WANOGHO AFUJUENYA THE GREAT: A WARRIOR, BUT ONE WITH A DIFFERENCE

Wanogho Afujuenya, the Egbetusi of the Urhobo nation, hailed from a lineage of warriors and was a prominent figure among them. To describe him merely as a warrior would not capture the full extent of his significance. He embodied many roles and qualities.

He confronted the colonialists when they first arrived on Orogun soil and facilitated the establishment of the first church in Orogun, despite not being a Christian himself. He valued religious freedom and maintained a close relationship with God.

In fact, he was regarded as a demigod. According to history, when he was about to leave this world, a rainbow appeared and a casket was seen suspended over the roof of his palace. When his room was checked, they found Wanogho Afujuenya peacefully asleep, never to awaken.

Remarkably, he was the only “ogbu” (a warrior who has killed in battle) who never took a life. Thus, referring to him as a warrior necessitates specifying that he was an unconventional one—an individual who, though self-taught, possessed profound knowledge that he shared with those eager to learn.

In 1904, the British colonial masters made him the first paramount chief, and in 1963, he became the Okpara-Uku of Orogun clan, the traditional ruler of Orogun kingdom. His recorded number of wives was 97, excluding numerous concubines, and he had 167 children.

He had the opportunity to become the "Ovie" of Orogun Kingdom when offered by the British colonial masters, but he declined, asserting that the Okpara-Uku was the rightful Ovie of Orogun.

Wanogho Afujuenya can best be described as an extraordinary individual living in an ordinary world.

This note was inspired by a thoughtful question from Stella Ezeanya, which prompted me to write this concise yet precise tribute to my grandfather. Smiles...