Readings on Igala People, Land and Language

By Idris Ejima Aruwa

This book is a comprehensive history of the Igala kingdom (Kogi state, Nigeria), people, land and language based on the study of the oral traditions, cultural practices, articles, published and unpublished works on Igala history. It is a compendium of the history of the Igala people from the Pre-16th century to the present day using the Igala cultural and rituals practices as evidence of historical events. It is a scholarly work on the chronology of the events that led to the establishment of the present dynastic monarchy in Igala land and the creation of the Igala kingdom which became the greatest pre-colonial kingdom in the River Niger-Benue confluence area in Nigeria, with its influence on the cultural, political and commercial developments on the northern Igbo country and along the River Niger down to the Niger-Delta area. The chronology was discussed under three main eras; the Pre-Dynastic Monarchy Era, the Proto-Dynastic Monarchy Era and The Dynastic Monarchy Era. The events that took place in each of these eras were extensively reported. The book illustrates the cultural leadership development of the autochthonous Igala clans, the Benin vassal Aji-Ata dynasty, the Achadu clan and the Empire building escapades of Ayegba oma Idoko starting from his progenitor “Abutu-Ejeh” breakaway from the ancient Jukun led Kwararafa Kingdom. Other subjects discussed include; the real history behind the sacrifice of Princess Inikpi and Oma-Odoko, the funeral rites and coronation rituals for the Ata-Igala and the origin of the name “Igala”. This book is recommended for students of history and those who want to enrich their knowledge on Igala, people, land, language and other related cultural matters.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669813064

Idris Ejima Aruwa

Born at Idah in Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria, Idris Ejima Aruwa is a history enthusiast whose interest in Igala history date back to the 1980s. His interest in the history of the Igala kingdom and people led him to embark on a research that gave him a large collection of archival and historical materials on Igala history. He developed a personal relationship with great Igala historians like Late Dr.Tom MIachi, Professor Joseph N. Ukwedeh, Professor M. S. Abdulkadir and Elder John Idakwoji who mentored him at various times. He has an HND in Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering and a PGD in Computer Science from Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi and the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State respectively. His enthusiasms in history overwhelm his occupation as an Office Automation, Multi-functional Printers and ICT expert. He had worked with several local and international conglomerates in Nigeria. His desire for the advancement and development of humanity and the Nigerian society made him to join politics in 2009 till date. He was a Student Union President, National Youth Service Corps Liaison Officer and a Labour leader. Idris Ejima Aruwa is married with children.

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Copyright © 2022 by Idris Ejima Aruwa. 839313

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permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This work is a nonfiction. Names, characters, places

and incidents either are not the product of the author’s

imagination but a product of the research work.

Xlibris

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2022903494

Rev. date: 02/23/2022

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CONTENTS

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Perspectives In Igala Idstory

Chapter 3 The Pre-Dynastic Monarchy Era (C. Pre-16th Century)

Chapter 4 Brief History Of The Igalamela

Chapter 5 The Transformation Of The Roles Of The Igalamela Chiefs

Chapter 6 History Of Igalamela Clans

Chapter 7 The Proto-Dynastic Monarchy Era (C.early 16th –Late 17th Century)

Chapter 8 The Achadu-Oko Ata-Igala

Chapter 9 The Dynastic Monarchy Era (C. Late 17th Century To Date)

Chapter 10 The Igala Wars Of Libration

Chapter 11 Summary Of The Profile Of Past Ata-Igala

Chapter 12 The Funeral Rites And Rituals For The Ata-Igala

Chapter 13 The Selection And Coronation Of The Ata-Igala

Chapter 14 The Igala Language

Chapter 15 The Spiritual Transfer Of Sovereignty: Okwute, Otutubatu And Ajibow

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to

Chief Salihu Alhassan Aruwa Ph.D.

A father, teacher and mentor

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

In the name of God, the most Beneficent and the most Merciful, I remain grateful to Almighty God for keeping me alive after a ghastly motor accident on 12th September, 2019, that kept me indoors during which period, I was able to compile this book, which is a result of a study I had been carrying out for over twenty years.

I appreciate my father, Chief Salihu Alhassan Aruwa PhD. for his supervision and guidance in the course of this work. His wealth of experience ensured that this book meets the desired academic standard.

To Barrister Shaibu Enejoh Aruwa (my twin brother), I do not know a better way to appreciate you. You have been a pillar who has supported me all through my life.

My gratitude goes to His Royal Highness, Chief Abel Etuh, the Etemahi and Onu Igalamela, the Igalamela Clan Chiefs; The Agbenyo (Late Chief Joseph Ak.wu), The Onubiogbo (Chief Mohammed Alfa Aruwa), The Onede, The Aleji, The Okweje (Chief Ikani Arome), The Achadu kekele Ukwaja (Chief Ahmodu Solomon Ocheni), The Ananya-Ata (Chief Abdullahi C. Okpachi) and Achenya-Ata for commissioning a study into the history of the Igalamela. The challenge of the assignment led to further research and compilation of this compendium.

Special appreciation goes to Professor Suleiman Akwu-odo Aruwa of Nassarawa State University, Keffi, who drafted the questionnaires used for this work and for his assistance. Mr. Roland Aruwa and Mr. J. S. ldakwo, who are the Chairman and Secretary of the lgalamela Clans Descendant Union, respectively, that coordinated the collation of the data and materials relevant to the history of Igalamela.

I give respect and recognition to all the great scholars who mentored me at different times; Late Tom Miachi PhD., Professor Joseph N. Ukwedeh, Professor Mohammed Sanni Abdulkadir and Elder John Idakwoji; who permitted me to expressly quote from his book An gala-English Lexicon and assisted me with vital documents and information that gave me an insight into the most unresolved issues in Igala history. I also recognize all the scholars, authors, academicians, history enthusiast and informants whose works were consulted and quoted in this book.

I am grateful to Chief Ogwu James Onoja (SAN) for making available his resources and publishing company for the actualization of this work. I also appreciate Chief Peter Yakubu Iduh, Ademola Falope and Angela Omatokole Gabriel for their encouragement and support in the production of this book. My gratitude goes to Stella Ada Ukwuoma, who encouraged me to write down my knowledge of Igala history and voluntarily started the typesetting which was completed by Rosemary Dike and to Mr. Raymond Nwagwu for the design of the book.

To my darling wife, who has always loved and stood by me all through the many challenges in my life, Alika Amina Okpanachi-Aruwa and our lovely children "Ayman, Alyas and Neemat, I am very grateful for your love, care, support and tolerance.

To our dear mother Hajia Salimetu Aruwa, thank you for your love, sacrifice and prayers. To my mothers; "Hajia Amina Aruwa and Hajia Fatima Aruwa, your immense love and contributions to my upbringing can never be taken for granted. I sincerely appreciate you. I also acknowledge my siblings; Yusuf, Asmau, Suleiman, Shaibu, Abdulkarim, Hayatu, Zainab (Talatu), Abdulmalik (Malik), Medinat (Madam), Ahmed and your individual families. I especially acknowledge my nephews; Muktar and Munir.

The roll call of individuals that contributed to the success of this project is so long. However, I must mention a few people like; Professor Amstrong Idachaba, Hannah Okpanachi-Aruwa, Nicole, Anas (Chinedu), Vincent Modu-Spiff, Haruna Aruwa, Abdul-Ganiyu Mohammed, Muhammed Adama, Abdulmalik Achimugu (Asuba), John Udale Adaji, Kadiri Aruwa, Hajia (Dr.) Rekiya Abaji- Momoh, Elder Omika Okutepa, Prince Adejoh Egbita and all the members of the lgala Heritage Foundation. To all the descendants of Chief Aruwa Uhiene and the Onubiogbo clan, I say Agbaa amoma Onu-lgala

Finally, I am grateful to Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho) and Honourable Olawale Age-Suleiman Rauf of Lagos State House of Assembly for their assistance and support in this project.

Idris Ejima Aruwa.

PREFACE

This book is a compendium of the oral traditions, published and unpublished works, cultural practices, rituals and traditional festivals of the Igala people. It is a result of over 20 years of historical research and the enthusiasm of the author. This book focused on the chronology of lgala history by identifying the three major eras in the development of the cultural and political systems of the kingdom. The book is a fifteen (15) Chapter book.

Chapter 1 introduces the title of the book by defining the term Igala as a reference to the ethnic group and the language spoken by the people. It is also used to refer to the land in which the people live as Ane-Igala meaning Igala land. It discusses the dynamics of the size of Igala kingdom pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial British rule in Nigeria. The chapter concluded by stating the three main eras in the history of the Igala kingdom.

Chapter 2 discussed the challenges encountered by most writers of the Igala history and their different postulation on the origin of the Igala people based on information collected from oral traditions. Most early explorers’ and researchers of lgala history find it easier to tell the history of Igala Kingship, avoiding the complexity associated with the history of the different components that make up the Igala people. The true identity of the people referred to as Akpoto or Okpoto was also presented.

Chapter 3, 4, 5 & 6 covers the cultural development and administrative structures of the Igala Chiefdom within Idah and its environs in the years before 16th Century. During this era, the Igalamela clan chiefs were in total control of the leadership institution in a confederacy-style government where the head of the Igalamela confederacy had limited powers and decisions on all important issues are taken in consensus as against the total power attributed to a monarchial system of governance. Each Igalamela chief exercised direct control over its clan and only issues such as dispute resolutions, joint hunting expeditions, farmlands and settlement allocation, security and wars are discussed at the Igalamela confederacy council.

The members of the Igalamela clans suffer amnesia of their origin and movement to their present location in Idah. The history of the Nine Igalamela clans and their genealogy is reported based on the collection of oral traditions from the period of the emergence of Ayegba oma Idoko and their role in the establishment of the Igala kingdom. The roles of the Igalamela chiefs had undergone different transformations from the pre-dynastic monarchic era through the proto-dynastic and the dynastic monarchy eras up till this modern day, their roles had been subjected to the whims and caprices of the political powers that be at any point in time, both political and traditional. However, their status as the kingmakers remained unchanged.

Chapter 7 & 8 discussed the proto-dynastic monarchy era (c. early 16th to late 17th century). The events in this era were illustrated in the Certified True Copy of The Chronicle Sketched Map of the Ata’ate of Igala collected from the National Archive. These events changed the entire traditional politics, cultural practices and identity of the people that became known as Igala. The foundation of the political developments that led to the establishment of Igala Kingdom began in this era. The era started with the Idah-Benin war, the overthrow of the Igalamela clans led Confederacy by the Benin vassal Aji-Ata dynasty in Idah, the emergence of the Kwararafa break-away royalist led by Abutu-Ejeh in the vicinity of Ammagede in the Abejukolo-Ife area of Omala Local Government Area and the rise of the Achadu clan in Igalaogba, Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State. All the individuals that played important roles in this era were discussed.

Other Chapters capture the modern era in the Igala Kingdom starting with the rise of Ata Ayegba oma Idoko, his great administrative skills and the establishment of the Igala Kingdom and dynastic monarchy that has remained in place for more than a century and beyond. Ata Ayegba oma Idoko’s story became the history of the Igala Kingdom, Igala land became Ane Ayegba, his traditional and religious practice became the people’s way of life. A Chapter was dedicated to publishing brief profile of the past Ata-Igalas from the Ayegba oma Idoko dynasty.

The book aimed to resolve the debate surrounding the sacrifice of Princess lnikpi and Oma-Odoko in the Igala wars of Liberation - which of the wars were these Princess sacrificed? Is it the IgalaBenin war or the Igala-Jukun war and the year of the sacrifice?

There was an extensive report on the traditional rites of passage to the throne of the Ata-Igala beginning with the funeral rites and rituals of the Ata-Igala and the coronation of a new Ata-Igala.

The major exposition of this research is the meaning of the word Igala. The etymology of the word lgala and its meaning has remained elusive to historians and researchers. The word Igala has a tripartite semantic significance. It connotes the Language of the people. It also refers to their ethnic group and the land they occupy. Is there a possibility that the name Igala and the spoken language of the people originated from different sources? Using the principle of Onomatology, the meaning of the name lgala was analysed.

The last Chapter of the book examined the established mode of transfer of power between the lgalamela clans Chiefs and the AtaIgala royal clan led by Ayegba oma Idoko’s dynasty. The bond that had sustained the agreement between the Kingmakers’ clans, the Achadu oko Ata-Igala, Ata Ayegba oma Idoko dynasty and other Chiefs in the Igala Kingdom. The instruments of ensuring compliance and dedications of the Chiefs to the service of the Kingdom and loyalty to the Ata-Igala.

This research work focused on the existing activities of the Igala people and/or the people earlier referred to as the Okpoto (Akpoto) in Idah and the River Niger-Benue Confluence in Nigeria, West Africa. There was no attempt to trace the origin of people to any ancient civilization such as Egypt, Yemen or Sudan. There is no convincing evidence linking the origin of the Igala people to any of these ancient civilizations as at the time of this work. Future research on this subject might reveal the relationships between the Igala people and these civilisations.

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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

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The term Igala, refers to the people as well as the language spoken by the people that live on the eastern side of the River Niger-Benue confluence and astride the River Niger in Kogi State of Nigeria, West Africa. The people constitute the 9th largest ethnic group in Nigeria, according to the last reliable census of 1966 and constitute the majority of the population in Kogi State. The present day Igala kingdom covers 13,665 square kilometres. The traditional capital is Idah in ldah Local Government Area of Kogi State where the King of the Igala people known as Ata-Igala resides in a palace.

Igala area extends from about 7 30’N, to 8N, and from 6 15’E to 8’E and it is located at the angle formed by the River Niger and River Benue at the left of the confluence of the two rivers. Presently, the area of the kingdom is about 160 kilometres long and approximately about 120 square kilometres wide, giving an overall area of about 19,200 square kilometres. It is roughly triangular, with the confluence of the two rivers forming the apex and the base extending irregularly into the Idoma and Ibo countries. The kingdom is bounded to the North by the River Benue and to the South by the Anambra State, to the East by Benue and Enugu States and the West by the River Niger which forms the boundary between the kingdom and Edo State.

The Igala ethnic group has an official estimated population of Two (2) million according to the 2006 census based on the information collected from the Igala people resident in the eastern flank of Kogi State. Igala people outside Kogi State were not considered in the collection of this population data. Indigenous Igala speaking groups have an established community in Benue state, Nasarawa state, Niger state and the northern part of Edo, Delta, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states. These communities including part of Ajaokuta, Lokoja and Kogi (Koton-Karfi) Local Government Areas of Kogi State that are presently designated as non-Igala states or areas by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, were part of the ancient gala Kingdom under the jurisdiction of the Ata-Igala before the arrival of the British colonial officers who balkanized the kingdom into the British Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria.

In 1832, British explorers; Richard Lander, Denham Lander, Richard Oldfield and Macgregor Laird ventured into the Niger Benue confluence area. The expedition reached Idah, which in some of their journals was called Attah, in June 1832. They met with the Igala king, Ata Ekele Aga, and with him they formulated the basic outlines of a treaty. The treaty was never formally concluded and signed, but it did serve as abasic verbal agreement to the protection of European travelers and their commercial enterprise in his territory. The Igala participation in the trans-Atlantic slave trade is a major theme in the records of the Niger expeditions. The Ata-Igala had the monopoly over most parts of the Niger River trade route (Laird and Oldfield, 1837: Vol 2, 234-235).

The balkanization of the Igala kingdom by the British colonial government began with the British expedition of River Niger in 1841, under the command of Captain H.D. Trotter to negotiate anti-slave trade treaties, report on natural and human resources to acquire land for settlement, agriculture, trade and missionary endeavour. Ata Ameh Ocheje, who ascended the throne of Ata lgala in 1835, was a signatory to the treaty on the abolition of slave trade on the 6th of September; 1841.He also sold the land in Lokoja and its environs to the British explorers for the sum of Seven Hundred Thousand cowries to be used as a model farm. One-fifth of the agreed amount which is, One Hundred and Sixty Thousand cowries were packaged in fourteen bags and delivered to the Ata-Igala through his Governor in Lokoja with the Chieftaincy title of Anaja Gbobe. The balance payment of Five Hundred and Forty Thousand cowries was withheld subject to ratification of the British farm settlement by the British Parliament. However, with the massive death of the explorers in the Niger expedition of 1841, the British parliament reneged on the continuity of the farm settlement and requested repatriating the land back to the Ata-Igala. The Ata-lgala was not duely informed of the decision of the parliament and the outstanding balance of money remained unpaid (Allen and Thompson, 1848).

In 1854 and 1856, another expedition led by William Balfour Baike along with Samuel Ajayi Crowther eventually settled in Lokoja in the assumption that Lokoja is a British territory having been acquired from the Ata-lgala in 1841. The occupation of Lokoja by the British explorers; the domination of the Lower Niger River trade by the British owned Royal Niger Company between 1879 and 1900 during which the company sent the British naval warships to bombard Idah in 1879, 1882 and 1896; and the Fulanijihad of Masaba incursion into lgala vassal territories (such as Koton Karfi Egbira lgu, Eggan and Panda), destabilized the Igala kingdom such that, by the time of the establishment of British colonial rule in the 1890s, and the incorporation of the lgala Kingdom into the territories of what would become known as Nigeria, the once thriving Igala kingdom had passed its apogee and was in fast decline (Agbali, 2005: 99-137).

At the beginning of the British colonial government rule in Nigeria on 1st January, 1900, Lokoja was made the capital of the British Northern Nigeria Protectorate and remained a convenient administrative town for the British colonial government after the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria in 1914.

The British Colonial Government divided the lgala kingdom into three different provinces among the British Government of the Southern and Northern Nigeria Protectorate. Idah area which presently consists of ldah, lgalamela/Odolu, Ofu, and lbaji Local Government Areas was put under Onitsha province in the Southern Nigeria protectorate; Ankpa area which presently consists of Ankpa, Olamaboro and Omala Local Government Areas was put under the control of Munchi province now Benue state; while Dekina area presently comprising of Dekina and Bassa Local Government Areas went under the control of Bassa province, Koton Karfi (Igu) now Kogi Local Government Area was in Niger province, Ajaokuta was in Igbirra divisionand Lokoja in Kabba Province were all in