EGBEMA OR EGBEMO IBE

EGBEMA OR EGBEMO IBE: The Egbema are in present day Delta and Edo States. The founding ancestors of the Egbema came from a number of Ijo communities.  The first to arrive in that region were the proto-Ijos from Amatu of the Iduwini. Later on ancestors came from the Mein town of Gbekebo, and the Operemo capital of Ekeremo. The proto-Ijo ancestors from Amatu were settled in the area at an early stage and paid frequent visits to the Lagos region. Egbema traditions mention how one of their ancestors called Inabiri was a close friend of Kala-Diran or Kaladiran (i.e. Ekaladerhan in Benin tradition) the last Ogiso of Benin. Kala-Diran who was a medicine man cured Inabiri of a serious ailment. This was about 1170 CE (AD), so the Egbema were settled in that region before that date.

The descendants of these early ancestors founded the towns and villages of Ayakoromo, Gbeoba, Ofinima (founded during fishing trips to Ukoruama or Lagos), Abere, Polo, Gbolukanga, Opuama, Ogbudugbudu and Ogboinbiri. Ofinima was the defacto ancient settlement. Although ancestors were living in the area at an early stage, i.e. pre-14th century, two post 14th century ancestors named Alopomini and Opiti were declared the founding ancestors of the Egbema. As they arrived on the scene much later, they were never custodians or priests of Egbesu, which was derived from the Suo Egbesu or Suo Eru (Oru) of the Iduwini.  As a distinct clan, Egbema started to evolve pre-14th century, before the 10th century AD.