Background
The Obolo people also known as Andoni or Doni, is a multi-ethnic group in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Obolo people are mostly found in Rivers State and Akwa Ibom State . Other States they can be found are Bayelsa, Cross River, Abia, and Enugu States.
The Obolos occupy the longest stretch of the Cross River Basin of the Niger Delta mangroves belt, which also houses the largest oil and gas deposits in the Gulf of Guinea.
History And Origin
The documentation on the origin and migration of the Obolo is sparse and fragmented. The earliest data on Obolo migration is from around 12th century BC.
Obolo people (Andoni, Idoni or Indo) existed before the colonial era and commercial contacts with European traders. They interacted with the Bonny, Okrika, Kalabari, Nkoro, and Ibono people in what is now Ibeno, as well as with the Okoro-utip and Mkpanak people of Ibeno. In the past, Obolo people frequently fought wars with the Kingdom of Bonny and the Ogoni people, though they generally maintain good relations with the latter. The Obolo people have migrated and settled in various parts of Niger Delta and West Africa at large.
Situated in the present day Rivers and Akwa Ibom state, the Adoni people are a part of the Ijaw tribe and known to be related to the Annang, Ibibio and Efik people of Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State in Nigeria.
According to some historians, evidence of traditional history shows that the Andoni are descended from Ayama the son of Tara (Tarakiri) who was left with Kala-Okun at Igbedi creek.
And the migrating ancestors are mentioned as Asara or Asa founder of Asarama, Ifop, Edeh or Edabiri, Alama and Abah to name a few.
It is said that they left the Igbedi creek area at an early stage taking with them the title “Indo Oru” which they remembered and gave to their priest-rulers. The title “Indo Oru” was later corrupted to “Ando Oru”, while during their sojourn “NI” was added to give the term “Andoni Oru”.
Still, in the spirit of exodus, it is believed that the early ancestors left the central delta and made their way through creeks and swamps felling trees to cross the waterways; camping for in the southeastern region for some time before moving into the delta.
Oral tradition has it that they called their first settlement “Ayama” after their ancestor. It is said that they settled there for centuries manufacturing salt for the interior markets before moving.
However, it is important to state here that prior to the colonial era, the Andoni people had commercial contacts with European traders and with other Ijaw clans, such as the Bonny, Okrika, Kalabari, and Nkoro.
And although history has refused to tell us why, the Andoni people frequently fought wars with the Kingdom of Bonny, as well with the Ogonis.
Known for their deep cultural lifestyle, the Adonis are believed by some to be the fiercest warriors in the Niger Delta.
1904 British Expedition
Prior to the British colonial era, the Obolo people were among the first to come in contact with the Europeans and traded mainly with the Portuguese.[citation needed] They worshipped a national deity called Yok-Obolo, who is the founder and spiritual head of the Obolo people said to have elevated to a god upon death.
Christianity was already accepted in Obolo land long before 1699. When John Barbot visited Dony Town (Andoni) in 1699, he observed that the King of Dony Town accepted Christianity and priests were regularly sent from Sao Tome and Brazil to minister to him. The king of Dony Town also spoke Portuguese. Nonetheless, the Yok-Obolo was still feared among neighboring tribes, who spread rumors of their ferocity in battle to the British.
In 1869, King Jaja had to take an oath of allegiance with to the Yok-Obolo before he was allowed to establish his new town Opobo (1870) in Andoni territory. This was against the wish of Bishop Ajayi Crowther, who lamented that King Jaja was entering the “Heart of Darkness” when he came to Obolo in 1869 for treaty negotiations with the Obolos.
In response to the stories about the Obolo, British colonial authorities decided to send a punitive expedition against them in 1904. The expedition was led by Captain A.A. Whitehouse, with the aim of destroying Obolo as a political entity and reducing their influence among neighboring tribes in the Niger Delta. On arrival, Whitehouse and his military team went straight to Alabie Town (Agwut-Obolo), burned and destroyed the high altar of the deity of the Obolo monarchy, Yok-obolo, and the site of the House of Skulls with over 2,000 skulls of Obolo enemies killed in wars.
After destroying the House of Skulls and the Shrine of Yok-Obolo, the British split Andoni into six parts, each attached to one of the six Native Courts in the Niger Delta, hoping to destroy the Obolo politically. Some of the bronze arts and crafts collected by the British during this expedition are still on display in the British Museum.
Language
Owing to the complete loss of their Defaka Ijaw dialect, the Andoni people now speak Obolo as the only native language.
And Obolo is a language that combines Efik, Ibibio, Oron, and Ijaw dialects based on the original Ijaw intonation and Efik-Ibibio lexicon. Obolo language contributes to the identity of the people of Andoni and Eastern Obolo. It is one of the 535 languages in Nigeria and belongs to the Lower Cross River language sub-branch of the Delta Cross branches of the Eastern Division of South Central Niger Congo language family.
Tradition
The Nwantam masquerade, celebrated every 1 January, is among the highlights of Obolo festivities, which they share with the Opobo, Nkoro, and Bonny. Their ancient practices include a writing system known as nsibidi.
The annual fishing festival Ijok-Irin, celebrated every 5 July, is unique to the people of Unyeada Kingdom, and marks the end of the annual traditional fishing season between July and August. Fishermen, especially migrant fishermen, return home from long fishing expeditions far into the Niger Delta to present their biggest catch (usually smoked dried) to the King of Unyeada kingdom (Okaan-Ama). The highlight of the Ijok-Irin festival is the net casting (Ogbo-njin) competition. This ancient, elaborately choreographed fishing method is peculiar to Unyeada people, and features net casting fishermen arranged in two opposite rows of 30 canoes or more. When a whistle blower signals, the paddling of the canoes from the opposite direction drives schools of fish into the middle, before the fishermen cast their nets in synchronization, ensuring a large catch. In recent years, the festival has been rebranded to increase its potential for ecotourism.
Present day Andoni or Obolo people worship Christian God and most parts have fully incorporated it into their culture while some still worship local god/gods.
Economy
Obolo territory, which spans from the Oron territory in Akwa Ibom State to Bight of Bonny in Rivers State, has significant natural resources. Much of Nigeria’s oil and gas revenue comes from Obolo land.