In this article, Platinum Times Nigeria archives a concise history, beliefs and traditions of the Oron ethnic group in Nigeria.
The Oron or Örö people are a group of several ethnic groups that make up the Akpakip Oro or Oron Nation.
They are the third most largest ethnic group in Akwa- Ibom state with a population of about 250,000 people.
They are found in southern Nigeria in the riverine area of Akwa Ibom, Cross River States and in Cameroon.
Akpakip Oro are known as an ancient warrior people, speaking the Oro language which is in the Cross River language family of the Benue–Congo languages. They are ancestrally related to the Efik people of the Cross River State, the Ibeno and Eastern Obolo in Akwa Ibom, the Andoni people in Rivers State and the Balondo-ba-Konja in the Congo and is second most oil producing group in Akwa-Ibom State.
Oron nation is usually called Oro Ukpavan, Akpakipu Oro Or Oro Ukpavan Okpo. These names are derived from their ancestor Abang Okpo. The Akpakip Oro are made up of nine clans known as the Afaha.
History and Origin
History has it that Oron has been in existence in the pre-colonial period of Nigeria and was formerly a part of the province called the South-Eastern state which was later part of Cross River State and now part of Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria.
The Oron ancestral figure known as “Ekpu Oro” represented the personal and social experiences of the Oron people, it also symbolized their spiritual beliefs and cultural history which was destroyed during the Biafran war.
The Oron people sees the Efik people, Obolo people, Ibeno and Ekid people as part of their ancestral family but many controversy states that the relationship of Oron with Ekid is said to have gone sour when the Eket under the regime of Brigadier General U.J. Esuene declared and agreed to be called a subgroup of the Ibibio nation to gain political relevance and advantage. U.J. Esuene was also said to have denied the Oron people of the opportunity to site the Exxon Mobile’s first terminal in Mbo, Akwa Ibom and Effiat Oron areas of Oron Nation.
Presently,the six ethnic groups which forms the Oron nation are; Oron Ukpabang,Okobo,Idua (Asang),Enwang, Ebughu Otong and Efiat/Mbo.
Oron Language
Natives of Oron speak the Oro language fluently. Due to their ancestral relationship with the Efiks, they also speak the Efik, Ibibios and Annang language. Other languages spoken by Oronians are; Ebughu language, Ilue language, Efai language, Okobo language, Enwang language and Uda language.
Population
Oron town is said to be the third largest city in Akwa Ibom state with a population of over 250,000 people living within the city. Oro land is originally addressed as “Oron nation” and its people consist of 9 Clans called Afaha.
These are; Afaha Okpo, Afaha Ukwong, Ebughu, Afaha Ibighi, Effiat, Afaha Ubodung, Etta, Afaha Oki-uso, and Afaha Idua (Ilue). It is a home to lots of natural resources including silica sand, salt, Limestone,Uranium, Manganese, clay etc. It is the second most Oil producing community after Etinan in Nigeria producing about 60% of Akwa Ibom State. The main occupation common here is fishing, farming and trading.
Cultures and traditions
The culture of the Oron people is unique, it can be expressed in songs, dances, folklores etc. The first National Museum east of the Niger is in Oron and is known as the Oron Museum which contain severally carvings and artifacts of the Oron People dated back to 2370BC.
Some aspects of the oron culture that is unique to them include; their child naming, traditional dressing,food and marriage.
Oron people name their children based on the family they belong. A native of Oron has his/her name liknked to his father and the lineage he comes from.
The traditional dressing of Oron people is similar to the Efiks. Ancient Oron traditional dressing was made from raffia fibre, they later wore local fabrics and beads known as Ngwa, their men were clean shaved with an artificial Beard with cap, their women plaited hair naturally.
Modern Oron men have a colorful mode of traditional dressing, they wear a piece of red colored fabric called Iyara on the head with a white tailored shirt and wrapper wrapped round the waist. This is a common traditional attire among the Efik, Ibibio and Annang.
The women wear dresses similar to the Efik women,they wear a long and colorful garment called Ọnyọnyọ especially in special occasions. Other feminine dresses worn are; Ibûd Anang accompanied with many beads worn on the waist and ankles to perform traditional dances. Some garments and accessories are used for events like weddings or to perform traditional dances. They are; “Anana Ubok”, these are beads worn across the shoulders, “Nkpakhá Ubok”, colorful raffia’s worn over the hand, “Nkpakhá Etim”, raffias worn on the legs together with bells.
The dancers also wear a special skirt made from cane called Akasi. It is believed that a typical Oron woman should be healthy, fair-skinned, intelligent and have a full and attractive waistline to attract attention.
Oron marriage is similar to the Efik traditional marriage, the young maidens undergo the fattening room practice few months before the marriage ceremony.
This practice is to help prepare the young maidens for womanhood.
To validate the marriage, the groom visits the bride’s family with few of his kinsmen and pays the dowry and other items required by the bride’s family.
Being a warm- loving and accommodating people,they have lots of delicacies perculiar to their culture. They include; Afang, Edikang Ikong, Ekpang Nkukwo (called Ötotö in Oron) and some lesser-known (but still very delicious) dishes like Atama soup and the Oron traditional soup called Otong that is unique to Oron and is regarded as the traditional dish of Oron people.
Otong is very nutritious and is eaten with Iwe Ekpang, which is made of cassava (wrapped in plantain leaves and boiled). Due to their riverine location, they are blessed with sea foods like crabs, fresh fish, prawns, oysters, crayfish etc.
Religions and beliefs
Just like every other African tribe,the Oron people belief in ancestral spirits, reincarnation, deities, divinities and the Supreme being called Abazi Oro(God of heaven).
They belief in Abazi Usong Oyong(Abazi Oro) as the Almighty God who lives in the sky and is the creator of everything rewarding all good deeds And punishing the bad ones.
They belief that Abazi Usong inhabits the earthly realms and is responsible for the wealth of individuals or society at large.
They belief in Olughu, a deity which they perform sacrifices, incantations and pour libations to placate.
Olughu was used in villages to detect crimes, settle disputes between individuals and families, and enforce village norms through rituals and punishment of offenders.
The Oron entire religious system believe on the Supreme God, the lesser god, the ancestors spirit, the various Olughu and Mbiams, the Ndem etc, and they aided in the maintenance of order, law and social control as well as unifying influences.
Secret Societies
The most important secret societies of the Oron people are the ‘Ekung’, ‘Ekpe’, ‘Nka’, ‘Inam’, ‘Abang’, ‘Ukpok’, and ‘lban Isong’. They were used to maintain law and order in the society.