Tarakiri west

Clans

Clanship in Izonland is dictated by common ancestry, and not by geography. As such, the clan has a fairly wide geographical distribution, with Agbere located far upstream on the banks of the Nun River, and Agbidiama located close enough to the Nigerian coastline to be a classified as a salt water river town. Three towns in the clan are Urhobo speaking, whilst the rest are Izon speaking. Most towns in the clan are however clustered close to the Tarakiri-Ogbesu (juju) shrine on the banks of Forcados river, the deity itself being integral to the culture of the Tarakiri peoples.

The 13 communities that constitute the clan are:

History

Tarakari-Owei migrated west from eastern Ijaw in the 1700s, leaving behind grown children that form the ancestry of Eastern Ijaw Tarakiri clan. The children born after the migration form the lineage of the Western Tarakiri clan. The historical link between the two clans is still acknowledged, with delegations being sent during such ceremonies such coronations and special burials. Tarakiri-owei settled at Obioma, and consecrated a shrine to his deity Tarakiri-Ogbosu, to whom he served as priest. He earned his living as a farmer and fisherman.

Tarakiriowei had the following sons:

His death was followed by fratricidal conflicts, which led to the dispersal of his children throughout the region. In this period, the deity was lost to its worshippers.

Leadership

Traditionally, communities within the clan existed independently and in confederation, as is commonplace amongst Izon clans. Leadership was conferred by the clan deity, who deigned to choose a high priest every so often. This high priest thus acted as Judge in the land. Becoming high priest in those days was not desirable as service was thought to lead to an early death. A priest was expected to live more than seven years

Areh of Ebedebiri (circa 1820)

-Priest Areh found the lost Ogbusu of Tarakiri as served is as his personal juju until it was declared by the oracle to be the Tarakiri-Ogbusu, otherwise known as Agadagba. He then moved the juju from his farmland in Ebedebiri to it current location at Oruasa, just across the river.

Kpadia, son of Mein(1911–1919)

– Priest, Judge and Clan Head Kpadia was acknowledged from childhood as being destined to become the priest of Tarakiri Ogbosu.

Kpadia’s mother was Oruere from Patani (Kabo clan) Oruere was said to have suffered child mortality, until she swore to the deity, Tarakiri-egbesu, that any son of hers that survived childhood would be dedicated to the deity’s service. Kpadia was born soon after.

Though recognized early on as the chosen one, Kpadia delayed performing the rituals of priesthood until much later in his life, whilst always acknowledging his duty. By this ruse, he escaped the curse of early death, and lifed to be an old man.

In the 1890s he migrated from his native Orua (now called Bulou-Orua) to a packet of land between Angalabiri and Ebedebiri, and founded a village initially called Kpadia-Ama (Kpadia’s village). This move gave him better access to the Tarakiri-Ogbusu shrine, across the river at Oruasa. In time, Kpadia-ama came to be known as Toru-orua, (Orua by the river).

Kpadia was the first Priest of Tarakiri as recognised by colonial authorities in the 1910s. The colonial administration’s divide and Rule required clans and regions to have a leader, and as such, the role of Clan Head evolved from priest-judge to include political ruler.

Yomukode of Ebedebiri(1930–36)

- Clan Head & Presiding Judge, Tarakiri Clan Court Yomukodewaschosenby virtue of being the oldest man in the clan. The clan had no overall leader, no priest being overtly handpicked by Agadagba. This did not suit the administrative needs of the British colonial District Officer Anderson, who then directed that the oldest man preside over the Tarakiri Clan Court at Ebedebiri.

Zinne, son of Yomukode – (1936–1937)

-Interim Clan Head &Presiding Judge, Tarakiri Clan Court Zinne served as clan leader and Clan Court judge following the passing of his father, and before the investiture of Okorie

Okorie, son of Kpadia(1937–1957)

–Priest, Pere&Presiding Judge, Tarakiri Clan Court Official title: Pere OkorieKpadia II Okorie was the first child to be born in Toru-Orua village following his father’s migration.

Okorie was chosen as priest by the Ogbosu, but could not serve as priest until the passing of his older brothers, Ayamasowei (d. 1929) and Ebiayibo (d. 1937). Okorie served as priest with Tonkebor, each serving every 4 days until the latter passed in 1941. At the time, the title “Pere” was being adopted by Izon clan heads. Pere Okorie thus held roles of priest and judge, as his father before him, and also sat at the Western Region’s Council of Chiefs in Ibadan. He was widely revered in Izonland as a true and fair judge. He was also pro education, being one of the first people in the area to send his daughters to school, and his sons to university abroad and in Nigeria.

Odogu, son of Kpadia (1963–1976)

Official title: Pere OdoguKpadia III Pere Odogu was elected in accordance to the Tarakiri Chieftaincy Declaration (1960) by a body of kingmakers led by the Ibebeinemowei of Tarakiri. The other chiefs are

1. The Osua of Tarakiri
2. The Onuaboro of Tarakiri
3. The Wurutuaowei of Tarakiri
4. TheBebeariowei of Tarakiri
5. The Ozifareowei of Tarakiri
6. The Onifareowei of Tarakiri
7. The Olutu of Tarakiri
8. The Olorogun of Tarakiri

Nigeria had become a republic in 1960, transforming the role of Pere to purely ceremonial governance, much like a constitutional monarchy. Thus, the Pere is neither political leader, nor judge and is only optionally a worshipper of the clan deity.

Samson Koroye – son of Okorie 1979-1998

Official title: Pere Samson Koroye Kpadia IV Pere Samson was elected in the same manner as his uncle, Pere OdoguKpadia III.

In 1993, a new constitution was established that regulated the Tarakiri Traditional Administration. It introduced an electoral college composed of representatives from the 13 communities within the area. Additionally, the constitution delineated various tiers of chieftaincy within the clan, which include:

The first prime minister under this new constitution was Chief Sele Eseimokumo. On creation of Bayalesa State in 1996, the office of Pere of Tarakiri was recognised as a First Class chieftaincy stool

Pere Sele Eseimokumoh (1999–2012)

Pere Eseimokumoh contested for the chieftaincy against Chief RO Koroye and won by the narrowest of margins (1 vote). The constitution was revised in his reign, increasing the number of titled chiefs, and more crucially, proscribing the succession of any Pere by a family member.

RO Koroye answered the call to serve as priest of Agadagba, the Tarakiri-Ogbosu, in 1999.

Richardford Koroye – son OkorieKpadia(2012 onwards)

-Priest & Pere Official Title: Pere Richardford Okorie Kpadia V The incumbent ruler of Western Tarakiri clan, Pere Richardford Orukarubai Koroye traces did descent from Tarakiriowei as follows: Tarakiriowei – Kolobiriowei – Biesei – Fanbigha – Suobilefa – Meinmiebigbagha–Chief Kpadia – Pere Okorie Kpadia II- Pere RO KoroyeKpadia V

He serves as priest and Clan Head like his father and grandfather before him, as well as being recognised as a First Class Chief by the Bayelsa State Government.