As you approach Opobo town, you are greeted by the sights of striking multi-story structures. Whether you choose to enter the community through its long, deteriorating jetty or through its newest entrance at the opposite end, made possible by an ongoing road project connecting the ancient kingdom to the outside world through Nkoror, its closest neighbor by land, the sight is the same: stunning structures crammed into every available space welcome you to the town.
Residents and tourists had to rely on speed boats operating at either Kono waterside in Bori or the jetty at Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, to get to the town until recently when cars and motorcycles could enter Opobo from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, or other parts of the nation by traveling through Bori in Ogoniland and navigating through Nkoror before reaching the community. Moving into and out of Opobo was challenging due to the financial strain such trips placed on the people’s pockets as well as the risk they faced while at sea. However, even though the road is still under construction, its arrival has made life much simpler for travelers. They feel some relief as a result of it.
Opobo is indeed a peculiar place for a number of reasons, including the fact that it was one of the first Nigerian communities to interact with Europeans. The region was once a thriving commercial hub in the coastal part of Rivers State and in fact the Niger Delta region, according to history, in addition to being the home of fabled merchant trader King Jaja, originally known as Jubo Jubogha. Beyond that, however, Opobo is also the home of a variety of taboos, some of which are particular to the inhabitants of this island community.
In Opobo, dogs are prohibited.
Our correspondent recently visited the area and learned about the numerous long-standing taboos that the locals have maintained and passed down from generation to generation.
In Opobo, for example, dogs are not allowed, despite the fact that they are common in many communities across Nigeria. The tradition, which dates back to ancient times, is one of the most significant taboos that the residents of this coastal town uphold, according to information obtained by our correspondent. The people are free to bring in dog meat whenever they want to eat it at home, but they are not allowed to keep dogs as pets or bring them into the neighborhood. The consequences for breaking this fundamental rule are typically severe.
“If anyone enjoys eating dog meat, they must travel to Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom State. Christian Apiafin, a 71-year-old retired warrant officer of the Nigerian Army, said that they couldn’t bring it into the neighborhood. “This has been the case ever since the days of our ancestors. In Opobo, dogs are not permitted. Up until now, we have continued that custom.
“Rotimi Amaechi, a former governor of the state of Rivers, accidentally brought sniffer dogs to Opobo in 2015. Everyone was incensed.
“If it had been a less significant person, he would have received punishment right away. Instead, we held the town’s king and Dakuku Peterside, the current director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, accountable, and they gave the town what it needed for purification.
He continued, “Such a person could be mobbed to death for bringing a dog into Opobo if such a person was discovered by less reasonable people. That’s not all. No one is permitted to shoot a gun in Opobo. Additionally, people are not permitted to wear caps while navigating the gateway connecting one compound to another.
The residence of Opobo King Jaja.
One compound is connected to another by a small, covered passage known as a gateway. Such gateways have a crossbar on the floor that passing people are not permitted to step on. Our correspondent’s research indicates that abiding by this rule while passing through the area is a sign of respect for the chief of a particular compound, also known as the war canoe house. Any of these rules that are broken will result in harsh penalties.
In Opobo town, making noise after dark is prohibited.
Although it could be said that these taboos are prevalent during the day, at night, other, more peculiar taboos dominate society. In other communities, it is common to hear enormous loudspeakers blasting music at night at hundreds of decibels with a cacophony of voices serving as background percussion; however, in Opobo, such behavior is completely prohibited. One of the worst crimes anyone can commit in this island community is making any kind of noise at night. You might be referred to as a town enemy.
Arguing at night is frowned upon.
Likewise, it is forbidden to argue or fight late at night here. No matter how enraged you are, you must hold off on confronting the person who enraged you until first light. According to our correspondent’s research, breaking any of these laws results in a N7,000 fine. It was also discovered that stiffer penalties could be imposed if the fine was not paid. Warisenibo Manila, the head of the traditional and security institution known as Owu Ogbo in this historic community, shed more light on some of these customs by telling Saturday PUNCH that many of the taboos had contributed to maintaining sanity throughout the kingdom over many generations.
In Opobo, we take our culture and traditions very seriously. People who bring dogs here, for instance, are forced to pay exorbitant prices. People who brought in the former governor Amaechi were forced to pay up to N1.5m for us to placate the land, and this was done when he arrived with dogs.
“People would see things they had never seen before if the land wasn’t cleansed. We don’t fight at night in Opobo. You’ll be required to pay a fine after doing that. “We don’t make noise at night. Due to the fact that our enemies attacked us at Bonny during the night, this is the case. As a result, we refrain from making noise at night because that is when our enemies typically attack, in order to prevent a repetition of the same incident.
Additionally, you are not permitted to break firewood or pound food at night. You can’t even argue after 7 o’clock. Each participant in a nighttime brawl is required to pay a fine of N7,000. “This custom has encouraged peace and cohesion in this community from generation to generation. Opobo is one of the most tranquil places in Nigeria today as a result of this, he claimed. However, it was discovered that residents could put an end to any conflicts they may be having and pick them back up in the morning.
In Opobo, there is a crucial requirement a prospective bride must meet in order to be accepted by other women in the town, similar to most communities in the Niger Delta where there are various customs governing the passage to womanhood and becoming a “certified” wife. Depending on the financial stability of the groom and his family, such ladies are given the necessary training on how to maintain a happy home by older and more experienced women before being locked in a fattening room for at least one week. When the bride leaves the location, a lavish ceremony is held to celebrate and welcome her into womanhood. Such a woman is only permitted to wear a wrapper known as a “George” around her waist after satisfying this requirement. Our correspondent’s research indicates that this functions as a sort of community certification mark.
Opobo land.
Without going through this procedure, a woman cannot tie a George wrapper in Opobo and is denied many things, according to schoolteacher Richard Cookey. “If a woman has not upheld this aspect of our tradition, there are some places she cannot enter and she cannot freely mix with other women. In fact, she is always subject to slander from other women in the neighborhood. “.
Numerous social and infrastructure requirements in Opobo.
However, aside from the intriguing facets of its culture and tradition, Opobo has very little to show for its illustrious past. The town has not yet been connected to the national electricity grid despite being one of the first to contact the West. The community generator, which only operates from Friday through Sunday from 6 p.M. To 6 a.M., is all that the locals have to rely on for power. On Wednesdays, it is occasionally presented for a couple of hours. Small generators are used by those who have the capacity to do so to meet their electricity needs.
Despite its significance in American history, the town also lacks a bank. The majority of the island’s estimated 98,000 residents, including its eight satellite villages, must travel by 15-minute boat across a large body of water to Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom State to conduct banking business.
The satellite communities are Kalasunju, Higher Minimah, Queens Town, Kalaibiama, Epellama, Iloma, and Ekreborokiri. According to our correspondent’s research, despite the fact that Opobo now has a small number of Point of Sale facilities providing these services, many locals continue to travel across the ocean to complete these jobs.
The town, which is primarily populated by fishermen, is now more of a civil service enclave than the bustling commercial hub it once was. Many of the young people in the community must travel to far-off places in order to make a living, in addition to relying on menial jobs. Its jetty, which was once a favorite among tourists and other types of visitors, has seen a decline in traffic, making those who operate commercial boats long for the good old days.
Chris Pepple, a retired civil servant who is 74 years old, told our correspondent during a conversation that “the majority of our young people don’t have jobs.”. I worry about this every day. “Despite the potential Opobo has to offer and being among the first to encounter the white man, there are still a number of areas where we lag behind. “We don’t have any industries here, so this has a big impact on us. I worry for the future of our children every time I consider this, he said.
Pepple, a retired man with five children, meets up with dozens of other retired men every afternoon at Opobo’s seaside to talk about almost everything that occurs both inside and outside the town. They discuss the community’s grim present while remembering its glorious past beneath the enormous trees that line its coastline.
The other elderly men in the area nodded in agreement as he said, “Opobo used to be a very important commercial center for the riverine communities in this region.”. It used to be the primary location for trading activities, but a lot has changed over time. Today, our people struggle to provide for their families because there are virtually no jobs available. Our economy is not where it ought to be. Since Opobo is well-known outside of this country, visitors might not actually see the development they were hoping to. When they arrive here, a lot of them leave disappointed. I’m very hurt by it,” he admitted.
Many islanders still live far from sources of potable drinking water, despite the island’s proximity to the water. To quench their thirst, many homes must rely on sachet water purchased from various stores. Even though the area has a functioning health center, some of the locals our correspondent spoke with said that most of the time they must travel a long distance to Akwa Ibom to get the medications they need for their health.
“Recently, my wife became ill, and I was instructed to buy a specific medication for her. I was unable to find the medication in Opobo and had to travel to Akwa Ibom to buy it at a pharmacy in Ikot Abasi. Daminabo Ogolo, a furniture maker, said, “That is how much we suffer in this place. Monuments that serve as a reminder are still present and well-placed throughout the neighborhood.
Our correspondent noticed during the visit that the world of Opobo’s notable past appears to be quickly disappearing.
How badly the town had failed to preserve its illustrious past was made clear by a stroll to the location of the house where the great King Jaja, the town’s founder, once resided. The majority of the structure might still have been “alive” today, even though it may not have been possible for it to be entirely intact due to age and lack of reorganization or support. The original structure is now reduced to a few iron pillars tightly holding onto block fragments. The palace of the reigning monarch, King Dandison Douglas Jaja (Jeki V), is located across from it, in a gleaming one-story structure.
Opobo is allegedly making little to no money from this natural goldmine despite its extensive tourism potential. The town, he claimed, had nothing to show for its international fame. Looking towards Minimah, the location of Opobo’s last known war canoe, he said, “This town should be making a lot from tourism but unfortunately this is not so.”.
The culture and history of Opobo are rich. There are 67 war canoe houses in the town, which is divided into 14 sections. Each of these war canoes is equipped with weapons and is capable of traversing great distances in search of adversaries. Each compound had one of these boats, which were used to protect the neighborhood during conflicts. The white people, however, removed 66 of the war canoe homes after the Civil War and gave each home compensation. Only one remains, and it’s in Minimah.
“Despite having significant landmarks that could draw tourists, we do not benefit financially from tourism.
“We used to hold boat regattas, but they were discontinued in 2008 due to financial issues. Many people from other countries took part in it. “Opobo could be making a lot of money from tourism,” he continued, “if things were done the right way.”.
The construction of a link road connecting Opobo to other areas of Rivers State appears to have brought a new kind of relief to the inhabitants of this island, even though its potential and the reality on the ground tell two different stories. The impact has already been positive, as evidenced by the emergence of hotels and other small businesses. A store owner at the town market who went by the name Mrs. Ogechi claimed that the road had made the area more commercially viable.
“Goods transportation is now significantly less expensive. It has had a favorable effect on our businesses. We anticipate that as a result, businesses will move into the area, boosting the local economy. In fact, the majority of people living in this island settlement are praying for and hoping for a significant increase in economic activity, just like in Ogechi. They would hope that, like the town’s numerous taboos and intriguing cultural characteristics, its fortunes could live up to the reputation it has garnered in the pages of history. However, it is still uncertain when the region will reach its full potential.