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Opobo is a community in Rivers state, South South region of Nigeria. The kingdom was founded in 1870 by Jubo Jubogha, popularly known as JaJa, a former Igbo slave who was absorbed into the pre-existing Ibani Ijaw culture. The native language of Opobo is the Ibani language, a dialect of Ijaw that is closely related to Kalabari. The Opobo people majorly speak an Igbo dialect called Okwu Ubani, which is very similar to Ndoki dialect due to their heterogeneous ancestry.
Opobo
Opubo | |
|---|---|
City state | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 4°30′41″N 7°32′24″E | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| State | Rivers State |
| Founded by | Chiefs from 14 houses in Grand Bonny |
| Government | |
| • Amanyanabo | Dandeson Douglas Jaja V |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
A greater part of the city state is still referred to as Opobo in Rivers State. Opobo is made up of several islands and communities which is in Opobo-Nkoro Local Government Area in the South South Senatorial District of Rivers State Nigeria.
The communities include, Opobo Town, which is its headquarters, Queenstown, Kalasunju, Oloma, Ayaminimah, Iloma, Minimah, Okpukpo, Iwoma, Ekereborokiri, Kalaibiama, Epelema, Ozuobulu, Muma Down Below, Inokiri and Abazibie. Some parts of the city state are now in Akwa Ibom State: Egwenga and Opukalama, in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State.
Opobo's geologic setting is similar to the coastal and estuarine settlements of the Niger Delta region. It is located at the mouth of the Imo River, one of the main estuaries that break the Nigerian coastline. The approximate geographical co-ordinates of the kingdom are 04°34'N latitudes and longitude 07°12'E, located about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from the Atlantic Ocean. Opobo is two meters above sea level and the very close interfaces between the sea water. Opobo is located about 80 kilometres (50 mi) from Port Harcourt and has been accessible by sea and air and only recently by land.
Opobo is divided into 14 sections ("polo"), made up of 67 War Canoe Houses. The 14 sections are Adibie, Biriye, Diepiri, Dapu, Dappa Ye Amakiri, Epelle, Fubarakworo, Iroanya, Jaja, Kalaomuso, Ukonu, Kiepirima, Owujie, and Tolofari.[1][2]
Opobo is located to the east of the Kingdom of Bonny. Bonny and Opobo are of the same origin, both associated with the Ndoki people.[lower-alpha 1][3] an Igbo subgroup.[4] Jubo Jubogha rose from slavery to lead the Anna Pepple chieftaincy house of Bonny.[5] In 1870, Jubo first arrived in what is now Opobo, having moved there due to a civil war in Bonny between his followers and those of Chief Oko Jumbo, the leader of the rival Manilla Pepple chieftaincy family.[6][7] The king named his new state after Amanyanabo Opubo "Pepple" Perekule the Great, a Pepple king in Bonny that had reigned there from 1792 to 1830.
Jubo Jubogha became involved in palm oil trading with Europeans. He started a trading post at Opobo Town, close to Ikot Abasi and 4 miles southwest of the Opobo river. Due to his dealings with them, he soon acquired the trade name Ja-Ja. Jubo Jubogha was never on good terms with the Annang and the Ibibio the east, as he declared himself as the middleman in palm oil trading, thus asking them to stop trading directly with the Europeans. This resulted in a war (the Ikot Udo Obong War) between Jubo and the Annang and Ibuno people as recorded by Nair.[8] In 1887, he was deceived when he was told to go and negotiate with the Queen of the United Kingdom by the British. He was captured upon his arrival on the consul's flagship, and was sent into exile in Saint Vincent in the West Indies thereafter.
The following are a few of Opobo's unique customs:[9]
- Dogs are forbidden. This tradition, which has its roots in ancient times, is one of the most important taboos the people of this coastal town hold on to. While the people are free to bring in dog meat to eat in their homes whenever they feel like it, they are not allowed to keep dogs as pets or bring them into the community.
- Shooting a gun is not allowed. Such a thing is only to occur by royal sanction during a war.
- Individuals are forbidden from wearing caps while passing through the gateway linking one compound to another. The gateways are small roofed passages, essentially a series of tunnels, connecting one compound to another. On the floor of such gateways is a crossbar, which those passing are forbidden to set foot on. Adhering to this rule while passing through the place is a mark of respect for the high chief of a particular compound, which is also referred to as a war canoe house.
- Making noise, pounding or quarrelling at night is forbidden. Making any form of noise during nighttime is one of the biggest offences anyone can commit in this island community. You could be labelled an enemy of the town. Similarly, quarrelling and fighting at night is taboo here as well. Regardless of how provoked you are, you must wait till the break of dawn to vent your anger on whoever has provoked you.
Breaking any of these rules attracts a fine of N7,000 each or a serious punishment by the community heads.
Initiation into womanhood
A certified wife who has not been initiated into womanhood with the appropriate initiation ceremony, known as the Egerebite and Bibite, is not allowed to tie a special wrapper called 'George'. Such a woman would also be denied many other rights: there are sacred places that she cannot enter and she will not be entitled to mix freely with women that have been initiated. In fact, she can be traditionally disgraced by the other women in the community at any time.
The rulers of Opobo were:[10]
| Start | End | Ruler |
|---|---|---|
| 25 December 1870 | September 1887 | Jubo Jubogha "Jaja I" (b. 1821 - d. 1891) |
| September 1887 | 1891 | Perekule (chairman Council of Chiefs) |
| 1891 | 1893 | "Cookey Gam" (political agent) |
| 1893 | 12 October 1915 | Obiesigha Jaja II (Frederick Sunday) |
| 1916 | 1936 | Dipiri (Arthur Mac Pepple) |
| 1936 | 1942 | Sodienye Jaja III (1st time) (Douglas Mac Pepple) (d. 1980) |
| 1942 | 1946 | Stephen Ubogu Jaja IV (acting) |
| 1952 | 31 July 1980 | Sodienye Jaja III (2nd time) (Douglas Mac Pepple) |
| 1980 | 2002 | Vacant |
| 1 October 2004 | King Dandeson Douglas Jaja V (b. 1947) |
- Kenneth Minimah, CFR, a Nigerian infantry soldier and the former Nigerian Army Chief of Army Staff
- Atedo Peterside, CON, a Nigerian entrepreneur, investment banker and economist.
- Dakuku Peterside, former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.
- Adawari Pepple, businessman, and former senator.
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