Ibani tribe

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The Ibani tribe lives in southern Rivers State, Nigeria. Bonny Town is the tribal seat, which can be located at the edge of the Atlantic ocean on the bight of bonny, although the Bonny civil war of the 19th century led to the establishment of a rival capital in Opobo. The tribe has a strong central authority structure and a long-established royal lineage; they are a subgroup of the Ijaw people.

Bonny's development was also shaped by the tribe's close interaction with European traders. The Kingdom of Bonny was a major trading center[1] from the 16th century onwards they were known for the exportation of palm oil and palm kernel . The cult of the iguana (or ikuba) also features strongly in Bonny cultural traditions. The indigenes of Bonny and Opobo kingdoms are collectively known as the Ibani people. Although they speak the Ibani dialect of the Ijaw language, Igbo is also widely spoken. Historically, Bonny frequently engaged in several wars against its nearby rivals, such as Elem Kalabari and Andoni.[2][1]

Other important Ibani settlements include: Finima, Abalama, Oloma, kuruama etc.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Bonny | Nigeria". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  2. ^ Alagoa, Ebiegberi Joe (2005). A History of the Niger Delta, Port Harcourt: Onyoma Research Publications. ISBN 978-37314-5-9


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