₦airaland Forum

Fellow Nairalanders ,

As promised in my earlier article on Urhobo Dialects and Where They Are Spoken (https://www.nairaland.com/2656600/various-dialects-urhobo-language-where), I have returned to document the dialects of Ijaw (Izon) and where they are spoken. Although I am not an Ijaw person, I am from a state where Ijaws are present in many numbers (Delta State). I have interacted with Ijaw people and been to their traditional land. I have made some extensive research and I believe I am knowledgeable enough to undertake this study!. The Ijaw people are a fascinating lot and I love them for their mystique, kindness, hospitality and reclusiveness. It is important to note at this juncture that any errors I make as a result of oversight, omission or misconception should be corrected in as rational a way as possible. My previous thread was derailed by some people because of tribalism. Let us put our hatred aside and learn! If you feel you know better then present your knowledge in a civil manner. I am always ready to learn and I believe everyone has something to learn from the views of learned fellows. Let us proceed!

The Ijaw people are the 4th largest ethnic group in Nigeria coming after the Hausas, Yorubas and Igbos. They are estimated to be about 15 million in total. They also have a wide geographical spread; covering Delta State (Shared with Urhobo-Isokos, Itsekiris and Anioma) Bayelsa State( their main homeland), Rivers State (Shared with Ikwerre, Ogoni and other Igboid groups), Edo State (Shared with Edoid groups such as Bini, Esan, Afemai, etc) and Ondo State (Shared with Yorubas). The Ijaws are also settled in Akwa-Ibom State, Cross-Rivers State, Kogi State and Lagos State. They are virtually in every nook and cranny of Nigeria. Ijaws also have a strong Diasporan presence in the USA and UK as well as Asia, the Americas, Australia and other countries in Africa notably Sierra-Leone and Gabon. They are one of the true "aboriginal people of water" and the "Niger Delta". It should be noted that the Ijaws are SO BLESSED that their clans/habitats ALWAYS sits on crude oil. Their population and strength are largely relegated for the singular reason that the Ijaws are not boastful or proud. Their shyness, reclusiveness and pastoral life make them overlooked by most people of other ethnicities! However, it must be noted that Ijaws can be violent and erratic if pushed to the wall. Do not take their quietness for mediocrity or lack of will. They can and will bite back if you play with their simplicity.

The origin of the Ijaw people is clouded with uncertainty and various myths and legends that have been analysed as historical sources sometimes clash with each other. In fact, a particular cosmogenic theory states that the Ijaws “dropped from the sky”. However, it is generally accepted that their ancestors are the "ORU People" who were migrants of an unknown origin (most likely the Nile-Valley of Egypt and Sudan). They migrated first to Ile-Ife, then to Benin and finally to the Niger-Delta states of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers. Below is a list of ancestors and how the various clans of Ijaw came to being:

*Oru, the first Pere is also known as Ujo and he is the father of the Ijaw people and progenitor of the various ancestors below
*The ancestor ASAIN was a seer/priest and companion to UJO and the founder of the original Ijo community at Abo
*The ancestor GBARAN is the founder of GBARAN town in Apoi (Southern-Ijo), GBARANMATU, AROGBO, TUOMO, KABO, KUMBO AND GBARAN CLANS.
*The ancestor OPU-BENI is the founder of the MEIN, IBENI (OYAKIRI), OBOTEBE-KALABARI CLANS
*The ancestor OPU-OKUN is the founder of the OPUKUMA CLAN
*The ancestor KALA-OKUN (alias ALUKU-DOGO) is the founder of the KOLOKUMA, APOI, IBANI CLANS, and sections of NEMBE, TUNGBO, BUSENI, OKODIA
*The ancestor APOI is the founder of the APOI, UKOMU & AKASSA CLANS
*The ancestor TARA is the founder of the TARAKIRI, & ANDONI CLANS
*The ancestor OPU-OGBO is the founder of the EKPETIAMA & SEIMBIRI, EPIE-ATISSA CLANS and sections of WAKIRIKE & NKORO
*The ancestor KALA-OGBO (alias OGURU) is the founder of the IDUWINI & EGBEMA CLANS
*The ancestor OPORO is the founder of the OPOROMA & OPEREMO, BASAN, FURUPAGHA, OGBE-IJO, CLANS
*The ancestor OLODI (alias IGBEDIGBOLO) is the founder of the OLODIAMA CLANS, and sections of NEMBE
*The ancestor OGULA is the founder of the OGULAGHA CLAN
*The ancestor KURU is the founder of the KRUS of Liberia
*The ancestor OYAN is the founder of the OGBO-OYAN (OGBIA CLAN) where former President Goodluck Jonathan hails from.
*The ancestor BOMOU is the founder of the BOMA CLAN
*The ancestor IBI (OBI) is the founder of the OGBOIN, WAKIRIKE CLANS, and sections of NEMBE
*The ancestor KENI-OPU-ALA is the founder of the KE clan
*The ancestor ORU is the direct founder of the KULA CLAN

Clans formed by Children of the original first generation ancestors:
*The ancestor OPOROZA II is the founder of the KABO, KUMBO AND GBARAN CLANS
*The ancestor MEIN is the founder of the MEIN & KALABARI CLANS
*The ancestor PEREBO-KALAKEBARI (KALABARI) is the founder of the KALABARI CLAN
*The ancestor KALA-BENI (alias ALAGBARIGHA) is the founder of the IBENI (IBANI, OR BONNY) CLAN
*The ancestor OPUBO-PEREKULE is the founder of the OPUBO (OPOBO) CLAN



The Dialects and Where They Are Spoken:
Each clan of Ijaw has its own unique dialect! There is NO CENTRAL IJAW as found in many of our Nigerian languages like Urhobo, Yoruba and Hausa. Each Ijaw clan has its own unique appeal and most of their dialects are not mutually intelligible. For instance, the Ogbia dialect spoken in Otueke may likely not be heard at all by the Gbaramatu clan in Warri South West. The Kalabari dialect may likely not also be heard by the Opobo clan. These differences were caused mainly by acculturation. Each Ijaw clan usually shares its neighbourhood with other ethnic groups and elements tend to fall in. Other than this, many of these clans are not geographically contiguous to each other. i.e. Opobo is more than 5 hours away from Gbaramatu or any of the clans in Ondo State. In between the clans, one tends to find other groups such as Urhobo, Itsekiri, Yoruba, Ikwerre, etc and these divisions affect the linguistic centrality of the Ijaw people. However, with the introduction of Izon language in the Niger-Delta University, Wilberforce Island and Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education, Sagbama, a central Ijaw is being propagated by Ijaw linguistic scholars for intellectual purposes.
It should be noted that Ijaw has NO SIMILARITY with any of the ethnic groups in Nigeria! Most "minority" ethnic groups are either Yoruboid, Igboid, Edoid, Hausoid, etc but Ijaw is simply Ijoid and has no linguistic semblance or conformity with any of the aforementioned groups. It is also to be noted that Ijaw dialects are grouped into major categories; Western/Central Ijaw and Eastern Ijaw or Kalabari as well as South Eastern and Inland Ijaw. I am not a speaker of Ijaw (although I can speak BASIC Ijaw for communicative purposes) so my exposition on the dialects will be limited only to listing them and mapping the places they are spoken. An experienced Ijaw speaker or linguist can help me with direct examples of dialectal differences.

We will now proceed straight to the matter of the day: the Ijaw dialects and their geographical location. However, the MAIN ones(those my research deems to cover the whole spread of Ijaw) will be taken so if yours is missing, kindly fill in the gap for us. Also note that these are DIALECTS and not CLANS! See list of clans here: (http://www.ijawfoundation.org/communities.htm). So some clans who speak a dialect listed here may not be referenced.

Central/Western Ijaw Dialects
1. Ekeremor Dialect (Spoken in Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa State). It is intelligible to an extent.
2. Mein Dialect (Spoken in Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa State and Burutu LGA of Delta State). It is intelligible to other Ijaw clans.
3. Bassan Dialect (Spoken in Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State). Intelligible to others.
4. Apoi Dialect (Spoken in Ese-Odo LGA of Ondo State). This dialect has been infiltrated by Yoruba and it is unintelligible to others.
5. Arogbo Dialect (Spoken in Ese-Odo LGA of Ondo State). This dialect is deep, Yoruboid and not intelligible to others.
6. Boma Dialect (Spoken in Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State). This dialect is easily understood by others.
7. Kabo (Kabuowei) Dialect (Spoken in Patani LGA of Delta State). Easily understood.
8. Ogboin/Amassoma Dialect (Spoken in Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State). It is a reclusive dialect but easily heard by others.
9. Tarakiri Dialect (Spoken in Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa State and Patani LGA of Delta State). This dialect is Urhoboid due to its proximity with Urhobo people. Most of its speakers in Ofoni, Uduophori and Odorubu are outright Urhobo speakers! Others are bilinguals.
10. Kolokuma-Opokuma (Yenagoa) Dialect (Spoken in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA of Bayelsa State). It is a major prong of Ijaw and understandable by most Ijaws. It is also the dialect spoken in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State Capital, and some of its suburbs as Central Ijaw.

South Eastern Ijaw Dialects
11. Nembe Dialect (Spoken in Nembe LGA of Bayelsa State). It is cumbersome to most Ijaw speakers.
12. Brass Dialect (Spoken in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State). It is a very deep dialect. It should be noted that BRASS forms the first letter of the acronym, BAYELSA. The other parts of the acronym are YENAGOA and SAGBAMA to form BA-YEL-SA.
13. Akassa (Akaha) Dialect (Spoken in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State). It is also a deep dialect.

Inland Ijaw Dialects
14. Buseni(Biseni) Dialect (Spoken in Yenagoa LGA of Bayelsa State). Easily understood by the average speaker.
15. Okordia Dialect (Spoken in Yenagoa LGA of Bayelsa State). Almost like Buseni Dialect.

Eastern Ijaw Dialects
16. Kalabari Dialect (Spoken in Degema, Asari-Toru and Akuku-Toru LGAs of Rivers State). It is not understood by most Ijaw speakers and it is considered as a language of its own by most.
17. Okrika Dialect (Spoken in Okrika LGA of Rivers State). It is also deep and hard. This is where the former First Lady, Patience Jonathan hails from.
18. Ibani Dialect (Spoken in Bonny LGA of Rivers State). It is ostracised and extremely deep. It is also deemed as a language of its own by most.
19. Nkoroo Dialect (Spoken in Opobo/Nkoro LGA of Rivers State). It is like Kalabari and Okrika. Also hard to understand.

Edoid Ijaw Dialects
Some Ijoid dialects, for one reason or another, are classified as Edoid. This is mainly due to the interference of Edo and other Deltan Languages in the Ijaw language.

20. Epie-Atissa Dialect (Spoken in Yenagoa LGA of Bayelsa State). It is not intelligible to other Ijaw speakers. Their origin is traced to Benin.
21. Engenni Dialect (Spoken in Ahoada West LGA of Rivers State). It sounds like a mixture of Edo, Igbo and Ijaw and it is not understood.


Efik/Ibiboid Ijaw Dialects
These dialects originate from Efik/Ibibio in Akwa-Ibom and Cross-Rivers State. The people share the same culture with the Efik/Ibibio people.

22. Ogbia Dialect (Spoken in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State). This dialect is completely incomprehensible to other Ijaw speakers
23. Andoni Dialect (Spoken in Andoni LGA of Rivers State and Eastern Obolo LGA of Akwa-Ibom State). It is incomprehensible to other speakers



Also worthy of note are the Defaka people who also speak an Ijoid language. Sadly, this language is facing extinction. The Defaka people occupy Bonny LGA in Rivers State.

The unaccounted Ijaw tribes/clans in Delta(Warri South, Southwest and North as well as Bomadi LGA) and Edo(Ovia South and North East) States speak mostly Egbema dialect which is like the Mein dialect with little variations. Ogbe-Ijo in Warri South-West also has its own unique dialect which is close to Egbema.



With the little I have done above, I believe the MAJOR dialects of Ijaw have been accounted for. Please do well to make contributions, corrections or state misconceptions in as CIVIL a way as possible. I am not an expert nor do I claim to be. I am just a researcher and I'll learn from errors wherever they are found. Avoid making statements that will spark controversy and tribalism. No work is perfect and neither is this one so when making points, understand that errors or misconceptions were never intended. Always eschew TRIBALISM and ETHNOCENTRISM.

IJAW ADOOO!!!!


Written by Mathias Orhero (literarymathy@gmail.com)

CC:
Seun
Lalasticlala

Picture Insert (Ijaw People Across All Dialects)
[img]http://4.bp..com/-MkovTie2TK4/URWYhCROeAI/AAAAAAAAMsk/CJ6B8A87xM4/s640/tumblr_luk74iPFg91qjz7u4o1_500.jpg[/img]
www.nairaland.com/attachments/592786_kalabari_ijaw_jpg7b20a67d36edc7841680a2763a046b71
www.nairaland.com/attachments/575500_200114_1768405222408_1607538803_1692872_6879412_n_jpga7b93ff99fde15b6e4dd105660ddc3be
www.nairaland.com/attachments/575558_7033_1258027168262_1157118411_30790771_2229102_n_jpg4f958bcd99fbd89722ef3add7f753782
www.nairaland.com/attachments/575889_bonny_maidens_jpg3f729d0e1c6d04b0d4e414d4b4342bcc

Mr. Mikron: Your thread is ready as promised

When coming, come with all your Ijaw friends too.



Up Next: The dialects of Ibibio and where they are spoken! Except someone beats me to it.

Everyone should disregard the content of this "research" by an OVER SABI called fratermathy.

When you mix truths, half truths, jests, insults and lies together like he did here, what you have is FABLES.

lalastica pls kindly close this thread.

fratermathy pls allow us (Ijaws) tell you about ourselves and stop doing over sabi.

ijawcitizen:
Everyone should disregard the content of this "research" by an OVER SABI called fratermathy.

When you mix truths, half truths and lies together like he did here, what you have is FABLES.

lalasticlala pls kindly close this thread.

fratermathy pls allow us (Ijaws) tell you about ourselves and stop doing over sabi.

Then tell your story. I am not imprisoning you or am I? I know someone like you would always come around. If you so much love your people, why haven't you written about them before now? Here you are attacking someone who is attempting to document your culture in so hostile a way! If you feel I depicted the Ijaws in a wrong light, the sane thing to do is to air your corrections and not act savagely.

By the way, everything I wrote here is a product of research written by IJAW PEOPLE! You can check Wikipedia here http://en.wikipedia.com/Ijaw_people and see the skeletal framework upon which my research is built. Dont just come and speak just because others are. If you want to defend your people, write a book about them or uplift the culture positively. Dont come here and attack people who, out of their love for Ijaws, are attempting a documentation of your people.

The People of the creaks and Ocean


Ijawcitizen create your own thread about your people and stop badmouthing someone else thread

Mr. Fratermathy, I appreciate your sagacity and dedication to your discipline, keep the fire burning. But, I don't think the Ijaw are the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria, the Efiks/ Ibibio/ Annang/ Oron are much popular. Ijaw population is overrated. Following, Nigerian official census record, they might not reach five million if minus and plus is done.
Moreover,the Ibibio/Efik are dispersed more than the Ijaw. Go to anywhere in Nigeria, you can identify them easily. The converse is the case with the Ijaw.
I thoroughly followed your thread on Urhobo dialects, I really appreciate how you corroborated and discontructed every strand of argument the thread generated.
@Ijawcitizen, you are ungrateful. Someone took time to research on your ethnic group and all you could do is to come here running your mouth. Sighs.
Pls, Mr Scholar, help do a more detailed analysis on my Igbo group. The previous one is too shallow and bereft of intellectual touch. Promise me you would update it?

Chinachriss:
Mr. Fratermathy, I appreciate your sagacity and dedication to your discipline, keep the fire burning. But, I don't think the Ijaw are the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria, the Efiks/ Ibibio/ Annang/ Oron are much popular. Ijaw population is overrated. Following, Nigerian official census record, they might not reach five million if minus and plus is done.
Moreover,the Ibibio/Efik are dispersed more than the Ijaw. Go to anywhere in Nigeria, you can identify them easily. The converse is the case with the Ijaw.
I thoroughly followed your thread on Urhobo dialects, I really appreciate how you corroborated and discontructed every strand of argument the thread generated.
@Ijawcitizen, you are ungrateful. Someone took time to research on your ethnic group and all you could do is to come here running your mouth. Sighs.
Pls, Mr Scholar, help do a more detailed analysis on my Igbo group. The previous one is too shallow and bereft of intellectual touch. Promise me you would update it?

I sure will sir. Thank you for the good words! You've really motivated me.

ijawcitizen:
Everyone should disregard the content of this "research" by an OVER SABI called fratermathy.

When you mix truths, half truths and lies together like he did here, what you have is FABLES.

lalastica pls kindly close this thread.

fratermathy pls allow us (Ijaws) tell you about ourselves and stop doing over sabi.

Are you really from Ijaw ?.. The Op did a research , All you could say is this ?.. Am really disappointed Bro..

Chinachriss:
Mr. Fratermathy, I appreciate your sagacity and dedication to your discipline, keep the fire burning. But, I don't think the Ijaw are the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria, the Efiks/ Ibibio/ Annang/ Oron are much popular. Ijaw population is overrated. Following, Nigerian official census record, they might not reach five million if minus and plus is done.
Moreover,the Ibibio/Efik are dispersed more than the Ijaw. Go to anywhere in Nigeria, you can identify them easily. The converse is the case with the Ijaw.
I thoroughly followed your thread on Urhobo dialects, I really appreciate how you corroborated and discontructed every strand of argument the thread generated.
@Ijawcitizen, you are ungrateful. Someone took time to research on your ethnic group and all you could do is to come here running your mouth. Sighs.
Pls, Mr Scholar, help do a more detailed analysis on my Igbo group. The previous one is too shallow and bereft of intellectual touch. Promise me you would update it?

Igbo is broad oo.. unlike Ijaw, To write about Igbo go take entire front page for NL, As for that IjawCitizen just ignore him.. effect of weed, Hope you understand..

Am proud of OP, That Urhobo boiyy, making us proud..

Wow. So ijaw has many dialects? But I still don't agree that ijaws are the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria. Edos are more than the ijaws in terms of population.

spanishkid:
Wow. So ijaw has many dialects? But I still don't agree that ijaws are the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria. Edos are more than the ijaws in terms of population.

Possibly. Like someone said before, Ijaw population is exaggerated. I hope the next census can correct some of these population issues we have in Nigeria.

Goodboiyy:
Igbo is broad oo.. unlike Ijaw, To write about Igbo go take entire front page for NL, As for that IjawCitizen just ignore him.. effect of weed, Hope you understand..

Am proud of OP, That Urhobo boiyy, making us proud..

Aki, you are right o!

Igbo is VERY broad. It's even far broader than Yoruba/Hausa. But it will be easier to do than even this Ijaw I just did because materials will be available. Ijaw doesn't have the broad recognition and study that Igbo has. People have been studying Igbo since colonial times unlike Ijaw. But like you said, it'll be voluminous and alot of people wont even bother to read. Nairalanders are very lazy readers.
If I do that kind of research and Lalasticlala or Seun nor put am for FP, the whole Nairaland go LOSS dat day oo! I go carry the whole site go Ode-Itsekiri Olu Cemetery go bury. Nor be all this ones when we go take time do research and write big big grammar and Lalasticlala, Seun or any supermod nor go answer us. . Na dat time dem go know say Warri full here!

fratermathy:
Mr. Mikron: Your thread is ready as promised

When coming, come with all your Ijaw friends too.



Up Next: The dialects of Nupe and where they are spoken! Except someone beats me to it.


Lalasticlala please finish what you have started so that the cry of marginalisation wont be heard.

wow tnx.

Saying that the founder of Opobo is perekule and not King Jaja who was originally an AmaIgbo man is a big scam.

Even Kalabari doesn't have one Progenitor, Asari Dokubo is a kalabari man, his own part of kalabari was founded by Ediabali from Abam in Abia state.

fratermathy:
Aki, you are right o!

Igbo is VERY broad. It's even far broader than Yoruba/Hausa. But it will be easier to do than even this Ijaw I just did because materials will be available. Ijaw doesn't have the broad recognition and study that Igbo has. People have been studying Igbo since colonial times unlike Ijaw. But like you said, it'll be voluminous and alot of people wont even bother to read. Nairalanders are very lazy readers.
If I do that kind of research and Lalasticlala or Seun nor put am for FP, the whole Nairaland go LOSS dat day oo! I go carry the whole site go Ode-Itsekiri Olu Cemetery go bury. Nor be all this ones when we go take time do research and write big big grammar and Lalasticlala, Seun or any supermod nor go answer us. . Na dat time dem go know say Warri full here!

Lolz.. If you like be warri Boy, Na for your pocket oo.. Seun nor they reason our face oo.. Sheybi you know hw many times we beg b4 that our thread hit FP ?.. So nor just show yourself here oo..sheybi you see the way I loyal ?.. Lala never still move some of our Important Post go FP..

As for the Igbo own nor fear e go hit FP. Na Igbo and Yoruba get nairaland, Unlike we minority we go do fasting and prayer before our post hit FP.. Abeg when writing that of Igbo carry some Igbo people along so them go help you out, people like Lyng9, Rose2914 and co.

DikeOha882:
Saying that the founder of Opobo is perekule and not King Jaja who was originally an AmaIgbo man is a big scam.

Even Kalabari doesn't have one Progenitor, Asari Dokubo is a kalabari man, his own part of kalabari was founded by Ediabali from Abam in Abia state.

The issue of progenitors wasn't written by me sire. It's a research based finding. If you feel that something isn't right please do tell. I'm all ears.

Can I use this Medium to call on the Senator Representing Ijaw Nation On Nairaland, Senator TonyeBarcanista , So Sen. Tonye what your say on this ?

Abeg talk to oga Seun make them push this thread go homepage

Truckpusher this your name get as he be oo.. I for elect you senator but the name go disgrace Rivers people for Naira Land National Assembly.. Good morning oo.

Goodboiyy:
Truckpusher this your name get as he be oo.. I for elect you senator but the name go disgrace Rivers people for Naira Land National Assembly.. Good morning oo.

Leave wetin dem write for motor enter motor first abeg.

fratermathy:
I sure will sir. Thank you for the good words! You've really motivated me.

Thanks sir. God bless you.

Goodboiyy:
Igbo is broad oo.. unlike Ijaw, To write about Igbo go take entire front page for NL, As for that IjawCitizen just ignore him.. effect of weed, Hope you understand..

Am proud of OP, That Urhobo boiyy, making us proud..

Abi? Make en try do an exaustive analysis on my group. The other one reeks of mediocrity. I'm proud of him.

God bless you @OP!

Shout out to all my Ijaw brothers worldwide. Irrespective of political or religious afiliation, our blood and bonds as Izons is thicker and stronger than any individual sentiment we may hold.

Irrespective of our respective kingdoms, the Ijaw nation is One.

#Proudly Izon #Proudly Okrika #Proudly Niger-Delta #Proudly Nigeria
https://img04.deviantart.net/40aa/i/2013/122/8/5/ijaw_by_xumarov-d63t2mt.png

Lalasticlala, Seun and Obinoscopy do the needful... Cc: Talktimi and IzonOwei

Chinachriss:
Mr. Fratermathy, I appreciate your sagacity and dedication to your discipline, keep the fire burning. But, I don't think the Ijaw are the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria, the Efiks/ Ibibio/ Annang/ Oron are much popular. Ijaw population is overrated. Following, Nigerian official census record, they might not reach five million if minus and plus is done.
Moreover,the Ibibio/Efik are dispersed more than the Ijaw. Go to anywhere in Nigeria, you can identify them easily. The converse is the case with the Ijaw.
I thoroughly followed your thread on Urhobo dialects, I really appreciate how you corroborated and discontructed every strand of argument the thread generated.
@Ijawcitizen, you are ungrateful. Someone took time to research on your ethnic group and all you could do is to come here running your mouth. Sighs.
Pls, Mr Scholar, help do a more detailed analysis on my Igbo group. The previous one is too shallow and bereft of intellectual touch. Promise me you would update it?

Point of correction Sir, Ijaw is the 4th largest ethnic group in Nigeria. A real census will prove that. The problem is that some Ijaws identify with their Kingdoms only (due to ignorance). The status of Ijaw as the 4th largest ethnic group in Nigeria is out of debate. That our people don't make noise like the 'Big 3' doesn't mean we don't know the 'ko-ko'. So quit it sir!

DikeOha882:
Saying that the founder of Opobo is perekule and not King Jaja who was originally an AmaIgbo man is a big scam.

Even Kalabari doesn't have one Progenitor, Asari Dokubo is a kalabari man, his own part of kalabari was founded by Ediabali from Abam in Abia state.

Jaja was NEVER the founder of Opobo. He was an Igboman that led Breakaway Bonny Chiefs to form an Opobo Kingdom with the same inhabitants of the Opobo land who are 100% Ijaws. Jaja was though a beneficiary but was never 'founder'. As for Kalabari Kingdom, what are you saying? Who is Ediabali from Abia state? Oga Kalabari is 100% Ijaw and founded by Ijaw-man. Not some Ediabali from Abia state. Make we no argue abeg... Today is my birthday though

spanishkid:
Wow. So ijaw has many dialects? But I still don't agree that ijaws are the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria. Edos are more than the ijaws in terms of population.

That we are not lousy doesn't translate to being ignorant. Ijaw is the undisputed 4th Largest ethnic group. Which Edo is more than Ijaw for Christ sake? Haba!

TonyeBarcanista:
That we are not lousy doesn't translate to being ignorant. Ijaw is the undisputed 4th Largest ethnic group. Which Edo is more than Ijaw for Christ sake? Haba!

so Edos are the lousy ones now abi?

spanishkid:
so Edos are the lousy ones now abi?

The thing about Edos is that the unity is not there unlike Ijaw. Most Edo groups claim to be languages of their own such as Afemai, Esan, Etsako, etc. Even beyond the division, most Edos are not in Nigeria. They are scattered over the globe. So if there is a census, who would be counted when all Edos are in the diaspora?

.