While much is known about the Igbo-speaking communities outside the SE, such as in Benue state (the Umuezekaoha people numbering over 300 villages), in Delta State (the Aniomas), Rivers state (Obigbos, Eches etc.), Akwa Ibom etc., very little is known about the Igbo-speaking communities in Kogi state especially in Ibaji and Igalamela/Odolu LGAs such as the Eke Avurugo community (which speaks Igbo as first language and Igala as second language). Going through the list of Kogi communities found here: http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/1249765/1645681001/name/Kogi+East+locailties+working+paper.doc,

one could find a handful of communities which strongly seem to be Igbo communities going by their names, despite the similarities between Igbo and Ibaji Igala names/words,: Ugwuebonyi, Ebokwe, Ozara, Amaeke, Amankpo, Amauwani camp, Amaokwu, Amadiefioha, Amaufulu, etc. all in Igalamela/Odolu LGA. The Odolu community in Igalamela/Odolu LGA is said to speak Igala as first language and the Nsukka Igbo dialect as second language. In Ibaji LGA, we can see some town names such as Nwajala, Umuoye, Ubulie-Umueze which are, most definitely, Igbo community names. One obvious distinguishing factor between Igbo language and Igala is the lack of 'z' in Igala alphabet which is present in Igbo, which possibly rules out an Igala origin for some towns such as Ozara, Umueze etc.

Akpanya is an Igbo-speaking community located deep in the heartland of Igala land. Very little is known about this town. About 95% of the people speak Igbo/are Igbo natives. The town also houses majority of Igbo muslims from Igboland.

Igalaland uses the 4 native Igbo calendar days of Eke, Oye, Afor and Nkwo which are Eke, Ede, Afor and Ukwor in Igala land.

Anyone residing in/close to these areas or living in Kogi to tell us what the situation is on ground?

PS: I have attached below snapshots from the document, highlighting the communities that strongly seem to be Igbo in origin. The ground is open for healthy discussion.

border communities. there is also an igala speaking community in enugu called ettah

slivertongue:
border communities.
there is also an igala speaking community in enugu called ettah

Ette is not Igalla. It's a mix of Idoma- Igbo - Igalla in that order.

There are some communities like Igga in Enugu that trace their ancestry to Igalla though.

Igboid:


Ette is not Igalla. It's a mix of Idoma- Igbo - Igalla in that order.

There are some communities like Iggi in Enugu that trace their ancestry to Igalla though.

What language does Iggah speak as native language?

The heavy settlement of Igbo migrant farmers (19th and 20th centuries) in Igalamela/Odolu is the subject of a number of studies. These migrations, to a large extent, account for the Igbo place-names. They generally began as camps for the migrant farmers.

The words 'Camp' and 'Mission' which occur in the names of some of these Igbo-named settlements suggest a recent (not pre-colonial) origin for the two or three communities so named.

bigfrancis21:


What language does Iggah speak as native language?

Igala. They are also bilingual in Igbo language.
https://www.nairaland.com/1256296/why-tussle-over-anambra-oil
You can hear from their Igwe above.

Igboid:


Igala. They are also bilingual in Igbo language.
https://www.nairaland.com/1256296/why-tussle-over-anambra-oil
You can hear from their Igwe above.

From my understanding, they bear Igbo native names, speak Igbo as native language, and also Igala as an addition. Just as we speak Pidgin in addition to English and our native languages.

Or would it make sense for them to bear Igbo names and speak Igala as first language? Remember that our african names have meanings and are given from the language one speaks as first language. Meaning that the people's first language is probably Igbo and Ibaji Igala is a second language.

AjaanaOka:
The heavy settlement of Igbo migrant farmers (19th and 20th centuries) in Igalamela/Odolu is the subject of a number of studies. These migrations, to a large extent, account for the Igbo place-names. They generally began as camps for the migrant farmers.

The words 'Camp' and 'Mission' which occur in the names of some of these Igbo-named settlements suggest a recent (not pre-colonial) origin for the two or three communities so named.

Could these migrant Igbo farmers be a source of origin for many Ibaji Igalas? Ibaji Igalas we know have heavy Igbo influence on their dialect. It would not be ok to assume it was 'Igbo influence on Ibaji Igala'. There must have been some Igbo injections in the area to create a dilution of the dialect. What I find interesting in the course of studies in the southern Nigeria area is the reluctance to acknowledge any outward Igbo movements to other areas as founders or cohabitants of new towns, however in Igboland many a community wants to claim their founder came from outside the current Igbo linguistic zone.

Just thinking out loud.

Well, ethnic groups do not exist in water-tight compartments, so you can be sure that there were to-and-fro movements between Ibaji and their Igbo neighbours of the Anambra River Valley; and that some Igbo came to settle among the Ibaji as well. At least one Ibaji community - Odeke - has traditions of Aguleri origins. During the recent Ibaji-Aguleri crisis over oil well ownership I was informed that Aguleri had both farmlands and fishing ponds on the other side of the state boundary, i.e., on Ibaji territory.

bigfrancis21:


From my understanding, they bear Igbo native names, speak Igbo as native language, and also Igala as an addition. Just as we speak Pidgin in addition to English and our native languages.

Or would it make sense for them to bear Igbo names and speak Igala as first language? Remember that our african names have meanings and are given from the language one speaks as first language. Meaning that the people's first language is probably Igbo and Ibaji Igala is a second language.

Fair point. It will be safe to say that they had assimilated well as Igbos today, while still managing to hold unto bits of their Igala link.

What has Igbo cultural groups like Ohaneze ndiigbo done to bring recognition to those igbos in Benue,kogi,Akwaibom,and Cross river?
That's why I am supporting IPOB since they seems to be the only Igbo group giving recognition to igbos outside of SE.

ok

What I find interesting in the course of studies in the southern Nigeria area is the reluctance to acknowledge any outward Igbo movements to other areas as founders or cohabitants of new towns, however in Igboland many a community wants to claim their founder came from outside the current Igbo linguistic zone.

Exactly.

We are legion. One day I will bring ALL my scattered brothers together again.

Wise men from the east

Very educative post. Thanks, OP.

I'm particularly interested in the diversity of dialects in all languages. In Ebonyi State, for instance, there are more Igbo dialects than in all the Igbo speaking states.

I have come to the conclusion (speculative) that dialects suggest that other tribes joined the original tribes back in time and developed the dialects based on their original mother tongues.

The Ngbo people of Ebonyi State, in my opinion, are originally Idomas. Their dialect of the Igbo language is a pure intonation of the Idoma language. This is also true of the Nsukka people of Enugu state who speak Igbo with Igala intonation.

Most people don't know that the English language and German are 90% identical. Languages and dialects are pointers that the world is shaped by evolution.

Ohomorihi avohi

Sealeddeal:
What has Igbo cultural groups like Ohaneze ndiigbo done to bring recognition to those igbos in Benue,kogi,Akwaibom,and Cross river?
That's why I am supporting IPOB since they seems to be the only Igbo group giving recognition to igbos outside of SE.

unfortunately too those igbos that found thier selves in the states that seems favourable always decline thier Link with the Igbo tribe. eg the ikwerres in River state.

oglalasioux:
Very educative post. Thanks, OP.

I'm particularly interested in the diversity of dialects in all languages. In Ebonyi State, for instance, there are more Igbo dialects than in all the Igbo speaking states.

I have come to the conclusion (speculative) that dialects suggest that other tribes joined the original tribes back in time and developed the dialects based on their original mother tongues.

The Ngbo people of Ebonyi State, in my opinion, are originally Idomas. Their dialect of the Igbo language is a pure intonation of the Idoma language. This is also true of the Nsukka people of Enugu state who speak Igbo with Igala intonation.

Most people don't know that the English language and German are 90% identical. Languages and dialects are pointers that the world is shaped by evolution.

You are wrong. Ngbo people has no history of migrating from Idoma or being Idomas.

As for Nsukka area, their lands were invaded by Igalas, who affected their dialects a bit, but the Igalas amongst them had been assimilated into the dominant Igbo culture of the area.

And Ebonyi doesn't have more dialects than other Igbo states. Ebonyi rather seem to have lesser dialects, as groups there seem to be larger in size and landmass.

We all know that Igboland cannot be restricted to SE as described by Nigeria.

We have lands in SS & MB.

God bless Igboland

Wetin de do u dry season affect ur reasoning op

.

.....

Interesting.
*Following*

Lie lie

Some Nigerians are to a large extent ignorant of the ethnography of what is now called Nigeria, especially before the amalgamation of the British northern and southern protectorates.

Its unthinkable' that a supposedly educated young generation argue like dullards. States, regions, geopoloitical zones etc. are just what they are; administrative units and have nothing to do with ethnic delineation. The three major ethnic groups in Nigeria could be found outside their major zones. This is a well known fact in educated circles.