Anẹ Igáláà (Igala Land) also known as the Igala Kingdom.
Igala Kingdom is a
pre-colonial
Colonialism is a practice or policy of control by one people or power over other people or areas, often by establishing colonies and generally with the aim of economic dominance. In the process of colonisation, colonisers may impose their relig ...
West African state, located at the eastern region of the confluence of
River Niger
The Niger River ( ; ) is the main river of West Africa, extending about . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in south-eastern Guinea near the Sierra Leone border. It runs in a crescent shape through Mali, ...
and
River Benue in the
Middle Belt
The Middle Belt (also spelt Middle-Belt or Central Nigeria) is a term used in human geography to designate a belt region stretching across central Nigeria longitudinally and forming a transition zone between Northern and Southern Nigeria. It is ...
or
North-central of
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
.
The kingdom was founded by the
Igala people
The Igálá are one of the ethnic groups found in Nigeria. The Igala played significant roles in the formation of Nigeria having been made host to the capital of Nigeria at Lokoja in the past, with Lugard as the Governor. The Igala Kingdom expa ...
, with the "
Àtá" Serves as the Igala
Emperor
An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...
,
national father and spiritual head, and the capital Of Igala land is at
Idah
Idah is a town in Kogi State, Nigeria, on the eastern bank of the Niger River in the middle belt region of Nigeria. It is the headquarter of the Igala Kingdom, and also a Local Government Area with an area of 36 km. Idah had a population ...
. The Igala Kingdom influenced and has been influenced by the
Yoruba,
Idoma,
Igbo
Igbo may refer to:
* Igbo people, an ethnic group of Nigeria
* Igbo language, their language
* anything related to Igboland, a cultural region in Nigeria
See also
* Ibo (disambiguation)
* Igbo mythology
* Igbo music
* Igbo art
*
* Igbo-Ukwu, a ...
and
Jukun, and is likely made up of descendants of these groups who settled and mixed with the native Igala populations.
IGALA LINGUISTICS
Àbó Igáláà = people.
ÌCHÒLÒ/ÙCHÒLÒ= Culture
íchí Igáláà =Igala language
The
etymology
Etymology ()The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p. 633 "Etymology /ˌɛtɪˈmɒlədʒi/ the study of the class in words and the way their meanings have changed throughout time". is the study of the history of the Phonological chan ...
of the term "Igala" itself may be derived from "Iga" which means a partition, blockade, a dividing wall, and "Ala" which means "sheep". Iga-ala thus became Igala. The reason for this form of self identification is currently debated by scholars. However, a possible theory designates the citizens of the kingdom as the sheep, and the state being the wall or defence that protects them.
Religion
The Igala traditional concept of God is a belief in the Supreme Being whom they call Ọjọ. Ọjọ is held so supreme, that out of his supremacy he gave powers and authorities to the gods and spirits over the different spheres of human life. These gods and spirits have practical dealings with human beings in their everyday life activities.
Ifa, is the traditional belief of the
Igalas and is still practiced by many. This system of worship is predicated on a belief in, and honoring of ancestral spirits. Many communities, families, and individuals maintain shrines for the worship of deities and spirits. The traditional worship is known as "
Icheboeche" while the worshippers are known as "Amachichebo" are called Custodians serve as medicinal practitioners, and are versed in oral traditional history and the use of herbs and plants to cure ailments.
Igalas regard God or Ọjọ́-chàmáchālāà as all knowing and all seeing a similar worldview to that of the Abrahamic faiths thar originate in the middle east which have now started to eclipse traditional faiths
However, to access this God and also, to ascertain what He is saying per time,
Ifa needs to be consulted. The Ifa is like the Urim and Thurim in
Judaism
Judaism ( he, ''Yahăḏūṯ'') is an Abrahamic, monotheistic, and ethnic religion comprising the collective religious, cultural, and legal tradition and civilization of the Jewish people. It has its roots as an organized religion in t ...
. With it, the mindset of God can be made known on any given matter.
To this end, all the demigods especially the natural elements of water and land are given sacrificial offerings periodically. This is done to gain their favour.
Another aspect of Faith amongst the Igalas is the
Ibegwu, Ibo (people) egwu (dead). The spirits of the departed souls plays an important role in the various clans. It is believed that they see everything and knows everything, hence, they are good in arbitration. The Ibegwu judges the actions of the living, especially in cases of land disputes,
infidelity
Infidelity (synonyms include cheating, straying, adultery, being unfaithful, two-timing, or having an affair) is a violation of a couple's emotional and/or sexual exclusivity that commonly results in feelings of anger, sexual jealousy, and ri ...
, family disputes and general conducts regarding sex and sexuality (Ibegwu forbids sex in day time, oral sex, brothers sharing same sex partners, etc). However, Ibegwu is only potent on individuals whose families are connected to it. Families that have no ties with Ibegwu do not usually feel their impact. When Ibegwu judges a person of wrong doing, the consequence is the manifestation of diseases that defies medical solution.
Political structure
The Àtá's court is known as the Ogbede with its head being known as the Ogbe or president of court. The Amedibo are the royal servants and the Amonoji are Àtá's eunuchs. The symbols of power are the Royal objects, including the oka (beads), okwu (neck-lace), robe (olawoni), red-cap (olumada), and otihi (flywhisk).). Other sacred objects are the Ejubejuailo (The Ata's pectoral Mask), Onunu-Ere (royal crown), Unyiale Ata (royal umbrella), Odechi / Okakachi (royal band), Oka kpai Okwu (royal beads) and the Akpa-Ayegba (the stool).
The Àtá himself or herself is in-charge of the major sacred objects, shrines and festivals of the Igala people.
The Ach'adu serves as the Chief executive. Another title associated with this post is Oko-Ata (Ata's traditional husband. Ach'adu itself means prime minister)
District Officers (onu) and
provincial chiefs (Am'onu) were also in custody of their various shrines, grooves, sacred objects and festivals in their own domains. The hierarchy included District-heads (Am'onu-ane), clan heads (Gago), village heads (Omadachi) and youth leaders (Achiokolobia).
Among the Igalas, the titles of Ata and Achadu are held by only two people at the same time, while the titles of Onu, Achema, Akoji, Makoji, Eje, Onoja are used by multiple people at once. These titles may also be used as names. In many cases, these titles largely relate to occupations. For example, Gago which is clan leader, or Onoja being the head of the market. Names which are used as titles, such as Akoji and Makoji (which signify being a representative or substitute for the Ata) are given in hopes that the child would grow to attain such a lofty title. A strictly merit-based system is employed when giving out such titles.
Ígáláà Subdivisions
Anẹ Ígáláà has nine traditional ruling councils, including the capital
Idah
Idah is a town in Kogi State, Nigeria, on the eastern bank of the Niger River in the middle belt region of Nigeria. It is the headquarter of the Igala Kingdom, and also a Local Government Area with an area of 36 km. Idah had a population ...
. The nine councils each has a King (onu) who is appointed by religious rite through a complex system of traditional rite and proceedings supervised by the head of the council, the Àtá Ígáláà in
Idah
Idah is a town in Kogi State, Nigeria, on the eastern bank of the Niger River in the middle belt region of Nigeria. It is the headquarter of the Igala Kingdom, and also a Local Government Area with an area of 36 km. Idah had a population ...
.
The seven Ígáláà councils are:
Ankpa
Ankpa is a Local Government Area in Kogi State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Ankpa on the A233 highway in the west of the area at.
It has an area of 1,200 km and a population of 267,353 at the 2006 census.
By 2016, the po ...
,
Ajaka
Ajaka was an Oyo emperor who was twice on the throne. His father was Oranyan or Oranmiyan and his brother, according to the historian Samuel Johnson, was Shango.
Life
Ajaka lived in a fierce and tumultuous age, but he was originally a man of a p ...
,
Ugwolawo,
Egume,
Dekina,
Omalla,
and
Olamaboro
Olamaboro is a Local Government Area in the southeast of Kogi State, Nigeria, bordering Enugu State and Benue State. Its headquarters are in the town of Okpo.
It has an area of 1,132 km and a population of 160,152 at the 2006 census.
The po ...
Anyigba. Historically, each council had varying degrees of traditional administration which was based on tax collection from land holders, fishermen and market traders.
Àtá
The first Àtá, the title given to the ruler of the kingdom, was Ebulejonu, a woman; she was succeeded by her brother Aganapoje, the father of Idoko. Idoko would later succeed him as Ata, and had two children Atiyele and Ayegba om'Idoko (Ayegba son of Idoko), Atiyele the first son of Idoko migrated eastward of the kingdom to establish Ankpa kingdom while Ayegba the second son of Idoko succeeded his father as Ata'IGala. He led a war against the
Jukun, which resulted in victory. HRH Idakwo Micheal was appointed as the new Ata of Igala in December 2012.
The position of Ata Igala rotates among four branches of the royal clan. The Igala kingdom was founded by Abutu-Eje in the 16th century. The kingdom was ruled by nine high officials called the Igala Mela who are custodians of the sacred Earth
shrine
A shrine ( la, scrinium "case or chest for books or papers"; Old French: ''escrin'' "box or case") is a sacred or holy space dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon, or similar figure of respect, wherein they ...
. The Throne of the Ata is currently rotated among the clans of Aju Akogwu, Aju Amẹchọ, Aju Akwu, Aju Ocholi. "Aju" is meant to signify who the clan came from, as being the name of the ancestor of the clan.
List of Àtá
ÀJI ÀTÁ DYNASTY
* Aji-Ata (1507-1537)
*Olema I (1537-1567)
* Anogena (1567-1597)
* Agbo (1597-1627)
* Agọchi (1627-1657)
*Olema II (1657-1687)
Kwararafa Dynasty
*Abutu Ẹjẹ
Ata who ruled in the Independence Era
*Ebulẹjonu Ọm Abutu (f)
*Aganapoje Ọm Abutu
* Idoko Ọm Aganapoje
*Ayẹgba Ọm Idoko
*Akwumabi Ọm Ayẹgba (Onu) (Onakpa)
*Akogwu Ọm Ayẹgba
* Ocholi Ọgakọ Ọm Ayẹgba (Ohiemi Ọbọgọ )
* Agada Elame Ọm Ayẹgba
* Amẹh Achọ Ọm Akwumabi
* Itodo Aduga Ọm Akwumabi
* Ọgala Ọm Akogwu
* Idoko Adegbe Ọm Ocholi
* Onuchẹ Ọm Amẹh Achọ
* 1835 Ẹkẹlẹ Aga Ọm Ọgala
* 1835–1856 Amẹh Ocheje Ọm Itodo
* 1856–1870 Akwu Odiba Ọm Idoko
* 1870–1876 Okolíko Ọm Onuchẹ
* 1876–1900 Amẹh Agah Ọm Ẹkẹlẹ Agah
Ata who ruled during British occupation
* 1900–1903 Ocheje Amẹh Ocheje Ọm Amẹh Ocheje (aka Ocheje Nokwa)
* 1905–1911 Amẹh Oboni Akwu Ọm Odoba
* 1911–1919 Ogwuchẹ Akpah Ọm Okoliko
* 1919–1926 Atabọ Ijọmi Ọm Amaga
* 1926–1945 Ọbaje Ọm Ocheje
* 1945 – 23 June 1956 Amẹh Oboni Akpoli Ọm Oboní
Ata who ruled from Nigerian Independence till date
* 20 October 1956 – 16 July 2012:
Aliyu Ocheje Ọm Otulikpe Ọbaje - was installed by the British shortly before independence
* 10 March 2013 – 27 August 2020:
Idakwo Ọm Amẹh Ọm Oboni
*2021–present
Ọpaluwa Ọm Ọpaluwa Ogwuchẹ Akpah
See also
*
Igala people
The Igálá are one of the ethnic groups found in Nigeria. The Igala played significant roles in the formation of Nigeria having been made host to the capital of Nigeria at Lokoja in the past, with Lugard as the Governor. The Igala Kingdom expa ...
*
Idah
Idah is a town in Kogi State, Nigeria, on the eastern bank of the Niger River in the middle belt region of Nigeria. It is the headquarter of the Igala Kingdom, and also a Local Government Area with an area of 36 km. Idah had a population ...
References
Further reading
*
*Ajodo, Saidu (2006). ''A Short History of Omoja Clan in the Igala Kingdom''. El-Deen Printers. .
*Boston, J. S.; Research, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic (1968). ''The Igala Kingdom''. Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research. .
{{Nigerian traditional states
Former countries in Africa
Nigerian traditional states