04/03/2025
HOW BENIN MIGRANTS FOUNDED OHAFIA
Oral history has it that the founders of Ohafia originally migrated from Benin to Adoni in present-day Rivers State before moving further to their present locations as follows:
Akpo gave birth to Atita Akpo.Atita gave birth to Ezema and Onyerubi. Ezema Atita found Ohafia. Onyerubi Atita found Abam.
Ezema Atita gave birth to:-
1. Ama Ezema....Founder of Amuke Ohafia
2. Ukpai Ezema ....founder of Asaga Ohafia
3. Lokpa Ezema...founder of Lokpa
4. Uduma Ezema *Ohafia ( note the *)
5. Otutu Ezema...founder of Ututu.
Note:-
The asterisk (*) that is marked on Uduma Ezema means it needs explanations.
Ezema Atita as the father of all the 5 children ended at Elu Ohafia at Ugwuegbenzu when the rest settled at Achichi Elu.
From Achichi Elu everybody started moving to their various settlements while Uduma Ezema, though not the first son, remained at Achichi Elu.
Achichi Elu became the last settlement of everybody on the entourage before everyone dispersed to their various settlements.
At Achichi Elu, the name Ohafia was adopted after the visit of Onyerubi sons from Abam.
Because Achichi Elu was the last settlement of everybody , Elu Ohafia became the traditional capital of Ohafia.
Though Ugwumgbo is also part of Elu Ohafia and that was the last place Ezema Atita their father touched last , it was still not regarded as the last settlement.
This narrative is important because of many questions that have been asked like, why is Uduma who is not the first son of Ezema being regarded as the head and Elu the traditional headquarters of Ohafia instead of Amuke that was founded by Ama Ezema the first son.
Let us again, look at why Ohafia is addressed as Ohafia Uduma Ezema instead of Ohafia Ezema.
The name Ohafia was derived when the sons of Onyerubi visited them at Achichi Elu.
Remember that Ezema Atita the father of Ohafia did not reach Achichi Elu their last settlement before everybody moved to their different settlements.
Since Uduma was left at Achichi Elu and their father, Ezema Atita, also buried at Ugwuegbenzu in Elu , the name Ohafia Uduma Ezema became associated with that traditional headquarters where Uduma settled.
What happened to Lokpa?
Lokpa Ezema with his associates did not reach Achichi Elu with others, rather he migrated towards Isuochi as they leave Ibeku.
They finally settled at where we have Lokpa ( Ukwu, Nta) today.
Also Onyerubi Atita with his family did not come with his brother Ezema Atita to Achichi Elu .
Reason, when they crossed Igwu River from Ibeku, Onyerubi‘ Swift entered into labour because she was heavy and about to deliver.
He stayed behind to allow his wife to born before they continue.
After the delivery, they found the place okay for their settlement therefore they settled there. Because they entered there for his wife to deliver, they named the place Abam Onyerubi.
After the child delivery, Onyerubi sent his two sons to go and find out where his brother is and to pass the message of the safe delivery of his wife and also to tell his brother, Ezema Atita that where they are is okay for them, they want to settle there.
When they two sons of Onyerubi Atita came to Achichi Elu, they met the others there.
Onyerubi children delivered the good news of safe delivery to the team and asked them how is this place Achichi Elu?
The team answered them and said , Oha wu afia, meaning they met other people already at Achichi Elu but the people were good to them that’s why we allowed them to live. The words “Oha wu afia” was then coined to be Ohafia. Afia is where different people gather to trade, so them team and the people they met became the different people in the market (afia).
I know you will ask about Otutu Ezema.
Before the arrival of Onyerubi’s sons to Achichi Elu, Otutu Ezema and his associates have moved towards Arochukwu till the place they now settled and named the place Ututu.
Therefore Ututu became a town of her own with a different name from Ohafia just like Lokpa.
Every other group that later moved out from Achichi Elu became part of Ohafia , they all formed the 26 villages of Ohafia.
It is important for us to know our history so that our generations to come will know their history too.
We shall be treating Ohafia history from time to time in this page and in other pages for the purpose of education.
