ABSTRACT
This chapter looks in detail at the lives of a number of people who live in Eroke. Actors important in the daily life of Eroke include: The Okoliko trio, Lazarus, Jerome and Matthias, The Ohemu brothers, John Ochimana, Francis Ameh, Joseph Ejeh, Abdullahi Adama Akpihi, Ali Shaibu, Emma Abah, Asana Idoka, and Helen Akpihi. Lazarus, Jerome and Mathias belong to the Igboyi clan, and share the same compound. Lazarus is the compound head, but all have independent households. Lazarus became a Christian fifteen years ago and claims this brought him peace of mind as he found some aspects of traditional belief disturbing. The chapter reinforces the importance of education and the fact that Eroke is certainly not an island set apart from the rest of Igalaland, Nigeria or even West Africa. These two points are related in that education has been, and continues to be the passport to employment outside Eroke.
