According to Achives Ekor was founded by Ehiebor an early emigrant from Benin. It was sailed by the lbadan and its people took refuge at Ayaran where they remained only a short time. They submitted to the Nupes accepted “ajele" and paid tribute.
Since 1890 the village has been administered from Ikiran, Kabba, Okene, Iddo. Fugar and Auchi.
Administration
According to Achives report, Ekor is divided territorially into (2) two quarters Afanare and Ofuduavo. Head of families and quarters are been elected by their members. The two (2) traditional god worshipped by the whole village are controlled by a member of the Ozo family, but since Nupe time the village head has always come from Afanare. It has been agreed by the people that the quarters should take in turns to elect a village head in the future.
The age grade and title taking system are similar to that of Ibillo. But recently
Ekor falls under electoral ward four (4) in Akoko-Edo L.G.A and under North Akoko Clan, under the clan headship of HRH Oba G.B. Ajogu who also has the titles of the Elokor of Ekor
Judiciary
Civil crimes and matrimonial cases in the olden days are treated as that of Ikiran-Ile. No hearing fees were also charged. Debt judgment was the same as Ikiran –lle. Dispute as to fact is decided as that of Ikiran-lle.
Crimes are also punished the same as that of Ihiran.lle
Land Ownership
According to HRH Oba G.B.Ajogu. LAND in Ekor is owned by the community but because of cocoa plantation which stays for years in the ground, they have now used that as a yardstick for people to have personal land .Where over one clears and plant cocoa his children (indigene) can inherit it but other areas that has not been touched are land belonging to the community.
Therefore.
- Land can be inherited.
- It can be mortgaged by the community.
Herbal Medicine
According to Oba G. B. Ajogu he said that before the advent of the missionary/western culture and others, their people relied on herbal medicine for treatment of ailment for instance there is a shrine called Obalu in Ekor, their chief priest was also a herbalist who was very good in the area of "Childbirth" and other ailments. His herbs were so effective that he even started attracting patronage from people from other parts in Nigeria. So, they have a high regard for herbal medicine he did not subscribe to the idea of facing out herbals medicine rather suggest that what the Nigerian herbalist needs is improvement just like the Chinese and Indians and he expect the government to adopt their strategy, in view of moving the Nigeria herbal medicine to a greater height.
Shrines And Deities
In Ekor they have shrine called Eho people come from far and near to this Shrine which they believe had answers to their various problems. Some few Indigene also worship this shrine called Eho. There exists another shrine called Obalu this is supposed to be the shrine of the village herbalist.
Religion
Apart from Christian and Islamic type of religion there are also people that are still having tradition gods (idol) they worship but are very few and from the look of things they are likely to seize in few years to come no sign of idol worshiping because of the fast rate at which it is declining in Ekor.
Traditional Marriage/Bride Price
According to HRH Oba G. B. Ajogu he maintained that compared with the other parts of the country he believe that their own marriage rites is the cheapest due to the fact that they believe that "LOVE" is what is important in marriage and that when they give a child to someone without taking much money from him, they believe that such person will take care of the child properly and they also believe that love is what really counts. At times they take as little as N20.00- N40.00 as the case may be. But that does not mean that it is the only things Involved. There are other items like yam, oil, melon, fish, garden eggs, cloths for the bride while umbrella and other things you do for the father and mother.
During courtship the prospective groom is expected to be helping his in-law especially in farm work.
Though nowadays the elites use money in place of work aspect of it.
Note that they do not forbid marriage with any clan in Akoko-Edo or any part of Nigeria. Though it happened in the past but recently due to civilization that custom is dead completely.
Local Delicacy
Irazo (moimoi) and pounded yam with different type soup are mostly consumed
Drums
They have two major traditional drums called Obele and Okha it is normally beaten during the burial ceremonies.
Custom and Norm
HRHOba G.B Ajogu maintained that all the Okpameris have the same custom and tradition which they share in common.
Traditional Festivals
There are numerous festival that are held in this clan (Ekor)
(1)Ele Festival: This festival is held every seven (7) years which is normally organized by the women. There are of different stages 1st stage Ekuzo. At 18 and above age groups after seven (7) years they will fry deans bons or Akara and share it to mark that their group have graduated to a higher level for another group to come in.
After which the Ele festival takes its proper place. This festival is done by the women. In this festival the women have where they go in a shrine to perform some ceremony which is strictly known by those women alone, when they finish doing that they come out singing. Women will dress gorgeously with bids, young girls will put on bids and natives marks to beautify themselves and to show there maturity.
During this dance prospective husband will go and spray the girl of their interest money which is a sign to indicate their interest in that particular girl and after the family of the girl would find out which family the man that sprayed their daughter come from and later the two families will now meet and see whether they can get married then. After the Ele festival, the man will start preparing for their own festival called Uyomo is also a seven years duration festival
(2) Uyomo festival is done to mark the initiation of new age-group the other group under them will be promoted to a higher level
(3) Ukpi: This is an annual festival. All the indigene are expected to prepare moi-moi and enjoy with friends and well wishers immediately it is followed with the new yam festival
(4) New yam festival – Every 25th of June of the year the people of Ekor celebrate their annual New Year festival. People come from far and near indigenes and non indigenes to celebrate this festival in Ekor.
Clan headship
According to history when the Europeans came for administrative purposes they divide the area into clans that was how North Akoko clan came into being.
North Akoko clan is made up four villages namely Ibillo Ekor Ekpesi and Ikiram-Ile. This was so because of the uniformity in their custom and tradition.
These clan headships is basically selected rotationally through the four ruling families in Ekor.
Occupation
According to His Highness, farming is their main occupation. They cultivate crops for both consumption and cash.
Previously they do have clan dispute with other clan in Akoko-Edo which they later resolve d in the court.
