MEIN IBE
MEIN IBE: The Mein are in present day Bayelsa and Delta States. The Mein took their name from Mein who along with his wife Obolu were the ancestors of the Ibe. The ancestor Mein was a descendant of OPU-Beni son of Ijo. Mein was a noble man or High Chief (lord) of the Ijo section of Benin city which may have been Uzama at the time. Along with a large number of other Ijos as part of his retinue, left Benin city because of the authoritarian rule and devastating civil wars (e.g. war between Oba Esigie and Prince Oru-Ayan), which occurred between 1400-1500 AD.
“…Mein, the ancestor of the whole subgroup lived at Benin with his wife Obolu. He left because of internal wars and settled at Aboh at the head of the Niger Delta. He had a large number of children with her, including Kor….Mein then established at Ogobiri on the Sagbama-Igbedi Creek…”
“….Mein, the ancestor of the people of Mein in Ijo, was one of those children of Ijo who remained behind at Benin during their journey from Ile-Ife. On observing the heinous practice of the then king of Benin by slaying of other people’s children for sacrifice to his idols and fearing extension of that practice to his (Mein’s) innocent children someday. Mein fled with his children….to the Ijo country to join his brothers…”
As stated above Mein his wife and family along with the others fled to Aboh, which at this time was still Ijo speaking. Here Mein had a large number of children including Kor, Uge or Ogo, and Egbe who gave his name to Egbedani lineage of Kolokuma.
Mein and his family amongst others of his retinue left Aboh after having caught a maiden violating their ancestral deity symbolised by the elephants tusk (Dirimoagbiya). From Aboh they migrated down the Niger into the Igbedi creek region and established at Ogboin-Ama, later to be called Ogobiri (named after Ogo the son of Mein). The founders of Ogboin-Ama were proto-Ijos from the Orubiribaubolou.
Mein as a noble man or chief soon became the ruler of Ogboin-Ama and was named as Pere. On the death of Mein, he was succeeded by Kor as the ruler of the new settlement, who was succeeded by his younger brother Ogo (Uge). During the time of Kor or Ogo the Ogboin-Ama community renamed Ogobiri came into conflict with the Tarakiri west of which we mentioned earlier. That conflict led to the Tarakiri being dispersed to the west in the river Forcados region. Not long after that conflict, the Ogobiri-Mein had internal problems of their own. Some lineage groups went upstream and then down stream through the Forcados river while others went and settled with other Izon people. Descendants of Mein such as Kalanama (Kala-Nama) became the founders of Akugbene Mein, Ngbele became the founder of Ngbelebiri Mein, Ogbolu became the founder of Ogbodobiri and Ogbolubiri Mein. Those that remained in the Igbedi creek area lived at Ogobiri, and other Mein towns such as Okumbiri. Another part of the migrating lineage’s moved upland and with Edo speaking people and Ibos founded the Eghwu and Ugheivwen sections of Urhobo.
The list of the descendants of Mein and his party of settlers from Beni-Ijo include the following; Kalanama the father of Onorun, Dunobebe, Obrigho, Amapere and Akpanaka. Uge or Ogo (Ogobiri) the father of Perebo-Kalakebari (Kalabari), Egbe, Agu, Kabe, Okoloba, Oyobu, Eria and Ewu-Agu (became Urhobo speaking). Ngbile the father of Ogbiniki, Ogben, Ayagha, Gbale, Bodakeme, Ikaye and Jeyo, Gbolu (Ogbolu) the father of Agbodobiri, Gbekebo, Egodo (Igodo), Ogbaingbene, Okirika (Ofonibeingha) and Obubugbene. Aje or Aze the founder of Ajebiri or Azebiri. Ogida the father of Ogodo (Igodo or Godo) and Kolu the founders of Ogodobiri and Koluama. Akan the ancestor of the Kpakiama, Bomadi, Bilabiri, Okumbiri and Okumbiri settlements in Akassa Ibe. Ikade or Ekade the ancestor of the Agoro, Esanma, Adobu, Agorogbene and Daganagbene. Ugbonagha (Obonagha) who had no family. Oghoro and Umolo the ancestors of the Ayama or Ovodopokpo, Okpare, Ovwor and Iwhreogoni in Urhobo. Perebo-Kalakebari which was shortened to Kalabari, the son of Uge or Ogo and grandson of Mein, left Ogobiri-Mein at an early stage with his wife named Mukoko from Itimi in Isokoland. He gave his name to the Kalabari subsection of Ijo people. The foundation of the Mein Ibe is post-13th century i.e. 1400 upwards.
Owonaro SK, op cit, pp41-42
Amgbare JS Doutimi (Nov 2000) Independent Monitor (Nigeria).
