Rumuchorlu History

Rumuchorlu means the children of Chorlu. Chorlu is the first son of Okwurusi and the children of Okwurusi are called Rumuokwurusi. The ancestral place where Chorlu lived is the present day Okporo, made up of what is currently known and called: Mgbuesilara, Rumuodara and Eliowhani. Chorlu Chida moved out of Okporo where his father resided in search of hunting ground and discovered the present place called Rumuchorlu in Nvuike. It was not easy for him to settle in this present place because of the occupants of lriebe who used to settle there. And the stream water originally known as lriebe River (mini Ocha lriebe) was then changed to Chida river (mini Chida), which is the name of that river till today. That river is the river that divides present day oil market (Rumuokwurusi market) and the place where predominant people of Chorlu resides till today.

After Chida must have settled at the present place where we live, his other relations joined him later. These relations are: Ijiminiewhu and Owhorlu. This is how the children of Chorlu moved down to the present place called Nvuike. There is still one son of Chorlu who still resides at Okporo. He is known and called Kurukuru. His children are the present day Rumukurukuru in Okporo. They live in Mgbuesilaru village in Okporo.

Okwurusi the father of Chorlu is the first son of the Asara and Esara is the third son of Evo while Evo is the first son of Obio. The other relations of Esara are Evo (junior) and Opotoma while the brother of Evo was Apara. The son of Iwhoruoha is Obio.

The chart shows the organogram of the genealogy of Chorlu known now as Rumuchorlu.

Note: There are other children of lwhuruoha but for the purposes of this write-up,we will limit ourselves to the geology that will limit our write-up to only Okwurusi.

Occupation:
The Rumuchorlu people are predominantly farmers, contractors, traders and artisans. We trade mostly on agricultural products such as yam, cocoyam, plantain, fruits, cassava, and peppers etc. and also engage in fishing.

Culture
a. Language:
The Rumuchorlu people are Ikwerre people by nationality. They speak Ikwerre Language. Before the advent of colonialism, we were already relating with Ibos and we speak their language fluently. At the advent of colonialism, we were exposed to English language and special English called Pidgin language.

b. Dancing:
(1) We engage in Eregbu dance. Eregbu dance is a dance where two players or drummers sit opposite each other and play the selected styles that give different tones. While the players play the instrument, the women and some men dance in circle to the admiration of the spectators. It is a beautiful dance and highly cherished by the Rumuchorlu people of Ikwerre Ehtnic nationality.

(ii) Eri-Ndudu: this dance is mainly played by women. The different instruments used for the dance are: Ndudu; Ngele, Osha, kwirikwe, etc. At times men assist the women in drumming.while these instruments are played, women dance in circles or as they may think fit. Spectators watch with utmost joy, happiness and admiration.

(iii) Eri-Oboh: Eri –Oboh is another dance in Ikwerre land. It is a dance where the chief drummer directs the play. He playes with locally made instruments. The main Oboh is made with thick Calabash with strong strings. There are other instruments used in the dance. While the play is on, some dancers dance the lkwere dance steps according to the rhythm of the instrument and song. The dancers could be male or female. While the music is going on, spectators gather and watch with joy. Some notable artists in Ikwere are: majority cultural dance group, Jimmi Couter cultural dance group etc.

Wrestling Festival
Wrestling is an integral culture of our people. In our wrestling competition, different types of drums, they are: Ikwirikwu, Ekwenkalu, Ngele, Mbamba. These drums come in different shapes and sizes. Two competing camps will gather opposite one another with each camp having somebody who motivates their camp to wrestle well. The motivator holds some grasses, which he uses to whip the wrestlers. He whips their hands and buttocks and that is the activator to start wrestling. Whoever throws the other wins.

If they (wrestlers) were unable to throw each other, we say they have equalized or ogba-oga. The side of the wrestlers that throws his opponent will lift him up with utter jubilation. They will dance round the playground where the wrestling takes place. Women will dance and dance. These kinds of activity done by the spectators, arouse the wrestlers.

The wrestling takes place mainly among age-grades. Different age grade will wrestle beginning from the younger ones.

Wrestling is a festival that is well celebrated in our place. Wrestling can take place between villages in the same town or two different towns. It can also take place between different ethnic groups e.g. Rumuchorlu people and Okrikas.

DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION OF RUMUCHORLU
Rumuchorlu is in ward 3, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria. Rumuchorlu is bounded in the South by Shell Petroleum Development Co. Ltd. Shell Residential Area (1A), in the North by Elelenwo and part of Rumuikeani, in the east particularly Rumuorianwo and in the west by Rumuibeke. Elelenwo road is in Rumuchorlu while the old Aba road passes through the community. There are other rivers in Rumuchorlu aside Mini Chinda. Mini Chinda also divides the community into two. Rumuchorlu people have vast portion of land at Egbelu and is surrounded by Iriebe, Rumuikeani, Etche and Oyigbo land.

RELIGION
Before the advent of colonialism, the people of Rumuchorlu practice traditional African religion but with colonialism, Christianity spread into our places and almost took over.

Today,our people are predominantly Christians with handful of traditional African religion practitioners. It is important to explain the religion that our people practiced before colonialism. It is called tradition African Religion. In this religion, our people worshipped various deities such as: Amadioha, Ojukwu, Mimiochamba etc. We engaged in sacrifices and rituals in appeasement to our gods. We also recognized the presence of the Almighty God, which we refer to as and called Chiokike:- God of creation

We equally worshiped communal gods, ancestral gods etc. Sacrificed and appeasement took place in our holy places like the face of the deities for gods while for our ancestral gods, appeasement and ritual takes place in our holy place like the face of the deities for gods while for our ancestral gods, appeasement and ritual takes place in what we call Rukani. This Rukani appeasement and ritual are still practiced by our people even up till today. In fact, it is the basis of authority and power in the governance of our place. The Owhor- holder, who is usually the eldest male person in the village, carries out the practice and he weilds the authority and power of leadership and priest

GOVERNMENT

The Rumuchorlu community is made up of villages. The villages are made up of families. The families are headed by the husbands while the villages are headed by the Owhor-holders. Decision making takes place in what we call lkwu i.e., the gathering of adult male in that village or family. But the whole community is headed by the Eze who controls the administration and management of the community.

The Eze consults the elders especially the village Heads. Presently he also consults the elites in addition to the elders. I.e. the Oji-Owhors.

Men are dominating all aspect of government. The distinction between executives, legislature and judiciary as is practiced in this modern time is not so in our government. The separation that exists in the three arms of government does not also exist in ours.

THE EZE CHORLU STOOL
The Eze Chorlu is the head of Rumuchorlu Community, comprising of the four villages, Rumuchida, Rumuowhorlu, Rumuwele and Rumu-ijiminiewhu.These are the Rumuchorlu villages that produce the Eze Chorlu from the family of Worgwu-Wokeke-Chida-Chorlu..

After the death of the Eze Chorlu, the Rumuchorlu people gathers and instructs the Rumuchida people to go and give them who will be the next Eze Chorlu. The Rumuchida people will go and select the next Eze Chorlu from Worgwu family and bring him to the gathering of Rumuchorlu. As soon as the new Eze is presented to Rumuchorlu people, arrangement is made for his installation and coronation.

The Government of women in Rumuchorlu
The women of Rumucholu have their own meeting membership to the meeting is open to all married women in Rumucholu .the women from the four villages of rumuchida, Rumuchorlu, Rumuwele and Rumuijiminiewhu comprise the member of the meeting. They have their chair lady and other executive's members and women Elders who assist in piloting the affairs of the meeting

They hold the meeting on Riagbo Day that day all the women gather together and discuss their affairs. The importance of the segment of Rumuchorlu cannot be over emphasized.

Basic important philosophies of his Highness,
Eze (JP), Eze Chorlu (vii), Nyechigaeli,
chorlu in summary.

Eze (sir) Eng.B.A Worgu,(JP) is a man of rear germ. It is a well known belief all over the world especially before the advert of democracy. That monarchis are rulers and lords of over their subjects. Their subjects are expected to see them as all and all. They rule like colosin with iron fist. They are every thing unfit to exist. Their people are supposed to serve them and to humble their selves before him. Everything begin and ends in him.

This belief about the monarchs can also be confirmed from the Bible: 1st Samuel 8: 11-18. Eze Chorlu the (vii), dose not subscribe and does not belief in this ancient belief about monarchs. He does not want to be identified with value and norms about monarch.

His belief about the monarch is that the monarch is the servant of the people. He sees the monarch as an institution whereby the people of that area will be served. He is not to be exalted by virtue in the kingship, but by virtue of how the king has been able to touch the life of the people positively.

He sees in the Eze, a relying point whereby the people will gather and articulate their problems and find solution to them.

Let us illustrate the quality of his Highness as follows: when the people gather for purposes, Eze (sir) Engr. B.A.Worgn (JP) will want to stand up and serve drinks to his people. He wants to ensure that all are served adequately before himself. To him others first self last. This philosophy is in him with what Jesus Christ said in the Bible that the head among you shall be the last.

This old idea of monarch is in him conformity with the old idea of women being always subjected and subjugated. In normal Africa settings women are not recognize when matters of serious importance are being deliberated. For them women are to serve the male fork.

Eze Chorlu (vll) is totally against them. He sees all human as equal irrespective of sex. He beliefs totally that women shall be librated. It is in line with this that cause him to give chieftaincy title to his wife. Not because she is the wife of the Eze. No. he did it to lay the foundation for women liberation, for women elongation.

He knows that change has always been resisted by mankind. That is why he is taking it so lighting. At the fullness of time, Eze Chorlu (vii ) will correct some of the cultures that is no more in line with the present realities.

He does not give in to sentimental arguments and sub minors. He accepts constructive and objective analysis of issues. If you can present higher or better argument or point. His Highness will accept that idea and drop his own. He welcomes constructive and objective criticism.