The various Okun groups share similar dressing, cuisine, traditional religion, masquerading culture etc. The men practised farming and hunting while the women took care of the home and raised the children. Crops cultivated included coffee, cocoa, yams, cassava, maize, sorghum, groundnuts, beans, and cotton. The Abunu women (and to a lesser extent, their Owe and Ọwọrọ neighbours) were known for the weaving and trade of Aso-Ipo, a red textile used in the burial of the wealthy and for making masquerade dresses. This textile was also an object of trade for the Abunu women to their
Ebira neighbours and others. The Okun people practice Christianity, Islam and traditional African religions. Although Okun people practice the worship of
Orisa like
Sango and
Ogun and the consultation of
Ifá (or
Ihá) as the other larger Yoruba subgroups, prominence is given to the worship of
ebora, believed to be spirits who live in forests, caves, mountains, stream or rivers. are not found among the other Yoruba groups but rather found to be similar to those of some non-Okun inhabitants of the Niger-Benue confluence like the Bassa Nges. Each 'state' was governed by leadership rotated amongst the constituent lineages or clans. The central kingship system has led to the establishment of royal stools such as Obaro of
Kabba, Olubunu of Bunu, Olujumu of Ijumu, Agbana of Isanlu, Olu of Ọwọrọ. The Obaro of Kabba, Oba Michael Olobayo (Obaro Ero Il), is the chairman of the Okun traditional council. In the early 20th century the Olu of Ọwọrọ (and head of Ọwọrọ district) was given a supervisory role over non-Okun districts of Kakanda, Kupa and Eggan while the Obaa ro of Kabba had a supervisory role over the other Okun people.
Kabba which was used as the administrative and military base of the Nupe expedition, became the capital of the Kabba province of the Northern region and remains the largest and most important town of the Okun people. Despite the similarities pointed out, there are yet identifiable differences in the culture of the various Okun subgroups. Some of these differences can be noticed in language, political arrangements, social institutions and the array of
ebora (deities) worshipped.
Cuisine The Okun people are known to have delicacies. Soups include ora soup (ground dried okra), akuku, and tankelekon soup. These are usually eaten with pounded yam. A popular snack is called adun (fried beans with palm oil and sugar). ==Political struggle==