Discover Urhobo

Urhobo is an Edoid language from the Niger-Congo Language family. It is spoken by roughly 1.1 million people in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria.

Main Communities

Delta state including Warri, Ughelli, and Sapele.

Common names and their meanings

  • Ufuoma - peace of God
  • Erhuvie - God’s time
  • Ejiro - Praise God 
  • Rukevwe - God did this for me
  • Oghenetega - God is worship of worthy
  • Onajite -  This is sufficient
  • Okiemute - there's a time for everything

Staple Food

Owoh - Also called oghwevwri, oghwoevwri,oghwo or owo, the soup is named after the city of Owo. Owoh soup is made from cocoyam leaves cooked with palm oil and crayfish among other ingredients. The soup is a good source of protein,vitamins,minerals, fibre, and healthy fats.

Culture and Traditions

Kingdoms – There are 24 Urhobo kingdoms - each with its own distinct culture and traditions. Every kingdgom is ruled by an Ovie (king) who preside over community affairs communities and plays a significant role in the socio-cultural and political life. The queen is called the Ovieya, and their children are known as Ọmọ Ovie. Traditional Urhobo government is run by a council of elders.

Traditional Attire - Urhobo women tie two ovrlapping pieces of cloth called wrappers around their waist. The Aniku is tied first and reached the ankle. The Oseba is then tied over the Aniku. Women wear a blouse known as Ewu and headgear called Onerhoor or Uriofo. Urhobo men also tie a 6-yard wrapper and accompany it with a shirt and a hat known as Eru.

Notable figures:

Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD)- Actor. He is a renowned Nollywood actor known for his versatility in portraying various characters. RMD has won multiple awards including the 2005 Africa Movie Academy Award (AMA) for Best Actor in a Leading Role. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the AMAs in 2016.

Michael Ibru - Businessman. He was a pioneer industrialist and the founder of the Ibru Organization - one of the largest conglomerates in Africa. Ibru has made significant contributions to various industries in Nigeria including shipping, banking, hospitality, and real estate.

Fejiro Okiomah - Athlete. He was a professional soccer player and played as a defender for the United States MLS.

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