The visitor then has to pay a great deal of attention to be able to differentiate between the different rumuo, or risk being driven to a wrong destination. This is because some of the rumuos may sound similar and as such, for a first time visitor to escape being taken to a wrong destination by commercial vehicles, one survival tip is to learn to differentiate the native terms that come after every rumuo, which is pronounced as Roo moo. It is a historic word that comes before over 30 different locations or communities popular in Port Harcourt city.
Rumuokoro, Rumuokwurusi, Rumuopakwurusi, Rumuokwuta, Rumuola, Rumuoadaolu, Rumuoibekwe, Rumuokalabo, Rumuochorlu, Rumuosu, Rumuogba, Rumuomasi, Rumeme, Rumuoigbo, Rumuodomaya, are few examples of the more than 30 areas which have the word ‘rumuo’ at their beginning. The names often confuse a new comer to the city and in fact, many who have stayed long in Port Harcourt.
The word rumuo as gathered by this reporter is from the Ikwerre ethnic group of Rivers State who are considered the custodians of the rich cultural heritage of the state and thus, often referred to as ‘landlords’ by residents in the state.
Mr. Godwin John is an indigene of Akwa Ibom. He told this reporter; “the first time I arrived Port Harcourt, I saw Rumuola and thought that Ola is a Yoruba word and found it difficult to differentiate between some of the rumuos.
There is however, a divided opinion as to the origin of the prefix rumuo with some believing that it is a word borrowed from the Igbo language by the Ikwerre people who over the years modified it by adding ‘r’ to make it different from that of the Igbos which is pronounced as oumo (people of) while the Ikwerre people of Rivers insist the word originated from them hence not an igbo word.
Mr Chibuike Ugwu is an indigene of Enugu State and a trader in Rumuola and has been living in Port Harcourt for over 12 years. He says, “the word Rumuo is a derivation from Igbo word of Umuo which is used in states like Enugu and Abia to refer to ‘people of’. He said the Ikwerre people who would not want to be regard to be Igbos, decided to add ‘R’ to Uomo so as to be different from the igbos.
His Royal Highness (HRH), Sir (Eng.) BA Worgu (JP) Eze Chorlu the VII, is the Paramount ruler of Rumuochorlu community under Rumuokwurusi in Obio/Akpo local government council. He says, “as an Ikwerre man, the word rumuo means the children of… For example, Rumuochorlu here means the community of the children of Chorlu and Rumuoibekwe also means the descendants of Ibekwe.”
According to Eze Chorlu VII, it is the tradition of the Ikwerre man to answer or take the names of their fathers. He said the word has been with the Ikwerre man from time immemorial. “The word is as old as the Ikwerre man, even though these languages are connected. The Igbo man says Oumu while we say Rumuo. These are two different words but mean the same thing.”
Chief Kingsley Ezebunwo is an elderly Ikwerre man who resides in Rumuokwuta area of Port Harcourt. He told this reporter that, “Anywhere you see Rumuo, it refers to the children of Akpara. It is a name that comes from our fore fathers in those days.” He explained that Rumuoigbo, Rumuola, Rumumeme, Rumuokwuta, are sons from the same father called Akpara who gave birth to nine children and came to be known as the Rumuos, with Rumuoigbo being the elderly of all. He points out that there is usually inter marriages among the different Rumuos,
This reporter who when round the Rumuos noticed that there is always a unique thing about each of them. Rumuola for example is situated between First Bank Omomasi, the popular Hotel Presidential and Government Reserved Area (GRA) junction in Port Harcourt. It is a usually a busy commercial area where electronics, vehicles and others goods are sold including a of Hausa community who engage in. Bureau de change business. It is also a bus stop where passengers board taxis and buses to other place such as Rumuokoro, Rumuokwuta and other parts. It is reputed to be one of the heavy traffic junctions in Port Harcourt.
Rumuokwurusi is situated along Aba expressway in Obio/Akpo local government area of the state. It is made up of four communities namely: Rumuochorlu community, Rumuowekerebe community, Rumuorewu and Mbori. Situated within Rumuokwurusi is the popular oil mill market which holds only on Wednesdays every week with traders coming from different parts of the country to purchase goods believed to be cheaper than any other market in Port Harcourt.
Rumuokwurusi is also famous for a monument, single handedly designed and constructed by the Eze Chorlu. “The monument was put up in 2004 by me to denote the way of life of the Ikwerre man in Rumuokwurusi before the Nigerian –Biafran war. As a kid, I observed my parents and this tells how people meet to take decisions that affect the community. It was like a form of a forum for determining how to solve the problem of say Rumuochorlu for example,” says the paramount ruler.
The monument which has men seated round while palm wine is served representatives from the different communities, get together to deliberate on issues affecting their communities such as where to farm in the new season, to determine who will pay taxes and who is not going to pay. It is at that gathering that the taxes will be gathered and taken to Ahoada.
“It is a replica of how the people governed the community in those days. People gathered with the chiefs on a day called Riabo, a special day to the Ikwerre equivalent to what the Sabbath day is to the Jew,” Eze Cholu explained.
According to the Eze Chorlu, the Ikwerre people of Rumuokwurusi community, like other Ikwerres in other parts of Rivers state have only five days in a week and not the usual seven days. These days are: Riabo, Sanabo, Namate, Ogu and Nim. He said on the Riabo day, men do not go to the farm but gather at the chief’s palace to deliberate crucial issues affecting their communities. It is also a day when the Rumuokwurusi communities sacrifice to the gods.
There is usually sporting activities that normally brings the Rumuos together. Among them, according to Okechukwu Wali, an applicant and resident of Rumuokwurusi, is a traditional wrestling competition called Ogenege. There is also a football match among the youths of different communities that make up the rumuos.
“On Riabo day, palmwine tappers usually bring their wine to the Ezes palace and it is shared among the elders of that community while they deliberate,” says Eze Chorlu VII.
Rumuogba is at the centre of Port Harcourt in an area popularly called Artillery by old Aba road. It is a residential area with buildings housing a number of banks, plaza, fast food restaurants and a host of some boutique. Situated along Rumuogba is the Customary Court of Appeal, Rumuosu is situated around Choba, University of Port Harcourt, While Rumuomasi is situated along the popular Elekahia area where the Liberation Stadium is situated. Rumueme is along Ikwerre road at mile 4 area. In Rumueme is the Rivers state school of nursing and the Rivers State Collage of Health Science and tTechnology. While in Rumuadaolu is the Rivers State University of Science and Technology. Rumuoibekwe is along Aba expressway after Shell Petroleum Company.
If you are thinking of visiting the garden city, you may have to start mastering the following: Rumuji, Rumuodomaya, Rumuelumini, Rumuokalabo, Rumuakuru, Rumuorewu, Rumuoapara Rumuoprikom, Rumuola, Rumuoadaolu, Rumuoeme, Rumuokurou, Rumuomasi, Rumuosi. Rumuoikpe, Rumuoigbo, Rumudumuanya, Rumuoibekwe, Rumuogba, Rumuodogo, Rumuokwurusi, Rumuola.
