Sons of the soil: the history of the Gbagyi
people of Abuja
The history of Abuja was originally the south
western part of the ancient Habe (Hausa)
Kingdom of Zazzau (Zaria). It was populated for
centuries by several semi-independent tribes.
The largest of these tribes was the Gbagyi.
Other areas where they are predominantly found
are in Niger and Kaduna states, and also in
Nasarawa, Kogi and Kwara states in central
Nigeria.
The Gbagyi’s are the most populated ethnic
group in the FCT and their major occupation is
farming, pottery and hunting. They are the
original settlers of Abuja the federal capital city
of Nigeria, and the Gbagyi language is the most
widespread. They are known to be noble, peace
loving accommodating and warm. Their
hospitable and cordial nature earned them the
phrase ‘ Muyi shi Gwari-Gwari’ ( Which means
let’s do it like the Gbagys). Interestingly the
word Gwari, which the Gbagyi are famously
called, is the name of a particular yam in
Gbagyi.
The Gbagys are culturally soaked people, who
despite the over-whelming force of civilization
still cling to the basic rudiments of their culture.
A few have remained aloof to the attractions of
modernity, especially the older Gbagyians, who
still stand strong against the devastating effects
of civilization. For instance, in the past the
Gbagyi women were distinguished with the way
they carried any load on their shoulder, either
heavy or light; because they are of the believe
that the head should be accorded a royal status
as the King of the entire body, saddled with the
task of thinking for the body, so therefore it
should not be burdened with manual or
pedestrian task, such as ferrying goods from
place to place. But this is not so today, as the
venom of civilization has since overtaken and
eclipsed it, and the traditional sight has become
a rarity except for the older women who still
hold on true to this belief and practice.
Another fabric of their culture that has suffered
some degree of extinction is the process of
marriage. In time past, a suitor seeking the hand
of a girl in marriage would have to devote seven
7years of his engagement or notice of interest
on the bride to be to the father’s farm and also
supply grains to the bride’s house in order to
get her robust and ripe for the D-day. Presently
the suitor goes ahead to pay pride price without
serving notice to the father.
The Gbagyi initial habitat was the mountain top
and had eight kings crowned to rule over them,
and when westernization brought in the rain
track, they decided and agreed among
themselves to come down, except for their
forefathers who opined that it was safer to stay
on the mountain than the plains, as this would
make it easier to haul stones at advancing
enemies. The mountains/rocks were a refuge as
well as a mystical source of strength.
Islam and Christianity enjoy almost equal
following. Islam first came to the Gbagyis in the
19th century during the Sokoto Jihad of 1804 by
Usman Danfodio, while Christianity came in the
20th century through the southerners. Islam
was able to gain more converts than
Christianity, the reason for this was that the
practices encouraged by the Gbagyi religion
conformed with Islam, such as polygamy,
devotion, using of rings or amulets. These
similarities made it easy for the Gbagyi’s to
receive Islam whole heartedly. But regardless of
the twin influences of Islam and Christianity the
Gbagyi people still practice their Knunu, which
is their primal religion, as they claim that Knunu
safeguard them and their families from certain
evil forces and uncertainty. Knunu tradition for
the Gbagys is a special tree in the Kurmi
(Forest), where offering of fowl and beers are
made.
The favourite food of the Gbagys is known as
Wyizhe, made from guinea corn to form Zhepwo
a special drink use to drink with Knadolo a
spicy soup made with locus beans, and their
famous dress is call Ajesida , made from local
cotton and traditional woven and dyed by their
skillful dressmakers. Some of their popular
festivals is the Agbamaya festival and the
Zhibaje. The Agbamaya festival is a celebration
usually perform to welcome the rain during the
raining season, while Zhibaje is a traditional
Christmas celebration.
Presently the transformation of FCT as the
capital of Nigeria has almost swallowed these
peace loving tribe. They were persuaded to give
out their farmland and settlement for the
actualization of the national vision of a modern
cosmopolitan city. But the Gbagys years after,
are still reeling under the weight of what they
have come to see and interpreted as betrayal on
the part of the federal government, who they
feel have short-charged them and deprived them
of their land. And land is one issue an average
Gbagyi man does not play with, as majority of
them told KNOW Abuja that the worst thing that
could happen to any Gbagyi person is to deprive
him of his land, because as farmers they see
land as the most important aspect of their life.
They are mostly of the opinion that the federal
government land swap policy has no direct
significant to that lives, instead they see the
policy as a way of taking over their ancestry
lands. The question they want answer is what
happens to a family of five since the
government plan is to allocate a three bedroom
to those who might be affected by the land
swap policy. They also questioned why the land
policy should only be concentrated in the FCT,
why not in Bauchi , Katsina, Kaduna, Nasarawa,
Niger and other states across the country?
They counsel the government to be sincere in
its developmental programme for the ingenious
people in the FCT instead of antagonizing them
all the time with unfavorable land policy.
Though today, the Gbagys especially the new
generation have embraced western education
and now have different professionals in various
fields, as medical doctors, lawyers, surveyors,
architects, soldiers, policemen and women,
including top politicians like senators, house
members and journalists. In fact, with the
exception of Abaji area council in the FCT, five
out of the six area council chairmen are
Gbagys.
Some phrases and words in Gbagyi:
How are you? - Agbowolona
Let’s go - Beyalo
We are farmers - Yizhi’afayinu
Gwari- Yam
I am going to school – Milo ynabanu
Grass – Gbebe
Tree - Shuwa
Man- Zanugbayi
Woman – Eyikoza
. Sleep – Genwa
. Wake up- Kwagyewi
. Mountain – Epe

So gwari people don wise sotey dem sabi use internet?..God is real den

At Jabi, where I did my primary sch, we had a large settlement of the gbagys.
They are good farmers and they love brukutu. Just wondering what mgbelo means.

We had this hilltop market just adjacent the now zone 6 modern where they also trade. Then, there women can carry your load, no matter how heavy, to your house with no cloth on.

kestolove95:
So gwari people don wise sotey dem sabi use internet?..God is real den

I really don't put the blame on you brother (that's if you are a 'he' ) , I was chatting with someone from UK and and when I told her where I'm chatting with her from (i.e Nigeria - Africa) she told me clearly that she thought there were no computers in Africa..... I just smiled and said in my mind: I don't really put the blame on you.
Your post deserve such response.
but please bro, I assume you are just trying to be funny by posting that, even though it doesn't sound funny, next time leave God out of your jest-like post. Thank you and remain blessed.

Sunjos:

I really don't put the blame on you brother (that's if you are a 'he' ) , I was chatting with someone from UK and and when I told her where I'm chatting with her from (i.e Nigeria - Africa) she told me clearly that she thought there were no computers in Africa..... I just smiled and said in my mind: I don't really put the blame on you.
Your post deserve such response.
but please bro, I assume you are just trying to be funny by posting that, even though it doesn't sound funny, next time leave God out of your jest-like post. Thank you and remain blessed.

see u..am askin cox wen I was in fgc minna..we ddont hv gwaris in our school despite. D. Skool is in dia. Own town...dey. onli. In villages farming close to fgc..so e ssuprix. Me sae. Una. Don open eyees sotey una dey even use fone

kestolove95:
see u..am askin cox wen I was in fgc minna..we ddont hv gwaris in our school despite. D. Skool is in dia. Own town...dey. onli. In villages farming close to fgc..so e ssuprix. Me sae. Una. Don open eyees sotey una dey even use fone

Guy cool down. Obi was once a boy. With all d Fed presence, why dem no go civilise ? Abi u want them to remain ancient forever? Even my village sef still dey lack d basic social amenities in year 20++.
So, leave story 4 tortoise.

Gbagyis are one of the largest ethnic group of the middlebelt region of Nigeria.
Infact i think they occupy the largest land mass area in the middlebelt.

Apart from Abuja-FCT where the Gbagyis dominate, the Gbagyis are also the 2nd largest group in Niger state, in Nasarawa & Kaduna states, the Gbagyis are also amongst the major groups, while in Kogi they are a small minority there.

One thing i dislike abt the Gbagyis is their very timid and primitive nature. They are not very brave and strong willed people, but it seems they are changing gradually and becoming wiser. May God help them.

Can someone resolve this issue for me once and for all: Is IBB Nupe or Gbagyi?

IBB is neither Nupe nor Gbagyi (at least i can say that assertively based on his paternal heritage).
But maternally he could be otherwise.

IBB is either a hausa or a fulani man who just claims Minna as his place of origin as many hausas n fulanis in Niger are fond of doing. And this is why most people have assumed that IBB is a Gbagyi man.
Ask any true Gbagyi native of Minna, or Niger east in General and he will tell u squarely that IBB is not a gbagyi man.
IBB is not even close to being Nupe, because no Nupe man can claim Minna as his hometown of origin.
Nupes are mostly Indigenous to Niger south LGAs and Minna is not in Niger south.

My mum told me some history abt d gbagyi pple of kaduna state, that kaduna use to b, ka dun da ( I jst ope I spelt it right) meaning crocodile river. as oppose to the hausa man's theory that it ws refer to as rafi kada( also meaning d same ting) in a bid to claim ownership.

Also another ting is that, u hear funny tings pple say eg, abuja is a no man Land. Meaning d FG met d land empty they mean? Hmmmmm

The land issue gets vry crazy, eg New Lubge where I'm frm, my grandfather ws lucky to b d first to benefit frm d housing project wen the capital was relocated bck to abuja and til NW no provision for community expansion, meaning u cnt build outside ur immediate compound cause it will b demolished, with the excuse its outside the master plan.
I hope sum day d start considering these bfore any agitation comes up.

Mu Shi Gbagyiza

Sunjos:

I really don't put the blame on you brother (that's if you are a 'he' ) , I was chatting with someone from UK and and when I told her where I'm chatting with her from (i.e Nigeria - Africa) she told me clearly that she thought there were no computers in Africa..... I just smiled and said in my mind: I don't really put the blame on you.
Your post deserve such response.
but please bro, I assume you are just trying to be funny by posting that, even though it doesn't sound funny, next time leave God out of your jest-like post. Thank you and remain blessed.

hello, i need ur help with gbagyi language. Can u help? Anyone who understand and can speak dis language vry well shd help me. Thank u all

Visit below to read full history of Gbagyi people and history of other north central tribes.