Abraka

Abraka, is a town in Delta state, Nigeria. It is also home to two of the main 24 urhobo kingdoms. It is mostly known as a university town and has the main campus of the Delta State University located there. Abraka town is a favourite destination for domestic and international tourists. The Abraka beach is famous for its natural flowing spring water, and has sports recreational facilities for outdoor activities like canoeing, fishing, swimming, barbecue and picnicking. Abraka was founded by a Benin Prince, Avwraka according to Abraka oral history. Avwraka (Abraka) is one of the few Urhobo socio-political units whose predecessors did not live elsewhere among non-Urhobo ethnic group before settling in Urhoboland. Avwraka was a Prince in an Edo-speaking political group which emigrated and settled near other Urhobo people. The contemporary main version of the historical traditions of Avwraka (Abraka) states that before Avwraka died in Otorho-Avwraka, he had two sons called Aghwa and Ivie. These are the distant ancestors of Umiaghwa and Oruarivie of Avwraka today. The main settlements of Avwraka (Abraka) today are: Ekrejeta Ajanomi Urhuoka Urhuovie Erho Oria Urhuagbesa Umeghe Oteri (founded by descendants of Oruarivie) Otorho - Avwraka (Avwraka Inland). This is the traditional headquarters. The construction of a link road from Agbor, through Abraka, to Sapele in 1901 increased the commercial activities and population in Abraka. On 6 May 1978, the whole of Abraka resolved to constitute themselves into a kingdom like most Urhobo kingdoms. They decided to have Chief David Oghenegueke Dafe as their Ovie (king) and Chief Joseph Ajarho Atagana from Umiaghwa as their Otota (spokesman). Recent historical development in Avwraka (Abraka) has birthed the need to divide Abraka Kingdom into Umiagwa-Abraka and Oruarive-Abraka Kingdoms. Hence the two separate Avwraka (Abraka) kingdoms now form a vital part of the Ethiope-East Local Government Area of Delta State to which the polity has belonged since 1976.