Igala Kingdom

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The Igala Kingdom, also known as the Kingdom of Idah, Anẹ-Ìgàlá, is a pre-colonial West African state, in the Middle Belt of Nigeria. The kingdom was founded by the Igala people, with the "Attah" as their king, national father, and spiritual head, and the capital at Idah. Although Igala people migrated to other lands, it is believed that most, if not all Igala people settled or came from Idah, which serves as the spiritual capital of the Igala Kingdom. The Igala Kingdom influenced and has been influenced by the Yoruba, Idoma, Igbo and Jukun, and is likely made up of descendants of these groups who settled and mixed with the native Igala populations.

Igala linguistics[]

Abo-Igala = people. Culture = ÌCHÒLÒ/ÙCHÒLÒ Ichi Igala=Igala language

The etymology of the term "Igala" itself may be derived from "Iga" which means a partition, blockade, a dividing wall, and "Ala" which means "sheep". Iga-ala thus became Igala. The reason for this form of self identification is currently debated by scholars. However, a possible theory designates the citizens of the kingdom as the sheep, and the state being the wall or defence that protects them.

Religion[]

Ifa the traditional belief of the Igala and is still practiced by many. This system of worship is predicated on a belief in, and honoring of ancestral spirits. Many communities, families, and individuals maintain shrines for the worship of deities and spirits. Custodians serve as medicinal practitioners, and are versed in oral traditional history and the use of herbs and plants to cure ailments. Islam is also prominent among the Igala. The religion was introduced through trade with the Sokoto, Kaduna, Kano, and other emirates and sultanates of northern Nigeria. Trade in northern Nigeria influenced many aspects of culture in Igalaland with the introduction of Ajami Arabic texts. Christianity was introduced among the Igala people as a direct result of trade with Portuguese merchants through the Benin Kingdom, and was expedited by the colonization of the region. Protestantism, Catholicism, Anglicanism, Baptism, as well as Methodism are amongst the forms of Christianity practiced.

Political structure[]

The Àtá's court is known as the Ogbede with its head being known as the Ogbe or president of court. The Amedibo are the royal servants and the Amonoji are Àtá's eunuchs. The symbols of power are the Royal objects, including the oka (beads), okwu (neck-lace), robe (olawoni), red-cap (olumada), and otihi (flywhisk).[1]). Other sacred objects are the Ejubejuailo (The Ata's pectoral Mask), Onunu-Ere (royal crown), Unyiale Ata (royal umbrella), Odechi / Okakachi (royal band), Oka kpai Okwu (royal beads) and the Akpa-Ayegba (the stool).

The Àtá himself or herself is in-charge of the major sacred objects, shrines and festivals of the Igala people.

The Ach'adu serves as the Chief executive. Another title associated with this post is Oko-Ata (Ata's traditional husband. Ach'adu itself means prime minister)

District Officers (onu) and provincial chiefs (Am'onu) were also in custody of their various shrines, grooves, sacred objects and festivals in their own domains. The hierarchy included District-heads (Am'onu-ane), clan heads (Gago), village heads (Omadachi) and youth leaders (Achiokolobia)[2]

Among the Igalas, the titles of Ata and Achadu are held by only two people at the same time, while the titles of Onu, Achema, Akoji, Makoji, Eje, Onoja are used by multiple people at once. These titles may also be used as names. In many cases, these titles largely relate to occupations. For example Gago which is clan leader, or Onoja being the head of the market. Names which are used as titles, such as Akoji and Makoji (which signify being a representative or substitute for the Ata) are given in hopes that the child would grow to attain such a lofty title.[clarification needed] A strictly merit-based system is employed when giving out such titles.

Igala Subdivisions[]

Igalaland has nine traditional ruling councils including the capital Idah. The nine councils each has a chief (onu) who is appointed by religious rite through a complex system of traditional rite and proceedings supervised by the head of the council, the Attah Igala in Idah. The seven Igala councils are: Ankpa, Ajaka, Ugwolawo, Egume, Dekina, Omalla, Olamaboro.

Historically, each council had varying degrees of traditional administration which was based on tax collection from land holders, fishermen and market traders.

Ata[]

The first "Ata" (or "Ata"), the title given to the ruler of the kingdom, was Ebulejonu, a woman; she was succeeded by her brother Aganapoje, the father of Idoko. Idoko would later succeed him as Ata, and had two children Atiyele and Ayegba om'Idoko (Ayegba son of Idoko), Atiyele the first son of Idoko migrated eastward of the kingdom to establish Ankpa kingdom while Ayegba the second son of Idoko succeeded his father as Ata'IGala. He led a war against the Jukun, which resulted in victory. HRH Idakwo Micheal was appointed as the new Ata of Igala in December 2012.[3] The position of Ata Igala rotates among four branches of the royal clan. The Igala kingdom was founded by Abutu-Eje in the 16th century. The kingdom was ruled by nine high officials called the Igala Mela who are custodians of the sacred Earth shrine. The Throne of the Ata is currently rotated among the clans of Aju Akogwu, Aju Amẹchọ, Aju Akwu, Aju Ocholi. "Aju" is meant to signify who the clan came from, as being the name of the ancestor of the clan.

List of Àtá[]

ÀJI ÀTÁ DYNASTY

  • Àji-Àtá (1507-1537)
  • Ólemà I (1537-1567)
  • Ánògena (1567-1597)
  • Àgbó (1597-1627)
  • Ágóshì (1627-1657)
  • Ólemà II (1657-1687)[4]

Kwararafa Dynasty

  • Àbùtù Ẹ̀jẹ̀

Ata who ruled in the Independence Era

  • Ébúlẹẹ́jonú Ọm Abutu (f)
  • Ágánápojè Ọm Abutu
  • Ìdoko Ọm Agana poje
  • Áyẹ́gbà Ọm Idoko
  • Akwùmábì Ọm Ayegba (Onu) (Ónákpa)
  • Ákogwu Ọm Ayegba
  • Òcholi ọ̀gákọ Ọm Ayegba (Òhíémi Ọ̀bọgọ )
  • Agada Elame Ọm Ayegba
  • Àámẹ́ẹ̀ Achọ Ọm Akumabi
  • Ìtódó Ádùgà Ọm Akumabi
  • Ọ́gáláà Ọm Akogwu
  • Ìdoko Adegbe Ọm Ocholi
  • Ónúchẹ́ Ọm Amacho
  • 1835 Ẹ́kẹ́lẹ̀ Àgà Ọm Ogala
  • 1835–1856 Àámẹ́ẹ̀ Òchéje Ọm Itodo
  • 1856–1870 Ákwù Òdíbā Ọm Idoko
  • 1870–1876 Òkolíko Ọm Onuche
  • 1876–1900 Àámẹ́ Ágà Ọm Ekalaga

Ata who ruled during British occupation

  • 1900–1903 Òchéje Àámẹ́ Óchēje Ọm Amocheje( Òchéje Onọ́kpā)
  • 1905–1911 Ame Òbòní Akwù Ọm Odiba
  • 1911–1919 Ògwùchẹ́ Akpá Ọm Okoliko
  • 1919–1926 Àtábọ Ìjọ̀mì Ọm Amaga
  • 1926–1945 Ọ̀bàje Ọm Òchéje
  • 1945 – 23 June 1956 Umaru Àámẹ́ẹ̀ Akpoli Ọm Óbòní

Ata who ruled from Nigerian Independence till date

History[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Becky, Ahmadu. "CHAPTER TWO POLITICAL, CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE KINGDOM 1. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ eujournal.org https://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/viewFile/3809/3625. Retrieved 2018-12-14. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ "Igala Kingdom Gets New Attah". Information Nigeria. 17 December 2012.
  4. ^ JOHN., IDAKWOJI (2014). IGALA-ENGLISH LEXICON : a bilingual dictionary with notes on igala language, history, culture and ... priest-kings. PARTRIDGE SINGAPORE. ISBN 978-1-4828-2787-3. OCLC 1049789470.
  5. ^ Ottah, Gabriel Alhassan (2015). "African Culture and Communication Systems in the Coronation of Ata Igala, North- Central Nigeria". International Journal of Arts and Humanities. 4 (3): 210 – via AJOL.

Further reading[]

  • Isichei, Elizabeth. (1997). A history of African Societies to 1870. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-45599-5.
  • Ajodo, Saidu (2006). A Short History of Omoja Clan in the Igala Kingdom. El-Deen Printers. ISBN 978-978-084-581-0.
  • Boston, J. S.; Research, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic (1968). The Igala Kingdom. Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research. ISBN 978-0-19-646013-0.
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