Professor launches book on his family history

A retired professor of dentistry, Enosakhare Samuel Akpata, has presented a book on the genealogy of the Akpata family of Benin Kingdom entitled‘Our Family Tree, Five Generations of Akpata Descendants’.

The book published by Narrative Landscape Press was unveiled on Saturday, December 21 at The Grand Junction Ballroom, Landmark Towers, Oniru, Lagos during the Akpata Descendants Annual Carol Singing event.

Emeritus Professor (Chief) Osato Giwa-Osagie chaired the occasion while Uyi Akpata, Country Senior Partner at PwC Nigeria chaired the book launch organizing committee.

Explaining the book’s importance, Professor Akpata said: “Akpata descendants, including the extended family members, will find this book useful. Younger generations of the family, in Nigeria and in the diaspora, who wish to trace their roots will find it invaluable. It may also be a useful resource for historians and an inspiration for other people who wish to document relationships within their families.”

As revealed in the book, Akpata was a nickname of one of the progenitors of the family, Abraham Okoro Oviawe. “Abraham Okoro was a famous trader and travelled to several places including Otun, Ijero, Ilorin, Ijebu and the Lekki Peninsula in present-day Lagos State. According to the family archives that Emmanuel FabiyiAkpata documented in 1925, Okoro participated actively in the expansionist wars of the Benin empire. For example, he was head of a troop during the Obadan war, and Oba Ovonramwen was highly impressed by his performance.

“It is possible that it was his prowess in war, or perhaps his reliability in the commercial circle that led to Abraham Okoro Oviawe being nicknamed Akpata (meaning rock in the Yoruba language).”

The nickname was eventually extended to the entire family.

Also worthy of note is the book’s expose on the close contact between Akpata descendants and the Yoruba people as well as the Yoruba names of some Akpata descendants.

“At its zenith, Benin empire extended far beyond western Nigeria and Benin people, particularly those who took part in the expansionist wars, lived anywhere within its boundary. In fact, Idukpaye took his son, Abraham Okoro Oviawe along with him to Akure during the war between Akure and Benin. Abraham Okoro became a grown-up man in Akure and traded in different parts of Yorubaland. Just like many other Benin people in the diaspora, he returned to Benin after the 1897 British punitive expedition. This explains the close contact between Akpata descendants and the Yoruba people as well as the Yoruba names of some Akpata descendants.”

In the foreword, the Enogie of Evbuobanosa/Abudu, Benin Kingdom, Professor Gregory Akenzua commended Professor Akpata for writing the book.“Professor Enosakhare Akpata must be commended for writing this book. It may not be an Opus Magnum on Benin History, but it certainly provides inspiring insights into the life and times of prominent Nigerians of Benin extraction,” he said.