THE BOND BETWEEN THE IGALA
AND IGBO ETHNIC
NATIONALITIES OF NIGERIA -
SOME HISTORICAL FACTS.
Posted by OKAKACHI.COM7q6a
OKAKACHI.COM7q6a – Jul 29,
2011; 12:05am
Options
Igala are an ethnic group of
Nigeria situated east of the river
Niger and Benue confluence and
astride the Niger in Lokoja. Their
religious practice is broadly
Christianity and Islam, with, of
course, some sketches of African
religion, all of which do not in
any way affect their
interpersonal relationship as it is
common to see in a family in
Igalaland where either the Father
is a Muslim and Mother a
Christian or Parents are Muslims
and Children are Christians or
vice-versa, yet all relate amicably
well in all ramifications.
The Igala population is estimated
at about 4million and overflow to
outside their home base to
regions like Anambra, Delta, Edo
and Enugu States, with strong
traditional base, and now in ABIA
State of Nigeria as partners for
progress. The Igala language is
part of the Eastern Kwa sub
group or the West Benue-Congo
subgroup of the Niger-Congo
language family where the Igbo
also belong, depending on the
school of thought of the
observer. The traditional Igala
society is largely agrarian,
although fishing is also a
mainstay of the people especially
the Igalas of the riverine Idah
area. The Igala are identified by
the old oral tradition of Western
Igbo as descendants of Igbo
migrants who migrated
westward during the expansion
of the proto-Igbo peoples at the
beginning of the 1st millennium.
The central geographical location
of the Igala people has exposed
them to a wide variety of
linguistic as well as cultural
influences from other ethnic
groups in the country. Notable
among these are the Bini, the
Igbo, the Hausa, their closest
sisters-Idoma and the Yoruba
ethnic groups. They are ruled by
a father figure called the Attah.
The word Attah means 'Father'
and the full title of the ruler is
'Attah Igala', meaning, the Father
of Igala. Among the most revered
Attahs of the Igala kingdom are
Attah Ayegba Oma Idoko and
Atta Ameh Oboni.
According to oral tradition, Attah
Ayegba Oma Idoko offered his
most beloved daughter, Inikpi to
ensure that the Igalas win a war
of liberation from the Jukuns'
dominance while Attah Ameh
Oboni was known to be very
brave and resolute and revered
for his stiff resistance of the
British and his struggles to
uphold some ancient traditions
of the Igalas. When he got wind
of a plan to depose and exile him
by the British, he committed
suicide by hanging himself to
forestall the plan; for this and
other numerous exploits
recorded in his time, he is
regarded by most Igalas as the
last real traditional Attah Igala.
The present Atta is His Royal
Highness, Atta Aliyu Ocheja Obaje,
a well read, intelligent and well
respected Father. The Igala word
for King is Onu, one of which has
gathered us here today to
honour some deserving people,
the Onu Igala Abia state, his
highness, Alhaji Usman
Mohammed.
To divorce the Igala influence
from the modern Igbo cultural
evolution would be a travesty of
history. The evidence of the cross
cultural mix appears to be
genuine. According to several
sources, Igbo people evolved
over a long period of 4000 BC to
500 AD in Igbo land through
waves of migrations. Oral
accounts stated that her
northern neighbours migrated
into her heartland in search of
fertile land and rich marine life.
The majority of which were the
Igalas. The Igalas settled
amongst the locals east of the
Niger, altering the historiography
of many towns in today's
Anambra state and parts of the
present Oshimmili Local
Government in Delta state.
For instance in Anambra state,
there are traces of Igala history
in some communities of the Local
Government councils of the state
such as - Ayamelum, Ihiala, Oyi,
Awka North/South, Aniocha,
Dunukofia, Onitsha North/South,
Ogbaru, Anambra East/West and
Njikoka. The migration did not
only affect the area known today
as Anambra state, a sizeable
portion of Enugu state's
communities have Igala ancestry
as well. Thus, it would be right to
call it a reverse migration,
occurring about eight hundred
years after which Eri was
reported to have founded the
modern Igbo nation with its set
of unique religious doctrine. It
was also a period one of his
sons, Onoja, was said to have
departed northwards and
founded the Igala land.
Eri's children were listed as Nri-
Ifikuanim Menri, Agulu, ONOJA,
Ogbodudu, Onogu and his only
daughter, Iguedo. Together and
respectively, his off-springs were
instrumental to founding the
towns of Aguleri, Igbariam,
Ogbunike, Nando, Nri, Enugu-
Ukwu, Nteje, Enugu-Agidi, and so
many other settlements in the
East and West of the Niger. From
the foregoing and other
numerous historical facts, it is
indeed difficult to draw a line
between the Igbo and Igala
history.
However, according to P.E.
OKWOLI, a native Igalaman, and
renowned historian, in the
ancient times, new rulers from
the Igbo communities of Igala
ancestry must go to Igala to be
taught kingship rituals and
ceremonials. Although he
mentioned that Igala and Umueri
towns are related, Umueri
needed not to go to Igala for any
sort of tutelage. An exemption
that might explain Nri-Ifikuanim
and Agulu's seniority to their
younger brother Onoja, the
founder of Igala.
P.E. Okwoli stated inter-alia some
binding revelations that "In
Nsukka and the rest of Igbo land,
there is a popular masquerade
called Agabaidu, and this is a
significant cultural point. In
Nsukka, the word Agabidu is
used to refer to an eminent man,
while it is used to refer to a King
in Igala. Also Asadu is the word
for kingmaker among the Igbo,
while it is called Achadu among
the Igala. There are some other
words which are signs of close
cultural ties shared by both Igala
and the Igbo. These include
Atama, which means Chief Priest
in both languages. Ajogwu
means warrior among the Igala
and the Igbo" Both the Igbo and
Igala have four market days
which are – EKE, ORIE, AFOR &
NKWO in Igbo and EKE, EDE, AFOR
& UKWO in Igala seriatim. What
more can be more binding! Is it
that we both eat OSIKAPA as rice,
ABACHA as cassava, EGWA/AGWA
as beans, store our clothing in
AKPATI called box or that the
names - Okolo, Oji, Okwoli, Akoh,
Odiba, etc in Igala are called
Okoro, Orji, Okoli, Akor and Odida
in Igbo? What is more important
is that we are today celebrating
togetherness.
Long live Ndigbo, long live Igalas
and long live Nigeria.
Thank you all for the attention
and God bless us all!!!
AGONO, Enemaduku, OIK.
(OFFICER of the IGALA KINGDOM)
28th November, 2010.

Therefore our igala brothers can share the dividend of the oil discovered in Anambra state but not the entire kogites who also have mallams among them. I hope i've settled the ongoing nairaland war of words with this verdict?

YORUBA/IGALA/IGBO(All under the KWA subgroup with Igala, Yoruba and Itsekiri in the Yoruboid subgroup of KWA)

EWA/EGWA/AGWA------------------>Beans in the three languages
AKPOTI/AKPATI/AKPATI------------>Box in the three languages.
ABASHA(MESS/WASTED FOOD)/ABACHA(CASSAVA)/ABACHA(CASSAVA)

OLUKUMI(MY FRIEND IN AKOKO YORUBA or he that remains with me OLUKUPELUMI )/ONUKUMI (MY FRIEND IN IGALA)/
ONI(ALTERNATE NAME FOR KING IN IFE YORUBA)/ONU(ALTERNATE NAME FOR KING (OR ATTAH))
OKAN/ENI,EJI,ETA,ERIN,ARUN,EFA,EJE,EJO,ESAN,EWA(1-10 YORUBA)/OKAN/ENI,EJI,ETA,ERIN,ARUN,EFA,EJE,EJO,ESAN,EWA(IGALA EQUIVALENT)/OTU,ABO,....(IGBO)
OPE(PALM TREE)/EKPE(PALM TREE)/
OGEDE(BANANA or PLANTAIN)/OGEDE(BANANA or PLANTAIN)/

If this is why the Kogi state govt think that oil wells in Anambra should be left 4 them or shared with them, then they better think twice.

kodewrita: YORUBA/IGALA/IGBO(All under the KWA subgroup with Igala, Yoruba and Itsekiri in the Yoruboid subgroup of KWA)

EWA/EGWA/AGWA------------------>Beans in the three languages
AKPOTI/AKPATI/AKPATI------------>Box in the three languages.
ABASHA(MESS/WASTED FOOD)/ABACHA(CASSAVA)/ABACHA(CASSAVA)

why Yoruba people? I'm nt talking abt kwa groups but i'm telling you that Igala are decendants of Onoja who is the son of Eri who also begoth Umuleri, Aguleri, iguedo(awkuzu) nando etc. In essence igbo boundary stretched to Igala land in kogi state. But boundary today are artificial

Just to add that the Igala are largely muslim by virtue of their close contact with other muslim northern peoples. So the use of the term mallam also includes them.

kodewrita: YORUBA/IGALA/IGBO(All under the KWA subgroup with Igala, Yoruba and Itsekiri in the Yoruboid subgroup of KWA)

EWA/EGWA/AGWA------------------>Beans in the three languages
AKPOTI/AKPATI/AKPATI------------>Box in the three languages.
ABASHA(MESS/WASTED FOOD)/ABACHA(CASSAVA)/ABACHA(CASSAVA)

OLUKUMI(MY FRIEND IN AKOKO YORUBA or he that remains with me OLUKUPELUMI )/ONUKUMI (MY FRIEND IN IGALA)/
ONI(ALTERNATE NAME FOR KING IN IFE YORUBA)/ONU(ALTERNATE NAME FOR KING (OR ATTAH))
OKAN/ENI,EJI,ETA,ERIN,ARUN,EFA,EJE,EJO,ESAN,EWA(1-10 YORUBA)/OKAN/ENI,EJI,ETA,ERIN,ARUN,EFA,EJE,EJO,ESAN,EWA(IGALA EQUIVALENT)/OTU,ABO,....(IGBO)
OPE(PALM TREE)/EKPE(PALM TREE)/
OGEDE(BANANA or PLANTAIN)/OGEDE(BANANA or PLANTAIN)/

Do you(Yoruba) want to benefit as well? just a funny side.

saintneo: Do you(Yoruba) want to benefit as well? just a funny side.

Just having a lovely sunday morning, trolling around on sectional threads on Nairaland. Guess he didnt expect someone to dive in. Besides, using the words "Historical Fact" is like a big neon sign saying KICK ME.

I can't buy into this Igbocentric account of Igala origin. I only believe Igala, Idoma, Edo, Igbo and Yoruba were once one people and lost the touch over the years. We can have Yorubacentric, Edocentric, Idomacentric accounts of Igala origin since they are deeply related to all these groups. Some people in my home town also have history of Igala origin and we call them Igara.

the above write up is from an illustrious Igala historian. Historically the igala dinesty can be traced to ERI the father of the igbo nation and Onoja the attah(father) of igala is a son of Eri. He migrated northward. So due to exposure they may hav lingustic similarity with Yoruba(ofe mmanu clan) othman empire(it account for their being partial moslems) Igalas are igbo migrates jos like arochukwus

Does anyone really want to belong to the "igbo family"? I doubt that. Heck even the Ikwerres that speak like them and bear their names are quick to reign insults on anyone that calls them igbo.

It is quite easy to understand though. Too many evils are associated with igbo;
Greed, greed, greed,greed

omayyi :
Does anyone really want to belong to the "igbo family"? I doubt that. Heck even the Ikwerres that speak like them and bear their names are quick to reign insults on anyone that calls them igbo.

It is quite easy to understand though. Too many evils are associated with igbo;
Greed, greed, greed,greed

The above account was given by an Igala historian so tell me Who is trying to belong to who, read and comprehend before posting your bigoted views.

LOL @ wetin oil go cause for Naija! This is another reason why it's impossible to divide any place until people cease to exist there!

People are tracing their origins back to their organic roots as the inorganic/civil war origins continue to flounder.

God bless the OP of this thread. He's not greedy that boy chino24.

IGALA na our brothers

omayyi :
Does anyone really want to belong to the "igbo family"? I doubt that. Heck even the Ikwerres that speak like them and bear their names are quick to reign insults on anyone that calls them igbo.

It is quite easy to understand though. Too many evils are associated with igbo;
Greed, greed, greed,greed

okay ikwere can stick their face in my .A.S.S then?

but why is it that your people in the west are stealing abia state oil,why going through the back door?eeeehhh no wonder tifimbu want to sit on buhara dickson [/b]so that his doggy company can steal abians oyel see ur head,tell him that T.A. ORJI is ready for his ugly a.s.s...........FELA GO SAY,CALL AM CALL MA THIEF THIEF THIEF!CALL AM CALL AM ROBBER ROBBER! i dont blame the poor fela he know his people very well,they love stealing and do [b]owambe with another mans wealth...T.A. ORJI has called tinfumbu NDI BUBU YAH YAH [/b]means his is a rascal and a thief He said that nemesis has caught up with them

[b]CHIE MY BELLE GO BUST TODAY


MEAN WHILE ENJOY EVIDENCE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4rJhGJaz2w

Biafra4tharmy: THE BOND BETWEEN THE IGALA
AND IGBO ETHNIC
NATIONALITIES

Igala and Idoma are proud Biafrans. They are direct brothers of the Igbo. There is enough historical, cultural, and linguistic evidence supporting this point. The Igbo, Igala, Idoma originated from one ancestor.

Abagworo: I can't buy into this Igbocentric account of Igala origin. I only believe Igala, Idoma, Edo, Igbo and Yoruba were once one people and lost the touch over the years. We can have Yorubacentric, Edocentric, Idomacentric accounts of Igala origin since they are deeply related to all these groups. Some people in my home town also have history of Igala origin and we call them Igara.

Yoruba has never been one with igbo....we never shared ancestry nor antiquity. So stp your nonsense.

Therefore our igala brothers can share the dividend of the oil discovered in Anambra state but not the entire kogites who also have mallams among them. I hope i've settled the ongoing nairaland war of words with this verdict?

,,,see conclusion hahaha.

THE BOND BETWEEN THE IGALA
AND IGBO ETHNIC
NATIONALITIES OF NIGERIA -
SOME HISTORICAL FACTS.
Posted by OKAKACHI.COM7q6a
OKAKACHI.COM7q6a – Jul 29,
2011; 12:05am
Options
Igala are an ethnic group of
Nigeria situated east of the river
Niger and Benue confluence and
astride the Niger in Lokoja. Their
religious practice is broadly
Christianity and Islam, with, of
course, some sketches of African
religion, all of which do not in
any way affect their
interpersonal relationship as it is
common to see in a family in
Igalaland where either the Father
is a Muslim and Mother a
Christian or Parents are Muslims
and Children are Christians or
vice-versa, yet all relate amicably
well in all ramifications.
The Igala population is estimated
at about 4million and overflow to
outside their home base to
regions like Anambra, Delta, Edo
and Enugu States, with strong
traditional base, and now in ABIA
State of Nigeria as partners for
progress. The Igala language is
part of the Eastern Kwa sub
group or the West Benue-Congo
subgroup of the Niger-Congo
language family where the Igbo
also belong, depending on the
school of thought of the
observer. The traditional Igala
society is largely agrarian,
although fishing is also a
mainstay of the people especially
the Igalas of the riverine Idah
area. The Igala are identified by
the old oral tradition of Western
Igbo as descendants of Igbo
migrants who migrated
westward during the expansion
of the proto-Igbo peoples at the
beginning of the 1st millennium.
The central geographical location
of the Igala people has exposed
them to a wide variety of
linguistic as well as cultural
influences from other ethnic
groups in the country. Notable
among these are the Bini, the
Igbo, the Hausa, their closest
sisters-Idoma and the Yoruba
ethnic groups. They are ruled by
a father figure called the Attah.
The word Attah means 'Father'
and the full title of the ruler is
'Attah Igala', meaning, the Father
of Igala. Among the most revered
Attahs of the Igala kingdom are
Attah Ayegba Oma Idoko and
Atta Ameh Oboni.
According to oral tradition, Attah
Ayegba Oma Idoko offered his
most beloved daughter, Inikpi to
ensure that the Igalas win a war
of liberation from the Jukuns'
dominance while Attah Ameh
Oboni was known to be very
brave and resolute and revered
for his stiff resistance of the
British and his struggles to
uphold some ancient traditions
of the Igalas. When he got wind
of a plan to depose and exile him
by the British, he committed
suicide by hanging himself to
forestall the plan; for this and
other numerous exploits
recorded in his time, he is
regarded by most Igalas as the
last real traditional Attah Igala.
The present Atta is His Royal
Highness, Atta Aliyu Ocheja Obaje,
a well read, intelligent and well
respected Father. The Igala word
for King is Onu, one of which has
gathered us here today to
honour some deserving people,
the Onu Igala Abia state, his
highness, Alhaji Usman
Mohammed.
To divorce the Igala influence
from the modern Igbo cultural
evolution would be a travesty of
history. The evidence of the cross
cultural mix appears to be
genuine. According to several
sources, Igbo people evolved
over a long period of 4000 BC to
500 AD in Igbo land through
waves of migrations. Oral
accounts stated that her
northern neighbours migrated
into her heartland in search of
fertile land and rich marine life.
The majority of which were the
Igalas. The Igalas settled
amongst the locals east of the
Niger, altering the historiography
of many towns in today's
Anambra state and parts of the
present Oshimmili Local
Government in Delta state.
For instance in Anambra state,
there are traces of Igala history
in some communities of the Local
Government councils of the state
such as - Ayamelum, Ihiala, Oyi,
Awka North/South, Aniocha,
Dunukofia, Onitsha North/South,
Ogbaru, Anambra East/West and
Njikoka. The migration did not
only affect the area known today
as Anambra state, a sizeable
portion of Enugu state's
communities have Igala ancestry
as well. Thus, it would be right to
call it a reverse migration,
occurring about eight hundred
years after which Eri was
reported to have founded the
modern Igbo nation with its set
of unique religious doctrine. It
was also a period one of his
sons, Onoja, was said to have
departed northwards and
founded the Igala land.
Eri's children were listed as Nri-
Ifikuanim Menri, Agulu, ONOJA,
Ogbodudu, Onogu and his only
daughter, Iguedo. Together and
respectively, his off-springs were
instrumental to founding the
towns of Aguleri, Igbariam,
Ogbunike, Nando, Nri, Enugu-
Ukwu, Nteje, Enugu-Agidi, and so
many other settlements in the
East and West of the Niger. From
the foregoing and other
numerous historical facts, it is
indeed difficult to draw a line
between the Igbo and Igala
history.
However, according to P.E.
OKWOLI, a native Igalaman, and
renowned historian, in the
ancient times, new rulers from
the Igbo communities of Igala
ancestry must go to Igala to be
taught kingship rituals and
ceremonials. Although he
mentioned that Igala and Umueri
towns are related, Umueri
needed not to go to Igala for any
sort of tutelage. An exemption
that might explain Nri-Ifikuanim
and Agulu's seniority to their
younger brother Onoja, the
founder of Igala.
P.E. Okwoli stated inter-alia some
binding revelations that "In
Nsukka and the rest of Igbo land,
there is a popular masquerade
called Agabaidu, and this is a
significant cultural point. In
Nsukka, the word Agabidu is
used to refer to an eminent man,
while it is used to refer to a King
in Igala. Also Asadu is the word
for kingmaker among the Igbo,
while it is called Achadu among
the Igala. There are some other
words which are signs of close
cultural ties shared by both Igala
and the Igbo. These include
Atama, which means Chief Priest
in both languages. Ajogwu
means warrior among the Igala
and the Igbo" Both the Igbo and
Igala have four market days
which are – EKE, ORIE, AFOR &
NKWO in Igbo and EKE, EDE, AFOR
& UKWO in Igala seriatim. What
more can be more binding! Is it
that we both eat OSIKAPA as rice,
ABACHA as cassava, EGWA/AGWA
as beans, store our clothing in
AKPATI called box or that the
names - Okolo, Oji, Okwoli, Akoh,
Odiba, etc in Igala are called
Okoro, Orji, Okoli, Akor and Odida
in Igbo? What is more important
is that we are today celebrating
togetherness.
Long live Ndigbo, long live Igalas
and long live Nigeria.
Thank you all for the attention
and God bless us all!!!
AGONO, Enemaduku, OIK.
(OFFICER of the IGALA KINGDOM)
28th November, 2010.

Igala are truly cousins to Igbo.
Attah Igala: HRH Alihu Obaje said that much many times.
Nnebisi was an Igala prince and other historical facts of trade and marriage.
The issue began when the British added Igala people as part of Northern Nigeria. The indoctrination and politics of north and south separated the peoples beyond recognition.

trying to liken us to Igala, is bearable but yorobah? olorun maje!!!! peeps wey dirty like say 2moro no dey! yorobah chick, would rather starve herself for ages, than shave her puusssyy forests!!!!

During the Cartoon Riot of 2006 when Northerners were being lynched in Onicha all the Igala residents in Iyiowa Odekpe were sheltered at the palace of the Okakwu of Odekpe, they said they (Odekpe) originated from Igala.
Even today there are more Igala population in Odekpe than anywhere in Igboland.

The only people I consider my people are the Aniomas, the rest should go and die because the are hatefilled, vindictive and envious.

Donarozzi:


Igala and Idoma are proud Biafrans. They are direct brothers of the Igbo. There is enough historical, cultural, and linguistic evidence supporting this point. The Igbo, Igala, Idoma originated from one ancestor.

Did the Igala and Idoma people make you their spokesman??!

Igala and Idoma are NOT Biafrans oh, so kindly stop peddling your tales by moonlight. Until I see evidence from the Igala people, I cannot buy into this version of your story.

igbo an der wahalla sf

Igala and Idomas don't have oil or access to the sea, so therefore Yiboees will not find them useful in their Biafra dreams.
Igala and Idoma will only become a good opening for the North to penetrate.
They only target those with oil and access to the seas.

laudate:


Did the Igala and Idoma people make you their spokesman??!

Igala and Idoma are NOT Biafrans oh, so kindly stop peddling your tales by moonlight. Until I see evidence from the Igala people, I cannot buy into this version of your story.

Who is this goat to speak for a person talkless of a whole clan, what an insult

laudate:


Did the Igala and Idoma people make you their spokesman??!

Igala and Idoma are NOT Biafrans oh, so kindly stop peddling your tales by moonlight. Until I see evidence from the Igala people, I cannot buy into this version of your story.

Who is this goat to speak for a person talkless of a whole clan, what an insult
,

BuddahMonk:
During the Cartoon Riot of 2006 when Northerners were being lynched in Onicha all the Igala residents in Iyiowa Odekpe were sheltered at the palace of the Okakwu of Odekpe, they said they (Odekpe) originated from Igala.
Even today there are more Igala population in Odekpe than anywhere in Igboland.

The only people I consider my people are the Aniomas, the rest should go and die because the are hatefilled, vindictive and envious.

so ikwerre are no longer flat head

cybertyrant:

Who is this goat to speak for a person talkless of a whole clan, what an insult
,

Why are you calling yourself a goat??! Do you hate yourself so much?

Bìgbọ nwatà afū ̣nā-akpa āghala. Stop causing confusion for yourself, biko.

Omololu007:
so ikwerre are no longer flat head

That is how eternally confused these Yibooess.