While much is known about the Igbo-speaking communities outside the South East, such as in Benue state (the Umuezekaoha people numbering over 300 villages), in Delta State (the Aniomas), Rivers state (Obigbos, Eches, Ikwere, etc.), Akwa Ibom etc., very little is know 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 above and below;
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. Source; nairaland.com
One commentator wrote; ''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.''
And the other concluded; ''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, geopolitical 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.''
One commentator wrote; ''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.''
And the other concluded; ''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, geopolitical 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.''
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