It is generally believed that the earliest clan in Isoko area is the Erohwa who have always claimed that they have always been where they are. They therefore fall into a separate class of their own. Most of the remaining clans in Isoko trace their origin to Benin. Thus, clans like Aviara, Emevo, Iyede, Okpe, Owe and Uzere fall within the Benin group while clans like Enwe and Ume trace their origin to Iboland. The other two clans Igbide and Olomoro appear to originate from various sources. It is said that the founder of Igbide came originally from Benin “but spent some time in the Ibo country before going on to found Ighide. Olomoro would appear to have been founded by children of the founder of Urhobo clan of Olomu.” The period of migration from Benin has been put by Hubbard as the 15th century when people moved from Benin “southwards or south-eastwards to the north-western parts of the delta of the Niger.” The clans named above were treated in detail by Ikime in his thesis referred to in the footnote at the bottom of this page. Compared with T.J. Southern’s Assessment Report on Isoko-Sobo sub-clan, 1928 and Bradbury’s list in his “Benin Kingdom ,and Edo Speaking Peoples of South-western Nigeria” page 129 as reported by Mr. F. C. Halim, Deputy Director of Research in the Administrative Research and Support Division, Military Governor’s Office, Benin City, 1911, the following clans were identified in the table below:
Clans in Isoko as identified at various periods

Isoko Traditional Rulers

The difference in the number of clans recorded by the various writers is due to the splitting of the clans; thus Ikime noted that the Elu were off-shoots of Owe. Ozoro and Afogbe branched off Okpe; irri and OIeh (or Ole) from Uzere; Emovo from Iyede. Aviara is an amalgam of Benin migrants, Erohwa and Ase in Aboh; Uwheru from Igbide and Enwe and finally Emede was founded by the son of Eru the founder of Igbide (even though the Emede would not like to accept this. fact). The preponderance of Benin migrants to Isoko area together with the expansion of the Benin Empire during the l4th, l5th and l6th centuries brought Isoko and its environs under the absolute tutelage of Benin. The Ovie (a word derived from the Benin word Ogie or Enogie) is the Head of the clan who derived his authorities from the Benin monarch. As in any other Benin District like Oghada, Ugo, Obagie, etc., Isoko area had its districts which were administered by the Ovie (Ivie, plural) who was, and still is, the equivalent of the Enogie (Enigie plural) of Edo or Benin districts.. Other subordinate titles to those of Ivie (Ovie singular) are mere imitations of those of metropolitan Benin City. It must be noted that some, if not all of these titles in the erstwhile outlying districts of Benin like Isoko do not have the historical and functional backgrounds as those of Benin City. Thus it is common to have the same title bearing the same or similar name in both Benin and in the districts of the former Benin Empire and yet their historical backgrounds and functions remain different. For example, the Iyase of Benin has a different historical and functional origin from that of Ishan, Isoko, Itsekiri or Ijaw areas which were part and parcels of the Great Benin Empire. To re-emphasise the inter-relationship of Benin and Isoko, many of the welcome addresses presented to Omo N’Oba Erediauwa during his “Thank you tour” of the area on 4th March, 1982 indicated that most of Isoko ancestors migrated from Benin. The Ovie of Emede said in parts that “Historically, our ancestors migrated from Edo - “BENIN” and finally settled here in Emede. A traditional system of government was set up in the pattern of what obtains in their original home in Edo - “BENN” a place our forefathers popularly referred to as “AKA”, one known and called Ovie - Oba became the first one of Emede Kingdom.” The Ovie of Iyede has this to say “It is a well known truth and beyond reasonable doubt that the first Ovie of Iyede, the noble Ovie Izenue was a direct son of Oba Udagbedo of Benin. On becoming the Ovie of Iyede, Izenue had his title ratified by Oba Ohen who reigned in Benin at the time. Since then Iyede had produced fifteen Ivie most of whom up to Oboro ratified their titles by the Oba of Benin lyede, therefore, has every cause to be proud for being in such close association from time immemorial with the ancient Kingdom of Benin.”

Isoko People

The Major Traditional Rulers In Isoko Land

1. The Ovie of Aviara

2. The Ovie of Uzere

3. The Ovie of Ozoro

4. The Ovie of Iyede

5. The Ovie of Okpolo

6. The Odion of Uzere

7. The Odion of Irri

8. The Odion of OIomoro

9. The Odion of Erohwa

10. The Odion of Emede

11. The Otota of Irri

12. The Odion of OIeh

13. The Odion of Oweh

14. The Odion of Okpe

15. The Odion of Oyode

16. The Odion of Umeh

17. The Odion of Emevor

18. The Otota of Umeh

19. The Otota of Owhe

20. The Olotu of Owhe

21. The Otota of Ellu

22. The Otota of Otibio-Owhe

23. The Otota of Igbide

24. The Oletu of Ilue-Ologbo, Owhe

25. The Olota of Idheze

26. The Ovie of Emede

27. The Otota of Ofagbe

28. The Oletu of OIeh

29. The Ogbu-Igho of Enhwe

30. The Ovie of Igbide

31. The Oletu-Uzo of Ellu