Attah of Igala
 Igala territory |
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 800,000 (1989) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Nigeria | |
| Languages | |
| Igala | |
| Religion | |
| Islam, Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Idoma, Igbo, Ebira, Esan |
The Igala are an ethnic group of Nigeria. The home of the Igala people is situated east of the river Niger and Benue confluence, in Kogi state of Nigeria with its headquarters in Idah. The area is approximately between latitude 6°30 and 8°40 north and longitude 6°30 and 7°40 east and covers an area of about 13,665 square kilometers (Oguagha P.A 1981) The Igala population is estimated at 2 million, they can also be found in fringe areas of Delta, Anambra, Enugu and Edo States of Nigeria.
In Igala tradition, infants from some parts of the kingdom, like Ankpa receive three deep horizontal cuts on each side of the face, slightly above the corners of their mouths, as a way of identifying each other. This practice which was prevalent during inter-tribal wars in the 17th and 18th century has now become less common.
The Igalas are ruled by a figure called the "Attah". The word Attah means 'Father' and the full title of the ruler is 'Attah Igala', meaning, the Father of Igalas (the actual Igala word for King is Onu). Although "Attah" means "father"', female rulership is recognized and Igala has had female rulers in the past, such as Ebulejonu from Ebule (Female) Je (Is) Onu (King) (Boston 1968).
Among the most revered Attahs of the Igala kingdom are Attah Ayegba Oma Idoko and Atta Ameh Oboni. According to oral tradition, Attah Ayegba Oma Idoko offered his most beloved daughter, Princess Inikpi to ensure that the Igalas win a war of liberation from the Jukuns' dominance.
Attah Ameh Oboni is known to be very brave and resolute. He is revered for his stiff resistance of the British and his struggles to uphold some ancient traditions of the Igalas. When he got wind of a plan by the British to depose and exile him, he committed suicide by hanging himself to forestall the plan. He is regarded by most Igalas as the last real Attah Igala.
There is an Igala association in the United States, called Igala Association USA. The new Attah of Igala is HRM Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni II.
The traditional Igala society is largely agrarian, although fishing is also a mainstay of the people especially the Igala's of the riverine Idah area.
The Igala before the 19th century inhabited the entire triangular tract of territory on the left bank of the Benue and Niger about 100 kilometers below their confluence. Some Settlements of the Igala speaking peoples were also located on the right bank of the Niger below the confluence opposite Itobe. The dynasties of the Igbira kingdoms of Panda and Igu, the rulers of the Alago kingdom of Doma, Attama and Eze of the Nsukka area in north-west Igboland on the border of the Igala, as well as the Oku of Ikiri in North-east Yorubaland claim either that their founding ancestors came from Idah, or derive the legitimacy of the offices from the Atta of Igala. Dynasties apart, the clans of the Igbira Tao (Okene area), the Osomari Igbo south of Onitsha, some clans of the Idoma and Agatu claim migrations from Igala territory. Thus, the histories of the Nupe and Igala (and indirectly of the Kwararafa(Jukun)) can be said to provide a general framework for the history of the people of the Niger - Benue confluence area.
...
Wikipedia