CHAPTER ONE

1.1  Introduction

The people of Agbor kingdom are a highly cultured people. Their cultural life is one that projects a true and typical African tradition. Over the century, their cultural ties and links with different people have not only broadened their own cultural life but have also enriched it.

The Agbor people attached a great deal of importance to the traditional burial rites of the dead. Burial rites among the Agbor people consist of various stages and usually took the form of a huge ceremony. However, the level of importance and number of stages were determined by the social status, or wealth of the deceased.

The framework of this project is essentially geared towards the burial rites of chiefs in Agbor kingdom with particular emphasis on Agbor-obi (Ime-Obi) from 1900-2012. Agbor-kingdom is in the present day Delta State. It lies within the rain forest region of Nigeria on the West Coast of Africa. So many villages make up the kingdom of Agbor. The villages are made up of so many people. Each village in the land has a chief and the chief is accountable to the obi of the land.

The origin of chieftaincy titles is as old as the human race. The emergence of chiefs were as a result of the development in the society. The human society is not static but dynamic. Therefore, as the society developed or advanced the need to come together to form an association for security and commerce became inevitable. Chieftaincy titles in Agbor carry with them high social respect and obligations. Socially, the chief (especially the traditional ones belong to the noble men’s rank in the clan. Because these Chiefs were not seen as commoners there are certain rites and respect which is carried out before he dies, and when he dies.

The chiefs have their rights over rite in the community. Rite itself, is a ceremony performed by a particular group of people. More often than not, rites are performed for religious purposes. We have funeral rite, institution rite, and rite of passage. Funeral rites are associated with the activities during burial. Institutional rites are performed when a new member joins a body of an institution. Whatever they perform, it is sometimes kept secret from non-members.

In Agbor kingdom, when a chief dies, the rites performed therein are different from those performed when a non-chieftaincy title holder dies1. The council of chiefs have their contributions to make the Obi (King) too has his own role to play2. Songs of praise are rendered to the glory of his achievement during his life time.

It is important to note for the purpose of clarity that in Agbor kingdom, we have the honorary title holders and the traditional title holders. The honorary is when the Obi or the dien (both means king) decides to honour someone for his deed or wealth. When any chief belonging to this class dies, his title dies with him3. Traditional chiefs are those that have traditional functions tied to their office and when they die, their first born son occupies the position4.

1.2  Statement of Problem

A good number of works have been written on the history of the Agbor kingdom, but the same cannot be said of the “burial rites of chiefs” in Agbor kingdom.

This work therefore will address on important aspect of Agbor history that have not been investigated by historians. The task of this research work is to examine in detail the burial rites of chiefs in Agbor kingdom.

1.3  Aims an Objectives

The aim of this project work is to examine the burial rites of chiefs in Agbor kingdom from 1900-2012.

In order to accomplish this aim, the work will discuss the meaning and concept of death, the reasons for burial ceremonies, categories of chiefs, etc. this will be followed with the burial rites of the different categories of chiefs and the effect of Christianity and western education on the performance of traditional religious activities.

1.4  Methodology

In carrying out this project work, the methods that would be or that was adopted will include or includes the use of secondary source materials which consist of text books, magazines, etc.

The research will still depend very much on the use of oral testimonies to gather useful information from respondents on the study since written works on the subjects is scare.            

1.5  Scope of Study

This research work will cover the geographical area of Ika land with respect to the burial rites of chiefs in Agbor kingdom. It will particularly focus or concentrate on the “burial rites of chiefs” in Agbor-Obi from 1900-2012.

1.6  Limitation of Study    

In the process of writing this essay, I came across lot of constraints.

First, the topic has attracted the attention of few scholars and this resulted too much reliance on oral interviews, which was associated with a lot of difficulties such as refusal by some persons interviewed to give detailed account of what actually happens in the burial of a chief. Some interviewees were suspicious and hid a lot of vital information for what they thought would be unfavourable to them. Also the various accounts of those interviewed were controversial and conflicting.

The available written sources do not give substantial information on the rites performed during the burial of a chief. But these limitation was not unsurmountable.

1.7  Significance of Study

This study will contribute immensely to the academic development of history as a discipline. It will also inform and educate the public and future researchers about the burial rites of chiefs in Agbor kingdom and Ika land in general. Furthermore, the study will also break new grounds by addressing important aspects of Agbor history that has not been researched by historians.

1.8  Review of Related Literature

Not so much have been written specifically on the burial rites of chiefs in Agbor Kingdom. The above illustrates that the topic is a rather new researchable topic in terms of the written works available. However there is no doubt that without the consultation of past works it cannot be said that a scholarly work has been done.     

The following books related to my topic would be of tremendous help towards the completion of this project work. Among them is a book written by Prince Ena Basimi Eweka titled the evolution of Benin Chieftaincy titles. It examines the origin of Benin people and their chieftaincy titles5.

Concern magazine: a celebration of achievements and legacies. This magazine will be useful in discussing the socio-political institution and the chieftaincy titles.6

An outline of the people and culture, socio-economic interest of Ika nation: F.A. Onyekpeze. This book brought to light the various clans and villages that made up Agbor kingdom. Also Ika traditional administration was discussed and different issues such as tittle holders7, but did not specifically discuss the burial rites of chiefs in Agbor kingdom.

Publication edited by Ben Nwanne, Ika land and its people: this book talked about the various kingdoms that made up Ika land8. But paid no attention to the way chiefs were buried.

Olukwu Josiah Ehiwario’s book: Agbor kingdom in the new millennium is based mainly on contemporary Agbor history as well as the need for development of Agbor kingdom in line with the new millennium goals of the 21st century9.

Chief Egwabor Iduwe in his work titled: history of Agbor kingdom discussed nearly all aspects of Agbor history. Both the history of past kings, administrative structure, the council of chiefs, categories of chiefs, the traditional prime minister10, etc. though this work did not specifically deal with the rites performed when a chief dies, it will help in understanding other aspects of the Ika people.

In the book: history of Abgor nation written by Josiah Ehiwario Olukwu, the writer talked of the historic past of Ika nation, but did not pay attention at all to the burial of chiefs in Agbor kingdom.    

In the article written by Kanu, Ikechukwu Anthony, Osa: death in Igbo_African anthology, the writer posits that the African societies do not only see death as the end of life but rather as a continuation of life somewhere different from earth as he wrote that “death is as a transition into the world of the ancestors12. So it can be assumed that it is the way death is seen in our region that makes certain ethnic group to carry out some traditional religious rites during burials.

1.9  Tradition of Origin

As is common with most kingdoms and ethnic societies in many places especially the West African region, it is difficult to say with absolute certainty or assurance where the original founders or settlers of Agbor came from. There are different school of thoughts on the exact origin of the people of Agbor kingdom.

The first school of thought can be said to be more ancient because it is based entirely on myth and folklore. This school is of the opinion that the Agbor kingdom was founded during the migration of the patriarch Ogelle or (Ogene) some centuries BC. Among those who migrated with him from Ife were two brothers Ogiso and Ika, as the myth goes13.

One of the brothers, Ogiso founded Benin while the other, Ika founded “Agbon” which meant world. Ika was said to have had a son named Nze who became ruler when his father died. So Nze Ika as ruler over Ika land was later referred to as Eze Ika.

The second school believes that the Agbor people migrated from Igbo hinterlands and settled in Agbor.

The third school of thought perhaps enjoys more acceptability than the earlier two. This believes that the Agbor people and Benin people have a common origin, though the Agbors are not Benin per se14.

1.10       Geographical Location

Ika is one of the ethnic groups in Delta State of Nigeria. The Ikas were grouped in one Local Government Area known as Ika Local Government Area before 1991. Following the creation of Delta State, out of the defunct Bendel State, Ika was split into two Local Government Areas viz, Ika North East and Ika South15.Agbor kingdom fell under Ika south local government area.

Ika has common boundaries with her neighbours Edo State to the South-West, Aniocha North and South Local Government Areas to the East, Edo to the North, and Ndokwa and Ukwani Local Government Areas to the South16.

The map of Agbor, Delta State

End Notes

1. Oral interview with Michael Ebede of Umudein quarters Agbor-Obi, on the 27th October, 2014.
2. Oral interview with the Chief J.E Ochie of Umudein quarters, Agbor-Obi on the 26th October, 2014
3. Oral interview with the Odion of Umudein quarters, Agbor-Obi on the 26th October, 2014
4. Special Edition no. 14, 2005, concern magazine. A celebration of achievements and legacies. The history of Agbor kingdom. Pp. 15
5. Chief Egwabor Iduwe, history of Agbor kingdom. (Agbor-Obi press). 1979. Pp. 25
6. Josiah Ehiwario Olukwu Esq. history of Agbor nation. Pp. 42.
7. Kanu, Ikechukwu Anthony Osa; death in Igbo-African ontology. Department of Religion and Human Relations. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra State.