UGHELLI KINGDOM

The Great Ughelli Kingdom

The history of the Ughelli kingdom is a rich tapestry woven from the legacies of the Urhobo ancestors, particularly through the notable figure of Prince Oghwoghwa. This lineage is further defined by his four sons—Ogor, Ughene, Agbarha—and one daughter, Orhiarhia, who later became the mother of Orogun. The Urhobo people, recognized as one of the oldest ethnic groups in Nigeria and West Africa, trace their origins back to some of their ancestors Ibaba Eri and Ibaba Idu, who have been instrumental in preserving the Urhobo identity since over 2000 BC.

The prominence of the Urhobo people endured for an impressive 1655 years before the emergence of the Igodomigodo kingdom, which subsequently evolved into the Benin kingdom. This transformation was initiated by an Urhobo man named Igodo, hailing from Udo, who settled in Ugbekun, his maternal homeland. This event marked the inception of the Igodomigodo kingdom, which thrived until approximately 1059-1100 AD under the reign of Ogiso Owodo. Following the decline of the Ogiso dynasty, during the reign of Evian and his son Erebor—also known as Ogiamien—Oghwoghwa, the father of Ogor, Ughelli, Agbarha Otor, and Orhiarhia, made the pivotal decision to leave Igodomigodo around 1170 AD. This migration was prompted by the arrival of Oramiyan, who was invited by influential leaders known as the Edionisen, under the leadership of Oliha.

Prince Oghwoghwa, who belonged to the same Aka lineage as Ogiso Ovwodo, was recognized as a legitimate prince of Igodomigodo, poised to inherit the throne of the kingdom. However, his prospects of succeeding Ogiamien became increasingly tenuous, particularly with the unsettling news of Oranmiyan's impending return, the son of Ekaladerhan. This situation compelled Oghwoghwa to make a strategic decision to leave Igodomigodo, embarking on a journey through the intricate creeks of the Ase River. His travels ultimately led him westward to a location characterized by three junctions, which collectively became known as Tarakiri. This original Urhobo settlement encompassed the areas now recognized as Uduophori, Ofoni, and Odorubu.

Oghwoghwa’s first wife was Ebuereke from Ikao, and together they had two sons, Ogor and Agbarha. His second wife, Ughene, who was a descendant of Ogiso Igodo from the Igodomigodo outpost known as Uhumwuduwun, contributed to the lineage with the birth of Ughene, their second son named in honor of his mother, Ogene. Ughene would later become synonymous with Ughelli, alongside their only daughter, Orhiarhia. The order of Oghwoghwa's children reflects their seniority: Ogor, Ugheni, Agbarha, and Orhiarhia.

In his quest for a new beginning, Oghwoghwa migrated further into the hinterland, a pristine expanse teeming with wildlife, including species like Okpohorokpo, Eni, Uzo, and Ekpen, all set within the lush tropical rainforest of what is now Delta Central. Oghwoghwa emerged as a pioneering figure for many Urhobo individuals who left the Aka region in search of fertile land within the tropical rainforest that characterizes the current Delta state. In this verdant hinterland, he undertook the formidable task of clearing the land alongside his family, ultimately establishing a community that would become known as Ogor Oviri, located at the present site of Ogor Technical School. This settlement became a significant hub for the families that resided there for an extended period until the passing of Oghwoghwa in 1250 AD.

Following Oghwoghwa's death, Ugheni, one of his sons, migrated from Ogor Oviri and established a new settlement at Ovwodo Awanre. This territory, which Ughelli discovered and named in honor of Ogiso Ovwodo from the Aka lineage of the Ogiso dynasty, became a new home for his family. The descendants of Oghwoghwa, who established kingdoms that include Ogor, Ughelli, Agbarha, and Orogun, share a common ancestry with the last Ogiso Ovwodo and his son Ekaladerhan, reinforcing their ties to the Aka lineage and their Urhobo heritage.

At Ovwodo Awanre, Ughelli laid down the foundations of his presence around 1255 AD, establishing a thriving community with his family that would flourish for generations until the 1440s. One of his notable descendants, known as Oghwoghwa r'ide, was later shortened to Awhaide. He utilized the title of his ancestor Ughene and became the first king of the Ughelli kingdom in 1440 AD, establishing a lineage that has maintained its primogeniture system to this day without any interruptions. The Ughelli kingdom emerged as the first new Urhobo kingdom in the hinterland, distinct from Erhowa, which eventually evolved into Isoko along the coastal creeks of the Delta territory. The Urhobo ethnic nationality, which had faced significant challenges and diminishment due to external influences from groups like the Efa and Emehi, who existed approximately 1000 years prior to their ancestors such as Pa Idu and Pa Eri, saw a revival during the onset of the Ogiso dynasty. This revival was solidified in the Delta central region through the efforts of Oghwoghwa's descendants, leading to the establishment of the first kingdom known as the Ughelli kingdom.

# List of Ovie of Ughelli Kingdom

1. Ughene 1440 - 1460

2. Inere 1461 - 1524

3. Evwerososo 1525 - 1567

4. 1568 - 1594

5. Arhavwode 1595 - 1647

6. Adague 1648 - 1706

7. Useh 1707 - 1757

8. Akporoba 1758 - 1806

9. Esejuvevwo 1807 - 1855

10. Oghoghovwe 1856 - 1884

11. Idjesa 1885 - 1916

12. Oharisi I 1917 - 1943

13. Oharisi II 1944 - 1980

14. Oghoghovwe II 1981 - 1991

15. HRM Wilson Ojakovo Oghoghovwe Oharisi III 1992 - Present.

## Notable Urhobo People of Ughelli Kingdom:

Ben Okri

Gamaliel Onosode

Efe Abogidi

Efe Ajagba

Author: Obruke Orodje & Unmujanor Families

Sources:

Obruke Orodje, Agbon Kingdom.

Late Obanor Unmujanor, Grandfather, Agbon Kingdom.

Late Unmujanor Erikefe, Great Grandfather, Agbon Kingdom.

Late Erikefe Edafe Akporachoja, Great Great Grandfather, Agbon Kingdom.

#Urhobo People