The Kilba people (also called Həba) are an

ethnic group An ethnicity or ethnic group is a group of people with shared attributes, which they collectively believe to have, and long-term endogamy. Ethnicities share attributes like language, culture, common sets of ancestry, traditions, society, re ...

in the Hong local government area of

Adamawa State Adamawa is a States of Nigeria, state in the North East (Nigeria), North-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered by Borno State, Borno to the northwest, Gombe State, Gombe to the west, and Taraba State, Taraba to the southwest while its eas ...

(formerly

Gongola State Gongola State is a former administrative division of Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the Adamawa and Sardauna Provinces of North State, together with the Wukari Division of the then Benue-Plateau State. It existed until 27 Aug ...

) in

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, ...

History

In the past, Həba lived in large clan-based mountain communities. These mountain communities were

Pella Pella () is an ancient city located in Central Macedonia, Greece. It served as the capital of the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia (ancient kingdom), Macedon. Currently, it is located 1 km outside the modern town of Pella ...

, Gwaja, Hong, Kulinyi, Garaha, Bangshika, Miljili, Gaya-jaba, Gaya-maki, Gaya-skalmi, Gaya-gou, Gaya Fa'a, Gaya Jabba, Ndlang, Hyama, Kinking, Motaku, Kwapor, Za and Zivi, all in the present Hong Local Government. The Həba clan-based mountain communities were each ruled by a "Təl kəra ma" (King of the mountain community). "Kəra ma" means "mountain top". Töl is pronounced as "ttle", which means King. A particular Töl therefore, was known by his

clan A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, a clan may claim descent from a founding member or apical ancestor who serves as a symbol of the clan's unity. Many societie ...

name. Each of the mountain

communities A community is a Level of analysis, social unit (a group of people) with a shared socially-significant characteristic, such as place (geography), place, set of Norm (social), norms, culture, religion, values, Convention (norm), customs, or Ide ...

was made up of several villages. These

village A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban v ...

s had their method of communication. They had specific ways of doing everything, and life was very smooth and enjoyable. The Təl kəra ma was a secular-cum-religious ruler. He had a cabinet made up of Yaduma, Midala, Bira'ol, Kadagimi, Kadala, Dzarma and Batari, depending on the community. Each had their designated cabinets. The cabinets of all the Töls still have the same character. Həba was a tribe with a formidable army. They were articulate and had distinct ways of doing things and of getting things done. Həba was a tribe with formidable unity. After the 18th century AD, Dr. Henry Barth (1965) (a German traveler) came across Höba during his voyage.

Political structure

One Furkudəl was bringing Həba, in their various clan-based mountain communities under one central government at that time. In Dr. Barth's report of his voyage, he wrote that Höba was "a well organized pagan kingdom second to none in

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". In addition, he did mention that this kingdom "resembles that of ancient

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or modern European kingdom. The kingdom was divided into units to which members of the ruling families were sent out to administer as governors". He also mentioned that "Every month, they (the governors and central ministers) sent in reports to the King for further directives or final decisions". These governors were the Yirmas and the Shalls. There was only one Yirma from Udəng. Since there was and is still just himself, he is simply called Yirma. The governors were in a hierarchy, with the Yirma being the highest of them all, Udəng is the place we now call Udong. The government of Həba is divided into two, with the Təl as the overall ruler. The territorial administration is the responsibility of the Shalls and the Yirma. The central administration is the responsibility of the Təls cabinet members. The cabinet is made up of the following: # Yaduma - Yaduma is the Prime Minister and Chief Adviser to the Təl. # Bira'ol – Bira'ol is the Assistant Prime Minister # Midala – Midala is the Defence Minister and War Commander # Kadala – Kadala is the Inspector General of Police. He arrests and orders the arrest of criminals. # Dzarma – Dzarma is the Minister in Charge of the Royal Stable # Batari – Batari is the Head of Royal Ward # Kadagimi – Kadagimi is the Courtier and an official of the King's Palace

Relationship between Həba and Fulanis

Long after the consolidation of the kingdom we know from general history that the 19th century was characterized by wars due to jihad and incessant skirmishes with the Fulanis in which records inform us that Həba was never ever conquered. Very many attempts were made to do so. Həba, though very war hungry at that time, were only going out to subdue Fulani settlements and take away their assets. Həba never consolidated their war victory anywhere. The approach was very

spasmodic A spasm is a sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle, a group of muscles, or a hollow organ, such as the bladder. A spasmodic muscle contraction may be caused by many medical conditions, including dystonia. Most commonly, it is a muscle ...

too. When it became clear that there was never going to be a conquest between the

jihadists Jihadism is a neologism for modern, armed militant Islamic movements that seek to establish states based on Islamic principles. In a narrower sense, it refers to the belief that armed confrontation is an efficient and theologically legit ...

and Höba, a truce had to be declared on market days at Pella and at Mbilla Kilba. The Fulanis and Həba attended these market days freely.

Location

The Kilba who live in Hong Local Government Area are situated in the area between five local governments: Gombi, Song, Mubi, Michika all in Adamawa State and Askira Uba Local Government in Borno State . Miss Nissen gives a good description of the location of Kilba area in her book,''An African Church is Born'', 1968.

Notable Kilba people

* Albatan Yerima Balla – First Republic Member of Parliament and World War 2 veteran

Notes

{{authority control Ethnic groups in Nigeria Ethnic groups in Adamawa State