Isoko people are an

ethnolinguistic group An ethnolinguistic group (or ethno-linguistic group) is a group that is unified by both a common ethnicity and language. Most ethnic groups share a first language. However, "ethnolinguistic" is often used to emphasise that language is a major ...

who inhabit the Isoko region of Delta State and

Bayelsa State Bayelsa is one of the states in the South-South region of Nigeria, located in the core of the Niger Delta region. Bayelsa State was created in 1996 and was carved out from Rivers State, making it one of the newest states in the federation. Yena ...

, Nigeria. They are people of southern Nigeria, near the northwestern Niger delta. Delta State and Bayelsa State are part of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Isokos speak the Isoko language, a language of the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo family which is also very linguistically similar to the

Urhobo language Urhobo is a South-Western Edoid language spoken by the Urhobo people of southern Nigeria. From the region of Delta and Bayelsa State. They are also known as fishermen. Their neighbours are the Isoko to the South East, the Itsekiri to the West, ...

, Epie-Atissa language,

Engenni language Engenni (''Ẹgẹnẹ'') is an Edoid language of Nigeria. Grammar Engenni is a fairly isolating language, having little affixation. There is no plural form for words. It has definite articles, but no indefinite articles. There is a two-contras ...

. James W. Welch asserted that Isoko language is a dialect of

, and many people share that opinion. The Isoko culture is related to several cultures in the Niger-Delta - namely, Urhobo,

Ijaw Ijaw may refer to: * Ijaw people *Ijaw languages The Izon languages (), otherwise known as the Ịjọ languages, are the languages spoken by the Izon people in southern Nigeria. Classification The Ijo languages were traditionally considered a ...

and

Anioma Anioma people are a subgroup of the Igbo ethnic group in Delta State, Nigeria. They are made up of communities which span across 9 Local government areas and speak different varieties of the Igbo language, including the Enuani language, Ukwuani l ...

br>
Urhobo are related in language and culture, leading to the invaders erroneously labelling the Urhobo and Isoko cultural groups as Sobo. This name was strongly rejected by both tribes. The Isoko ethnic group consist of nineteen clans namely:

Uzere Uzere formerly known as "Uzei" is located in the Isoko South Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State of Nigeria. It has become one of the largest petroleum oil producing communities in Nigeria. Oil exploration started in Uzere in 1957. Uzere ...

Ozoro Ozoro is a city and the headquarter of Isoko North Local Government area of Delta State, Nigeria. It is one of the two administrative units in the Isoko region of elta State, southern Nigeria. Ozoro had been incorrectly spelt Usoro in some older m ...

, Erowha, Owhe, Iyede, Okpe, Emede,

Igbide Igbide is an Isoko clan located in the Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. The predominant occupation of the Igbide is fishing and farming especially of cassava and groundnuts. The fishing is done mainly in the Urie lake ...

, Emevor, Ofagbe, Ellu, Oyede, Umeh, Irri, Aviara, Olomoro, Enwhe, Okpolo and Oleh.

Notable people

* Eva Alordiah, rap musician *

Don Jazzy Michael Collins Ajereh (born 26 November 1982), known professionally as Don Jazzy, is a Nigerian record producer. He is the founder and the CEO of Mavin Records. Don Jazzy was co-owner of the now-defunct Mo' Hits Records record label with D' ...

, record producer *

Fred Amata Fred Amata is a Nigerian actor, producer and director. A graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Jos, Fred shot into limelight in 1986 for his role in a film titled ''Legacy''. He currently serves as the President of the Directors Guil ...

, actor *

Jeta Amata Jeta Amata is a Nigerian filmmaker, born on August 21, 1974, to popular Nigerian actor Zack Amata. He comes from a family of veteran filmmakers including Ifoghale Amata, Zack Amata and Fred Amata. Growing up in the film industry, following his ...

, filmmaker *

Bovi Bovi Ugboma is a Nigerian stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. He has organized popular stand-up comedy concerts like ''Bovi: Man on Fire'' across the globe. He is married to his wife, Kris Asimonye Ugboma and 42 years of age. Early life and ...

, comedian * Patience Oghogho Maseli, first female Deputy Director of Upstream Division at the

Department of Petroleum Resources Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, formerly the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), is a department under the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources (FMPR). It monitors the oil and gas industry to ensure compliance ...

Evi Edna Ogholi Evi Edna Ogholi (born 6 July 1966). is a Nigerian female reggae musician popular for her song "Happy Birthday".

, reggae musician *

Orezi Esegine Allen (born 28 March 1986), better known by his stage name Orezi, is a Nigerian musician from Delta State. He rose to prominence with his song " Rihanna" in 2013. In a chat with Showtime's ''The Cooking Pot'' the singer said that in t ...

, musician * Daddy Showkey, garala singer *

Masai Ujiri Masai Ujiri (born 7 July 1970) is a British-born, Nigerian-Canadian professional basketball executive and former player and is the president of basketball operations of the Toronto Raptors in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After a m ...

, President and former GM of the

Toronto Raptors The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. They play their home games a ...

* Solid Star, musician *

Samuel Oboh Samuel Óghalé Oboh (born March 27, 1971) is a Canadian architect, manager, leader, former Vice President - Architecture at AECOM Canada Architects Ltd - a Fortune 500 Company and the 2015 President of the Royal Architectural Institute of Cana ...

, Canadian architect *Emily Eriarie Arhagba, first Vice Principal at the Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, Delta State. *Frank Shell Ogodo (Stage Name: Funky Franky), Musician

References

External links

Isoko information

- information about Isoko Society by Hon. Chief Clement O. Akugha {{Authority control Ethnic groups in Nigeria