HISTORY

History The name Abraka is taken from Avwraka. Avwraka (Abraka) is one of the few Urhobo socio-political units whose predecessors did not live elsewhere among non-Urhobo ethnicgroup before settling in Urhoboland. The Avwraka story of genealogical link with the royal descent group of Benin is an issue seen by most historians ascontroversial. Avwraka may actually have been a Prince in an Edo-speaking political group which emigrated and settled near other Urhobo people. The contemporary main version of the historical traditions of Avwraka (Abraka) states that beforeAvwraka died in Otorho-Avwraka, he had two sonscalled Aghwa and Ivie. These are the distant ancestors of Umiaghwa and Oruarivie of Avwraka today. The main settlements of Avwraka (Abraka) today are : Oria, Urhuagbesa, Umeghe, Oteri (founded by descendants of Oruarivie) Otorho- Avwraka (Avwraka inland) is the traditional center of administration and government. The construction of link road to Sapele in 1901, increased the commercial activities and population in Avwraka. On 6 May 1978 the whole of Avwraka resolved to constitute themselves intoa kingdom like most Urhobo kingdoms. They decided to have Chief David Oghenegueke Dafe as their Ovie (king) and Chief Joseph Ajarho Atagana from Umiaghwa as their otota (spokesman). Recent historical development in Avwraka (Abraka) has re-introduced the much needed unity. The development has been recognised by the government of then Bendel state through legalnotice no. 99 of 1990 under the traditional rulers and chiefs edit.