| Group: | Ogba |
| Native Name: | Ndi Ogba |
| Native Name Lang: | Ogba language |
| Population: | 359,000 |
| Popplace: | Nigeria 359,000 |
| Langs: | Ogba |
| Religions: | Christianity 98% |
| Related Groups: | Igbo, Ikwerre, Ekpeye, Ndoki |
The Ogba is a tribe of the Benin ancestral group in Rivers state. The Ogba people speak the Ogba dialect.[2] The Ogba reside in a local government called Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni in Rivers state Nigeria. The Ogba language has three dialects namely; Usomini, Igburu, Egi dialect.[3] The Ogba kingdom is made up of three clans which includes; Egi, Igburu, Usomini clans, and its largest urban town is Omoku.[4] Ogba people speak two sub-dialects of the Ogba dialect, the Egi and Igburu. Eligbo and Ukporomini are two Ogba communities in Ahaoda East Local Government Area, while Itu II in Emohua LGA also speaks Ogba language.
The Ogbas or Nde-Ogba are a distinct group in Rivers State. Nde-Ogba shares historical ties with the Benin, Ekpeye and Ikwerre tribes. The later would go on to establish the Ogba ethnic nationality. This history of the community, written by its current King, sets out to cover the entire sweep of its history, from ‘the origin of the Ogbas’ (attributed to the fourteenth century) to the colonial period (post-independence history being treated only cursorily). It is based mainly on local oral traditions, taken partly from colonial Intelligence Reports, but also including extensive new material collected by the author; some use is also made, for the colonial period, of contemporary documents from British and Nigerian archives, and for prehistory, of archaeological evidence.[5] The Ogba people comprise fourteen extended families divided into clans, and occupy an area of about 600 km in the Niger flood plain. This study covers their origins, environment, political, economic and social institutions, and cultural practices. It also considers the impact of colonialism and the activities of the Christian missionaries on the Ogba, in the context of the various ethnic groups in Nigeria thus affected. It argues that although the Ogba lost much under colonial rule, their resilience and adaptability, in common with many Nigerian ethnic groups was the key to their cultural renewal and adaptation to the modern era. The author further suggests that rather than perceiving Nigerian history as a series of micro- histories of different ethnic groups, it is closer to the truth to understand Nigeria as a loose associations of people with a common history and common cultural traits - all to the good, given their common destiny.
The Ogba people are ruled by the Ọba also called Eze Ogba of Ogba land, Barr. Nwachukwu Nnam Obi III.
NchakaEgwu Ogba is an annual cultural festival celebrated within November or December to mark harvest season to thank God (Chukwuabiama) and other divinities for giving them fertile soil and good harvest.[6]
It is symbolized with Yam rituals. The festival begins with a royal proclamation made by the Oba (king) at the traditional market square known as Ahiankwo. The proclamation is marked with a royal feat when the Oba of Ogba Land entertains clan heads traditional title holders and other elites.[7] The festival last for five days. Yam is the main food throughout the festival period. The festíval features sanitation and purification exercises involving painting and decoration of houses, clearing of shrines, bush paths, leading to farms, streams, sacred grounds, and market square. The festival features processions, courtesy visits and wrestling competitions. The climax of events is displayed by Nchaka dance and magical displays.[8] There are two categories of Nchaka masquerade, namely Nchaka-ki Iyenwa (the female) and Nchaka ki-ikenwa (the male).
The festival offers an opportunity for all communities in the kingdom to come together also to interact with their neighbors. Ogbas particularly those in Diaspora seize the opportunity to return home, some with their foreign friend.[6]
On the occasion of 2010 Nchaka festival, the reigning Monarch, The King. Chukwumela Nnam Obi II (0ON,JP) observed that:
"The objectives of any cultural policy for the country (Nigeria) should aim at ensuring the continuity of traditional skills. Sports, and cultural festivals and their progressive adaption to serve modern needs and establish a disciplined, moral and enterprising society".[9]