Do you know that the Gbagyi People were the original owners of Abuja? Have you read about them before? Do you know that their land was reclaimed from them to form the seat of power? I know you don’t. This article will unveil all you need to know about the Gbagyi People.

The Gbagyi people were the original settlers of Abuja before it became the federal capital territory. After reading this write up, you will understand some of the things you never knew about this tribe.

Trouble started for the Gbagyi people in 1976. The then military government saw the need to find a location in the geographical center of the country where Nigerians could unite under.

However, the original idea was to look for a ‘no-man’s land’ in the geographical center of the country that no one could lay claim to. This was how the 8000 Square Kilometers of land upon which the FCT stood.

This land that houses the Presidential Villa, National Assembly, Federal Government Parastatals, Institutions, Suburban neighborhood and mall was somebody’s land. The Gbagyi people.

Painfully, the military government hurriedly forced them out of their land so that they can construct the new capital. As a matter of fact, the government underestimated the Gbagyi people living in the territory as they continue with their plan.

Although the government had plans to compensate them. But the plans lack proper implementation. Some displaced families were given housing, but others lived in transit camp for a long time.

Till date, the ethnic group still feel that federal government shortchanged them and deprived them of their lands and heritage.

Well, in this article, you will see all you need to know about the Gbagyi people.


Brief History

Gbagyi are peace loving people whose major occupations are agricultural and artistic works. Also, they are Nupoid speaking people who live in the North Central Geographical zone of the Nigeria.

They are mainly in Niger, Kaduna States and Federal Capital Territory. You can also see this ethnic group in Nasarawa and Kogi state. However, they are the most populated ethnic group in the Federal Capital Territory.

According to oral tradition, the first settler was a hunter who went to hunt in Paikokun land, a thick forest in Abuja. Paikokun was the name of the mountain where the first settler inhabited.

The Gbagyi people initially used to live on mountain tops because they believed they were safer on the mountain than at the plain before western civilization made most of them relocate to the plain.

How To Know Gbagyi People

It is very easy to spot Gbagyi people, the women always place load on their shoulders, no matter how heavy the load is. They believe that the head represents the king of the body and should be treated with respect.

They call the part of the body they place their loads as Bwapa. Furthermore, they believe that the load is always lighter on their shoulder. This is still a common practice among the Gbagyi people till date.

Marriage

We can’t tell you all you need to know about the Gbagyi people if we fail to mention their marriage.

In the past, marriage among these ethnic group was purely cultural. As a matter of fact, a man will have to serve in a girl’s father’s farm land for 7 years before he can marry that girl.

However, they don’t practice this tradition anymore. Groom now pays the bride pride instead of serving for 7 years in the bride’s father’s farm.

Religion

Some Gbayi believe in a god called Shekwoi. It was there before their ancestors. However, they also appease deities of the god such as Maigiro.

Indigenously, their main religion is Knunu, which they believe protects them from the evil that exist in the community. They worship the Knunu by offering fowl and beer as a sacrifice to a special tree found deep in the forest.

However, in modern day, Most Gbayi people are either muslim or christains.

Food

The Gwari people enjoy eating a meal known as Wyizhe. It is made from Guinean corn which is also used to make a special drink known as Zhepwo. The Gwari people also enjoy drinking a soup known as Knadolo made from locust beans.

Clothing

The Gbagyi people wear tie and dye clothing known as Ajeside, made from local cotton and traditional woven and dyed.

Occupation

The Gbagyi people are predominantly farmers. However, they are also good at fetching firewood, doing pottery work and blacksmith.

In the past, the Gbagyi people were also known for their visual art, most especially pottery work. They also practice other arts like sculpture, iron smelting, domestic craft and smelting.

Check: 24hoursreporter to see more pictures of the Gbagyi people.

Insightful...

Nice one

The omo oniles of Abuja.

You go use your money buy land, them go show when you dey develop am for settlement.

If your village pple get hand for your matter, them for done pour plenty cashew tree for the land.

Settlement will mean that you will pay them per tree.

Their elites are good people sha.

The gbagyi people get juju pass anything.

Was told hat some developers were warned not to build that hotel close to Zuma Rock because it is holy to the natives.

After some mysterious slaps in the night and many deaths, the project was abandoned. The hotel is still incomplete.

Maybe the story is not true but i love mysteries and horror stories

24hoursreporter:



Marriage

As a matter of fact, a man will have to serve in a girl’s father’s farm land for 7 years before he can marry that girl.

See wickedness...men don suffer

However, the original idea was to look for a ‘no-man’s land’ in the geographical center of the country that no one could lay claim to.

Although the government had plans to compensate them. But the plans lack proper implementation. Some displaced families were given housing, but others lived in transit camp for a long time.
Till date, the ethnic group still feel that federal government shortchanged them and deprived them of their lands and heritage



The government should do something about Gbagyi people.
We love history

Awon onile, I guess if 30% of the them will have landed property in Abuja.

how do you know we don't know all these things?

Seen

I lived in their community during NYSC.

The men are lazy (except a very minute few) and the women are so hardworking their start aging terribly and look older than their husbands.

Though the new generation of girls/women no longer carry loads on their shoulders cuz the old women who used to do that are all bent when the walk.

eleojo23:
insightful

Thank you

Unfortunately now, they have pushed the away, far away before you even get to Gwagalada without proper resettlement or compensation. Nigeria.

This people need help. They are suffering.

A

kennygee:
The omo oniles of Abuja.

You go use your money buy land, them go show when you dey develop am for settlement.

If your village pple get hand for your matter, them for done pour plenty cashew tree for the land.

Settlement will mean that you will pay them per tree.

Their elites are good people sha.

That is serious o

Good one!

Educative. Thanks op.

LexngtonSteele:
They and Gwari people get juju pass anything.

I have been told severally that some developers were warned not to build that hotel close to Zuma Rock because it is holy to the natives.

After[b] some mysterious slaps in the night [/b]and many deaths, the project was abandoned. The hotel is still incomplete.

Maybe the story is not true but i love mysteries and horror stories

Now home town of POLITICAL JAGABANS.....

Oluwa protect us all..
#GO-GET-UR-PVC

Ave been to Abuja. If u enter into all the villages in Abuja. Chai. U go feel this people pain. The government should ave compensated them with good roads and infrastructure

Very accommodating and peace loving people! My days in Kuje, Abuja and Nasarawa towns were fun filled due to their hospitality. Aji fe e (Good morning).

Way of life.Truely gbagyi are industrious,ascetic and peace loving but never attempt to take them for a ride.

Let me speak in gwari way: Zuuugaaziangwa togahum gozomdunhu.. Aah! Victoria mbohazorhu lufin mukwanzhi.

Instead the government to create good roads schools,water and hospital for them for their villages and provide them with housing too... But this country... Everything na 'fuckery'

Timber

Abuja is no man's land

Igbo people contribute nothing to this our Nigeria.

This people are so nyce and peace loving, I remember staying with one of my aunt at kuta, the home town of late senator idris kuta, the town is not far from minna , I enjoy my stay in the town, they farm yam a lot, they are very accommodating, when strangers are too much encroaching their lands, they move further inside the bush, hope they stop this kind of practice. History tells us they own Kaduna too.