WHAT IS "ORU"

It's funny and hilarious, whenever i see descendants of Ijo (now called Ijaws), refer to 'ORU' as a 'JUJU' or 'IDOL', to me, it clearly reveals they are yet to be acquainted with the history of their origin, as such are now products of colonialism.

Just like Kumoni, ORU was also the other name of our Ancestor IJO, and they both have same meaning, this is why we are called IJAW'S or preferably 'ORU People'.

A great African scholar, Mr. Talbot in his writings about the people of Nigeria referred to Ijaws as Orus in several places, Major A.G Leonard also in page 18 of his book 'lower Niger and it's tribes' describe the Ijaws as the ORU people who occupied the tract of the country on each side of the NUN branch along the Niger River, and several other historians have done so too.

Above therefore proves that Ijo was also known as ORU, therefore all Ijaws are Orus or people of Oru, how then can you describe yourself or your father's as 'Idols or a juju'.

Idol now used to refer to a craven image, while Juju, a French word for dolls or toys, certainly Ijaw people are none of these.

Juju is a derogatory term used by the English invaders to diminish our religious practices and ridicule our cultural patterns.

IJO or ORU was interchangeably used to refer to our Ancestor, this interprets that the names are of the same origin and meaning.

ORU or IJO in ancient IJO dialect means as follows: a DIVINE being, Truth, something real, a God, a true spirit, a celestial being, not mortal, something extraordinary, Supernatural.

Even in our today contemporary world, as the word 'IJO' was anglicised to 'IJAW' or 'IZON in plural', we are still referred to as the people of TRUTH or a DIVINE/HOLY people, IJO or ORU people.

Therefore places referred to as ORU-WARI simply translates to mean 'HOME OF THE DIVINE', while those who bear such names as ORUBEBE, ORUBODEI or ORUTARE, means language/mouth of the divine, the divine one has arrived and Divine love respectively.

There is no word for JUJU or Idolatry in Ijo language, this is because IDOLATORY or JUJU WORSHIP doesn't exist in the land, Ijo people are not too low in mentality as not being able to distinguish the Divine from an emblem of worship, Ijo people do not and have never worshipped JUJU.

Even before the advent of Christianity, in the era we referred to as DARK AGE, the Ijos or Orus were moral and principled people, they had respect for life and were friendly to strangers (case of itshekiri and binis), describing such kind hearted people who had the fear of the divine (GOD) in them as JUJU worshippers is not only crime against God but against our conscience.

We must bear in mind, that every race or tribe has it's own culture which gives birth to their religion, therefore the Ijaws cannot worship in same pattern as the English men, and that is not a reason to demonize their worship.

It is also good to know, that if we were their colonial masters, they would all have been EGBESU worshippers till date.

The Ijaw language and culture is unique and special, let us not always follow the bandwagon of propaganda against our sweet language, we should not accept any culture or tradition as superior to ours, we are a chosen and unique people. ADO!

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Bukuroma Ene Binaowei.

thanks for clearing that up. I've always wondered why Oru meant JuJu when it was our Ancient name. By the way the Epie-Attisa call it Owu.

Aprendí a hablar español, nadie debería meterse conmigo.

AdaFonju:
Bukuroma Ene Binaowei.

Do you speak ijaw very well