AFRICAN PROVERBS
/Etsakor Proverbs
ETSAKOR DIALECT:
Khai mier orghier:
Uchi gi uchi aiya ne za vhi obo orda chi re; La e ri Ervholo re.
TRANSLATION:
There is no Village Sprout:
A collection of the various immigrants from different places; brings about a Village.
MEANING:
Hamlets or Villages are formed through immigration . A thorough investigation of every Villager or Townie should reveal how their ancestors migrated from a different place at some point in time in their history.
LIFE APPLICATION:
It is a fact that memorable events that happened in a place at any point in time make up the history of the place. In the ancient Benin Kingdom, about the 15th century, there came a reign of terror on the people. The King in power at the time, Oba Ozorlua, embarked on a gigantic and laudable project. The construction of the Benin Moat and walls around the great City of Benin.
This project required a lot of labour. And the King was equal to the task. In spite of the available volunteer workforce, he embarked on massive conscription into what some citizens saw as forced labour. In an attempt to obtain results, in compliance with deadlines in the project specifications, he applied excessive force. Volunteers had little time to rest with their families. And defaulters pay with their lives!
This gave rise to mass migrations away from the City into the hinterland. This was essentially to escape from the iron hand of his majesty. The family of Ikpe lived in a neighborhood with other families. Fortunately, Ikpe Community, still exists today, between the boundaries of Edo and Delta States of Nigeria, speaking Edo language and a dialect of the Igbo language. These groups of various families secretly arranged to embark on nocturnal migration to avoid being spotted by the royal spies.
They eventually arrived at Okotor Egba, where they all settled originally. This location is in present day Jattu, Etsakor West Local Government Area, Edo State. The fear of the consequences of being discovered by Oba of Benin, made some families proceeded further. At Uralokhor, Ugbonua and other locations in the present day Avianwu, Etsakor Central Local Government Area, Edo State, some families settled together.
Other families went further to settle at Ikpata, Khai ge negbe oder. Today, this place is called Aigenebode, Etsakor East Local Government Area, Edo State. The remaining group who still felt unsafe, picked up axes, cut and bound together, logs of wood from the river banks. The floated with this vessel down the river Niger to settle in different locations in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.
Now, in corroboration of the analysis of the above Proverb, it suffice to add the oral renditions about the History of Iyamho Community. Over 400 hundred years ago, Ikpe had already lived for centuries. There lived at Ikpe, a hunter named Ornosue, with his wife, Amho. As an occupational hunter, Ornosue would usually go on a hunting safari from Ikpe to the Ovhermhi forest. He did this every market week, only to return to join his family for the observance of the Ewor native worship and rest day.
He discovered the Ovhermhi forest to be abundantly rich in natural resources.The arable soil was fertile, streams flowed with fish and abundant species of animals and birds to hunt. The land was also secured round by a range of hills with caves. He made a there and farmed on the land. Season after season, the family's bumper harvest sharply contrasted with what is obtainable in Ikpe. So, he proposed the emigration to settle at the Ovhermhi forest to his wife, Amho. She gladly accepted. This, they became the first family to settle at the Ovhermhi forest.
In the course of time, many Migrants joined this hospitable family. This place was originally called Ikpe na Ovhermhi. This means an extension of Ikpe Community at Ovhermhi. Today, this settlement popularly called Iyua Amho, meaning the children of Amho. But being children of Amho denotes being inhabitants or Citizens of the Community. Iyamho, fondly referred to as Iyamho Ni Ogini (meaning, Iyamho - the monarch of Elephants) has evolved from a Hamlet, through a Village to become a fledgling town, with a University - Edo State University!
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