stories and histories HISTORY OF OKPAMERI

Okpameri is an Afemai ethnic group. They are one of the ethnic nationalities that makes up Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State .
The term “Okpameri” denotes oneness. In other words the term “Okpemeri” means “we are one.” Okpameri is made up of twenty-two communities that share the same cultural, historical, and linguistic attributes.
Communities that makes up Okpameri, The twenty-two communities that makes up Okpameri are:
1. Osi-Aiyegunle
2. Bakuma
3. Ekor
4. Ekpe
5. Damgbala
6. Ekpesa
7. Eshawa
8. Ibillo
9. Ikiran-lle
10. Ikiran-Oke
11. Imogan
12. Lampese
13. Makeke
14. Ogugu
15. Ogbe
16. Ojah
17. Ojira
18. Oyanubuza
19. Somorika
20. Ugboshi-Ele
21. Ugbosi-Ele
22. Unumu

Origin of the Word “Okpameri”

It is believed that the word Okpameri came about when the component communities came together to form a formidable defense pack to resist external invasion of any of the communities by the then rampaging Nupe warriors.
Legend has it that the Nupes unsuccessfully attempted to capture Ojah around 1840, a time the ojah people were highly reputed for pottery arts which were valuable article of trade for the Nupes. The fears of a repeat attack made Ojah to enter into defense pact or alliance with her immediate neighbours of Damgbala, Ojirami and Makeke. This alliance was called the OKULOSO sacred pact. Again, the desire to strengthen this alliance made these okulosos to reach out to other villages with similar or identical dialect . Thus, the entire okpameri villages then formed a very formidable defense pact to resist any invasion from the restless Nupe warriors. By this time, there had been inter village skirmishes among Okpameri villages which include Ekor and Ibillo war, Ogugu and Somorika war, among others.
It is also believed that the word “Okpameri” was first coined and used in 1840 to end hostilities among the Okpameri villages. It was also used as a defense bond to resist the Nupe invasion of Okpameri villages. The word was used as a sacred oath that forbids one Okpameri village from attacking another.

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