Bayelsa state is the only homogeneous Ijaw state in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

Bayelsa is the acronym of the then 3 local government areas in old Rivers State namely; Brass, Yenagoa and Sagbama (BALGA, YELGA & SALGA).
Present day Bayelsa, has 8 LGA's namely;
1. Kolokuma/Opokuma
2. Yenagoa
3. Southern ijaw
4. Sagbama
5. Ekeremor
6. Ogbia
7. Nembe
8. Brass

In the old Rivers State, Brass LGA comprised of Ogbia, Nembe & Brass respectively.
Yenagoa LGA comprised of Kolokuma/Opokuma, Yenagoa and Southern ijaw and
Sagbama LGA comprised of Sagbama and Ekeremor.

Bayelsa state is predominantly ijaw with other sub and ijaw dialects.

These ijaw dialects includes;
1. Nembe: This ijaw dialect is the second most spoken ijaw dialect in the state after the more conventional ijaw dialect.
It is spoken in two local government areas; Nembe and Brass who are similar to the kalabari people of Rivers State.

2. Ogbia: This dialect is the third most spoken ijaw dialect in the state. This dialect is synonymous with the Abua and Odual dialect in Rivers State.
The Ogbia, Abua and Odual people are said to be from the same roots.
The Ogbia dialect is spoken by people of Ogbia local government area.
Former President GEJ is from this area.

3. Epie-Atissa: This dialect is spoken by the people of Epie-Atissa in the state capital of Yenagoa.
They are said to be an offshoot of the Edoid descendants of Oguan.

4. Urobho: This dialect is spoken by the Ofoni people in Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa state.
They are synonymous to the Urobhos in Delta state.

5. Okordia: This dialect is spoken by the Okordia people in Yenagoa LGA.

6. Biseni: Spoken by the Biseni people in Yenagoa LGA.

7. Zarama: Spoken by the Zarama people in Yenagoa LGA.

The last three dialects are synonymous and they are known with the acronym OZB.

What a place

Diepriye Alamieiyeseigha the Nigerian Airforce exam cheat and public till thief who jumped bail in UK and was never extradited until his doubtful demise is from Bayelsa State.

zoedew:
Diepriye Alamieiyeseigha the Nigerian Airforce exam cheat and public till thief who jumped bail in UK and was never extradited until his doubtful demise is from Bayelsa State.

You're free to add the rest.

mosdii:


You're free to add the rest.

Needless to say.

mosdii:
Bayelsa state is the only homogeneous Ijaw state in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

Bayelsa is the acronym of the then 3 local government areas in old Rivers State namely; Brass, Yenagoa and Sagbama (BALGA, YELGA & SALGA).
Present day Bayelsa, has 8 LGA's namely;
1. Kolokuma/Opokuma
2. Yenagoa
3. Southern ijaw
4. Sagbama
5. Ekeremor
6. Ogbia
7. Nembe
8. Brass

In the old Rivers State, Brass LGA comprised of Ogbia, Nembe & Brass respectively.
Yenagoa LGA comprised of Kolokuma/Opokuma, Yenagoa and Southern ijaw and
Sagbama LGA comprised of Sagbama and Ekeremor.

Bayelsa state is predominantly ijaw with other sub and ijaw dialects.

These ijaw dialects includes;
1. Nembe: This ijaw dialect is the second most spoken ijaw dialect in the state after the more conventional ijaw dialect.
It is spoken in two local government areas; Nembe and Brass who are similar to the kalabari people of Rivers State.

2. Ogbia: This dialect is the third most spoken ijaw dialect in the state. This dialect is synonymous with the Abua and Odual dialect in Rivers State.
The Ogbia, Abua and Odual people are said to be from the same roots.
The Ogbia dialect is spoken by people of Ogbia local government area.
Former President GEJ is from this area.

3. Epie-Atissa: This dialect is spoken by the people of Epie-Atissa in the state capital of Yenagoa.
They are said to be an offshoot of the Edoid descendants of Oguan.

4. Urobho: This dialect is spoken by the Ofoni people in Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa state.
They are synonymous to the Urobhos in Delta state.

5. Okordia: This dialect is spoken by the Okordia people in Yenagoa LGA.

6. Biseni: Spoken by the Biseni people in Yenagoa LGA.

7. Zarama: Spoken by the Zarama people in Yenagoa LGA.

The last three dialects are synonymous and they are known with the acronym OZB.

Your opening statement and your number 4 fact are contradictory... No?

scholes0:


Your opening statement and your number 4 fact are contradictory... No?

Not contradictory. Bayelsa is an homogeneous Ijaw state with different ijaw sub dialects.

The Ofoni people are in Sagbama LGA are synonymous to the Urobhos in Delta state.

They are one of the towns that makes up Tarakiri clan, an ijaw clan in Sagbama LGA.

Every tribe or sub ijaw dialects are all Ijaws.

It is always interesting to learn something new.
Thank you for sharing this information...

mosdii:


Not contradictory. Bayelsa is an homogeneous Ijaw state with different ijaw sub dialects.

The Ofoni people are in Sagbama LGA are synonymous to the Urobhos in Delta state.

They are one of the towns that makes up Tarakiri clan, an ijaw clan in Sagbama LGA.

Every tribe or sub ijaw dialects are all Ijaws.

Please explain the term 'synonymous' as used in the context above.
Historically, the Ofonis are Urhobos.They are in Bayelsa State due to boundary adjustment.

OvisFranko:


Please explain the term 'synonymous' as used in the context above.
Historically, the Ofonis are Urhobos.They are in Bayelsa State due to boundary adjustment.

You are very correct. Synonymous in this context means the same as the urhobos in Delta state.

How can you say Bayelsa is homogenously Ijaw and still admit that there are Edoid speaking groups there?

Even the language of the Ogbia is not Ijaw.

mosdii:



You are very correct. Synonymous in this context means the same as the urhobos in Delta state.

That means Ofonis are Urhobos too,hence Bayelsa State is not a 100% homogenous Ijaw State.
Do you have any contrary opinion?

OvisFranko:


That means Ofonis are Urhobos too,hence Bayelsa State is not a 100% homogenous Ijaw State.
Do you have any contrary opinion?

Bayelsa has three Edoid groups: Ofoni/Urhobo, Epie-Atissa & Ekpeye,

Urhobo & E-A are Edoid languages philologically and ethnically, Ekpeye are Edoid by race. Even though many erroneously call Ekpeye Igboid. Fact is some people do not speak the language of their original ethnicity anymore. Due to proximity to & mixing with bigger tribes.

OP seems not to appreciate the meaning of homogeneity.

AreaFada2:

Bayelsa has three Edoid groups: Ofoni/Urhobo, Epie-Atissa & Ekpeye,

Urhobo & E-A are Edoid languages philologically and ethnically, Ekpeye are Edoid by race. Even though many erroneously call Ekpeye Igboid. Fact is some people do not speak the language of their original ethnicity anymore. Due to proximity to & mixing with bigger tribes.

OP seems not to appreciate the meaning of homogeneity.

More like Ekpeye is Edoid by fabricated irrational oral stories.

Because clearly, any researcher worth his salt will see that Ekpeye is Igboid in every sense of the word, and indeed all researchers have always placed Ekpeye under Igboid.

Fact is that Ekpeye at no point in history spoke any Edoid language.
It has no direct boundary with SE, its current language has always been its language.

Igboid:


More like Ekpeye is Edoid by fabricated irrational oral stories.

Because clearly, any researcher worth his salt will see that Ekpeye is Igboid in every sense of the word, and indeed all researchers have always placed Ekpeye under Igboid.

Fact is that Ekpeye at no point in history spoke any Edoid language.
It has no direct boundary with SE, its current language has always been its language.

Lol. Does Degema in Rivers for example have a direct boundary with Edo? Does it stop it from being Edoid?

So you were in Ekpeye 400 years ago to know precisely the language they spoke then?

Oral stories that fit into your tribal prism are genuine but others are fabricated. Wehdon o.

AreaFada2:

Lol. Does Degema in Rivers for example have a direct boundary with Edo? Does it stop it from being Edoid?

So you were in Ekpeye 400 years ago to know precisely the language they spoke then?

Oral stories that fit into your tribal prism are genuine but others are fabricated. Wehdon o.

Exacly my point.
Degema is miles away from Edo, yet they speak Edoid language proving their possible Edo origin. Likewise Engenni who happen to be Ekpeye neighbours. They all speak Edoid language


If Ekpeye were Edoid people, their language like those of their Engenni neighbours, Degema and Epie Atissa will reflect it.

Language preserves culture and events of the past.
There exists no single Edo culture or words in Ekpeye language, except the words Igbo share with Edo.