Social Cultural Dynamics of Iruekpen Community and Its Neighbors
Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme, PhD, Bartholomew, Uzoya Okougbosun, PhD
Abstract
This article examines the social –cultural relations between Iruekpen community and its neighbours in Esan society, Edo State, Nigeria. The study explores the social Cultural dynamics of Iruekpen community. Through a qualitative research approach, the study examines the historical, cultural, and geographical contexts of inter-village settlement, festivals, inter- marriages, joint worship, and linguistic affinity between Iruekpen community’s relationships with its neighbours. The findings highlight the significance of these social cultural dynamics in promoting social cohesion, cultural identity and community development. This study contributes to our understanding of the importance of community and culture in African societies and has implications for community development, cultural preservation, and conflict resolution initiatives. This study focused on the social-cultural relations between Iruekpen community and its immediate neighbors. The study relied on qualitative data collection methods, which may not be generalizing to other contexts.
Keywords
Social-Cultural
Dynamics
Iruekpen Community
Neighbors
References
Agbator, Agbator. “Iruekpen’s Origin and Her Relationships with Her Neighbours in the Time
before Time”, he is the Researcher’s Paternal Great-Great Grandfather who left behind
several memos and diaries that the Researcher now re-uses for his traditional historical
researches, 1910.
Aibanegbe Grace Odiagbe Enato. Personal Communication. 78 years; Female; Ebhokpe QuarterIruekpen Community; Community Leader/Acting Ekpen Priest, 6 March 2024.
Akinbode, Ade. The Geography of Ekpoma. Ekpoma: Bendel State University Press, 1983. Print.
Atanda, J.A. An Introduction to Yoruba History, Ibadan: Ibadan University Press, 1987.
Bradbury, R.E. and Lloyd, P.C. The Benn Kingdom and the Edo-Speaking Peoples of SouthWestern Nigeria, International African Institute, London, 1957.
Eboigbe, Thomas. Personal Communication. 89 years; Male; Idumeke Quarter-Iruekpen
Community; Community Leader/Acting Ekpen Priest, 6 March 2011.
Enato, Esene “Iruekpen Visitors in Conflict with the Deities”, the Researcher’s paternal
grandfather who left behind several diaries and memos that is now reused for this research
paper, 1964.
Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme and Oseghale, Bendrift Efosa. A Recaptured History of Iruekpen
People in Esan Society of Edo State, Nigeria, Ikotun-Lagos: Matthew Akinyemi Printing
Press, 2018.
Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme. “Iruekpen Tradition of Origin and Evolution in the Context of
World Evolution and Civilization”, Unpublished Traditional History, Presented in the
Forum of Esan Association of Researchers in Igando, Lagos, 2002.
Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme. “Myths, Legends and Folklores in Ancient Africa: A Study of
Iruekpen in Esan Society”, Unpublished Traditional History, Presented in the Forum of
Esan Association of Researchers in Igando, Lagos, 2000.
Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme. “Religious Belief as Instrument of Cohesion and Administration
in Iruekpen Community”, Unpublished Paper Presentation, University of Ibadan, Ibadan,
2006.
Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme. “The Hamitic, Diffusionists and Conquest Theories of Iruekpen
History of Origins”, Unpublished Masters of Art Seminar Paper, Department of History,
Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, 2005
Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme. “The Migration Theories and Settlement Patterns of Iruekpen
Community”, in Esan Magazine, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria, 2011.
Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme. “The Significance of Religious Festivals in Esanland in the Time
before Colonialism”, Unpublished Masters of Arts Faculty Seminar, University of Ibadan,
Ibadan, 2004.
Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme. Ibiekumah Nojie; Iruekpen’s Goddess of Fruitfulness and
Fertility, Umuahia – Abia Adoption: House Publishing, 2023.
Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme. The Leopard People of Iruekpen in Conflict with Modernity:
Epical and Historical Play, Iruekpen: Else Publications Company, 2023.
Enato, lucky success. “Western Education and Socio-Economic Change in Colonial Esan, Edo
State, Nigeria”, Unpublished Doctor of Philosophy’s Thesis, Ambrose Alli University,
Ekpoma, Edo State, 2021.
Esene, Agbator. “Iruekpen Indigenous Religion in Conflict with the Church and the Holy Bible”,
he is the Researcher’s Paternal Great-Grand father who left behind several diaries about
the indigenous and colonial historical activities of Iruekpen and Esan Society, 1923.Greenberg, J.H. Studies in African Linguistic Classification, London: New Haven, 1965.
Intelligence Report on the Ekpoma Village Group of the Ishan Division of Benin Province,
National Archives of Nigeria, Ibadan, 1936.
Intelligence Report on the Ekpoma Village Group of the Ishan Division of Benin Province,
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Itolor, Florence Jonah. Personal Communication. 88 years; Female; Idumeke Quarter-Iruekpen
Community; Community Leader/Acting Ekpen Priest, 6 March 2010.
Itolor, Florence Jonah. Personal Communication. 88 years; Female; Idumeke Quarter-Iruekpen
Community; Community Leader/Acting Ekpen Priest, 6 March 2010.
Odegua, F John. Personal Communication. 87 years; Female; Ikhin Quarter-Iruekpen Community;
Community Leader/Acting Ibiekumah Priestess, 6 March 2011.
Odiagbe, Samuel Enato. Personal Communication. 87 years; Male; Idumeke Quarter-Iruekpen
Community; Community Leader/Acting Ekpen Priest, 6 March 2024.
Odiagbe,Samuel Enato. “God, gods and Deities in Traditional Society: A Study of Iruekpen
Society in the Indigenous Time” Unpublished Seminar Paper, University of Lagos, 1999.
Okoduwa, I. Anthony. “Archaeology and Esan Origin” in Okoduwa, I. Anthony. Ed. Studies in
Esan History and Culture: Evolution of Esan Polities, Vol.1, Benin City: Omo Uwessa,
1997: 14-20.
Okojie, C. Gbelokoto. Ishan NatĂŻve Laws and Customs, Yaba, 1960. Print
Oseghale, B. Efosa. Issues in Esan History and Relations, 1500-1800, Iruekpen: Rasjel Publishers,
2003.
Oseghale, B.E. “On Ideological Development in Pre-colonial Esan: The Role of Benin”, in
Okoduwa, A.I. Studies in Esan History and Culture: Evolution of Esan Polities, Benin:
Omo-Uwessan Publishers Ltd., 1997:23-36.
Ukhun, C.E. “Ancestral Worship: Core of Esan Cosmology”, in Okpduwa, I. Anthony, Ed. Studies
in Esan History and Culture: Evolution of Esan Polities, Vol.1. Benin: Omo Uwessan,
1997:3-44.
before Time”, he is the Researcher’s Paternal Great-Great Grandfather who left behind
several memos and diaries that the Researcher now re-uses for his traditional historical
researches, 1910.
Aibanegbe Grace Odiagbe Enato. Personal Communication. 78 years; Female; Ebhokpe QuarterIruekpen Community; Community Leader/Acting Ekpen Priest, 6 March 2024.
Akinbode, Ade. The Geography of Ekpoma. Ekpoma: Bendel State University Press, 1983. Print.
Atanda, J.A. An Introduction to Yoruba History, Ibadan: Ibadan University Press, 1987.
Bradbury, R.E. and Lloyd, P.C. The Benn Kingdom and the Edo-Speaking Peoples of SouthWestern Nigeria, International African Institute, London, 1957.
Eboigbe, Thomas. Personal Communication. 89 years; Male; Idumeke Quarter-Iruekpen
Community; Community Leader/Acting Ekpen Priest, 6 March 2011.
Enato, Esene “Iruekpen Visitors in Conflict with the Deities”, the Researcher’s paternal
grandfather who left behind several diaries and memos that is now reused for this research
paper, 1964.
Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme and Oseghale, Bendrift Efosa. A Recaptured History of Iruekpen
People in Esan Society of Edo State, Nigeria, Ikotun-Lagos: Matthew Akinyemi Printing
Press, 2018.
Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme. “Iruekpen Tradition of Origin and Evolution in the Context of
World Evolution and Civilization”, Unpublished Traditional History, Presented in the
Forum of Esan Association of Researchers in Igando, Lagos, 2002.
Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme. “Myths, Legends and Folklores in Ancient Africa: A Study of
Iruekpen in Esan Society”, Unpublished Traditional History, Presented in the Forum of
Esan Association of Researchers in Igando, Lagos, 2000.
Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme. “Religious Belief as Instrument of Cohesion and Administration
in Iruekpen Community”, Unpublished Paper Presentation, University of Ibadan, Ibadan,
2006.
Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme. “The Hamitic, Diffusionists and Conquest Theories of Iruekpen
History of Origins”, Unpublished Masters of Art Seminar Paper, Department of History,
Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, 2005
Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme. “The Migration Theories and Settlement Patterns of Iruekpen
Community”, in Esan Magazine, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria, 2011.
Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme. “The Significance of Religious Festivals in Esanland in the Time
before Colonialism”, Unpublished Masters of Arts Faculty Seminar, University of Ibadan,
Ibadan, 2004.
Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme. Ibiekumah Nojie; Iruekpen’s Goddess of Fruitfulness and
Fertility, Umuahia – Abia Adoption: House Publishing, 2023.
Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme. The Leopard People of Iruekpen in Conflict with Modernity:
Epical and Historical Play, Iruekpen: Else Publications Company, 2023.
Enato, lucky success. “Western Education and Socio-Economic Change in Colonial Esan, Edo
State, Nigeria”, Unpublished Doctor of Philosophy’s Thesis, Ambrose Alli University,
Ekpoma, Edo State, 2021.
Esene, Agbator. “Iruekpen Indigenous Religion in Conflict with the Church and the Holy Bible”,
he is the Researcher’s Paternal Great-Grand father who left behind several diaries about
the indigenous and colonial historical activities of Iruekpen and Esan Society, 1923.Greenberg, J.H. Studies in African Linguistic Classification, London: New Haven, 1965.
Intelligence Report on the Ekpoma Village Group of the Ishan Division of Benin Province,
National Archives of Nigeria, Ibadan, 1936.
Intelligence Report on the Ekpoma Village Group of the Ishan Division of Benin Province,
National Archives of Nigeria, Ibadan, 1936.
Intelligence Reports, Ishan Division of Benin Province, File No. CO 26, A (Miscellaneous), 1943.
Itolor, Florence Jonah. Personal Communication. 88 years; Female; Idumeke Quarter-Iruekpen
Community; Community Leader/Acting Ekpen Priest, 6 March 2010.
Itolor, Florence Jonah. Personal Communication. 88 years; Female; Idumeke Quarter-Iruekpen
Community; Community Leader/Acting Ekpen Priest, 6 March 2010.
Odegua, F John. Personal Communication. 87 years; Female; Ikhin Quarter-Iruekpen Community;
Community Leader/Acting Ibiekumah Priestess, 6 March 2011.
Odiagbe, Samuel Enato. Personal Communication. 87 years; Male; Idumeke Quarter-Iruekpen
Community; Community Leader/Acting Ekpen Priest, 6 March 2024.
Odiagbe,Samuel Enato. “God, gods and Deities in Traditional Society: A Study of Iruekpen
Society in the Indigenous Time” Unpublished Seminar Paper, University of Lagos, 1999.
Okoduwa, I. Anthony. “Archaeology and Esan Origin” in Okoduwa, I. Anthony. Ed. Studies in
Esan History and Culture: Evolution of Esan Polities, Vol.1, Benin City: Omo Uwessa,
1997: 14-20.
Okojie, C. Gbelokoto. Ishan NatĂŻve Laws and Customs, Yaba, 1960. Print
Oseghale, B. Efosa. Issues in Esan History and Relations, 1500-1800, Iruekpen: Rasjel Publishers,
2003.
Oseghale, B.E. “On Ideological Development in Pre-colonial Esan: The Role of Benin”, in
Okoduwa, A.I. Studies in Esan History and Culture: Evolution of Esan Polities, Benin:
Omo-Uwessan Publishers Ltd., 1997:23-36.
Ukhun, C.E. “Ancestral Worship: Core of Esan Cosmology”, in Okpduwa, I. Anthony, Ed. Studies
in Esan History and Culture: Evolution of Esan Polities, Vol.1. Benin: Omo Uwessan,
1997:3-44.
