Opobo
Opubo | |
|---|---|
City state | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 4°30′41″N 7°32′24″E / 4.51139°N 7.54000°E | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| State | Rivers State |
| Founded by | Chiefs from 14 houses in Grand Bonny |
| Government | |
| • Amanyanabo | Dandeson Douglas Jaja V |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
Opobo is a community in Rivers state, South South region of Nigeria. The kingdom was founded in 1870 by Jubo Jubogha, popularly known as JaJa, a former Igbo slave who was absorbed into the pre-existing Ibani Ijaw culture. The native language of Opobo is the Ibani language, a dialect of Ijaw that is closely related to Kalabari. The Opobo people majorly speak an Igbo dialect called Okwu Ubani, which is very similar to Ndoki dialect due to their heterogeneous ancestry.
A greater part of the city state is still referred to as Opobo in Rivers State. Opobo is made up of several islands and communities which is in Opobo-Nkoro Local Government Area in the South South Senatorial District of Rivers State Nigeria.
The communities include, Opobo Town, which is its headquarters, Queenstown, Kalasunju, Oloma, Ayaminimah, Iloma, Minimah, Okpukpo, Iwoma, Ekereborokiri, Kalaibiama, Epelema, Ozuobulu, Muma Down Below, Inokiri and Abazibie. Some parts of the city state are now in Akwa Ibom State: Egwenga and Opukalama, in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State.
Opobo's geologic setting is similar to the coastal and estuarine settlements of the Niger Delta region. It is located at the mouth of the Imo River, one of the main estuaries that break the Nigerian coastline. The approximate geographical co-ordinates of the kingdom are 04°34'N latitudes and longitude 07°12'E, located about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from the Atlantic Ocean. Opobo is two meters above sea level and the very close interfaces between the sea water. Opobo is located about 80 kilometres (50 mi) from Port Harcourt and has been accessible by sea and air and only recently by land.
Opobo is divided into 14 sections ("polo"), made up of 67 War Canoe Houses. The 14 sections are Adibie, Biriye, Diepiri, Dapu, Dappa Ye Amakiri, Epelle, Fubarakworo, Iroanya, Jaja, Kalaomuso, Ukonu, Kiepirima, Owujie, and Tolofari.[1][2]
- ^ "Ikot Abasi". Encyclopædia Britannica. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
- ^ "About Opobo". Opoboregatta.com. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2014.