About Urhobo

Who are the urhobo people?

Urhobos are people located in Southern Nigeria and is part of the Niger Delta region. Urhobo people are the major ethnic group in Delta State where you will also find the Isoko, Ika, Igbo, Ukwani, Ijaw, Itsekiri and the Olukumi people. Of the 25 local government councils in Delta State, Urhobo people occupy 9, namely Ethiope East, Ethiope West, Okpe, Sapele, Udu, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Uvwie and Warri South.

In Delta State, 7 out of the 8 Local Government Areas that are oil producing are located in Urhobo, they are Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Udu, Sapele, Ethiope East, Ethiope West and Okpe. The Utorogu Gas Plant located in Ughelli south and Udu Local Government Area is among the biggest plants in Africa.

There are around 4.5 million Urhobos in Nigeria making it the 5th largest ethnic tribe in the country. The majority of Urhobo people are Christians with around 10% practicing Igbe religion which originated from Kokori in Agbon in 1858.

Urhobo Kingdoms

 Urhobo is made up of 24 Kingdom all of which have rich cultural heritage. The kingdoms are:

Agbarha-Otor

Evwreni

Okere-Urhobo  

Udu  

Agbarha-Warri  

Ewu  

Okparabe  

Ughelli

Agbarho

Idjerhe   

Okpe  

Ughievwen  

Agbon  

Mosogar  

Olomu  

Umiaghwa-Abraka  

Arhawarien 

Oghara   

Orogun

Uvwie  

Effurun-Otor  

Ogor

Oruarivie-Abraka

Uwheru

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Urhobo Traditional Structures

Urhobo indigenous governments have an Ovie (king), who is the highest political figure. The Ovie is the symbol of the kingdoms’ culture and royal predecessors. His Councillors consist of the Otota (speaker), and the Ohoveworen or Okakoro, addressed collectively as Ilorogun (singular; Olorogun).

Urhobo people speak Urhobo. There are various dialects of Urhobo spoken across the 24 Kingdoms, but the Agbarho dialect of Urhobo language, is a linqua franca in Urhobo. The Urhobo dialects are Agbarho (central Urhobo), Okpe, Ughievwien, Uvwie, Agbon, Avwraka (Abraka), Udu, Ofoni, Orogun and Agbarha.

Urhobo has a rich cultural and high moral. These customs and traditions of the Urhobo people manifest through visual art, religious beliefs, birth, marriage and death rituals, monarchy, festivals, language, music, folklore and dance performance, attire and food.