The Urhobo tribe was founded when a Prince from the Benin Kingdom ventured southwards and met an Ijaw damsel in the location that is presently Ughelli North local government area of Delta State, Nigeria. The marriage produced 3 boys and a girl. The 3 boys founded the 3 royal familied dynasties in Urhoboland which are stated in alphabetical order below –
- Agbarha Kingdom
- Ogor Kingdom and
- Ughelli Kingdom.
Other Urhobo Kingdoms like Orogun which was founded by their sister and Udu Kingdom where Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD) came from are offshoots of the only 3 royal family Kingdoms in Urhoboland. Nigeria is celebrated globally for its exploit in the entertainment industry. Nollywood, the Nigerian homegrown movie industry gave the world its first, detailed, and consistent outlook into African life and culture from the Nigerian perspective. Africans in Africa and in the diaspora who longed to see Africa culture showcased in splendor are adequately entertained by Nigeria’s prolific movie industry. And one of the leading men and key individuals who helped to build and improve professionalism in the industry is the Warri Boy and Urhobo Man – Richard Mofe Damijo.
The Urhobo people live in a territory bounded by latitudes 6°and 5°, 15° North and Longitudes 5°, 40° and 6°, 25° East in Delta and Bayelsa States of Nigeria. Their neighbors are the Isokos to the southeast, the Itsekiris, and Ijaws to the west, the Binis to the north, the Ijaws to the south, and the Ukwuanis to the northeast.
Mofe-Damijo was born in Aladja community of Udu Kingdom, near Warri, Delta State. He attended Midwest College, Warri, and Anglican Grammar School and was a member of the Drama Club. He enrolled at the University of Benin to continue his education and studied Theatre Arts. In 1997 Mofe-Damijo returned to the university to study law at the University of Lagos and graduated in 2004. Mofe-Damijo was married to Nigerian journalist/publisher, May Ellen-Ezekiel (MEE). After her death in 1996, Richard Mofe-Damijo remarried TV personality, Jumobi Adegbesan, who later left TV for the corporate world. Mofe-Damijo has four children: two with his current wife and two from his previous marriage.
Richard Mofe-Damijo is arguably the biggest Nollywood male actor. He has starred in well over 60 movies and TV Series locally and internationally and is today one of the highest-grossing actors in Africa with his film titles in the last decade grossing over N2 Billion at the box office. A multitalented man, RMD is also a Writer, Producer, Lawyer, PR Consultant, Life-Coach, Public speaker, Master of ceremony amongst other talents. He has received many awards and accolades globally. He has won Africa’s version of the Oscars – the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) for best actor in a leading role and was awarded the lifetime achievement award at AMAA 2016 making him the only Actor to have achieved such a feat. RMD continues to make Nigeria and the Urhobos proud in the global scene where he stands as an advocate for societal change, joining various campaigns like The Stop Tuberculosis Campaign as well as carrying out his passionate stand against gender-based violence and advocating for women and children rights all over the World. His activities in these areas have made him a United Nations Influencer on women and children`s rights. The editorial board of Towncryyers salutes his talent, professionalism, and promotion of Urhobo and African culture.
Ata Ukuta, Editor – www.towncryyers.com