THE BOND BETWEEN THE IGALA AND IGBO ETHNIC NATIONALITIES OF NIGERIA - SOME HISTORICAL FACTS.




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.
Thank you all for the attention and God bless us all!!!
AGONO, Enemaduku, OIK. (OFFICER of the IGALA KINGDOM) 28th November, 2010.

Source: www.humorclux.gq/others/the-bond-between-the-igbos-and-the-igalas/