History
The founder of Mein kingdom is Mein. Oral tradition from ogobiri the dispersal centre says that the ancestor Mein came from Benin. He left as a result of the Oba [king] of Benin king other people children which he used for the sacrifice to his idols. To prevent the king from using his children [Mein’s children] for these sacrifice some day, Mein held to fled with his children and his idol gods and settled at Aboh, in Niger Delta. At Aboh, he caught a woman violating his god Dirmoagbiya. This made him to kill the woman and fled with his family to Ogobiri. There in Ogobiri on the Sagbama-Igbedihe finally settled with his family. At Ogobiri his family grow to the extent that the settlement became too small for his descendants, which led to further dispersal of some of his children. These children left to found other villages which today has grown to kingdoms. After the death of Mein, he was succeed by Kor who became Mein Okosuowei.
Kor Succeeded Ogo.
Though as at today, the occupation of the Mein Ogobiri’s are fishing, farming, carving of canoe and hunting, Oral tradition has it that in ancient times, the people traded palm oil and slave trade with the British. These business with the British exposed the people to some economic development.
Prior to the colonial rule, the people were governed by traditional rulers and community chiefs. But at the beginning of the colonial rule, there was wars and division of opinions among the Meins and the British. Native courts were later establish which brought some peace to the people since it was headed by their own people. The coming of the British in the area brought some positive development to the people in that institution like prison, health centers, schools were built in the kingdom.
Majority of the people today are Christians, the introduction of the religion like other places in the Ijews and west African states, was not accepted. There it was outright rejected of the religion because as at that time the were very much interested in their traditional religion.Culture
The people of the kingdom believe in the existence of Almighty God.
Woyin is the name of God. Dirimegbegha is the national deity of the Mein people. The cobra [its spirit messenger] represents a totemic object for the group. The original task of this deity that is believed to have directed Mein to their dispersal centre [Ogobiri] is enshrined at Ogobiri. The black cobra, though known to be deadly, is believed to exhibit love and affection to the Mein people. According to historians, if it [cobra] enters a house and coils up, it means all is well, if it lies at length, sacrifice must be offered to the deity, if met in the bush crossing the path, it is there to warn the traveler or farmer to return ---- it is so gentle to the Mein that it will allow itself to be pulled. The Ama Okusuowei [eldest man] officiates as chief priest of the Mein shrine of Dirmegbegha. Annually all Mein villages send representatives to Ogobiri to renew their allegiance to this ancestral deity.
There are other duties that are in the kingdom, Osuowei is one of them. Oral tradition has it that this bush spirit assist in guiding the clan. He is also said to help his adherent in canoe carving and fishing techniques. Akebo is another deity in the kingdom. It helps in protecting the people from danger-Danowei, okpodu which is a god of fertility of crops and soil. Mein Zibara is also one of the popular deity in the kingdom. Among the water deities are Beniere which is said to be the king of water life. He is said to give his worshippers riches, children, and protection. Bekenaowei and Asaiperemoi are also water spirits.
The people of mein kingdom has historical event that are commemorated in honour of the spirits of the departed heroic ancestors. Among them is the mein Owei festival. It is held in respect of the founder of the clan mein. Every November 21, the descendants of this ancestor converges at Ogobiri for the celebration. It promotes unity and love among the descendants. Embieti fishing and feasting festival is another historical event that is celebrated animally among the people.
The descendants of mein kingdom have traditional marriage system, that are very much recognized. There are Bere-ere marriage, in this type of marriage, known as the big dowry, the father of the bridegroom have full claim over their children. In olden days, these dowries range from over [36 to 80]. The children of this type of marriage are legitimate children. In this marriage, when the women dies she is buried in the husband’s house because she is the property of the man.
The lkie-ere is the small dowry. In this marriage, there is no comprehensive monetary gift exchanges. Children gotten from this system belongs to the mother’s people. The father cannot lay claims on the children. A woman married through this system in mein is only partially absorbed into the husband’s kinsmen. All other types of marriage the mein’s Ogobiri practiced are Opu- lkie-ere and Bira-ere.