[1] Egharevba was born in Idanre, Ondo State,[2] His father was related to Ohenmwen, Iyase of Benin and his mother, Okunzuwa was the granddaughter of Ogie Ezomo I.
As a young boy, he worked part-time as a helper on canoes ferrying goods for sale between Benin Division and nearby cities.
[6] His friendship with the royal family allowed him access to senior informants who had knowledge of Benin's oral history.
[1] In 1921, Egharevba wrote the draft of his first book, Ekhere vb Itan Edo later known as A Short History of Benin.
[11] A lot of his early writings from 1934 to 1948 dealt with documentation of oral history, folklore and customs to instil moral values in young people.