The Untold Story of a Nigerian Royal Family: The Urhobo Ruling Clan of Okpe Kingdom [Paperback]

Joseph Asagba (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 14, 2005

The Untold Story of a Nigerian Royal Family presents the story of the Urhobo ruling family of Okpe Kingdom and its political power in Nigeria. It traces the origins and history of the Okpe people and their social and political organization. Topics include:

· The Okpe revolution of the sixteenth century and the assassination of Esezi I

· British Colonial rule of the kingdom, late 1800s-1960

· Civil war between the Okpe and Olomu of Itsekiri and the palm oil trade rivalry

· Urhobo-Itsekiri collaboration in the slave trade, and slavery in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Okpe.

· The political role played by traditional chiefs

· Feminists who campaigned for women's rights to participate in the council of elders

· The effort by HRH Esezi II to promote the democratic system of government within the Okpe council. · The story of the uncrowned king of Okpe Kingdom, including a brief history of the Nigerian Civil War of 1967-70

· The reign of HRH Orhoro I.

· The story of the author's candidacy for Okpe King after the death of Orhoro I

· Nigeria oil policy

· Muslim-Christian strife and human rights abuses

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Prince (Dr.) Joseph Obukowho Asagba is a member of the royal family of the Nigerian kingdom of Urhobo Okpe. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of North Texas, and has held administrative and academic positions at Neosho County Community College and Cornell University. He resides in Texas with his family.

Product Details

• Paperback: 306 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (February 14, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595341519
• ISBN-13: 978-0595341511
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,534,231 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Honst And Strongly Recommended---by victor vann. [e-mail], December 17, 2005

By 

victor vann "vann" (New york city) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Untold Story of a Nigerian Royal Family: The Urhobo Ruling Clan of Okpe Kingdom (Paperback)

What a wonderful story Dr.Asagba had told.The stories in the book speaks powerfully to us today about war,human rights,religious freedom and the devastation of oil exploitation in Nigeria oil states.And a fascinating story about how Sir.Ralph Moor,a British colonist succeded in turning public opinion against slavery and in making it illegal in Nigeria in 1901.

Victor Vann.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating And Perfect for a Motion Picture, August 2, 2005

By 

Christine Tyson (Kansas City,Ks) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Untold Story of a Nigerian Royal Family: The Urhobo Ruling Clan of Okpe Kingdom (Paperback)

l have just finished reading The Untold Story of a Nigerian Royal Family and this is a fascinating account of a royal family stories and events that will blow a readers mind.Not since Alex Haleys novel and roots was released years ago that another interesting book about the slave trade and slavery now come along.This is a history on a high scale,crucial to the story as it was to history is a child born to the daughter of Orholor,an African Chief and was revealed to have been fathered by Akeh a slave who was a favored member of the chief's household.The slave was burned alive by the chief for impregnating his daughter Princess Umerikube.This child was named Abeke by the chief and grows up in the royal household but was considered a son of a slave.What is remarkable about Dr.Asagba's undertaking is that this book is about a journey of discovery and a never-before told story of how Africans treated thier slaves during the slavery era.This is a very powerful and honest story and a must read book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliantly Written And A Must Read, July 29, 2005

By 

C. Anang - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Untold Story of a Nigerian Royal Family: The Urhobo Ruling Clan of Okpe Kingdom (Paperback)

This book The Untold Story of a Nigerian Royal Family is not only a comprehensive history of an African royal family as told by a modern-day prince,but an exciting story of a revolution that led to the assassination of Esezi l who was a dictator that ruled Okpe Kingdom from 1770 untill his death in 1779.The book also covered the slave trade and slavery by Aficans,and of the political intrigue of an ancient Urhobo kingdom of Okpe. At the end of the book, contemporary issues such as the Nigeria oil policy toward the oil state citizens which includes the Okpe people and the muslim-christian strife,and human rights abuses are addressed.As terrorism faces us today, this book presents a wealth of information on religious freedom and how the christians are killed by the muslim extremists in the predominantly muslim northern states of Nigeria for spreading christianity in that part of the region.And how the muslims are allowed to worship freely in Urhobo kingdom of Okpe.This book is very entertaining and enlightening on many of the topics and issues.A well documented history and powerfully written.