# Okrika

Okrika is a town in Rivers State, Nigeria, and serves as the headquarters of Okrika Local Government Area. It is situated on an island south of Port Harcourt, functioning as a suburb of the city.
The inhabitants of Okrika LGA are of Ijaw descent, making it one of the 10 local government areas in Rivers State with Ijaw heritage. It is located in the Rivers East Senatorial District and shares boundaries with Eleme LGA to the north and east, Ogu/Bolo LGA to the south, and Port Harcourt LGA to the west.
As of 2022, the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board estimated the population of Okrika LGA at over 379,000, distributed across 143 communities.
Okrika's primary economic activity is fishing, while Christianity is the dominant religion, with some residents practicing African Traditional Religion. The main ethnic group in the area is Wakrikese, a sub-group of the Ijaw tribe.
The town is located at an average elevation of 452 meters and lies to the north of the Bonny River on Okrika Island, approximately 56 kilometers (35 miles) from the Bight of Bonny. It is accessible to vessels with a maximum draft of 9 meters (29 feet).
Initially established as a fishing settlement by Ijaw migrants from various central Ijaw clans and from the Wilberforce Island region, Okrika became the capital of the Okrika Kingdom in the early 17th century. During this period, the community, like others in the region, was involved in the slave trade. After the abolition of the slave trade in the 1830s, Okrika became a port for exporting palm oil, though it was less prominent than Bonny (46 kilometers to the south) and Opobo (81 kilometers to the east-southeast).
By 1912, Okrika had lost its significance as a trading hub, overshadowed by Port Harcourt. It regained commercial relevance in 1965 with the completion of the Port Harcourt refinery and the construction of pipelines to a jetty on Okrika Mainland.The area also hosts the Alakiri gas plant, which supplies gas to the refinery and other facilities.
Currently, refined petroleum products are one of Okrika's main exports. The town also engages in local trade of fish, oil palm products, processed salt, cassava, taro, plantains, and yams. However, the fishing industry has been impacted by environmental pollution linked to crude oil activities.

## Socio-cultural organisation

Before 1913, the Okrika Kingdom was composed of nine traditional towns: Kirike, Ogoloma, Ogu, Bolo, Ogbogbo, Ibaka, Ele, Isaka, and Abuloma. These towns often included satellite villages. Over time, the addition of Koniju Town (Koni-ama) brought the total to ten towns. The term "Wakirikese" was historically used to refer to the Okrika villages, predating British colonial involvement.
The Kalabari and Okrika people, as part of the Ijaw ethnic group, share cultural ties that have developed over time, though their exact origins remain uncertain. These connections are reflected in shared elements such as language, traditional practices, attire, dances, songs, religious beliefs, and social structures, including marriage customs. Migration, settlement patterns, and economic activities like the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the palm oil trade contributed to the interaction between the groups. Scholars, such as Black-Duke, have noted these cultural overlaps.
Language has been a key component of the relationship between Kalabari and Okrika. Both groups speak mutually intelligible dialects of the Ijo language, which belongs to the East Ijoid family. This linguistic similarity, also found among other Ijaw-speaking groups in Rivers and Bayelsa States, has supported communication and interaction. While the dialects have distinct written forms, their oral similarities have facilitated collaboration over time.
Marriage has also played an important role in the relationship between the two groups. Intermarriage has been common, even during times of conflict, and has helped maintain connections. Both communities recognize two main types of marriage: the "Igwa" (small dowry) and "Iya" or "Ya" (large dowry) systems. The Iya marriage, traditionally associated with kings and chiefs due to its higher cost, granted significant inheritance rights to the wife and her children. Over time, this practice extended to others who could afford it.
Despite similarities, there are differences in marriage customs between Kalabari and Okrika. For example, the Okrika Ya marriage includes the symbolic tying of a raffia cloth (Okuru) as a nuptial knot, representing a lifelong bond, a tradition not observed in Kalabari. Additionally, Okrika women who marry outside their families generally lose inheritance rights in their natal homes and are buried in their husband’s community. In contrast, Kalabari women retain certain rights in their families of origin, including inheritance.
The Igwa marriage, involving a smaller dowry, historically limited inheritance rights for the wife and her children, favoring matrilineal inheritance. However, more recent practices in Okrika have allowed children from Igwa marriages to inherit from their fathers if they live with them. These shared and differing marriage customs have contributed to the cultural exchange between the two groups, fostering enduring connections.
FESTIVALS
Iria Festival: The Iria festival dates back to the 16th century; an annual ceremony of womanhood that is held at a market square in Okrika, an ancient town in Rivers State, Nigeria. Breasts-baring maidens are seen being initiated by the people into womanhood. Virgins are presented and kept in the fattening room, where they are taken care of for the festival

## List of towns and villages in Wakirike Kingdom

* Abam
* Abiobo
* Abuloma
* Amadi
* Agbkien
* Andi-kiri
* Asemeningolike
* Bolo
* Daka Ama
* Dan-kiri
* Dikibo
* Ekerekana
* Ele
* George
* Ibaka
* Ibuluya/Dikibo
* Ikiriko
* Ikpo-kiri
* Isaka
* Iyo-kiri
* Kalio
* Mbi-kiri
* Ndubusi
* Ngbagbeboko
* Ngolo
* Oba
* Obianime
* Odokorobie
* Ogan
* Ogbogbo
* Ogoloma
* Ogu
* Ojimba
* Okochiri
* Okujagu
* Okumgba
* Okuru
* Omoaobi
* Omodere
* Opuada
* Otobipi
* Owuogono
* Ozuboko
* Sara
* Semembiri
* Tere
* Teriapu-Kiri
* Wakama
- Aberepikima

## House system

The Okrikans like all other Ijo sub-groups of the Niger Delta are organised into autonomous and co-equal War-Canoe houses (Omuaru-wari). Kinsmen living together in the same area make up each War-Canoe House. Although the War-Canoe is an institution of kinship, historically, it deals principally with war and defence. War-Canoe houses may be different in terms of size and manpower, however. Benefits and community assets are shared to the War-Canoe houses equally and not based on their numerical strength. Every War-Canoe House is headed by a Chief who is assisted in various capacities by sub-chiefs. The Chief is addressed as the 'Warinyanabo' or 'Waridabo' showing his status as head of the entire War-Canoe house (Omuaru-wari). Each War-Canoe house also known as Omuaru-wari or Warinyengi is constituted by sub-units known variously as 'Warikubu' or 'Oko'. Each sub-unit (Warikubu or Oko) is headed by a sub-chief known locally as the 'Oko-tibidabo'. Each sub-unit (Warikubu or Oko) is further divided into extended family units known as 'Furo'. Characterised by strong kinship ties, the Furo is composed of grandfathers, parents, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, cousins, nephews and nieces.
Class System: Within each War-Canoe house, there are four classes for men and three for women. Classes are referred to as 'Mumbu'. Male members of the War-Canoe house apart from the Chief and the King (Amayanabo) are classed into 'Opu Mumbu' (first class), 'Ogbobiri Mumbu' (second Class), 'Kala Mumbu' (third class) and 'Owuapu-awo' (teenagers below 18 years of age). Similarly, females members of a War-Canoe house are classed into the 'Opu Mumbu' (first class), 'Kala Mumbu' (second class) and 'Iria-Soka Awo' (Maidens). The class system is an ordinary ranking system, however it ensures hard work and progress within the War-Canoe House. Ranking is usually based on age and achievements. However, the main factors that determines promotion to a given class may vary between War-Canoe Houses. As opposed to a Caste system, classes are not heritable nor transferable. Therefore, no member of the War-Canoe house is born into a class. Members higher up the class have a greater share of the benefits and financial burdens of the War-Canoe House but decision making within the War-Canoe house is democratic.

## Language

The language spoken by Okrika people is Kirikeni-Okwein, a type of Ijoid Language. The language is mutually intelligible with its neighboring dialects Ibani and Kalabari.

## Religion

Historically, the Okrika people of old were polytheist believing in several gods and deities. Others where animist who believed in many spirits including marine spirits and in the spirits of their ancestors. Finibeso was considered the chief god of the ancient Okrika people and his priest where most reverend among other priests. The Fenibeso shrine was most sacred and divine. Traditionally, no restrictions were imposed on the worship of any god.
In modern Okrika, Christian religion has emerged as the dominant religion and the St. Peters Cathedral is the most prominent religious building in Okrika. Traditional religion however still exists side by side with Christianity.
There are several Christian denominations in Okrika today. Some of the Christian denominations in Okrika are as follows:
The Anglican Church, the first African Church (FAC), the Roman Catholic Church, the Christ Army Church (CAC), the assemblies of God Church the redeemed Christian church of God, Three Cross, Apostolic Church, Deeper Life, Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Greater Evangelism, El Shaidai Bible Church, Church Of God Mission Living Faith Church(Winners Chapel), Christ Embassy, Cherubim and Seraphim, Salvation Ministries, Brotherhood of the Cross and Star etc.

## Government

Okrika Local Government Area has its headquarters located in Okrika town with the districts of Kalio, Ogoloma, Okirika and Ogan. A Chief is the head of a War Canoe House; for example, the Orufingbe War Canoe house of a Ngeme Biri and a War Canoe house is made up of Furos (Families).

## Economic

Okrika LGA is rich in deposits of crude oil and natural gas with the activities of oil mining and refining companies contributing immensely to the economy of the area. Also, Fishing is another popular economic activity engaged in the by the Okrika people as with the area's many rivers and tributaries making them being rich in sea food. Farming is another occupation that the Okrika people are known for with the cultivation of several crops which include cassava, oil palm, yam, and plantain.
Before the onset of oil and gas activities, the Okrika people were and are still known for fishing, farming and trading; these economic activities sustain their livelihood.

## Environmental problems

The Okrika kingdom is faced with a serious threat of Environmental pollution that is causing unmitigated disaster to the land of Okrika local government area of Rivers state. The daily outcry or agony of the Okrika people is that they are in the grip of death and short life span as a result. Their aquatic foods such as freshwater fishes, periwinkles and oysters are going into extinction because of oil-related chemicals from the Port – Harcourt Refinery. Air pollution is another hazard in the area as it is caused by the flaring of gas in the oil and gas refinery which could cause large quantity in greenhouse warming of gases that could lead to acidic rain and ozone layer depletion, meanwhile the men production capabilities are weakened by this activity. Also, the Okrika kingdom aquatic life suffers greater threat of species extinction due to the continuous spill of oil mostly caused by bunkering and pipeline vandalism in the region and this results to poor economic sustainability as a large number of residents and indigenes are Fishermen. The aquatic life suffers firstly from the emanation of oil waste product that comes from the refinery. It has been on a continuous spill that goes straight into the river and it has been spilling long before there was any bunkering or oil vandalism.
As of March 2017, residents have complained of soot in the air due to the destruction of makeshift illegal refineries that have sprouted all over the state.