THE ORIGIN OF ORA

The people of Ora migrated individually and collectively from Benin to the Northwestern part of Edo State. They continued to migrate until finally settled at the present site with Sobe to the North, Emai to the South, and Iuleha to the West Ozala to the East.

The most outstanding personality of these migrants is known as Prince Okpame. Prince Okpame was of the royal Benin Kingdom but was so stubborn and would not submit himself to anyone. This man who was endowed with a commanding personality was said to be forceful like a tiger, with naturally filled teeth.

Since he submitted himself to no one he was nicknamed the Prince who subordinates himself to no one “Ovbiobanoinguan” or Uguan as known to the Oras.

Prince Okpame left Benin Primarily because he committed murder and instead of him being executed by the Oba, he was sent packing out of Benin into exile. On leaving Benin, a trusted friend of his called Obazu followed him. Obazu is the father of the lulehas.

On their journey North-West of Benin, Prince Okpame whose wife was pregnant fell into labour and had a baby boy delivered. The delivery of this child was “Mysterious” because he wasn’t born like other children; he came out of the womb with his legs and not the head.

Okpame abandon his wife for this is Uza (a taboo) for a child to come out of the womb with his legs. Uza thus grew up and became the father of the Ozallas.

In 1463, after Uguan had lived in Ora for 21 years he gave birth to Erhanrin-Ekpen. Otherwise known as Ora-Epen the generally accepted founder of the Ora people in the present Edo State of Nigeria.

In 1463 after Uguan had lived in Ora for 21 years Erain-EKpen Oba Ewuare of Benin Kingdom died, the demise of this Oba gave rise to different princes who individually chart their different agitations for selfish purposes. Since there has to be a king on the throne and the legitimate prince was far away in Ora Land, a royal messenger was dispatched from Benin in search of Okpame (Uguan).

He was finally met in Ora but would not easily consent to going to ascend the throne in Benin. The royal messenger delivered to him a calabash containing two animals, a house and bush mouse. On opening the calabash the house mouse scampered into the house while the bush mouse ran into the bush. The message from the kingdom was clearly understood and Uguan had to return to Benin in 1480 and was enthroned with the name Oba Ozolua, which literarily interpreted as a man, faced with choice of jumping from one throne and prosperity to another.

Uguan gave birth to Ora-Ekpen. Ora-Ekpen gave birth to twelve sons with one of them a semi giant and he is the eldest, named Umale.

These are the children of Ora-Ekpen

(1) Umale

(2) Ahiedu

(3) Akhaize

(4) Obe

(5) Ivbiari

(6) Eghomi

(7) Owato

(8) Uguaroba

(9) Oghola

(10) Agba

(11) Ofebe

(12) Odu

Out of these twelve sons six villages were founded, these are:-

Ohia-Ora

Ovbiokhuarin-Ora

iii. Evbiobe-Ora

iv. Uhonmora-Ora

v. Oke-Ora

vi. Eme-Ora

Umale being the eldest used his position and strength to lord over and cheat his brethren especially when their father shared out ema (pounded yam) to them of his portion.

They jointly decided one day to eliminate the cheat and so when their father went out on hunting expedition they used their combined strength to beat and kill Umale. This gave rise to the idiom Emaogbumale (Literally translated-pounded yam was the cause of Umale’s death).

On seeing that they have murdered their eldest brother, they all decided to run for their lives because of the perceived retribution they thought will befall them. While the whole lot ran away Obe and two other ones stayed with the corpse until their father came back and this is why only Chiefs of Obe (Evbiobe) is permitted to see any corpses while it is a taboo for other Ora chiefs to do so.

Evbiobe became the “Political and administrative” head of the Oras for the following reasons: –

The Oba of Benin sent a gift of golden bangles to the Oras. This gift can only be accepted and kept via a human sacrifice. All other members of the Ora family refused to accept this gift because of the attached condition but Evbiobe. This then means that this gift of golden bangles (odigbanisirin) which presently is housed in Egurelu (the meeting place for the Oras) that is in Eybiobe (Sabongidda-Ora) had human blood sacrificed to it.

When Erhanrin-Ekpen’s (Ora-Ekpen) children killed their brother Umale they all dispersed in exception of Obe and two others which later formed Evbiobe-Ora for which Obe was blessed of his father.