Obubra

It has an area of 1,115 km² and a population of 172,444 at the 2006 census. St. Francis Xavier Parish, which today has given birth to five(5) other parishes, was originally founded in 1965. However, the first Holy Mass was celebrated in 1961, as missionaries visited to source for land for a Secondary school (St Brendan's) later located at Iyamoyong, about 15 kilometers away. The Chiefs and opinion leaders involved in the location of St Francis Xavier were: Chief Ibingha Ogbosohu, Chief Okpa Irek Okpa, and Chief Ewona Okpa all of Obubra Village, and Chief Egbara (Kwididen Kwosopong) Clan Head.<A History of the Catholic Church in Ogoja region (1921-2021) Evolution of Parishes,institutions, Clergy, Religious and key Lay Personnel by Catholic Diocese of Ogoja> Obubra Village celebrated Abu festival 2024. This festival comes up once in seven years. It was a showcase of all-male dancing from the oldest age-grade to the youngest. Mr Ekong Okpa wrote about the Abu festival called Ort'bha in the Osopong dialect, in the Newsfeature of the Weekend Chronicle where he is the Editor. The article published on Friday June 21, 2024 was titled (Ort'bha festival:A heritage of the Osopong Kingdom....Survey for sustainability). Mr Ekong likened the festival to the popular Argungu fishing festival of Kebbi, Agoye festival of ancient Benin Kingdom, and the colourful festival of the Ashante Henes of ancient Ashante Kingdom. he noted that Obubra Village started Ort'bha festival in the 1800s, and traced the origin of the festival to Agwagwune in present day Biase Local Government area, whose people shade trade relationship along the banks of the Cross river with Obubra Village. He noted that in 1902 the British colonial masters established the administrative headquaters of Obubra on Obubra hill, while the Village was at the bank of the Cross river. He mentioned Major Crawford Cockboun who wrote 'a documentary on Obubra entry book' in 1903. He stated that Ort'bha festival was to promote the cultural heritage of the people with activities such as wrestling challenges, exchang of gifts, traditional dress patterns and display of physical fitness. He noted that in 1969, the Military officers and soldiers took part in the Ort'bha festival, and they danced to the tones in synchrony to rhythms of the wooden drums. He presumed that the endurance trek introduced by the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) may have been reminiscent of the long distance trek associated with Ort'bha festival.