KOKORI-OKPARA ORIGIN AND MIGRATION

THE KOKORI-OKPARA ORIGINS AND MIGRATION 2.1 GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION Will and Ariel Durant emphasize the place of geographical location in history when they agree that -Geography is the matrix of history, its nourishing mother and disciplining home-1. The influence of geography on Kokori and Okpara peoples' lives in the past cannot be overemphasized. The two hinterland communities, Okpara and Kokori share similar climatic and geographical features with other Urhobo land areas, which make up the main dry land of theWestern Niger Delta. The entire Urhobo land is flat and is situated in the evergreen Tropical Forest Zone. The -Ubiquitous West Coast Oil Palm dominates it. The two sub-clans in focus, Okpara and Kokori are within Agbon in Ethiope East Local Government Area, Delta State. Thepeoples who were mainly inland dwellers now inhabit -waterside-regions, so that we now have Okpara inland and Okpara waterside; Kokori inland and Kokori waterside respectively. To a large extent, the climate and geographical location of these groups had influenced their cultural behavior and relations in the pre-colonial epoch. The geographical location allowed foreasy access to each of the territory, so that, people from both towns easily traversed each other's territory. Because of the geographical dynamics, a good deal of interaction beyond mere traversing into any of the territories, took plac. Eventhoughthese towns existed as autonomous units, they were by no means separated from each other. 3. In particular, Kokori is bounded in the north by Eku andIgun sub-clans; in the east by Ugono, Orhomuru, Erhobaro, Ovara and Idionvwan villages all in Orogun clan. Kokori shares its southern boundary with Avwirhein Agbarha clan; and in the west, it is bounded by Isiokolo and Okpara inland in Agbon kingdom 4. It has about 196km2 land space with a township that has six access roads. The roads include: Kokori Eku road, Kokori-Ugono road, Kokori-Orogun road, Kokori-Ughelli road, Kokori-Oshesheri/Okpara road 5. the last route is of central importance in explaining kokori-Okpara relations in the past. For much of the interactions between them was carried out through this route 6. Network of streams and creeks cut across different parts of the Kokori territory. Two major streams are identifiable; the Omue stream on Eku road; and Iranzo on Orogun road. On the other hand Okpara is bounded in the east by Kokori /Isiokolo, in the south by Ekrebuo/Orhoakpo, in the West by Ovu-inland. It is watered by Omue stream, which also runs across Kokori. Its thick forest hada substantial wildlife reserve 7. The people of Okpara and Kokori were predominantly subsistence farmers who produced for their subsistence needs. The economy was anchored on farming. They were self-sufficient farmers. They however produced little above their subsistence needs to exchange for their complementary needs. The process of exchange was through barter. Agricultural products like food-crops e.g. water yams could be exchanged for Okra. Although with time, cowries, came to be adopted as the medium of exchange. Both communities had market days on which they disposed of their surplus produce or bought the ones they needed. Okpara market day was held every four days. It was called Edewor and nobody was expected to go to farm on that day. Kokori market day was every eight days. It also had a mid-market day market that was held every four days. Most farmers harvested their crops during harvest period, on aday to the market with a view to taking them to the market place the following day. There was alsohawking in the streets on ordinary days. Kokori traders patronized Okpara Market. While many Okpara people patronized Kokori Central Market 8. The topography of Okpara andKokori allows for the cultivation of such crops as yams, cassava, Okra, pepper, maize, melon, red-beans (locally called Isha) among others. Apart from tilling the soil they also exploited the palm trees, which grow in their bush for the production of soap, food and palm kernel as well as brooms. They had ponds they harvested often annually. The community owned the major ponds. These were either harvested every three years or more years. Okpara and Kokori lie within the same geo-climatic zone. They both experience the rainy season, which begins in June and ends in early November; and the dry season, which begins in late November and ends in late may 9. There is also the northeast trade wind, which affects the area. During this season, deciduous plants and trees shed their leaves. And the burning of bush usually marked it. These three seasons influenced the agricultural routine of pre-colonial Okpara and Kokori people. For instance, during the rains, less farm work was done. The men turned to fishing in the streams and rivers. Towards the end of the rainy season when the water was subsiding, they used Uge-a kind of fish trap-in trapping the fish. They practiced slash and burn system of farming.TO BE CONTINUED.......