Ebira people
Total population | |
---|---|
2,000,000 | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Languages | |
Ebira language | |
Religion | |
Predominantly Islam[1] | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Igala, Yoruba, Nupe, Afemai |
The Ebira people are an ethnic-linguistic group of North central Nigeria. Most Ebira people are from
After decades of campaign, intellectual brainstorming and organized symposia/conferences, the people of Ebira from various enclaves have secured the official gazette of a common name spelt as “Ebira” for the ethnic group.7
Ibrahim Ohida, national secretary of Ohiku-Ebira Descendants Union (OEDU), in a statement, announced the development.
Ebira is an ethnic group indigenous to some parts of Kogi, Nasarawa, Edo, and the federal capital territory (FCT).
They have been variously called Igbira, Ebirra, Egbirra, Ibira, Ibirra and Egbira in the past.
According to OEDU, the official gazette of the common name — Ebira — is contained in the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No. 127, volume 109, dated July 14, 2022.
The group said the adoption of the common name was made based on the agreements reached during consultations with traditional fathers and stakeholders at Okene and Koton Karfe conventions in 2010 and 2021, respectively.
“The Ohiku-Ebira Descendants Union (OEDU), wishes to formally inform members of the Ebira Nation that the Union has secured an official gazette of the agreed common name EBIRA spelt E-B-I-R-A for people of the Ebira Nation comprising Ebira Opete, Ebira Miyakan and Ebira Etuno (Igarra),” the statement reads.
“This is contained in the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No. 127, Volume 109 dated 14th July, 2022.
“As you are aware, this adoption of the common name EBIRA is done in line with our agreement following consultation with our Royal Fathers, stakeholders from the three zones and resolutions at the Okene and Koton Karfe Conventions in 2010 and 2021, respectively.
“This is in recognition of our common ancestry and expressed desire to be so recognised for reasons of unity, numerical strength and enhanced political relevance among the comity of ethnic nationalities in Nigeria.
“This milestone of officially gazetting our name as EBIRA, has been twenty years coming. Congratulations to all of us. We need to now rededicate ourselves and all work together for the full application of this name in all our official dealings.”
Geography
In recent history, Ebira people inhabit a territory south-west of the confluence of the Niger and Benue Rivers though some Ebira communioties also reside on the north-east of the confluence,[6] the territory surrounding the confluence is an ethnically diverse area with diffused cultural symbols.[7] Ebiraland is north of Etsako, East of Yorubaland and West of Igalaland, it is dominated by deciduous woodland and rocky hills of an open Savannah vegetation.[8]
The major local government areas are Adavi, Ajaokuta, Koton-Karfi, Okehi and Okene.[9] Since the advent of colonialism, many Ebiras have moved southwards due to search for arable farming spaces and working as migrant farmers.[10]
History
Early population movements
The [Human migration] of Ebira people to the present region is mostly surmised by oral history. However, most versions trace the migration from the
Pre-colonial and colonial period
During the conquest of
British interest in Ebiraland started with the location of a
Religion
Before the advent of Christianity
Culture
Family life, food and social system
In the early history of the Ebira people, the family was headed by the father or the oldest male who acted as the provider, religious leader, and protector of the nuclear family (Ireh). Other important social systems are compounds (Ohuoje) which are composed of related or kindred patrilineal families, Ovovu, the outer compounds, and then lineages (Abara), composed of several related compounds.[26] The Clan (Iresu) which is a community of kindred lineages in Ebiraland is led by the Otaru. Clan identities are distinguished by symbols mostly animals such as leopards, crocodiles, pythons, or buffalo. The affairs of the community were managed by a group of elder male members each representing related lineages.[27]
The principal occupation of Ebiras is farming, they cultivate maize, yams, cassava, and vegetables.[28] In the nineteenth century some communities cultivated and traded beni seeds as "gorigo".
Ebiras are also known for the weaving of clothing, a crafts, hair making and are very industrious.[29]
The Ebira people also have peculiar ways that they prepare their meals which are only distinct to them and form their identity; The Ebira people bring to the world, Ọve which is made from water yam and usually made with a particular kind of leave. This is typically what we know as moi moi but for the colorful group, they make this moi moi out of water yam (Evina) rather than the typical beans that many Nigerians are used to. It is traditionally made with some special kind of leave.[30]
Contemporary Ebira social life has seen changes over the years, though farming is still a dominant occupation, many Ebiras are influenced by Western and contemporary Nigerian culture and live in urban settlements. Behaviors such as polygamy and a close relationship with a related lineage are fading and the Attah or Ohinoyi is no longer the dominant political authority within the land. Another new tradition embraced by the Ohinoyi was handing out chieftaincy titles to individuals named to be " Taru or Ohi" as is common in many other Nigerian cultures.[31]
Ebira territory such as Ajaokuta is cosmopolitan as a result of the construction of a steel mill in the town.
Ekuechi festival
Ekuechi festival is the most widely celebrated traditional festival in Ebira communities,[28] it is held annually starting in late November and ending in late December or January. The duration of the festival is long because different clans choose their dates to mark the festival. "Eku" in Ebira represents an ancestral masquerade while "Chi" means to descend.[32] In traditional Ebira culture there exists a belief in the existence of a land of the living and another for the dead, and veneration of the land of the dead by those from the land of the living.[6] Ekuechi thus can be interpreted as ancestral spirits returning to earth. The masquerades performing in the festival are believed to have access to the spirit world where dead relatives abide noting the behaviors of the living. During the festival, these masquerades deliver messages of good tidings and admonishment from the spirit world.[33] The festival also marks the end of the year and the beginning of a new one. A major performance during the festival is a masked performance by Eku'rahu that is centered on singing, drumming, and chanting.[34][35]
Notable people of Ebira Origin
- Ohinoyi of Ebiraland
- Mercy Johnson
- Joseph Makoju formerly Managing Director [Lafarge WAPCo; NEPA and Dangote Cement]
- Natasha Akpoti
- Yahaya Bello
- Abubakar Sadiku Ohere
References
- ^ Moshood Mahmood M. Jimba* (January 2012). "Muslims of Kogi State: A Survey" (PDF). Nigeria Research Network (NRN). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^ "The History of Ebira People or Ebiraland (Itopa Anebira or Ete Ebira)". Ebira Online. 2022-02-11. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
- ^ "Ethnic Groups in North-central Adopt Egbira as Common Identity – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
- ^ a b "Igbira | people | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
- ^ "The History of Igarra people Akoko Edo, Edo state". www.edoworld.net. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
- ^ a b Picton 2009, p. 298.
- ^ Adinoyi-Ojo 1996, p. xxviii.
- ^ Adinoyi-Ojo 1996, p. 3.
- ^ List of the 21 Local Government Areas in Kogi State [dead link]
- ^ Adinoyi-Ojo 1996, p. 21.
- ^ a b Adinoyi-Ojo 1996, p. 36.
- ^ "THE UNCONQUERED TRIBE OF EBIRA TAO OF OKENE - We Africa Preview". THE UNCONQUERED TRIBE OF EBIRA TAO OF OKENE - We Africa Preview. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
- ^ Nwafor (2020-04-17). "Kwararafa: The Crossroads of original African cultural unity". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
- JSTOR 41854910.
- ^ Adinoyi-Ojo 1996, p. 37.
- ^ "THE UNCONQUERED TRIBE OF EBIRA TAO OF OKENE - We Africa Preview". THE UNCONQUERED TRIBE OF EBIRA TAO OF OKENE - We Africa Preview. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
- ^ Adinoyi-Ojo 1996, p. 5.
- JSTOR 41856763.
- ^ "Company Information". www.nipost.gov.ng. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
- ^ Adinoyi-Ojo 1996, p. 41.
- ^ a b Adinoyi-Ojo 1996, p. 42.
- ^ Adinoyi-Ojo 1996, p. 43.
- ^ Simwa, Adrianna (2018-01-15). "How did ♱Christianity♱ come to Nigeria?". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
- ^ "Return of some imprisoned Nigerian ancestors The Nation Newspaper". The Nation Newspaper. 2022-10-13. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
- ^ Adinoyi-Ojo 1996, p. 57.
- ^ Adinoyi-Ojo 1996, p. 44.
- ^ Adinoyi-Ojo 1996, p. 48.
- ^ a b Adinoyi-Ojo 1996, p. 32.
- ^ III, Admin (2022-01-27). "Ohueje Ohinoyi festival as an emerging tourism attraction in Ebira land". Blueprint Newspapers Limited. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ "Moi Moi Wars; Ebira Ọve Versus Eastern Okpa Ogede". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2022-02-24. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
- ^ Adinoyi-Ojo 1996, p. 22.
- ^ Ododo 2001, p. 3.
- ^ Ododo 2001, p. 6.
- ^ Ododo 2001, p. 2.
- ^ admin (15 May 2018). "The Need for Reforms in Ebira Cultural Festivals – :: Kogi Reports ::". Retrieved 2021-07-12.
External links
- Major Historical Events in Ebira Land
- EbiraOnline.com Media Page On Ebira Histories
- Ethnologue report on Ebira language
Sources
- Picton, J (2009). "Cloth and the Corpse in Ebira". Textile: The Journal of Cloth & Culture. 7 (3): 296–313. S2CID 52233865.
- Adinoyi-Ojo, O (1996). Playing at the crossroads: Social space as metaphor in ebira masked performances (Thesis). New York University.
- Ododo, Sunday (2001). "Theatrical Aesthetics and Functional Values of Ekuechi Masquerade Ensemble of the Ebira People in Nigeria". African Study Monographs. 22 (1): 1–36.