Category: Igbo Language

Ndewo, ndi Igbodefender, oge m na enene Nairaland, a furum okwu nke a maka ndi be anyi gofmenti tinyere obodo fa na steeti a na akpo Kogi.  Imara na ndi Igbo no Benue Steeti, ihe a na akpo ha bu Umu Ezekoha. Ndi Igbo si Kogi di otutu. Otu obodo Igbo di na Kogi, i ya na anu maka ha bu ndi Ibaji. Mana o buro nani ha no. Nene ihe nwafor Igbo n’aza Big Francis dere na Nairaland gbasara okwu nke a.

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 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: 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?

Source: http://www.nairaland.com/3443446/igbo-speaking-communities-kogi-state