The Ogu (erroneously called “Egun”) tribe is one of the very important, modest and minority tribes in the South Western part Of Nigeria. Their culture is very close to that of the Yoruba people but they also have their own unique customs, norms, traditions and features. The language is quite different and really weird, funny to say the least.
An intriguing fact about the language is that a section of the news (Lin-lin) on Lagos Television (LTV); a state owned television station, is still being broadcast in Egun. This depicts that there is a large section of their viewers that speak Egun. You can find them mostly in the Badagry, Makoko, Iwaya areas of Lagos State, Ota, Ipokia, Imeko, Abeokuta and Yewa areas of Ogun State.
Here are five amazing things you probably never knew about the Ogu People;
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The Tribe spreads over five different Countries
The Ogu people aren’t only from Nigeria, you can also find large subsets in four other West African countries, namely; Togo, Benin Republic, Ghana and Ivory Coast. One of the major reasons why they are spread that way is due to colonization, in the sense that after the Berlin Conference was organized, different parts of Africa had to be shared among top colonial masters. Yes, Ogu tribe is that big.
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The Use of Condoms is a Taboo
At least sex isn’t a taboo, the use of condoms has been adjudged to be a taboo or an abomination as the case may be. This is due to an ancient traditional belief that encourages men to withdraw their arsenals from a woman’s battlefield before the actual war. Sounds interesting, right?
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They were part of the Struggle for Nigeria’s Independence
Before Nigeria gained her independence, there were notable Egun people that stood up and fought for it; renowned nationalists and freedom fighters. Some of the notable ones are; Oba Claudius Dosa Akran (Oba Akran road in Ikeja was named after him), Aholu Jiwa II, Akran of Badagry, former Minister for Economic Planning and Community development in the then Western Regional Government, and Chief D.K. Aihonsu, a member of the then Western Regional House of Representatives.
ALSO SEE: 8 Facts You Possibly didn’t know About the Fulani Milkmaids
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Fishing is their major occupation
Due to their proximity to lagoons, creeks, river bodies and coastal regions of South Western Nigeria, the Ogu people are naturally fishermen, while some are farmers of cassava and Coconuts.
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Zangbeto festival is their most popular festival
The annual festival which is celebrated in all Ogu communities is a beautiful occasion that comprises of cultural dances, magical displays, melodious renditions from women (wives of Zangbeto cult members), lots of food and drinks. The festival brings a lot of Ogu people together and is aimed at celebrating Zangbeto, a masquerade who is believed to have brought goodness to them.
The Ogu people are a wonderful set of individuals who hold a special place in the history of Nigeria and this makes them an important part of Nigeria’s beautiful cultural heritage.