top of page
Ekpeye's History
Help us preserve the rich culture of Ekpeye by learning her history
The Story
Benin Empire was one of the greatest of the time. They were said to have migrated from Oduduwa Empire of the Yorubas. The Obas had little regards for human beings. They were taken as the ancestors and thereby were honored as gods.
At about 1542 AD, during the reign of Oba Awuarre, his atrocities were so severe that his subjects could no longer bear; hence, they planned to assassinate him. The plot was revealed to the Oba who instantly became very hostile to the people. The hostility resulted to a great exodus of people from the Benin Empire for fear of being killed.
Occupation + Craft
Ekpeye people, both men and women, young and old are generally known as one of the most hard-working ethnic groups within the Niger Delta region. According to views expressed by the people, it is basically contingent upon economic lifestyle exposed to them from their formative years. The land is richly endowed with mineral resources, part of the reason being its unique and enviable geographical location.
​"...amongst the brave soldiers of the Oba and also of the royal family, was a man called Akalaka.
He had a son called Ekpeye."
bottom of page