OHE GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION
Now when you google OHE, you get at our location map in Uhunmwonde. Courtesy Osaro Amamwu. When you google Ohe nisi community you see our profile from our website.
AUTHOR: Sir Colonel Smart Odumamwen Odiase
(second to Emehi family head Psc,JP.)
The first settlers of Ohe nisi community are two families’ Heads living separately as Ozua and Okele (Omoko and Emehi families respectively). Both families are the only families with Igiogbe (family deity sites) in the community till date and they initially maintained separate deities.
However, at the progress of time, the two families decided to jointly have common structures for their security, economic and welfare purposes, thus they harmonized their historic structures for communal existent.
Following this initiative, Ozua put back Oke ni ho deity (Ovia) and settle in for Oguaehi meaning Spirits abode (Ovia) as community deity. Thus began common administrative structures i.e. Ughe . Oguoedion, Ovia, Gbighidi,Oto, and Aro ne yakhe igbina memorial tribute as their community monuments.
This decision to abandon individualism for communality by Omoko and Emehi families was the origin of the name OHE (Free gift) now Ohenisi community; in ISI North ward Uhunwmode local government area of Edo State Nigeria.
As strangers began to settle down in the community, they were given Old farm site of the community to start new dwelling by the first settlers.
These families’ settlements were linked by a common Ughe which became the communication link to neighbouring villages and outside world.
One momentous night two elders, one each from the two families, had a sleepless moment; so they decided to find out what was amiss. As they communed on the situation together; lighted object was noticed coming towards them from a distant. When the people came closer to them, it was discovered that one of the people advancing toward them was carrying a pot on his head. The advancing group was pursued into their land, where the pot being carried fell and the pot broke. Their evil intention (retardation) against Ohenisi revert to them; the community that concoct the disastrous pot. This noble deed saved OHE community from planned disaster which gave birth to the origin of Ohenisi memorial tribute ;( Aro naya he igbina) the place was mark with a memorial (Ekhimwin) tree. Regrettably, this memorial tree was defied when the tree was cut down for log by insensible youth leader/chairman in the community.
This harm was done without consideration, destroying this historic tribute of our fore fathers; left as tool for teaching future generations. However the memorial was reenacted with Ikhimwin trees during the reign of Pa Sunday Joseph Asewota (popular known as S.J) who is currently serving as the Odionwere since 2019 till date.
ADMINISTRATION
The community maintains age grade system administration for its security, welfare and development. Odionwere is the traditional head and chief priest of the community and administer the community with elders in council.
The age grades are as follows:
- Ikpolo Ughe 21- 42 years
- Ighele 43-50years
- Edion 51- 69years
- Owere 70years and above
- Edion Ne Enene above 70years
- Odionwere above 70years
WATER
Before the advent of bore-hole water, the community had natural clean water from springs namely:
- Umwen /Ovbie eze
- Okpagha niye omo /Eze no khua
- Ida
Some of the neighbouring communities came to Ohe to fetch clean water for drinking.
MARKET
Initially the community was observing their market activity at the central ISI market at Eguaeholor on EKENAKA day.
But in the late 50s the community decided to have their own market to sell their merchandise at the same market day as the central ISI market day as it was done in Okho okho community that has Enogie. Ohe community was summoned to the customary court Eguaeholor for having their market day on same day. Consequently OHE NISI’s market day was changed to EKEN day till date.
Commodities mostly found in the market include:
- Yams
- Plantains
- Palm oil
- Pepper
- Melon
- Processed Cassava
OCCUPATION
The community is endowed with rich rain forest and untapped mineral resources like chalk, gravel and coal etc.
The common occupations are:
- Farming
- Logging
- Trading
EDUCATION
There are two government institutions in the community:
- Primary school (Founded by the Church Missionary Society in 1931)
- Technical college (Founded by Catholic Mission in 1968)
STREETS
There are three streets in Ohe nisi at present viz:
OGUAEHI
EMEHI Family was staying near their Iguogbe . One day some family members challenged a stranger, who was passing bye for wrestling contest. The stranger defeated the family member involved in the wrestling contest. So the Emehi family members beat up the stranger whilst the stranger took offence and decided to use spiritual means to avenge himself. He used corn; if the planted corns sprout one a person from Emehi family will die .if two germinate, two persons will die and so on, was the stranger’s wicked plan.
The family member elders were able to discover where the diabolical corn was planted and disarm the power. When the man discovered that his plan did not work out as planned; another method was devised, this time a bunch of unripe palm oil seeds was hidden in the thickest which were not found by the elders of the family. Hence as one of the oil palm seed fell to the ground one person died and two fell two persons died; so the death roll continued to increase. Due to these death occurrences the family was forced to leave the Igiogbe site to the present Oguaehi street Ohenisi.
OMOKO
Omoko family did not leave their Igiogbe environ which is the present Omoko Street.
OGO
Ogo Street is the area given to the strangers to dwell by the aborigine of Ohe Nisi. This is the most populated area of Ohe nisi community at this time.
References
- Pa Osakue Obano( late odionwere of Ohe nisi and family head of Omoko family)
- Pa Daniel Edawmandekhoe Odiase (Late odionwere of Ohe Nisi and of Emehi family)
- Pa Gabriel Osareme Aigbekean(late Second to Odionwere of Ohenisi and family head of Emehi family)
- Shedrack Osareme Osahon ( Edion)