CLARIFICATION ON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE ORIGIN AND STRUCTURE OF THE URHOBO PEOPLE

CLARIFICATION ON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE ORIGIN AND STRUCTURE OF THE URHOBO PEOPLE

-By Zik Gbemre 

A video shared online by @naijafromhere (TikTok) is misleading and inaccurate. The pronunciation of Urhobo itself is incorrect, which already raises concerns about its credibility.

First, Urhobo society was never governed by kings under kingdoms. Traditionally, the Urhobo people were organized into clans, each operating independently.

Second, every community was led by the eldest man, known as the 'Okpako-Orere' , who served as the head and custodian of authority. This system has been the foundation of Urhobo society since ancient times.

Third, so-called “traditional rulers” were not originally part of Urhobo culture. The structure was fundamentally different from monarchies seen elsewhere.

Lastly, the Urhobo people are republican in nature, with a system rooted in collective leadership and elder authority rather than kingship.

We should be careful not to accept or promote misinformation from outsiders who lack a proper understanding of Urhobo history and culture.

Zik Gbemre
March 23,2026

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