from Kokori in Agbon Kingdom, a neighbouring village located between Agbarha-Otor and Eku. His mother like Eghoro is also from Agbarha-Otor. This group (Ediagbon) later moved to Edjeba (Ogharefe) which was by now regarded as their operational headquarters (Otovwodo). Oghara is made up of two sub Kingdoms of Oghareki and gharefe. Oghareki is acknowledged by all as the senior of the two and it is the traditional headquarters and ancestral home of the Oghara people. Ogharefe however remain the administrative headquarters of the Kingdom. Oghareki is made up of Udurhe and Uduaka communities consisting of Ogomore, Ugbeku, Unuoko, Ajagbodudu, Ophuophu, Arakpa, Ugboghelete, Otegbo, Okuefe, Ajaruwa etc. ogharefe is made up of five Unuokos (communities) of Adagboyeri Edjemuonyave, Ijomi, Otefe, and Ovade consisting of Ugbenu, Ajeketa, Okuku, Okurode, Okuhevie, Unoghovo, Idjedeoyibo (New site) Otumara, Obromudu, Okuephapha, Ugbeve, Oriaja, Urhiokiri, Okwierie, Okuegba, Okurho, Omoja, Ejenesan, Ebiuweri, ljojo, Igbeghabo, Ajamikawa, Edemukpe, Ebrifo, Orobo, Efurokpe etc.