BRIEF HISTORY OF OKUN PEOPLE
Okun people are Yoruba descendants in Kogi state. Okun people spread across six local government areas in Kogi State, known as Kabba-Bunu, Yagba-West, Yagba-East, Mopa-Muro, Ìjùmú and Lokoja local government Areas.
They speak varied dialects…Owé, Ìyàgbà, Ìjùmú, Bùnú and Oworo, but their language is generally called Okun, Okun has become a form of greeting among them.
They understand one another to a greater extent and large numbers of them speak Yoruba. Their dialects are influenced by various factors. Such factor is that Kogi state shares boundaries with Kwara, Ondo, Ekiti, Niger, Benue, Nassarawa, Anambra, Enugu, Edo and Abuja.

Also, The Nupe wars of the 19th century and interaction with the Hausas due to geographical zoning left an indelible mark on the Okun people and their dialects.
According to oral source, Okun people migrated from Ile Ife when Yorubas were spreading to occupy more lands, before spreading out, each and everyone was instructed to report to Ile Ife for a yearly meeting. The man, that led group of young people to a location (now called YAGBA) in Kogi state did not return over a long period of time.
When eventually returned and explained that he lost larger part of his acquired land to some other migrants. He was blamed for the loss and said in yoruba,''ÌYÀ ÀGBÀ LÓ JEMÍ'' meaning that invasion of his acqured land was due to lack of having elderly people with him. Since then, they started mocking him at Ile Ife, calling him Iya agba .

They associated this name with him whenever they wanted to send messages across to him after returning to his occupied area, now called Yagba.
Okun people faced lots of challenges, ranging from geo political zoning, marginlisation and problem of identity. Their problem started during the colonial era when they were politically ceded to the Northern protectorate by Lord Lugard, the Governor-General of Nigeria. The abolition of the provincial and regional administrative units in 1967 led to their merging with Ilorin to form old Kwara state. Then, Igala was merged with old Benue State. However, on 27th of august 1991, Okun people was removed again and merged with Ebira, Igala from Benue state and some other tribes to form Kogi state.

Okun indigenes moved against merging them with completely different tribes but they were forced into this marriageTheir efforts to break away and form Okun State, which could make it possible for them to be more closer to their Kiths and Kins in the South West, failed to materialise.
Concerning Identity problem, The Yorubas in South West are trying to link the identity of Okun people to their Kiths and Kins in South West going by history and shared traits but their counterparts who want Okun people to remain a minority tribe in the entity called Nigeria, claimed that Okun people are not Yorubas and Yoruba is only trying to expand their Kingdom. Okun people bear Yoruba names like Edo people, lots of them speak yoruba and many of their settlements are named in yoruba language such as Kajola, Egbeda, Egbeda Ega, Okedayo, Odo Ere, Odo Eri, Ife, Iyamoye, Agbaja, Igbo Nla and Obajana. Even, groups that make up Bunu people of Okun are Okemeta, Okemesan, Akumerindinlogun and Kiri groups.
By: Raymond Ayinla Ajeigbe

cc: ishilove, lalasticlala, barcanista source: m.facebook.com/TheYorubaPeople/posts/340904226015572

okun ooo

Good one Angelou..E oKun ooo

Like Okun people, Ekiti also greet "Okun o"

Copy and paste work....
Okuns are the second largest Ethnic group in Kogi after Igala.

scholes0:
Copy and paste work....
Okuns are the second largest Ethnic group in Kogi after Igala.

hmn... i'm open to criticism anyway, if there seems to be any factual inaccuracies in this post, then you can kindly enlighten us about the more accurate account which i presume should be based on justifiable sources..

Angelou:
hmn... i'm open to criticism anyway, if there seems to be any factual inaccuracies in this post, then you can kindly enlighten us about the more accurate account which i presume should be based on justifiable sources..

It's so funny that you ask for justifiable sources, when you the thread OP himself, haven't provided any source of note (if any)... I know where all your copy & paste articles are, and they didn't provide any sources either.
If you are from Kogi state (which you are), then you would know that Kogi East holds the highest number of political appointments (disproportionately so), followed by Kogi West, before Kogi central. Infact the Ogoris of kogi central aren't Ebira, so pls, explain to me how the Okuns/Oworos are third of the three largest ethnic nationalities in Kogi.

scholes0:


It's so funny that you ask for justifiable sources, when you the thread OP himself, haven't provided any source of note (if any)... I know where all your copy & paste articles are, and they didn't provide any sources either.
If you are from Kogi state (which you are), then you would know that Kogi East holds the highest number of political appointments (disproportionately so), followed by Kogi West, before Kogi central. Infact the Ogoris of kogi central aren't Ebira, so pls, explain to me how the Okuns/Oworos are third of the three largest ethnic nationalities in Kogi.

Okuns are number 2 in kogi state behind Igalas followed by Ebiras. The Okuns make up 27pct of the population of Kogi state.

walexy30:


Okuns are number 2 in kogi state behind Igalas followed by Ebiras. The Okuns make up 27pct of the population of Kogi state.

That is why I believe as well...
all those figures being cited on Kogi state governments documents (especially the most recent ones) have all been politically influenced and is based on that farce of a census conducted in 2006,to give the Igalas and Ebiras the edge.... and gullibly, even some Okun people are swallowing it, hook line and sinker.

If you haven't heard this, kindly download and enjoy this fast and furious Igala rap song- G'omi Abajoi by Aleqs Chizar

http://www.datafilehost.com/d/9c26e57b

Enjoy...

Hmmm

Nice! So proud to be OKUN!!!!!!!