Western Apoi tribe

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The Western Apoi tribe live in Ondo State, Nigeria. The tribe (also called Apoi, Ijo-Apoi or Apoi-Ijo) consists of nine settlements: Igbobini, Ojuala, Ikpoke, Inikorogha, Oboro, Shabomi, Igbotu, Kiribo and Gbekebo. The Apoi inhabit higher ground than most of the other Ijaw tribes. They speak a southeastern dialect of the Yoruba language called Apoi which is not very different from the Ikale dialect. The Apoi might have undergone a linguistic shift centuries ago from an Ijo based dialect to Yoruba due to intermarriages with the Ikale, and isolation from the Niger Delta due to their location inland and away from the main body of Ijo people. They are bordered to the north and east by the Ikale and to the west by the Ilaje. The clan shares the southern border with the Arogbo.^[1]

The Apoi people trace their origin to a migration from the Central Niger Delta in present day Bayelsa State and further to an early migration from Ile-Ife. Prior to arriving at their present location, tribal traditions recall a long period of settlement at Ukomu in what is now Furupagha territory.

The Apoi took their name from Apoi (Opoi) the son of Kala-Okun, who accompanied his grandfather Ujo on their way back to Otu-Ife or Ile-Ife. In a group of nine, they got lost in trying to trace the route back without the aid of a navigator. So, they decided to settle within the vicinity of the Nun River (Apoi creek), where the present village of Apoi is situated. Ujo who bore the title Kalasuwe (KALA-SUWE or KALUSUWE i.e., small god,), died here and his grandson inherited the title.

Subsequently, Kalasuwe became a royal title passing through the family lineage of Apoi. The nine lineages formed out of the migrating group founded nine quarters (Idumu), of which only five are remembered, these include, Ogboinbou, Apoi, Okoto-aza or Okoto-aja (the original home of Kalasuwe or Ujo himself and the site of one of his ancestral shrines called Oborowi), Umgbuluama, and Inikorogha. Some descendants of Gbaran migrated from Gbaran settlement within the same area, and with the Apoi founded the villages of Keme-Ebiama, Ajama or Azama, Kassama, and Ogboinbiri, Kolokologbene, and Sampou. Together with Gbaran town, these have collectively become known as Apoi Ibe.

The western Apoi who derived from the Okoto-aja or Okotoaza, Umgbuluama, Apoi and other Idumu’s, migrating with the royal family first settled at Ukomu in the area of Furupagha in the western Niger Delta. They stayed here for a long period of time but had to leave due to the activities of soldiers from the Benin empire (this was the time of the expansion of the Benin empire 1500 AD onwards). Most of the ancestors moved on westwards to found the town of Akpaka. After the reign of Five Kalasuwes (approx. 150-200 years), a gradual process of dispersal set in causing the founding of the towns of Igbobini, Igbotu, Oboro, Ojuala (Oju-Ala), Gbekebo and Kiribo. The royal family moved from Akpaka to found Toru-Abukuba (Apukuba or Opukuba). Later on, Toru-Abukuba became the towns of Oboro and Shabomi.

The Western Apoi call Kalasuo Kalasuwe or Kalashuwe and Oborowi, Oborowe. They no longer speak Ijaw language, but a dialect made up of the fusion of Ijaw and Yoruba. Of late, they have moved on to adopting the general Yoruba which most of them now speak. At a later stage as part of the Yoruba influence, the rulers took on the Oba title, before switching back to the ancient titles of Kalasuwe. As children of Ujo, at Ile-Ife the ancestral traditions name them as one of the sub-tribes that sprung from King Adumu-Ala (alias Oduduwa). The Apoi are pre-14th century.

Many Apois have begun seeing themselves totally as Yorubas; while some believe that the acculturation has been completed and Apois have now become part and parcel of the larger Yoruba race. Yet, some others say they are Yorubas by virtue of the oral tradition of their migration from Ile-Ife.

The Apoi king is called Oba and the title is Kalasuwe and dual seats of the throne are in Shabomi and Oboro.

Here is the list of Apoi Kings, and the communities they rule over:

• Kalasuwe of Apoi Land - Oba (Prof.) Sunday Adejimola Amuseghan
• Olu of Igbobini - Oba Oyedele Raphael
• Odogun of Igbekebo - Oba Bamidele Dabo
• Gbaluwe of Igbotu - Oba Adeniyi Ajayi
• Alakpaka of Kiribo - Oba Johnson Oduyi Ajayi
• Takunbe of Ikpoke - Vacant
• Jowe of Inikorogha - Oba M.A. Olasehinde
• Lebu of Ojuala - Oba Charles Adeboye Olajide
• Okiribiti of Shabomi - Oba Felix Adeyemi Koledoye
• Kenme of Oboro - Oba Eyilola Tunde Alabeni