Edebo Final Rites Financial Report

 FINANCIAL REPORT ON FINAL FUNERAL RITES OF NENE EDEBO EGBEKUN

PROPOSED BUDGET AS AT 19/03/2023

N3, 318, 000

INCOME 

General Contribution N1, 144, 000

Special contribution 2, 945, 000

Total 4, 111, 000

EXPENDITURE 

Canopies/Accessories/Drinks/Transport 598, 000

Three Cows 900, 000

Musician 1, 500, 000

Rice/Ingredients/Catering 420, 000

Entertainment/Honorarium/Reception/Logistics for Ondo Guests/POS Charges 225, 000

Petrol/Diesel 61, 000

Logistics at Funeral Eve 40, 000

Transportation of Musician/Agadagba-Obon Boys/Clearing of Venue/Additional canopies/Blocks 

48, 000

Musical Stage/Videography/Seat Dress 90, 000

Slaughtering of Cow/Kerosene 60, 000

Goat/Transport. 27, 000

Balance for Musical Stage Construction 11, 000

Deficit from Catering Committee 131, 000

Total 4, 111, 000

Balance as at 14/4/2023

4, 111, 000 - 4, 111, 000 = 0

BOOK REVIEW of 'Edebo: The Portrait of an Uncommon Matriarch' by Dr Felix George

Title: Edebo: The Portrait of an Uncommon Matriarch 

Authors: Akpodigha Filatei and Kennedy Ikantu Peretei 

Publisher: Makere 

Year of Publication: 2023 

Page Extent: xix- 119 

Reviewer: Dr Felix George (PhD in History)

This remarkable biographical work is on the legendary Edebo, who came to this mortal world in 1885 and left for the great beyond in 1967 at the age of 82. Against all bottlenecks, she frontally faced the vicissitudes of life, and thus, effected inerasable footprints on her family and community. According to the authors, this book project is part of a series of events to celebrate and perform the final funeral rites for her. Because her death in 1967 coincided with the bloody Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), there was no room for the desired burial rites to be performed at that material time. Meanwhile, on grounds of tidiness, the book is divided into eight chapters, with a brief introduction, and an epilogue (summary and conclusion). In respect of sources, the authors, heavily relied on oral interviews method, augmented by valuable written records of Lawrence Ife Egbekun, one of her sons, who was the closest to her when she was advanced in age. 

In respect of Edebo’s genealogical tree, early life, and challenges faced, according to the authors, Adeloye, her father, was from Ilesa in the present-day Osun State. However, his specific roots could not be traced until his death. The only known fact of him, on the one hand, was that Ogedengbe Agbogungboro, an Ijesha warlord, who was the Chief Commander of the Ekiti-Parapo forces during the Yoruba Civil Wars (1877-1893), personally handed him over to Benitei Ejih (his personal friend) at Arogbo for mentorship. On the other hand, Olatomowo (a petty trader), Edebo’s mother, was a princess from the Ojomu dynasty in Ondo kingdom (the third in command to the Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom). Olatomowo’s mother, Adebimtan was the wife of Ogunye from the Atowurokujoye Ruling House of Ojomu in Ondo Kingdom. Adebimtan was at first married to Akinsade of Arowobaye Ruling House, where she had two sons, Adesemoye and Ogunribido. 

However, after these two sons, Akinsade answered the call of God. The Ojomu who was crowned after Akinsade -Ogunye – inherited Adebimtan (as it was then the custom) and gave birth to two daughters, namely, Oladuti and Olatomowo. Since Adeloye was a mentee of Benitei Ejih, Olatomowo’s marriage to Adeloye was at the instance of Benitei. The marital cementation produced two girls, namely, Edebo and Adebisi. While Edebo stayed behind in Arogbo, Adebisi  returned to her mother’s maternal Ondo country home, but with periodic visits to her sister, Edebo, until her last visit around 1965.

As revealed by the authors, Edebo’s upbringing and early life was significantly shaped by her mother’s influence and the rich cultural heritage of the Ojomu royal lineage. As Edebo grew up, she was taught the traditional values of hard work, entrepreneurship and the importance of family which later moulded her life and legacy. The apparent signs that Edebo would grow to be an achiever were visible right from her tender age. In addition to her demonstrable multiple capacity, she was an angelic woman, with excellent dentition, and complexion that made her conspicuous in any function. With her fluency in Ijaw and Yoruba languages, she became a teacher to other children like her with mixed parentage. 

Now the crux of the matter, Adeloye, Edebo’s father, was an industrious and prosperous man ab initio, but he later had sight challenges, which affected him financially. In his determined struggle to solve his predicament, he took loans from a Cooperative Society in Arogbo. However, the authors failed to disclose the exact money obtained, the name of the said Cooperative Society and its operators. As the problem worsened, he intended to leave Arogbo for his wife’s place in Ondo town in search of solution. But the leadership of the Cooperative Society wanted him to pay his debts before leaving. 

As a way out, Guwor, the mother of Ekpruke, came to his aid, and paid the debts to the Cooperative Society. In conformity with the tradition at that material time, Adeloye, handed over his daughter, Edebo to Guwor as a debt-surety, until the loan would be repaid. Time passed by and the loan was till outstanding. Edebo, being a beautiful, well-raised young girl and coming of age, since her father had left and could not be seen, was arranged to marry Guwor’s son, Ekpruke in Ogidigba. The union produced three children, two sons, named Atotoboh and Titiboh, and a daughter called Etuwo, who sadly died young at the age of six (1904-1910).

Along the line, on grounds of irreconcilable differences, she escaped to Arogbo, with the diplomatic help of Dunje, the Chief priestess of Ebikana. Eventually, the 1885 Colonial Court, Arogbo, dissolved Edebo’s marriage as she was able to settle the debt-surety impasse through resources she had saved as a successful and workaholic fisherwoman. Perhaps, as a painful lesson, the authors’ point out how Edebo was rough-handled by her first husband during the proceedings, which caused her youngest child Etuwo to drop from her back, contributing to her premature death.

Consequent upon the dissolution of the first marriage, Egbekun Ugbutuwa married Edebo, and provided the needed tonic and support for her to achieve all she set out to record. In fact, it was in Agbedigbanran, a community founded by Ugbutuwa that Edebo expanded her fishing exploits, and reached the apogee of her economic prosperity and consequently became a pivotal force in the affairs of the community. As a gifted fisherwoman, she even discovered more than four boghu seghi, and showed them to Egbekun, her husband, which exist till today. The marriage produced five children, namely, Perewaripumokumo (female, shorten to Pumo), Wosi (female), Ubali (male), Ife (male), and Omamulere (fondly called Maamu). Unfortunately, Egbekun, who was born in 1888, died in 1925 at Agbedigbanran at the age of thirty-seven, when Edebo was forty years old. The above invariably shows that Edebo, who was born in 1885 was three years older than her husband, Egbekun. As a woman of unprecedented honour, strength and courage, she devoted her energy and wealth on her children and grandchildren, and providing wives for them and holding everybody together like the matriarch that she was. Of particular significance, was the truism that she lived for another forty-two years after the sudden death of her husband without marrying until her death in 1967.

Significantly, Edebo was generally known as a talented traditional birth attendant, who charged no money for her critical services, instead, she always asked for keni wuru ololo, which she poured as a libation to the unseen spiritual forces, for her spiritual strength in her delivery craft. In addition, Edebo also helped women with fertility challenges with great success. Even when age was no longer friendly, the humanitarian Edebo would not give up midwifery. She was a woman divinely called to serve humanity and she delivered in this cardinal task at that time. She passed on her skills to her daughters, Pumo and Maamu, who also became successful midwives in their own rights. Throughout her career, no woman died in her hands, and she used herbs for fertility with great success, healing many women of infertility.

As a further show of humanitarian services as a traditional birth attendant, on several occasions, Edebo left behind her fishing traps and traveled miles to deliver babies. Often, women under labour came to her house to deliver and for days, she took care of them, in terms of feeding, and herbal medicine. She was indeed, a mother to all, a trait that was inherited by her children even after the advent of modern medicine. For instance, in Maamu’s house, until her death in 2019, was a hospital of some sort. There were always newborn babies in the house like a maternity ward. 

As a legacy, some of Edebo’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren have also followed her footsteps and become respected midwives themselves. 

At a time when it was rare for women to own estates, Edebo showed her industrial strength, by owing houses in Ogidigba (the place of her first marriage); Agbedigbanran (her second place of marriage); and Arogbo, the administrative headquarters of the Arogbo-Ijaw Kingdom. Again, Edebo was a professional story teller, and for every story she told, there was a commensurate song attached to it. Each child was asked to explain the lessons learned from the stories. 

As revealed by the authors, the book also briefly discusses the monumental achievements of Edebo’s children, and some of the grandchildren. These included but not limited to High Chief Titiboh Ekpruke, Mrs Wosi Filatei, Mrs Pumo Kuku, Mr Lawrence Ife, High Chief (Mrs) Maamu, His Royal Highness, Pere Morrison Titiboh, Engr Benson Egbekun, Dr Kingsley Kemebradigha Kuku, etc. 

Furthermore, another historic interest in the book is the display of the genealogical tree of Edebo’s children and grandchildren. This was carefully constructed in the order of seniority, tabular form, gender toga, with illustrative and real pictorial evidences, dates of births and deaths, where necessary. Truly, these are canons of historical scholarship and true historiographical ingenuity of the highest order on the part of the authors. Differently put, though originally eight in number, with the untimely demise of Etuwo, the seven and their children are also documented in this book. Specifically, Mr Atotoboh Ekpruke, and his seven children; High Chief Titiboh Ekpruke, and his twenty-four children; Mrs Pumo Kuku, and her four children; Mrs Wosi Filatei, and her six children; Apostle Marcus Ubali, and his fifteen children; Mr Lawrence Ife, and his eighteen children; and High Chief (Mrs) Maamu Samuel Ominisan, and her ten children, are all adequately captured in the book, with their contributions in the Arogbo-Ijaw kingdom, Ondo State, Nigeria, and the international community. 

The book also reveals that, for a further cementation and promotion of their age-long consanguineous ties, nine of the descendants of Edebo from the Arogbo-Ijaw kingdom paid a visit to the Ojomu dynasty of Ondo kingdom on Wednesday, March 8, 2023; and were warmly received by High Chief Ambrose Akinsade, the Ojomu of Ondo kingdom, and his wife, Mrs Roseline Akinsade. The historic delegation was led by High Chief Ebenezer Titiboh (grandson), Kennedy Ikantu Peretei (great-grandson), Mrs Ogoluwa Jounghan, (granddaughter), Chief (Mrs) Paulina Filatei (great-granddaughter), Barrister Ebieretei Egbekun (grandson), Barrister Pius Kowei (great-grandson), Messrs Manuwa Egbekun (grandson), Wariebi Kelvin Egbekun (grandson), and Blessing Egbekun (great-grandson). This memorable visit was equally marked with pictorial evidence as clearly displayed in the book.

For the preferment of her ancestral identity, Edebo gave many of her grandchildren Yoruba nomenclature(s), such as, Tinuola, Iwalewa, Abimbola, Igbekele, Awolowo, Adelabu, Mobolaji, Omolere, Adewole (all Ife’s children). From the line of her last daughter, Maamu, we have Modupe, Bayode, Ebimipo, Ogoluwa, etc. This nostalgic and nomenclatural diplomacy, was tactically calculated and applied to keep her Yoruba ancestry or identity alive in the midst of the Arogbo-Ijaw identity. 

Remarkably, the book is abundantly rich in hard historical facts and fantastic pictorial ingredients. Dating in historical documentation and reconstruction is a necessary tool in historical scholarship, and a valuable act of historiography. The book is equally praise-worthy in that direction as well. Again, within the context of historical reconstruction, and the test of objectivity as a canon of historical scholarship, the book enjoys my highest academic salute. Another aspect of the book worth pointing out is the authors’ use of moderate but Standard English in their writing. In doing this, the authors could be seen to have put into consideration the average reader and the general public, which is quite impressive. The book is appropriately titled, and well produced, hence, highly commendable and a must-read to all. However, some few printer’s devil in the book extremely found it very difficult to escape the reviewer’s eagle-eyed scrutiny. 

Above all, the book will certainly be a novel source of inspiration to the rising and the future generations, putting into cognizance Edebo’s, inborn fortitude, perseverance, unconquerable spirit with the personality traits of a lioness, and an endurable legacy amidst suicidal confrontations. Therefore, to paraphrase from the cherished veni vidi vici (I came, I saw, I conquered) Latin expression of Julius Caesar after winning a battle in the then Asia Minor (now Turkey), the exemplary Edebo came to Arogbo through the instrumentality of her Yoruba biological parents; the iconic Edebo saw the bitter historical irony of life in Arogbo, and boldly challenged and confronted the vicissitudes of life; and the extraordinaire Edebo triumphantly conquered at the end the storm. Hence, the 56th posthumous melodious and victorious song of her descendants, which practical evidence and manifestation, we are eloquent partakers now in one way or the other. 

Contributions towards Final Rites Event of April 11, 2023

BURIAL CONTRIBUTION

1. MRS WABU IJANBOH-10k

2. MRS. BAYODE KEKEMEKE - 10k

3. MR. PIUS KOWEI - 10k

4. MR. OWEI TITIBOH - 10k

5. MR. WARIEBI EGBEKUN - 10k

6. MR. BINMO  EGBEKUN - 15k

7. CHIEF PAULINA K. FILATEI - 10k

8. HON. KENNEDY PERETEI - 15k

9. MR. AKPODIGHA FILATEI - 15k

10. MR. ELKANAH EGBEKUN - 10k

11. MRS MODUPE AJUWA - 10k

12. MR. PERE IYEBOTEI - 10k

13. MS GABAI KAZEEM - 10k

14. MR. PATRICK KUETE - 10k

15. HIGH CHF.  THOMPSON  EDUH - 10k

16. HIGH CHF. LONGLIFE TITIBOH - 10K

17. MR. ZACCHEAUS FILATEI - 10k

18. MR. JUBOH KEKEMEKE - 10k

19. MR. FELIX EGBEKUN - 10k

20. MR. BIBISA KEKEMEKE - 10k

21. MR. SOLOMON KAZEEM IYEBOTEI - 10k

22. MR. KIMI KAZEEM IYEBOTEI - 15K

23. MRS BIYESEIGHA ESHOFONIE (Nee FILATEI) - 12k

24. HON. JUSTICE R.  AJUWA - 15K

25. MR. SAMSON IJANBOH - 15k

26. CHIEF MOSES OMINISAN - 10k

27. MR. RAPHAEL EGBEKUN - 15k

28. MRS. P.M. EGBEKUN - 10k

29. MRS BOLAJI DOSO - 10k

30. MR. EMOTONGHAN DOSO - 10k

31. MR. BUNA DOSO-10k

32. MRS APIRIBOH YEIYAH - 10k

33. MRS IDE EREGHA-10k

34. MRS BUNAEBITIMI BOBOU - 10k

35. HIGH CHF. EBENEZER TITIBOH - 10K    

36. MR. TAKU ATOTOBO - 10k

37. CHIEF MARTINS K. EGBEKUN - 10K

38. MR TEHINSE ISAAC PAT - 10k

39. MR. IDOWU IJANBOH - 10k

40. OMINISAN SAMUEL IBADOUJU - 10k

41. MR. MOSES FILATEI - 5k

42. MRS ZIPPORAH TEHINSE - 10k

43. MR. OMINISAN PROMISE - 10k

44. WANAMI MICHAEL  GBEKEMI A. - 10k

45. MR. YOUNG OMINISAN - 10k

46. MRS JOY SUCCESS ODOGBO - 10k

47. MRS EBIMIPO LOKO - 10k

48. MR. BRIGHT K. OMINISAN - 10K

49. MRS. MEWO PEMI - 10k

50. MS RONU IJANBOH - 10k

51. MR. MICHAEL T. OMINISAN - 10K

52. MR. BAIMASE KEKEMEKE - 10k

53. MR. BENSON ATOTOBO - 10K

54. SNR BNRG. AMAKIRI FILATEI - 10K

55. MR. IPITEIKUMO FILATEI - 10k

56. MR. GANBO DANIEL FILATEI - 15K

57. MR. DIETTE SUNNY FILATEI - 10k

58. MAMA D.ENINIDIGHI EGBEKUN - 10k

59. MRS CECELIA YEIGHA OGBOMU - 10k

60. MR. EBIERITEI B. EGBEKUN - 10K

61. HIGH CHF. JOSEPH MONEY OMINISAN - 10k

62. MRS. DEHIN DUWEIGHA - 10k

63. MR. ISAIAH OMINISAN - 10k

64. MR. JULIUS FILATEI - 10K

65. MRS IJOUKUNMO ABUDU(Nee FILATEI) - 10K

66. MRS OLAYEMI UKPANGERE - 10k

67. MRS OGOLUWA JOUNGHAN -10k

68. MRS THANKGOD KIMIDI - 5k

69. MS ABIMBOLA EGBEKUN - 10k

70. TAMARUEMOEMI ODIBO - 5k

71. MRS. EKOERE ESTHER LULU - 10k

72. MRS KEPIRIYE INUESOKAN - 10k

73. MR BLESSING E.EGBEKUN - 10k

74. PASTOR DOUBRA IJANBOH - 10k

75. MRS SEIDOUGHA ZEBLON (IJANBOH) - 10k

76. MR. FAMOUS ERIJAH - 10k

77. MR. ADEBAYO ATOTOBO - 10K

78. ENGR. MIKE EGBEKUN - 10k

79. MR. GEORGE I. FILATEI - 10K

80. MR. SHADRACH KUETE - 10k

81. MRS BUINAYE ERIJAH - 10K

82. MS. FORM JEMI - 10k

83. MR. MIKE KENNY IJANBOH - 10k

84. MR. KESTER KIRIMINI KUKU - 20k

85. MRS IYORO AJUWA - 20k

86. MISS EBIERE KUKU - 20k

87. HON KINGSLEY K. KUKU - 15k

88. MR. PATRICK ALAO JEMI - 10k

89. MR. IJUWEIGHA BINIGBOLO - 10k

90. MRS ILERIKUMO E. BINIGBOLO - 10K

91. MR. SAMUEL IBAEMI FILATEI - 10K

92.  MR SOLA EGBEKUN - 10k

93. MR. ROBINSON EGBEKUN - 10K

94. MRS ROLI BOMI(NEE FILATEI) - 10K

95. MRS. IYOROEBI FEKU(NEE EGBEKUN) - 10k

96. MRS ELIZABETH ATILAGHA(IJANBOH) - 10k

97. MR. MANUWA EGBEKUN - 10k

98. MR. DADIKUMO V. TEHINSE - 10K

99. MR. EBIBOMINI O. EGBEKUN-IFE - 10k

100. MR. GODWIN LAWRENCE-EGBEKUN - 12k

101. MRS CHRISTIANA NAPOLEON - 10k

102. MS EKPOJITEI EGBEKUN - 10K

103. SEIGBOROKUMO TITIBOH - 10K

104. MRS SELINAH EDUH - 10K

105. MS SEFI EGBEKUN - 5k

106. MRS TUBO ARENIBARO - 5k

107. MR. OGOKEPIRI ATILI - 10K

108. YANYANGBINI TOLUWALOJU ATOTOBOH - 10k

109. YANYANGBINI KASAYO - 10K

Total-------N1, 144, 000. 00 

SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION

1. HON. KENNEDY PERETEI - 300k.

2. HON. JUSTICE R. AJUWA - 215k

3. FIDO WATER (400k worth bottle water)

4. MR. SAMSON IJANBOH-300k

5. MR. PERE IYEBOTEI - 900k to  offset  balance of Musician's fee.

6. MR. JUBOH KEKEMEKE - 100k

7. MR. BIBISA KEKEMEKE -100k

8. HON. KINGSLEY K. KUKU -150k

9.MR. GODWIN LAWRENCE-EGBEKUN - 60k

10. MR. AKPODIGHA FILATEI - 600K

11. UGBUTUWA FAMILY - 20k

12. PROF. DAVID IYEGHA - 200k

TOTAL: 2, 945, 000

Post-Event News Release after Nene Edebo Egbekun Final Rites

 BREAKING NEWS:

Nene Edebo Egbekun Final Rites Observed in Arogbo on April 11, 2023

The final funeral ceremony of late Mama Edebo Egbekun was held on the 11th April, 2023. The occasion was majestically graced by some important dignitaries. Among whom are: High Chief Kekpo Kuete, the Egbesu of Egbesubiri quarters, High Chief Abiodun Ogunye, the Latijomu of Ojomu Royal family in Ondo, the Delegation from the palace of the Ojomu of Ondo Kingdom, High Chief Ambrose Akinsade, His Highness, R. A. Bekewe, the Pere-Atorghru of Arogbo kingdom. 

Others are: Chief Kuro Kowei, the Amananawei of Adoloseimo 11, High Chief R. S. Kekemeke, High Chief Israel Emonkenighan, the Bilebu of Erubiri, Barr. Solomon Tunyan who ably represented High Chief N. K. Tunyan, the Gandowei of Arogbo kingdom, HRH. Morrison Reke Titiboh, the Ogidi of Ogidigba (grandson), Snr Boanerge Amakiri Filatei, the Founder of Bra-Ama C&S Church of Zion, Biagbini,(grandson), Delegation from the palace of the Pere of Biagbini, HRH. Moses Ugouji and others. 

The ceremony was unprecedented in the history of Arogbo kingdom despite the downpour. The chairman of the Organising Committee of the ceremony, Hon. Kennedy Peretei expressed appreciation to the general public for gracing the august occasion. He described late Mama Edebo Egbekun as one of the virtuous women in her life time. Kennedy Peretei further likened late Mama Edebo Egbekun to the virtuous Mary Slessor and Esther in the Bible who saved the lives of many young promising children during her midwifery.

Also speaking on the occasion about the life of late Mama Edebo Egbekun, the Amananawei of Adoloseimo 11 who is doubled as the Oruba-Egberi-Gbakaramowe of Arogbo kingdom, Chief Kuro Kowei described late Mama Edebo Egbekun as a successful woman in her life time. Chief Kuro Kowei pinpointed the fact that the Descendants of Edebo Egbekun are Pathfinders in all sphere of life Arogbo Kingdom. He mentioned late Engr. B. A. Egbekun as the first person in Arogbo community appointed as a member of executive council of Ondo state, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, the first person in Arogbo community appointed as the Special Adviser to the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Engr. Akpodigha Filatei, the first person who graduated with First Class (Hons) in first degree certificate.

Coupled with the celebration of Easter festival, the people in Arogbo community described Mama Edebo Egbekun as being resurrected.

Highlights of the ceremony were dance, drama and music supplied by Junior King Robert, Alfred Izon-ebi.

Pius P. Kowei, Esq.

For: Organising Committee.