Southern Kaduna
Southern Kaduna
Gurara/Nok Southern Zaria | ||
---|---|---|
Cultural region | ||
British Nigeria
(later Middle Belt, Nigeria) | 1903-4 (1950s) | |
- Southern Zaria | c. 1900 | |
- Nerzit region | c. 1950 | |
- Southern Kaduna | c. 1990 | |
- Gurara/Nok State | proposed | |
Founded by | - Proto Nok people | |
Capital | • Kafanchan (Economic capital) | |
Composed of | ||
Government | ||
• Type | • Chief
• Village heads | |
Area | ||
• Land | 26,000 km2 (10,000 sq mi) | |
Population (2016 estimate) | ||
• Total | 4,564,100 | |
Demographics | ||
• Major indigenous languages | ||
• Major non-indigenous languages | ||
Time zone | WAT |
Southern Kaduna (
. Southern Kaduna consists of 12 Local Government Areas out of a total of 23 in Kaduna State.In September 2020, the
History
Antiquity
The Nok culture thrived in the area now known as Southern Kaduna as early as 1500 BC and lasted up until circa 500 AD.[4]
Middle ages
Achi (2005:378) mentioned that the itinerary settlement of Zangon Kataf, established circa 1650 AD for the itinerant Hausa traders became important.[5]
Geography
Administrative divisions
The table below contains the 12 Local Government Areas of Southern Kaduna:
LGA | Headquarters |
---|---|
Chikun | Kujama |
Jaba | Kwoi |
Jema'a | Kafanchan |
Kachia | Kachia Town |
Kaduna South | Makera |
Kagarko | Kagarko Town |
Kajuru | Kajuru Town |
Kaura | Kaura Town |
Kauru | Kauru Town |
Lere |
Saminaka |
Sanga | Gbantu |
Zangon Kataf | Zonkwa |
Demographics
Ethnic composition
Southern Kaduna is composed of closely related
The Proto-Plateau ethnolinguistic cluster
S/N | Groups | Sub-groups |
---|---|---|
I. | Northern or Adara Group | |
II. | Western or Koro Group |
|
III. | Ham or Northwestern Group |
|
IV. | Nerzit or Kataf (Atyap) Group | |
V. | South-western (Aninka) Group |
|
The above grouping on the Proto-Plateau ethnolinguistic clusters was however modified based on the spoken languages by Blench (2008) as follows:[7]
S/N | Groups | Sub-groups |
---|---|---|
I. | Northwest or Adara Group |
|
II. | Atyap (Nerzit, Nenzit) Group | |
III. | Koro Group |
|
IV. | Ham Group |
|
V. | Gwong Group |
|
VI. | Ninzo Group |
|
VII. | Ndun Group |
|
VIII. | Alumu Group |
The Proto-Kainji ethnolinguistic cluster
S/N | Groups | Sub-groups |
---|---|---|
I. | Eastern Kainji Group |
|
II. | Eastern Kainji Group |
|
The Proto-Nupoid ethnolinguistic cluster
S/N | Groups | Sub-groups |
---|---|---|
I. | Gbagyi (Gwari) Group |
|
The Proto-West Chadic languages
Outside of James (2000)'s classification lie the groups from the Proto-West Chadic ethnolinguistic cluster:
S/N | Groups | Sub-groups |
---|---|---|
I. | West Chadic |
Population
The Southern kaduna population is estimated to be over 4.5 million people out of the estimated 8.5 million population in Kaduna state in 2016. Predicted 5.1 million people out of 12 million predicted population of Kaduna State in 2021. The common general languages spoken in the area are Hausa, English and the Nigerian Pidgin.[10]
Languages
Southern Kaduna consists of a diverse minority of ethnolinguistic groups, who speak languages belonging to the
LGA | Languages |
---|---|
Chikun | Gbagyi
|
Jaba | Duya; Hyam
|
Jema'a | Zhire ; Numana
|
Kachia | Zhire
|
Kaduna South | |
Kagarko | Koro Wachi
|
Kajuru | Gbagyi; Kuzamani
|
Kaura | |
Kauru | |
Lere |
Tugbiri-Niragu and Hausa
|
Sanga | Ahwai; Ayu; Bu; ; Sha; Toro |
Zangon Kataf | Nghan; and Tyap; Tyecarak (Tyecaat)
|
Religion
Gallery
-
Gurara River, Gidan Akwaja.
-
Kabyiek Tityong (River Wonderful) waterfalls, Aduwan V-Batadon, Kafanchan.
-
Kogum River, Kogum Station.
-
Kaduna River, Zangon Kataf.
-
Cuk ntseei (horse's seat), Afan Gworog (Gworog Mountain).
-
Dung volcanic mountain in Dung (H. Jaban Kogo).
-
Deleb palm windbreak, Zankan.
-
Chen Zat (Fantswam traditional forest), Kafanchan.
-
Traditional kitchen, Agban, Gworog Mountain.
-
Nok Terracotta head, Nok museum.
-
Tin mining, Godogodo.
-
Deserted houses during the harmattan season, Ukpee (H. Ungwan Toka).
Economy
Natural resources
Former Nigerian Minister of Solid Minerals, Leslie Obiora, compiled a list of minerals across the country, which amounted to a total of 74 minerals; 34 were declared fit for mining on a commercial scale, with Southern Kaduna having over 30 minerals with over fifty percent (50%) of them minable.[13]
Agriculture
In the 1990s, ginger farmers enjoyed profit from the sales of their harvested crops due to the availability of ginger processing companies all over the region, but today, most of those companies have shut down without efforts to revive them on the side of the government.[14]
Education
It was asserted by Kazah-Toure (1999:130) that Southern Kaduna took a lead in education in the defunct Northern Region, during the period around the Nigerian Civil War (between 1966 and 1970s).[15] Bonat (1989:55) claims that a majority of the educated people from this region who are non-Hausa, were in the teaching profession and in the middle cadre of the civil service in contrast to the Hausa who were dominant at the highest bureaucratic levels.[16]
In March 2024, a group, Kaduna Indigenous Publishers Network spoke of the establishment of the Southern Kaduna Educational and Human Capacity Development Commission, to create access for the youths of the region to good education and training opportunities.[17]
Present tertiary institutions
- Air Force Institute of Technology (Nigeria), Kaduna
- Greenfield University, Kaduna
- Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna
- Kaduna State University, Kaduna and Kafanchan Campuses
- National Open University of Nigeria, Gworok Study Center
- Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna
- Kaduna State College of Education, Kafanchan
- School of Agricultural Technology, Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Cenkwon
- College of Nursing, Kafanchan
Politics
The Southern Kaduna People's Union (SOKAPU) had been the umbrella socio-cultural body for the about 67 recognized ethnic groups of Southern Kaduna over the decades.[18] The group is currently under the leadership of Samuel Tabara Kato. He succeeded Awemi Dio Maisamari in December 2023 as National President of SOKAPU.[19]
In September 2022, the Southern Kaduna Leadership Council (SKLC) chaired by Ishaya Dary Akau, listed SOKAPU as its member. Other members of the council announced included the Southern Kaduna Elders Consultative Forum, Southern Kaduna Autochthonous Community Development Associations Forum, Forum of Southern Kaduna Professors, Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association, Southern Kaduna Retired Military and Para-Military Officers Association, Southern Kaduna Lawyers Forum, Southern Kaduna Leaders Forum, and the Visionaries for the formation of the Council.[20] The listing of the SOKAPU under the SKLC, however, was not popular with some members of the SOKAPU executive as the group was soon plunged into an internal crisis which climaxed with the resignation of Maisamari.[21]
Notable people
Among the notable people from Southern Kaduna are:
- Katung Aduwak (b. 1980), winner Big Brother Naija premier edition (2006); film director, screenwriter, producer
- Martin Luther Agwai (b. 1948), Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff (2006–2007); Chief of Army Staff (2003–2006); Commander, UNAMID (2008–2009)
- Gwamna Awan (1915–2008), Agwam Agworok V, one of the rulers with longest reign in Africa (1945–2008)
- Musa Bityong (194?–1985), one of the first Nigerian Army officers to be airborne qualified, alleged shooter of Nigeria's Military Head-of-state Gen. Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi and Western Region governor Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyiduring the 29 July 1966 coup
- Ishaya Iko Ibrahim (1952–2022), Nigeria's 18th Chief of Naval Staff (2008–2010)
- Josiah Tagwai Kantiyok (b. 1968), consultant and chief executive of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (2009–2020), Agwam Fantswam II (2020–date)
- Lord mayor of Leeds(2024–2025)
- Sunday Marshall Katung (b. 1961), senator representing Kaduna South senatorial district(2023–date), lawyer
- Matthew Hassan Kukah (b. 1952), Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, human rights activist
- Zamani Lekwot (b. 1944), military governor Rivers State (1975–1978), Southern Kaduna elder statesman
- Blessing Liman (b. 1984), Nigeria's 1st female military pilot
- Adamu Audu Maikori (1942–2020), 1st professional lawyer in Southern Kaduna, politician, banker, military pilot
- Audu Maikori (b. 1975), co-founder Chocolate City (record label), lawyer
- Victor Moses (b. 1990), professional footballer
- Christopher Gwabin Musa (b. 1967), Nigeria's 18th Chief of Defence Staff (2023–date)
- Humboldt Prize and (2013); discovered the gene responsible for the synthesis of sialidase
- Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa (1948–2012), 1st Governor of Kaduna State from Southern Kaduna (2010–2012)
- Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(2012–2014), engineer
- Luka Nyeh Yusuf (1952–2009), Nigeria's 20th Chief of Army Staff (2007–2008), Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces (Liberia) (2006–2007)
See also
- 1992 Zangon Kataf crises
- 2019 Kaduna State massacre
- Afan National Festival
- Kafanchan Peace Declaration
- Kajuru Castle
- List of villages in Kaduna State
- Matsirga waterfalls
- Nok culture
- Railway stations in Nigeria
- Southern Kaduna Crisis
- Southern Kaduna genocide
References
- S2CID 37550776. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
- ^ Hassan-Wuyo, Ibrahim (1 September 2020). "Southern Kaduna holds 51.2% population of Kaduna state — SOKAPU". Vanguard Nigeria. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- S2CID 154843125. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
- ISBN 3791336460. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ISBN 9781580462563.
- ^ a b James, Ibrahim (2000). The Settler Phenomenon in the Middle Belt and the Problem of National Integration in Nigeria: The Middle Belt (Ethnic Composition of the Nok Culture).
- ^ Blench, Roger M. 2012. Akpondu, Nigbo, Bəbər and Nisam: moribund or extinct languages of central Nigeria Babur.
- ^ "Ethnologue entry on Gwandara". Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ James, Ibrahim (2007). The politics of creation of chiefdoms in Kaduna state. Vanguard Publishers Ltd.
- ^ "Languages of Africa". www.fmprc.gov.cn. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Nigeria". Ethnologue (22 ed.). Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- ^ Haruna, David Livingstone (20 February 2020). "Nigeria: Southern Kaduna and Tale of Illegal Artisans, Miners". All Africa. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ Isuwa, Sunday (16 December 2013). "The Lost Glory of Ginger in Southern Kaduna". Daily Trust (Abuja). Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- JSTOR 24484540. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ Bonat, Z. A. (1989). "Aspects of the Economic and Social History of the Atyab c. 1800-1960 A.D.". Savanna. 10 (1). Zaria: ABU Press: 55.
- ^ David, Tarkaa (8 March 2024). "Southern Kaduna Group Seeks Stakeholders' Support To Develop Region". Leadership NG. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ "SOKAPU youth wing elects new leaders". Peoples Gazette Nigeria. News Agency of Nigeria. 11 February 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Labaran, Abubakar (13 February 2024). "SOKAPU elects new youth leaders". Blueprint. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Hassan-Wuyo, Ibrahim (16 September 2022). "Southern Kaduna Leadership Council debuts". Vanguard NG. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ Grace, Ihesiulo (8 June 2023). "Leadership crisis hits SOKAPU as National Exco reject suspension by NEC". Daily Times Nigeria. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
External links
Media related to Southern Kaduna at Wikimedia Commons