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PentiumPro:
That is how eternally confused these Yibooess.

THE BOND BETWEEN THE IGALA
AND IGBO ETHNIC
NATIONALITIES OF NIGERIA -
SOME HISTORICAL FACTS.
Posted by OKAKACHI.COM7q6a
OKAKACHI.COM7q6a – Jul 29,
2011; 12:05am
Options
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 live Nigeria.
Thank you all for the attention
and God bless us all!!!
AGONO, Enemaduku, OIK.
(OFFICER of the IGALA KINGDOM)
28th November, 2010.

why Yoruba people? I'm nt talking abt kwa groups but i'm telling you that Igala are decendants of Onoja who is the son of Eri who also begoth Umuleri, Aguleri, iguedo(awkuzu) nando etc. In essence igbo boundary stretched to Igala land in kogi state. But boundary today are artificial

the above write up is from an illustrious Igala historian. Historically the igala dinesty can be traced to ERI the father of the igbo nation and Onoja the attah(father) of igala is a son of Eri. He migrated northward. So due to exposure they may hav lingustic similarity with Yoruba(ofe mmanu clan) othman empire(it account for their being partial moslems) Igalas are igbo migrates jos like arochukwus

Donarozzi:
Igala and Idoma are proud Biafrans. They are direct brothers of the Igbo. There is enough historical, cultural, and linguistic evidence supporting this point. The Igbo, Igala, Idoma originated from one ancestor.

Agada1993:
I fill the essay maybe a bit misinforming. From my observation, the Igbo, Idoma, Igala and Igbira practice the same traditional religion. It would be cause for the similarities in names. Note that all the words that Igala people have in common with the Igbos shared with Idomas too, Even the week days. The festivals, military titles, Chief Priest. I suspect that it may have originated from a liturgical Religious language used by the Ethnic Nations that practiced that religion.

BuddahMonk:
During the Cartoon Riot of 2006 when Northerners were being lynched in Onicha all the Igala residents in Iyiowa Odekpe were sheltered at the palace of the Okakwu of Odekpe, they said they (Odekpe) originated from Igala.

Yeske2:
The above account was given by an Igala historian so tell me Who is trying to belong to who, read and comprehend before posting your bigoted views.

Donarozzi:
Igala and Idoma are proud Biafrans. They are direct brothers of the Igbo. There is enough historical, cultural, and linguistic evidence supporting this point. The Igbo, Igala, Idoma originated from one ancestor.

cybertyrant:
Who is this goat to speak for a person talkless of a whole clan, what an insult
,

THE BOND BETWEEN THE IGALA
AND IGBO ETHNIC
NATIONALITIES OF NIGERIA -
SOME HISTORICAL FACTS.
Posted by OKAKACHI.COM7q6a
OKAKACHI.COM7q6a – Jul 29,
2011; 12:05am
Options
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 live Nigeria.
Thank you all for the attention
and God bless us all!!!
AGONO, Enemaduku, OIK.
(OFFICER of the IGALA KINGDOM)
28th November, 2010.

Omololu007:
so let ibos stop crying about their people been killed in the north,cause they also killed northerners in onitsha and other part of ibo land

omayyi:
Does anyone really want to belong to the "igbo family"? I doubt that. Heck even the Ikwerres that speak like them and bear their names are quick to reign insults on anyone that calls them igbo.

It is quite easy to understand though. Too many evils are associated with igbo;
Greed, greed, greed,greed

kodewrita:
Just to add that the Igala are largely muslim by virtue of their close contact with other muslim northern peoples. So the use of the term mallam also includes them.

Caseless:
No wonder most shops in my LG(ankpa) ar owned by ibo ppl. Frm ankpa 2 nsukka is abt 1hr drive. Igala nd yoruba sounds similar die! Hausa na igala close frnd, two-4. But igala ar mostly moslems nd tolerant. Ok, i'm IG-BOY! Son of onoja,nd grandson of ERI!

laudate:
Did the Igala and Idoma people make you their spokesman??!

Igala and Idoma are NOT Biafrans oh, so kindly stop peddling your tales by moonlight. Until I see evidence from the Igala people, I cannot buy into this version of your story.

greatjoey:
Which evidence do you wanna see more than this write up from an Igala historian. Igala has gotten nothing in common with the north.

laudate:
Who is talking about Igalas and the North? I said Igalas have nothing to do with Biafra. Can't you read?? And there are several Igala historians. Can't you look for others and compare notes?

greatjoey:
My brother, I am an Igala guy. History has it that the Igala has so much to do with the Igbo. The inhabitants of Igala Mela have Igbo ancestry. They remain the traditional custodias of Igala chieftaincy title. We refer to them as 'Etemahi'. Besides, Ida which is the traditional Igala home has Igbo background as it it believed that the Igbo were the first sojourners. Every Attah Igala is crowned or coronated by the ETEMAHI clan who has Igbo ancestry. I know my history well. You cannot seperate the two tribes. The present day division was brought about by the British for administrative convenience, to weaken Igala growing popularity in the past, and to make the north more populated than the south.
w

Igala are an ethnic group of Nigeria. Igala practice a number of different religions, including ATR, Christianity, and Islam.

The home of the Igala people is situated east of the river Niger and Benue confluence and astride the Niger in Lokoja, Kogi state of Nigeria with its headquarters in Idah[seat of the Attah]. The area is approximately between latitude 6°30 and 8°40 north and longitude 6°30 and 7°40 east and covers an area of about 13,665 square kilometers (Oguagha P.A 1981) The Igala population is estimated at two million, they can also be found in Delta, Anambra and Edo States of Nigeria. The Igala language is closely related to the Yoruba and Itsekiri languages.

In Igala tradition, infants from some parts of the kingdom, like Ankpa receive three deep horizontal cuts on each side of the face, slightly above the corners of their mouths, as a way of identifying each other. However, this practice is becoming less common.

The Igalas are ruled by a figure called the "Attah". The word Attah means 'Father' and the full title of the ruler is 'Attah Igala', meaning, the Father of Igalas (the Igala word for King is Onu). Although "Attah" means "father"', female rulership is recognized and Igala has had female rulers in the past (Boston 1968).

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.

Attah Ameh Oboni is known to be very brave and resolute. He is 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 by the British to depose and exile him, he committed suicide by hanging himself to forestall the plan. He is regarded by most Igalas as the last real Attah Igala.

There is an Igala association in the United States, called Igala Association USA. The new Attah of Igala is HRM Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni II. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igala_people

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 in charge 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 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 Igala 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 Igala land 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. http://www.igalaassociationusa.org/about-us/history-of-igala-kingdom/

Abagworo:
Nri Igbos originate from Igala. That's the only relationship.

greatjoey:
If you are truly an Igala guy as you claimed, you would realised that Igala is 70% Christian. Do a thorough investigation.

During the Cartoon Riot of 2006 when Northerners were being lynched in Onicha all the Igala residents in Iyiowa Odekpe were sheltered at the palace of the Okakwu of Odekpe, they said they (Odekpe) originated from Igala.
Even today there are more Igala population in Odekpe than anywhere in Igboland.

The only people I consider my people are the Aniomas, the rest should go and die because the are hatefilled, vindictive and envious.

laudate:
Who is talking about Igalas and the North? I said Igalas have nothing to do with Biafra. Can't you read?? And there are several Igala historians. Can't you look for others and compare notes?

Armaggedon:
This one wants Igala to hate Biafra by all means.

For your info, overwhelming majority of Idoma and lower Igala are madly pro Biafra. These places would've been in the East if not for British colonial antics and anti Igbo gerrymandering that carved Igbo related groups into the north to increase North's influence over the rest of the country.

laudate:
See this one. You sabi lie, shá. Which Igala? The one I know, where my relatives are from? Abi, another one inside your dreams?