History

The founder of Kabowie kingdom is Okita, son of Oproza. Okita lived with his wife Mboara in the Kabobulou creek in that creek, he had three sons namely Kabo, Kumbo and Gbaran. Gbaran. After the death of Okita, Kabo the eldest son became the leader of the community. Kabu remained at the creek. He propend there and had many children. The creek Kabu creek was named after his brothers, his brothers left the creek. Kabu lived to a old age and died in the creek. After his death, he was succeeded by son Obodangha and Obodangha by his son Ekene, Kabu children after his migrated out to the Niger and settled at their present towns. The founder of the clan came from Ado Benin. There are nine (9) towns in Kabowie kingdom namel; Opu-Kabu or Patani which is the traditional headquarters of the kingdom, Elemebiri, Ekperiware, Asamabiri, Trofani, Abiri, Kolowari Aren, Adagbabiri.

In ancient times, the people of the clan engaged in Slave trade business and palm wine with the British. Because of the Arategic advantage of Panati, the two business booming during the precolonial period.

The kingdom, though predominantly Christianity and their fair shame of conflect when Christianity was first introduced. The people back then rejected it out rightly. Because of the rejection, the British moved to the  Isoko area where it was accepted before it gradually spread to the kingdom.

Culture

• The people of Kabowie kingdom believe in the existence of the Almighty Creator God but that he must be great through other smaller gods.
• The name of the creator is called Oyinmarama. It means our mother. Our mother here shows that it is through her that Oyinmarama get children.
• Oral tradition habit that the Kabowie’s believed in the existence of nature spirit. These spirits are classified into the bush spirit and the water spirit. Their chief bush god is called Kabuzibara. He is been worshipped until date.

It is believed that Kabuzibara gives the women of the kingdom children. It is believed that he brings long life, riches, good harvest etc. osuo-owei is another bush spirit that is believed to exist in the kingdom. It is believed that he protects life of the people when they are in danger. The people also believe in the water goddess called mamiwater. They say that the usually appear to people of the kingdom and do give them blessings especially those looking for children, she usually give after sacrifices have been performed by adherest of her. In the water, Kena is yet another water god that is ………..in the clan. It is located in Adagabiri oral tradition has it that if a person killed either a man or women knowly, he is expected for him to go and report to the priest of Kena. Failure to do that will attract severe punishment from the water god Kena. In most cases, the children or the culprit usually dies. Other bush spirits that are worshipped by people who believes in them include Osuo-owei and Berikurukuru. It is also said that the founder Kabu gave all his children their respective god for them to worshipped hence in each village, in Kabowie, there have own deity.

The Kabowie’s celebrates the Seigbein festival which is still popular in the kingdom. It is celebrated for bad and evil spirits to go out of the kingdom and good things to come to the kingdom. It is held in the month of April every year. Native chalk is taken from the shrine of Kabo-zibara to cleanse the land. In the festival accordingly to eye witness account, the girls in the clan were so gorgeously dressed on the festival period  that men were warned not to marry girl during the Kabo Seigbein festivals. Events in during the festival include mass fishing at the Orisa Kike, and paying of homage to lineage ancestral spirits. In the festivals in the past and made fresh vows.

The people of Kabowie have making tradition which are highly entertaining. Some of the Owu Masquerade that are very popular in the kingdom are the  Owu masquerade  dance, the Azo masquerade which is made up of grass and the Opu Obori the Elephant masquerade. All there   masquerade are for entertainment purpose only.

Culturally, the Kabowie’s have a lot of regard for the traditional marriage system. If a man is interested in a woman or both are in love with each other, it is expected for the man to approach the girls family and demand from the family that he want to get married to their daughter. Oral tradition has it that the man may be asked to pay some amount of money not more than fifty thousand naira as dowry for the girl. After meeting all traditional marriage demands the girl or woman will be given to him the man or the eldest in the man family as his wife. This according oral tradition is a honourable marriage. The Kabowie’s does not encourage the cohabitation of a man and woman and called themselves husband and wife. Under this circumstance (cohabitation), if a woman or girl commits adultery while in her husband’s house, oral tradition has it that the man cannot claim adultery fee.

The Kabowie’s has a traditional system of rulership in place. At the helms of affairs is the Pere which is the king of the kingdom. He is the custodian of the culture of the people. He has his traditional council of chiefs which is the highest decision making body of tradition rulership of the Kabowie’s. it is been chained by the Pere himself. Amadaowie people that look after the clan are next on the level. These are men who were appointed by the council to look after the various villages/towns that made up the kingdom.

The kingdom is also the Amada-ere women group. The youth organization is also in the traditional system of rulership headed by the youth president. All these position are either by election or by appointment except the Pere which is hereditary. The people of the kingdom have some cultural virtues that is worth emulating by today’s generation, whether young or old. Kesiegberigba (Truthfulness) no mather what the situation might be, in early times, the people went all they can to be truthful.

Okosu-otuprae (Deep respect for elders). This was usually the norm in early times. The elders were deeply respected by the younger ones. Their words were usually regard as final. Amzitis carried Furu (stealing) was a very serious offense in early times in Kabowie. No matter how small the theft might be, it usually carries severe punishment. Hard work was the norm as every man have to take care of his family through legitimate means. Dou (peace). Because of the harmony that was existing in early times between  the  people  of the kingdom  there  was   peace  every where  in  the  clan.  Peace  was not just  preached alone It  was being  practiced  by both  young  and old.