๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐-๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
The areas described by the anthropologists as Oratta-Ikwerri, ecompassed the today's 3 LGAs of Owerri, Ngแปr-Okpala, Agwa (written as Obudi) in today's Oguta LGA, and parts of Ohaji, all in today's Imo state along with the Etche, Omuma and Ikwerre speaking LGAs.
The Oratta-Ikwerri, as classified by the anthropologists,
comprise two tribes and two tribal groups, said to be inter related but with distinctive dialects.
The two tribes are the Etche and the Oratta while the Ikwerre is classified as a tribal group (group of tribes).
The other is an unclassified cluster of clans, but closely related to the Etche and Oratta.
The Oratta-Ikwerre are distinct from the Isuama in the north and the Isuama provided labour who worked in farms and as craftmen in those areas.
It is also noticed that ๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐พ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
Amadiแปha religious figure appears more prominent among the Oratta-Ikwerre than anywhere else. The Mbari is a perculiar aspect of the culture of the Oratta and Etche tribes. The แปtamiri river deity also is commonly worshipped by the Oratta and Etche groups. Also, there are duplication and repitition of names of communities between the Oratta and the Etche.
Such shared names include: Ulakwแป, Obibi, Egbu, etc.
The Etche and some of the Ikwerre groups, share traits, blood ties and cultural practices such as the "Ogba-ige" festivity, among others. There are also cases of migrations and counter migrations between Etche and Ikwerre.
Some communities around Ohaji seem to be intermediaries or fusion of the Oratta, Etche and Ikwerre, as their dialects and culture appear to have imprints of the three groups.
In the colonial era, the Oratta tribe was administered under the Owerri division. Some Etche were administered in Owerri division, and some others in Aba division. The remaining majority of the Etche and the Ikwerre were administered under the Ahoada division.
During the 1967 state creation, the Ikwerre and Etche remained in the newly created Rivers State while Oratta and the other clusters, along with some Etche, remained in the East Central state. Ikwerre speaking settlements (Awarra, Ikwerrede) were also retained in the East Central state.
Further more, the majority of the Ikwerre and Etche became administered under a sub-administrative unit known as Ikwerre-Etche.
The picture below shows the sub classification of these tribes, tribal group and village group cluster that make up the
Oratta-Ikwerre cluster.
Book ref.
Daryll Forde, G. I Jones, (1950). "๐ป๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐-๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ต๐๐๐๐๐๐: Ethnographic Survey of Africa, Western Africa part III", London, Oxford University Press for the International African institute. pp 41.
©Akachukwu Vitalis
Source: OrattaIkwerre & Igbohistory3000BC
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