ENWHE COMMUNITY IN ISOKO SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF DELTA STATE

ENWHE COMMUNITY
Introduction
Location
History
Ruling system
Burial process
Religion
Festival
Food

INTRODUCTION

"Enwhe" is the name of the community. It means "laughter". The name was gotten from the founder of the community as would be seen in the history section of this article. Though Okpolo clan is also part of the Enwhe kingdom. So when talking about Enwhe community, it comprises the Okpolo clan which is the water side of the community.


LOCATION

Enwhe community is located in the southern part of Delta State, Niger Delta region of Nigeria. It share common boundaries with Olomoro to it north, Igbide to it east and Umeh to it south east. Also with Ewreni, Unenurhie and Ugweru (these later three are urhobo communities). From the later three communities mentioned, it can be seen that Enwhe is a boundary community between the Urhobo and the Isoko. Enwhe has a population over 4'000 inhabitants.
From the Ughelli axis of the region, Enwhe can be accessed through the east western road and from the Isoko axis through Olomoro and Igbide community.
Just like any other Niger Delta communities, Enwhe had unique traditions and culture. Their occupation is mostly farming and fishing during flood seasons.


HISTORY

As Oral history told us, Enwhe was founded by two ancient men called Oviota and Okpolo. Centuries back, these two were believed to migrate from present day Benin and Eastern part of Nigeria respectively. We do not know which of these men came to the said location first but they cane almost at same period.
Oviota migrated from Uthe, Ikpoba hill of the present day Benin, Edo state Nigeria. From all indications, Oviota is not a good fisher man but he cultivates mostly tubers related crops like cassava and yam. It is belived that Oviota left his original home in Benin due to the cruelty of the then Obas of Benin. Offcourse, such migration would not be of only a single man. As was told, part of his crew later found the present day Abraka.
On the other hand, Okpolo migrated from the eastern part of Nigeria. We do not know which particular community in the east was his original home but he settled at the water region of the community due to his fishing skills. The two men do not initially communicate effectively due to language barrier and berely talk when they meet. Oviota and Okpolo had a unique spot in which they always meet to exchange cassava products for fish and vice versa. This made them happy as they mutually benefits from each other and they make merry hence the origin of the name "Enwhe". Gradually, the two men and their respective kins came to dwell together as they have a mutual benefits from each other.
Today, Enwhe cimmunity is made up of Oviota and Okpolo which are now divided into quarters namely: Emaka, Ulewe, Eyara, Olade, Uluthe and Etevie. The community speaks Isoko just like any other present day Isoko communities.


RULING SYSTEM

Ovie (King) is the Supreme head of the community while the Odiologbo is the second in command. The Ovie's Palace is in the Uluthe region of the community while the Odiologbo palace is located in the Eyara region of the community.
In ancient Enwhe, Kings were chosen not a form of political elections but a more traditional way. When a king dies, he is then beheaded and the head is taken to ancient Benin. There the suppose new king would go and identify the skull of the dead king. If he can, he becomes the next king. If he could not, then he was not the right king.
Though the ruling system is not a continous father-to-son inheritance but the throne is rotated between two ruling families; the Ewha rulling house and the Erebo rulling house. They are children of Oviota


BURIAL PROCESS

In ancient Enwhe, when men dies, they were buried in their compounds with mats while women were buried in Egbor (a place where waste are thrown). But over the years, women were buried like the men. This development was due to the events that took place then. In the then Enwhe, most of her residents rear swines (Pigs). These swines go into the Egbo and dug out the buried dead bodies of the women. The women came to realised that the swines feed on the dead that were buried in the Egbor and the men buried in compounds were left out. This gave way to a protest which later saw the women been buried in compounds like the men.
The first woman that was buried like the men was Obegor; she was the women leader then.


RELIGION

Though there are Idol worshippers in the community, the main religion of the community is Christianity. Various churhes are located in different parts of the community. These include the Saint Andrews Catholic Church, Saint Peters Anglican Church, Christ Anglican Church, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Winners Chapel, Church of Christ, Jehovah's Witnesses amongst others.
"Oghene" is the name for God.


FESTIVALS

The Enwhe community is blessed with various annually celebrated festivals. Stilt dancing, Idhu festival, Obiowurie festival etc. The most celebrated ones are the Idhu and the Obiowurie.


FOOD

The delicacies of Enwhe are same with every other Isoko community. They include Banga soup (prepare from Palm fruits), Owo soup, Pepper soup, tapioca and other form of customized foods. The Banga soup is prepared from the juice of the Palm fruits, fish or meat and eaten with Usi (Starch from Cassava) or Eba (baked cassava floor).

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