A Critical Review of Shokpeka’s Account of the Traditions of Origin of the Indigenous People of Etsako

Abstract

This study critically examines Shokpeka’s account of the tradition of origin of Etsako and Okpella people and its variant, and Masagbo’s traditions of origin of Okpekpe people to ascertain who the original inhabitants of Etsako land were before the arrival of Benin migrants. The question has been, who were the original inhabitants of Etsako land before the arrival of Benin migrants? How do we identify them? Was there a change in the language, dress, culture, tradition etc. of the people when the migrants arrived? Can the migrants from Benin be ancestors to an indigenous people? The purpose of this work is to attempt to provide answers. This work also question Shokpeka ‘s claim that the original indigenes of Etsako are the Okpella and North Ibie, speakers of the Agbelo dialect who fled to find secure abode behind the high mountains and rocks of Okpella and North Ibie due to fear of what might befall them should the Oba send an army. The methodology used in explanation is the analytical and it concludes in part that the original inhabitants of Etsako land before the arrival of Benin migrant were not only the "Agbelo” dialect speakers but those who speak the ‘Iyekhe” and “Agbelo” dialect.

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