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 bas ...

who inhabit the

Isoko region Isoko is a region of Delta State and Bayelsa state in southern Nigeria and is inhabited by an ethnic group of the same name, the Isoko people. The region is divided into two Local Government Areas, Isoko North (headquartered at Ozoro) and Isoko ...

Delta State Delta is a States of Nigeria, state in the South South (Nigeria), South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Named after the Niger Delta—a large part of which is in the state—the state was formed from the former Bendel State, on 27 August 1 ...

and

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

, Nigeria. They are people of southern Nigeria, near the northwestern Niger delta.

and Bayelsa State are part of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.. They are of three origins, Benin,

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 t ...

and

Urhobo Urhobo may refer to: *Urhobo people, of Nigeria *Urhobo language Urhobo is a South-Western Edoid language spoken by the Urhobo people of southern Nigeria. It is from the Delta State, Delta and Bayelsa State, Bayelsa States. Phonology Urhobo has ...

but have since evolved into a distinct identity in Nigeria. The Isokos speak the

Isoko language Isoko is one of the languages in Delta State spoken by the Isoko people in Isoko South, North and part of Ndokwa East Local Government Areas of Delta State, Southern part of Nigeria in Niger Delta region. It is also spoken in some part of Ba ...

, 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. It is from the Delta State, Delta and Bayelsa State, Bayelsa States. Phonology Urhobo has a rather reduced system of phonology, sound inventory compared to ...

, Epie-Atissa language, Engenni language. James W. Welch asserted erroneously that Isoko language cluster is a dialect of

. The Isoko culture is related to several cultures in the Niger-Delta - namely,

Ijaw Ijaw may refer to: *Ijaw people The Ijaw people, also known as the Izon people, are an ethnic group found in the Niger Delta region in Nigeria, with primary Population, population clusters in Bayelsa State, Bayelsa, Delta State, Delta, and River ...

and

Anioma The Anioma people ('' /æˈniːɒmɑː/ ah-NEE-o-ma, US: /əˈniːɒmɑː/ uh-NEE-o-mah;'' ''Ndí Ániọ̀mà'') present day Delta State, Nigeria. The Anioma people encompass and are native to the nine northeastern Local Government Areas of ...

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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 tribal 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 Delta State, southern Nigeria. Ozoro had been incorrectly spelt Usoro in some old ...

, Erowha, Owhe, Iyede,

Okpe Okpe is a kingdom in Delta State, Nigeria. Today, it is also the name of a local government area. It is one of the many kingdoms that make up Urhobo nation. Its capital is Orerokpe. The kingdom plays host to the Osubi Airport (also known as Wa ...

Emede Emede is a town in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, south of Nigeria. Politics and government The town is under the rulership of a monarch, J.O.Egbo, Ewhiri II, Ovie of Emede Kingdom. He is also the traditional custodian of th ...

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

Obaro Ikime Prof. Obaro Ikime (30 December 1936 – 25 April 2023) was a Nigerian historian. He was a published author. Obaro served as a president of the Historical Society of Nigeria. He also served as a priest at the Anglican Church in Nigeria. Biograph ...

, Professor of History, University of Ibadan *

Stella Omu Stella Unuezi Omu (born 22 December 1946) is a Nigerian politician who was elected Senator on the People's Democratic Party (PDP) platform in 1999 for the Delta South Senatorial District of Delta State. Background Omu is of Isoko origin. She ...

, Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria *

Jonathan Akpoborie Jonathan Akpoborie (born 20 October 1968) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a forward and spent the majority of his playing career in Germany. Club career Akpoborie started his professional career at Julius Berger, ...

, Nigerian international footballer *

D'Prince Charles Enebeli (born 23 October 1986), known by his stage name D'Prince, is a Nigerian Grammy Awards, Grammy-67th Annual Grammy Awards, nominated music executive, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, Promoter (entertainment), promoter, and philant ...

, Afropop singer *

Victor Ikpeba Victor Ikpeba Nosa (born 12 June 1973) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a forward. Ikpeba played 31 international matches and scored seven goals for Nigeria. He was a member of Super Eagles team to the FIFA World Cups i ...

, Nigerian international footballer and brand ambassador *

Joel-Onowakpo Thomas Joel-Onowakpo Thomas (born 27 April 1967) is a Nigerian chartered accountant, businessman and politician. He is the senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legisl ...

, Senator currently representing Delta South *

Zeb Ejiro Zeb Ejiro, MFR is a Nigerian filmmaker and producer. He is one of the two brothers of Chico Ejiro, a veteran Nigerian filmmaker and producer. In November 2005, Zeb received a National award of Order of the Federal Republic alongside Lere Paimo ...

, Veteran Film Maker *

Chico Ejiro Chico Ejiro (born Chico Aziakpono; died 25 December 2020) was a Nigerian movie director, screenwriter, and producer. Little was known about Ejiro other than he was born in Isoko, Delta, Nigeria; he originally studied agriculture; and he was drawn ...

, Veteran Film Maker * Eva Alordiah, rap musician *

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

, 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 Nigerians, Nigerian stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. He has organized popular stand-up comedy concerts like ''Bovi: Man on Fire'' across the globe. Early life and education Bovi Ugboma was born in Benin City, the capital ...

, 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, 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 the ...

, musician *

Daddy Showkey Daddy Showkey is a veteran Nigerian galala singer. His genre of music is called ghetto dance or simply ghetto. He was born in Ajegunle and rose to popularity there in the late 1990s. He was born as John Odafe Asiemo but is known as Daddy Showkey ...

, garala singer *

Masai Ujiri Michael Masai Ujiri (born July 7, 1970) is a professional basketball executive and former player who is the President (corporate title), president of the Toronto Raptors in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Ujiri was born in the Unite ...

, 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 Atlantic Division (NBA), Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), E ...

* Solid Star, musician * Samuel Oboh, Canadian architect *

Cornelius Adam Igbudu Cornelius Adam Igbudu (1914–1981) was a Nigerian religious figure known for founding the Anglican Adam Preaching Society (AAPS), an evangelical group in the Anglican Church of Nigeria. He was credited with healing ability. Legacy The Nigeri ...

(1914-1981), founder of the Anglican Adam Preaching Society * Ogaga Ifowodo, human rights activist, lawyer, and writer * Moses James, Boxer, Olympic medalist 1992, two time world boxing champion.

References

External links

Isoko information

- information about Isoko Society by Hon. Chief Clement O. Akugha

Notable people

See also

References

External links

Further reading