₦airaland Forum

bashr4:
i prefer oranges

i perfer oranges as well

we kanuris have alot in common with the igbos

bashr4:
you and who be idoma?? abeg no dey speak french to me , i a true descendant of eri  
nobody said they were igbo at all through out this thread , we are only trying to determin their relationship with the southern groups to see if we southerners wil expand our expansionism project to the middle belt.

infact the yorubas have already claimed the igalas imagine so we igbos need to move fast and at least claim the idoma people before the  south west strikes again

another one again, well let me make up ur night

from an igala website




Igala is the language spoken by the people located within the triangle formed by the confluence of the rivers Niger and Benue in Kogi State of Nigeria. 'The Igala people are found east of the confluence of these rivers. The land is bounded on the west by River Niger, on the east by Enugu State, the south by Anambra State, on the north Benue/Nassarawa States. It is 120 kilometers wide and 160 kilometers long. It is located approximately between latitudes 6°30' and 8° north and longitudes 6°30' and 7°40' East and covers an area of about 13,665 square kilometers. The population of the Igala people is estimated at two million in the late 1990s.
The people are evenly distributed all over the land but with ldah, Anyigba and Ankpa more densely populated. The Igala are also sparsely found in Edo, Delta, Anambra and Enugu States. But the huge bulk of the people are in Idah, Ankpa, Dekina, Oma1a, Olamaboro, Ofu, Iga1amela/Odolu, lbaji, Bassa (and even Lokoja and Ajaokuta) Local Government Areas of Kogi State. The boundary of the land was by far larger than it is in our time. The traditional limits of the 1and included: 'The greater part of ldomaland, Nsukka area, Kogi, Anambra area (North of Onitsba), The Atta of Igala formerly exercised suzerainty over them.  The Igala are unmistakably the major language group in Kogi State of Nigeria today. .
Igalaland could be said to be a sort of terminus.  It is located strategically at the natural cross-roads in Nigeria.  Owing to this reason, it has been influenced both positively and negatively by trends of events as it is pulled in different directions. By and large, it has enjoyed some degree of encounter with the Yoruba, Edo (Benin), Jukun, Idoma, Nupe, Igbo, Hausa, Igbirra, Bassa-kwomo and Bassa-nge. This experience naturally left certain imprints on the tradition or culture of the Igala people. To some extent, its central positioning may account for the land being considered a cultural melting pot. Yet, it might not be quite true to conclude that Igala is totally a conglomeration of other ethnic groups.  Igala existed as an entity on its own before the other cultures were assimilated into its mainstream

Vegetation, cultural endowment and communications:
           The Igalas have an unusually and richly endowed environment. They are within the "middle-belt" of Nigeria which has an advantage of the climate of the drier Savannah vegetation to the north and the wet forest regions to the south.
           The area lies within the warm humid climatic zone of Nigeria. There is a distinctive wet-dry season dichotomy. The wet season lasts from about April to the end of September or early October while the dry season lasts from about October to about the end of March or early April. Rainfall can be heavy and the effects of the harmattan can be severe, especially from about November.                
                       The area has an average rain fall of about 50” a year.  The lowland riverine areas are flooded seasonally, making it possible for the growing of paddy rice and controlled fish farming in ponds that are owned on individual or clan basis.  The lbaji area is the major place awashed by flood. This makes the area very fertile soil more than other place in the land: "The receding floods leave behind a large quantity of fish in ponds and lakes. This facts, plays an important role in the economic and social lives of the people,"
Simply put, the vegetation is mainly deciduous, with the major rivers (Benue and Niger), a few minor ones such as Okula, Ofu, Imabolo, Ubele, Adale, Ogbagana, and many streams in the land.  Hence, is Igalaland popularly known as a blessed fishing and arable region.

           The most common economic trees are palm trees (ekpe), locust beans (okpehie). mahogany (ago), iroko (uloko), whitewood (uwewe) and raffia palms (ugala). Common plantations are of okra (oro, -aikpele), cashew (agala), banana (ogede). Some of the economic trees mentioned here provide timber for the people and for sale. In the forest regions were also found certain wild animals, such lions (idu), hyenas (olinya), leopards (omolalna or eje), elephants (adagba), bush-pigs (ehi), chimpanzee (ukabu). etc.
This favorable vegetation makes farming and hunting highly profitable. Thus. 90% of the population. practice farming.  Both forest and savannah crops thrive on Igala soil very well. Thus, the main forest crops produced are: yams, cassava, maize, melon and groundnut.  And they produce such savannah cereals as guinea corn. beans. millet and benniseed.  However, due to the shifting cultivation being practiced, bush burning and felling of trees, a good proportion of the forest is being gradually destroyed and wild animals are fast becoming extinct.
           Igalaland is blessed with rich natural resources.  In the south are swamps where crude oil was prospected some years ago. It is generally believed that oil was discovered at Alade and Odolu. IS The Okabba (Adagio) coalmine is close to Ankpa in the north.  The country has benefitted from the coalmine since 1967.
There are many roads in the area. The main ones are Anyigba-ldah, Anyigba-Ankpa, Anyigba-Shintaku. Those of Anyigba-Ajaokuta, Ankpa-Otukpo, Otukpa, Ankpa-Ogobia. Idah· Nsukka and Ejule-Otukpa link the land with neighboring states. Good waterways are possible between Idah-Agenebode-Onitsha and the Shintaku-Lokoja axis of River Niger. These waterways have served as veritable means of transport in the recent past. It encouraged social and economic interactions.
Today, Igala land does not possess any airport. However, air travelers make use of Ajaokuta Steel Company's airstrip. The Itobe-Ajaokuta Bridge constructed about two decades ago on the River Niger has also turned out to be of tremendous benefit as it has enhanced intra and inter-state links and commercial transactions.

The Rulership
           The "Atta" is the traditional paramount king of the Igala kingdom. "Atta", as the name implies is the father or custodian of the entire Igala people's culture.  Tradition holds that "The Atta of Igala
(the king) was a priest-king.  He was incharge of the major Igala sacred objects, shrines and festivals.  His provincial chiefs (Am 'Onu) were also incharge of the various shrines, sacred objects and festivals in their own areas ·of authority.  The Atta and his chiefs (Am 'Onu) therefore, play very active roles in the traditional religion.
Idah, the cultural centre or headquarter of the Kingdom is where the Attah resides. From there he cares for the entire kingdom.  He also delegates certain powers to other chiefs, as it is also their responsibility in some cases to exercise power of adjudication in matters of dispute among their immediate subjects.  Attaship is hereditary and it is ascended to by those who belong to the royal lineage. It is by a rotating system of succession in which three other lineages hold the royal office in turn before the cycle is complete and a son succeeds his father.

The Social-Cultural Life
           Dialectical differences are noticeable, yet the people are not divided.  According to Okwoli, ''the Idah dialect, central dialect, the Dekina dialect 'With Bassa-Igbirra influence, the Ankpa dialect with Idoma influence and trans-Niger Anambra dialect (in Odolu and Ibaji) with Ibo influence".  With the coming of British colonial masters and missionaries, English Language has spread to every nook and cranny of the land, even if it were at some level pidgin English. The villages in the land are a conglomeration of houses whose first settlers founded as a result of good farmland, rich fishponds, favorable hunting expeditions.  In these villages, settlements are sometimes lineal.  But in most eases people live according to clans thereby giving way to the circular style. In certain cases, land disputes, incessant illness, death of children. war, epidemics, natural disasters, marriage, ostracization or barnishment could occasion relocation. The buildings were traditionally mud walls with thatched roofs (unyi~egbe) but owing to developments, such locally constructed houses have given way to solid cement walls, rectangular in shape with corrugated roofing sheets to match.
The major commercial nerve centers in Iga1aland are Anyigba, Idah, Ankpa, Ejule, Ajaka and Afo-gamgam.  Idah, Anyigba and Ankpa also form the nodal centers or focal points in the land. As It were, Idah remains till today the traditional seat of culture of the Igala people. Yet Anyigba is considered as a cultural meeting point. owing to the centrality of its location.  Anyigba has also remained the venue for the "Italo" 7 which was introduced by the colonial administrators in about A.D 1942.

The Origin and Development
The actual origin of the Igala people is not quite known. Different people present many versions of legends of immigration There are claims, for instance, that the Igala people came from the Jukun (Kwarara/a), some says Benin, others Yoruba. Yet, others feel they migrated from Mecca (Southern Yemen) or Mali.
In the past, the reigning Atta, His Royal Majesty. Agabaidu (Dr.) Aliyu O. Obaje, had. for instance, explained: "the !gala came from Southern Yemen, passed through Ethiopia (where there is an ethnic group called the Gala) and through the (medieval times} Empire of Mali, to Jukun land; then finally, to our present location."  In another instance, the Atta said that the Igala "came from the Arab country of Yemen and were in the present Nigeria at the same time as the founding fathers of the Yorubas, the Jukuns and the Beriberis or Kanuris Bornu.  He also maintains that the earlier migration into Igalaland was at "about the 12th century A.D, led by Amina, a Zaria princess and warrior. who fought her way to Idah , with Hausa and Nupe followers.
           Certain traditions even hold that the Igala are of Fulani origin, simply because of the similarities in their physical features.  It IS clear that Fulanis do not speak a Kwa language. And owing to the linguistic affinity, others affirm the Yoruba connections. For Byng Halt notes that, "It is not surprising that within a short period of arrival in Igala land, a Yoruba is well acquainted with the language.”  He attributes the ease in learning the language to the closeness of the two languages. Armstrong sticks to this same view when he said: "the most definite historical statement that can be made about Igala is that . they had a common origin with the Yoruba and that the separation took place long enough ago to allow for their fairly considerable linguistic differences. There is a whole corpus of oral traditions on the origin of the Igala people.
           While this study did not engage .in any detailed criticism of the diverse opinions on the Igala origins. it gave a thorough look: at certain .inescapable facts, These intricate issues were pin-pointed in order to allow us take a solid stand.
           The view that Princess Amina of Zaria led the very first migration into Igalaland in the 12th century does not hold water. This is because Queen Amina was a 14th C figure and history has it that the Igala people were already settled in this area and were relating socio-culturally with the Igbos right from the ,7th and  9th century A.D. Moreover, the obvious absence of a legend relating to this princess and warrior .in Igalaland is a clear indication that it might not be true afterall that she actually reached Igala land.  Stories on Igala Benin war and Igala-Jukun war, for instance. are very popular. The near dead silence on an Amina war leaves room for great doubts. Niven argues against the presupposition that she died at 'Atagara' (that is ldah) when he said: "she died at Atagara, probably a place iii the Gongola valley then under Kwararafa, not Idah. which is now known as Atagara.'
The linking of the Igala with Yemen In Arabia is another highly speculative opinion. This story was probably a device of the Muslims to Islamise Igala people. The people of Igala had long settled before the Galas entered Ethiopia. because tradition has it that it was only in the century A.D, that the Gala migration to Ethiopia took place. In addition, it is quite improbable that the Semite Galas would metamorphose into Negroes of the contemporary Igalaland overnight.  The similarity in name is thereby merely coincidental.
The Mali connection remains baseless too because the similarities between the words "Mela" (nine of them) of Igala-Mela (the nine Igala kingmakers) is in no way attributable to “9” as originating from Mali. To the Igala mind, "nine" simply symbolizes perfectness.
Likewise, the supposition that the Igalas came out of the Fulanis, carries no weight, since "no tradition in Igala supports it.  History attests to the fact that the Fulanis were still in the region of Senegal by the time the Igala were already having a "centralized state system , in the 12" century.
           That the Igala have a traditional link with the Benin kingdom is indubitable. There abound theories for instance, that support a Benin origin of Igala kingship.  However, there was already in existence indigenous Igala people with their kingship systems before the arrival of the Benin kings. But it must be understood that at some stage of Igala history, the Benin people wielded some power of influence over them. The difference in their system of government alone is enough reason to prove that it is never true to say the entire Igala originated from Benin.
           The tradition, which holds that the Igala has the same origin with the Yoruba seem to be a plausible one. This humble submission is based on the fact that the Igala language has a lot in common with the Yoruba. Okwoli supports this view when he said: "When people speak the same language. or related languages, there is every reason to believe that they have common origin or have met somewhere.
The Jukun link with the Igala is another very strong tradition that immediately calls for serious attention. Stories about the Jukun origin of Igala kingship, for instance, cannot be waved aside. That there were certain Jukun immigrants who came among the Igalas at some stage of the development of the Igala kingdom is quite evident It is even a common knowledge that the present ruling dynasty is Jukun.
Ultimately, therefore, there is no single account of the origin of the Iga1a people, which is unassailable However, one may agree with Boston that the different tradition "probably correspond to different phases of history in which the Yoruba link may be the most ancient, followed by the Benin connection, and most recently. some form of Jukun suzerainty'.  In order not to continue swimming in this shark-infested waters of legends and traditions, we concluded that the Igala kingdom originated from within their immediate vicinity, namely. West Africa. As a matter of fact, before the advent of the colonial masters, about seven very prominent black. kingdoms were noticeable in the forest belt, thus, Ashanti, Dahomey. ]fe,  Oyo, Bini, Igala and Jukun(Apa) kingdoms.

The Atta's scope of influence
With Atta Ayegba Om'Idoko, the kingdom was zoned in the 17th cetltury A.D. into smaller units in order to decentralize authority. Then in 1905 the British created the districts. These districts comprised Ankpa, Dekina, Egwume., Ejema, Imane. Iga, Ika, Ogwugwu, Ojokwu. Atabaka (Okpo), Biraidu (Abocho), Ife (Abejukolo). Odu, Iyale, Emekwutu, Okenyi, Ojokiti, As these districts were formed and "trustworthy relatives and followers" were sent to rule, these were given the 'traditional titles of "Onu" (the principal person or chief).
               Some Igala tradition holds that an Atta gave the Nupes a Kingdom, He bestowed the rule of Nupe country to Edegi (Tsoede), one of the sons he had from a Nupe mother. He gave riches of various types to him and gave him different insignia of kingship: a bronze Canoe, twelve Nupe slaves. the bronze Okakachi (Trumpet) which are still being used by Northern Nigerian ~.state drums hung with brass belts and heavy iron chains and fetters which were endowed with strong magic power …, Tsoede or Edegi then became the ruler of the Nupe people and took the title of Etsu (King) and the Nupe kingdom became an ally to Igala,.

(Curled from the book written by Rev. Fr. Fidelis Egbunu which discusses Christians taking chieftaincy titles in Igala land)

http://igalaassociationusa.org/ViewContent.aspx?id=13

[quote author=Chyz* link=topic=692105.msg8534201#msg8534201 date=1308277099]Don't worry when the fulanis are almost done clearing out Benue like they have been doing recently, Idomas  go say they be 'Igboid'.

JBenue, [size=5pt]just kidding[/size][/quote]chyz u can read some more here http://igalaassociationusa.org/ViewContent.aspx?id=13

bashr4:
i always feel like strangling you.

my brother why

[quote author=Chyz* link=topic=692105.msg8534175#msg8534175 date=1308276432]Idomas are Idomas. Some do carry Igbo names though and we share cultural ties/relations but Idomas are not Igbo,period. Btw, a non-Igbo/Idoma would think that Alechenu is an Igbo name.[/quote]they do not carry igbo names but igbos carry there names

Jbenue:
Oh[b] Alechenu [/b] but its not his last name, Mark is,  do any of the two sound igbo

sounds like tiv /berom names(around that area)

interesting, so do u silly feel southern

[quote author=Chyz* link=topic=692105.msg8534138#msg8534138 date=1308275789]Interesting. Do you have a link so that we can see if they actaully do share the same market days?[/quote]tell bashr to proved his first

ezeagu:
Who's people?

my people the anioma i have aniomas in my family now

bashr4:

brother u are blessed

Jbenue:
oh alh harem go sleep no self respecting idoma ever wants to be hausa believe me bro, now go and marry a 9 yr old girl in d name of mumu

u must be a big mumu, infact are u turly idoma ? i doudt that

i am not hausa but I AM A NORTHERNER AND THAT IS ALL U NEED TO KNOW

so u want to go with southerners who are know ritualist, thieves, 419 etc i must be dumb

do u think if u were in the south, david mark would be number 3 in the country when yoruba and igbos are ready to screaw each other over for that position

bashr4:
then why is he complaining , infact i dont understand his mission.
dumb fellow , we are talkin of idoma and igala they have nothin in common with fulani western igala even bear yoruba names , i[b]doma have the same 4 market days with the igbos an idoma man won a constituency election in enugu state. too bad they allowed themselves to be used as puppet for the hausas and fulanis[/b]

brother why the insult na

brother look, there is no one using any one here

idoma have beeing produing the senate president since 2007 (the number 3 position) so how can they be used

@bolded

igala and okun share the same market days

an igbo is a commisoner in lagos and kano

are we using the igbos tooo

ezeagu:
Mmm, that's how Anioma soldiers will go and kill other peoples leaders and they it's Igbo people, when war come now all of a sudden it's Anioma. Anioma still gets slaughtered in the Asaba massacre so they if they weren't Igbo before, they have spilt human sacrifice to attain that identity in the 60's massacre. Blood Bond! Look at these Nwa Nshi of an Anioma.

do not insult my people like that

[quote author=ekt_bear link=topic=692105.msg8534090#msg8534090 date=1308274326]Long live the middle belt [/quote]there is nothing like middle belt

it is called NORTH CENTRAL

we are one

bashr4:
well names like attah are popular in southeast, kogi , benue and cross rivers. even idibia is popular among igbos ,idoma and even igala  , if you think am lying use facebook profile search to research it, we are not trying to posses you am only trying to point out your social and cultural ties with the southerners.

there are more cultural ties with the fulani than southerners

i think the ngwas(which are not igbos) have more in common with igbos than idoma

what do u think

bashr4:
alj jarem your just a pathetic fellow posting crap from a wanna be writer.
who dash monkey banana

Ngodigha:
Castrated Chad pig, why is all your moronic posts filled with Anioma is not Igbo, Nnewi is not Igbo, Umuahia is not Igbo etc. Why not get a job just as BkB97Y has done instead of searching the web everyday for who is not Igbo. Jobless freak.

i dont understand you

who is talking about nnewi and umuahia

i said anioma people are not igbo how hard is that

anioma have denied there igboness on there site

haba use ur head na

people are dying and u are making funny statements about it

haba no good enough

bashr4:
The funny thing is dat some idoma and igala people I have met bear igbo names(am not sayin they are igbo but they have close ancient ties with the igbo to the east,edo and yoruba to the west) yet their leaders choose to identify with the north, abeg close the thread its not worth discussing

yes i have also met a few with igbo names

those are the western igbo conquered by igalas

and enslaved and converted to igala

http://www.sunypress.edu/p-389-the-igbo-igala-borderland.aspx

u can buy this book to know more

The Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, and his political godfather Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, may have gone underground in the heat of political stalwarts, clandestinely lobbying for political positions in the state’s impending cabinet.

The lobby by some highly influential Lagosians and party stalwarts, have also sent jitters to the spines of many loyalists of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, who are bent on smuggling the names of their loyalists into the state cabinet.

A reliable source told Nigerian Pilot last night, that highly placed Lagosians and party faithful within and outside the state, have been mounting pressure on the duo, with a view to enlisting their support for their sons and daughters in the envisaged cabinet due shortly.

The source further said that the unknown whereabouts of Fashola and Tinubu, has also caused disaffection among some political jobbers and party members, two clear weeks after the governor’s inauguration.
According to the source, “this is not the first time the governor and Asiwaju Tinubu are ‘escaping’ into thin air to beat the security trap of these composition speculators.

However, while the crisis of interest plays on, Nigerian Pilot gathered that the final list is being subjected to various interplay of political forces, as influential godfathers maneuver to get their key men on it.
Barely two weeks ago, a source said Fashola and Tinubu had met in Canada over the thorny issue, to draw up a list which turned out to be inconclusive.

Similarly, there is the alleged move by Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, also of the same party, to bring his loyalists in Lagos into his Osun cabinet and that had reportedly caused crises amongst some highly influential indigenes of Osun state.

The source said that in the present circumstance, “it appears that Aregbesola is the overbearing power behind a long list of favoured candidates, which will deprive other camps of their expectations to clinch one or two positions.”

It was gathered that the senior special assistant to Governor Fashola on media, Alhaji Hakeem Bello, would also be elevated to the cabinet position, perhaps to occupy the office of the special adviser on information and strategy.

When Nigerian Pilot correspondent phoned Alhaji Bello at about 1.45pm yesterday to confirm developments and the whereabouts of his principal, there was a recorded response from his phone saying, “Hello, the subscriber you have dialed is currently unavailable, please try again later, thank you.”

http://nigerianpilot.com/?q=content/cabinet-composition-fashola-tinubu-go-hiding

werepeLeri:
LOL - r u in kindergarten?

beaf ? if not u sure talk as silly as him

Ddaji:
Coward! Tell joseph waku to resign as ACF VP,suswan to stop attending northern governors meeting,Benue senators to quit thier membership of northern senators forum and Tor Tiv to quit his membership northern traditional council under chairman of SULTAN OF SOkOTO.please find time and ask your elders at home the meaning of Makurdi.Jobless boy.

[quote author=ndu_chucks link=topic=692105.msg8532301#msg8532301 date=1308248079]Middle belt ko, central belt ni.
@OP, I'm afraid you are from Northern Nigeria. I agree that you may not be Hausa or Fulani, but a Northerner, you are.

Most of you people like edoyad suffer from an identity crisis. Pele o.

@[/quote]i wonder why people are answer this not-so-smart person

all this infority complex being displayed by him is not new

take a look at eboyad, jos boy, etc

hisses

mods

please why do we allow ***** on this forum

why is kasiem, igbo boy, highcheif and aloy emeka allowed to compare human beings with anaimals on this thread

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-687086.64.html

it is very annoying really

na wa ooo

op u are very silly

why not impearch the president first since he clearly does not know what he is doing

what can i say

a country where the president used 1 billion naira meant for the people for inauguration party in aso rock

a country where bankole can have 10 billion on having fun with 2 women

a country where tinubu can buy the whole state and impose anyone on the state

a country where corpers are killed and kidnapped for business

a country where Mend, Boko haram, OPC, Bakkasi boys, Massob leaders are working freely without arrest for treason

a country where ex persidents have oil blocks for fun

a country where its capital is being blown by its citizens, and yet we call ourselves 1 country

I pray and hope this country split and everyone will find them papa house, enough of this rubbish we call a country, we have failed as a country

to those iddeiot accusing northerners, well i 2 things to tell u

1. u people are the must stu.pid people on earth better believe that, the bomb blast would have killed northerners and yet u blame it on us. iddeiots

2. you myopic views will only make u hate urselves more. go hug tranformer  

kasiem:
Hey, man i dont give damn about your flimsy threat. Does it mean that u didn't see that thread opened by ekt_bear, where some pariah that sees themselves as Yorubas are bashing my tribe? Fu*ck all your Yorubas, i dont care.

guy grow up and stop acting like a child,

i have recieved warnings as well and that is why I have reduced the way i post about ethnic groups and i suggest u do the same.

this yoruba igbo hausa madness has to stop, today alone some civilains die in abuja, this people are yoruba igbo and hausas

so stop this ur myopic views and be objective.

Dede1:
Please quit being lazy and a disciple to alj harem who is a known novice. What you referred as my post was partly the treacherous means your newly found prophet alj harem used to distort facts.

I suggest you make time to visit the “Foundation of Igbo Studies” by Louis Nnmadi Oraka and get enlightened by his juxtapositions. There is no doubt wallowing in oxymora injected into this forum by alj harem will further set you back.

keep deceiving yourself

lets not derail the thread

bashr4:
the cars are manufactured in nigeria , some components might have been imported but its still a made in nigerian car.

gbammmm

this will definatilly give employment to the locals and nigerians

so why not encoruage them

Gej will be stu.pidd not to fund them, really