Eloyi People on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
The Eloyi (also called Afao, Afo, Afu, Aho, Epe, Keffi) are an ethnic group of central
Traditionally, most of the Eloyi lived in a range of rocky hills in what today is Nasarawa State.
They revolted against the British in 1918, and were then forced to leave their homeland.
Today they are scattered in different parts of Nasarawa and Benue states, although some have moved back to the original hills.
The British divided the Eloyi into ten village areas in 1932, appointing a head for each village, but these village heads were not recognized by the Eloyi.
Nigeria
Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...
.
About 100,000 people identify themselves as Eloyi. They are related to the Idoma ethnic group.
Geography & Language
The Eloyi (Ajiri) peopleare mostly found in Awe, Nasarawa,Kokona
Kokona is a Local Government Area in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Garaku.
It has an area of 1,844 km and a population of 109,749 at the 2006 census.
The postal code
A postal code (also known locally i ...
Government Areas (LGAs) of Nasarawa State
Nasarawa is a States of Nigeria, state in the North Central Nigeria, North Central region of Nigeria, bordered to the east by the states of Taraba State, Taraba and Plateau State, Plateau, to the north by Kaduna State, to the south by the states ...
and the Otukpo
Otukpo is a town in Benue State, Nigeria located in the North Central (Nigeria), Middle Belt Region of Nigeria. It is also the eponymous name of a subgroup of the Idoma people. Otukpo is the headquarters of the Otukpo Local Government Area. It i ...
LGA of Benue State
Benue is a State in the North Central Nigeria, North Central region of Nigeria. It is popularly referred to as part of the Middle belt. It has an estimated population of about 4,253,641 in List of Nigerian states by population, the 2006 census. ...
.
As of 2000 it was reported that there were 60,000 people who speak the Eloyi language. Ajiri is an Idomoid branch of the Benue-Congo group.
Although in modern times Many native speakers have adopted Hausa
Hausa may refer to:
* Hausa people, an ethnic group of West Africa
* Hausa language, spoken in West Africa
* Hausa Kingdoms, a historical collection of Hausa city-states
* Hausa (horse) or Dongola horse, an African breed of riding horse
See also
...
as their second or primary language.
History
Traditionally, most of the Eloyi lived in a range of rocky hills in what today is Nasarawa State.
They revolted against the British in 1918, and were then forced to leave their homeland.
Today they are scattered in different parts of Nasarawa and Benue states, although some have moved back to the original hills.
The British divided the Eloyi into ten village areas in 1932, appointing a head for each village, but these village heads were not recognized by the Eloyi.
Society
The Eloyi are one of the more economically advanced of theBenue Valley
Benue River (), previously known as the Chadda River or Tchadda, is a major tributary of the Niger River. The size of its catchment basin is 319,000 km2 (123,000 sq mi). Almost its entire length of approximately is navigable during the summer ...
tribes. In the hills they grow guinea corn, cotton, yams, and tobacco.
They practice in weaving and dying, producing cloth that is much in demand and can be traded. They are also blessed with one of the biggest Natural resources (Solid Mineral) deposit in Nasarawa State. The Eloyi villages in the hills are made up of round huts with conical thatched roofs grouped around a central courtyard.
In the plains the Eloyi are mostly farmers, selling dried fish and palm oil for cash.
The plains Eloyi build large houses within compounds and fortify their villages.
Organization and beliefs
The village is the largest political unit, independent of its neighbors. A chief is assisted by a council of elders in administering the village and resolving disputes. The ''gado'' is the father of the village, the authority on customs and law, in charge of planting and harvest rites. Most Eloyi practice their traditional beliefs, which center on the god Owo, who is symbolized by a white silk cotton tree or a fig tree. They worship their ancestors, whose spirits are thought to live on and to require food and care. Religious rites include masked impersonation of ancestors, witchcraft, magic, and divination with strings. A considerable number of the Eloyi have adopted islam as their religion.References
Citations Sources * * * Ethnic groups in Nigeria Benue State Plateau State {{Nigeria-stub