The research on the history of gospel music in Urhoboland is broadly
divided into three parts. These parts cover the era of Adam Igbudu
and the post-Adamic period. The development of Urhobo gospel
music can be traced to the Protestant Churches especially the Anglican
Church. The origin of gospel music in Urhoboland is not specifically
known. Scholars of Urhobo studies are not certain as to how and
when it began. Urhobo gospel music began in a combination of
many factors. It was unconsciously fabricated with some elements of
cultural influences and divine inspiration.
It is therefore the purpose of this study to establish the historical
origin of Urhobo gospel music and the way it is used to spread the
gospel. The study is also intended to show how the gospel music
was influenced by local factors.
Two basic methods are used in this study. These are the historical approach and the interview methods.
The interviews were carried out randomly in several Urhobo towns:
Abraka, Eku, Kokori, Ughelli, Egborode, Evwreni and Sapele. Forty
persons were interviewed.1 This implies that about seven persons
were interviewed in each town. The people interviewed were mostly
elders of Churches and some pastors. The interview is significant
because those from whom information was solicited were either contemporaries of the early Urhobo gospel music activist or pioneers of
the gospel music who are still living.
1 Some people did not respond to the interview invitations. I did not meet five
persons at home when I visited them for a second time. Six persons refused to be
interviewed in spite of my request because they were afraid of state security agents.
98 j. enuwosa
The Coming of the Missionaries
The coming of the missionaries is a prelude to the development of
indigenous music in Urhoboland. The first attempt to Christianise
the Urhobo took place in 1470 by Portuguese missionaries. This
effort failed because of inadequate finance, manpower and the unfavourable climate. Towards the middle of the 19th century, Christianity
came to Urhoboland from three fronts: Sapele, Urhuovie and Warri.
The Church Missionary Society first appeared in Urhoboland in
1854 at Okwagbe, 1864 in Warri and 1892 in Sapele and Urhuovie
(Ajayi 1981:67; Erivwo 1973:34).
These missionary attempts derive from the efforts of Samuel Ajayi
Crowther and some ex-slaves in Sapele. The church spread and
established stations in the Urhobo hinterland. It came to be known
as the Niger Delta Pastorate under Bishop James Johnson (Ayandele
1970:88; Ryder 1960:1). It has become the Anglican Dioceses of
Warri, Ughelli and Oleh. The fourth diocese, Sapele diocese comes
from the old Warri diocese. The Urhobo tribe is a tribe among four
other tribes in the three dioceses. These dioceses came into existence
by due process and by the effort of a hard working Bishop, Rt. Rev.
Enuku.
The Roman Catholic Mission later came to Urhobo-land. Coming
in a big way with both human and material resources, parishes were
established in Warri in 1919 by Rev. Fr. Cavegenaire and Fr. Olier,
Aragba in Orogun clan in 1920 by Rev. Fr. George and Eku in
1921 by Rev. Fr. Kelly. By 1924, the church has come to Ovu,
Okurekpo, Okpara, Kokori, Ughelli, Ovwo, Ekiugbo, Evwreni, Olomu
and Arhavwarien.2
The Baptist Mission came to Urhobo-land in 1920. The charismatic activities of A. Omotsola in 1921 and Jove Aganbi in 1926
contributed to the spread of the Baptist Church in Sapele and Eku.
From these two places, the mission came to Abraka, Okpe, Idjerhe,
Agbon, Ughelli and Orogun. Makpa Mojami brought the Baptist
Church to Oginibo near Ughelli in 1922. Oginibo became an important centre of the Baptist Church among the riverine Urhobo .
