A Brief History Of Okun People – The Yorubas in Kogi

The term “Okun” is a popular word used to describe every indigenous Yoruba person in Kogi state, Nigeria.


Kogi state is a multi-ethnic society, and Okun people consist of over 20% of the entire population of the state, which is about 1Million out of the 5Million residents, according to population protection.


Okun people occupies six local government areas in Kogi State, which are; Kabba-Bunu, Ijùmu, Yagba-Eest, Yagba-West, Mopa-Muro, and Lokoja local government Areas. Substantial amount of indigenous Okun population can also be found in some states like Ekiti, Kwara, and Ondo.


They communicate in various Yoruba dialects, such as Owé, Ìyàgbà, Ìjùmú, Bùnú and Oworo, but they are generally called Okun irrespective of dialects.

One stunning fact about okun People is that, if you are not an Okun person, you wouldn’t be able to figure out the slight differences in the various dialects because every speaker flaunts his/her dialect at will, with the confidence that the other Okun listener will understand without stress. And in most cases they do.

More so, every Okun person speaks the general Yoruba dialect fluently even without ever stepping foot on South West soil.

Okun People way of life is largely influenced by various reasons. Such as:

Diversity of Kogi state

As a result of multiple culture and ethnic diversity which makes Kogi state a cultural hub with a large number of ethnic groups such as Ebira, Igala, Hausa, Bassa, Igbo, and other minorities like Bassa, and a small percentage of Nupe people mainly in Lokoja and Bassa Local Government Area.

Other tribes in Kogi state are the Ogugu sub-group of the Igala tribe, Kakanda, Gwari, Oworo people (A Yoruba Group), Ogori, Bassa komo, and Magongo.
Also including the Eggan and community under Lokoja Local Government Area.

The influence of these many tribes contributed in shaping the dialect of Okun.

Geography

The history of Okun People cannot be completed without mentioning the geographical factor, because it is an important factor that many believed to have shaped the dialect and culture of Okun people. Considering the fact that Kogi state shares boundaries with ten other states which are; Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, Benue, Niger, Nasarawa, Enugu, Anambra, Edo and the Federal capital territory.

History

Historical factors have played its part in influencing the Okun people’s identity and culture.

The Nupe wars of the 19th century and interaction with the Hausas due to geographical zoning since 1991 have left a remarkable mark on the Okun people and their way of life.

According to oral history, Okun people in Kogi migrated from the ancient town of Ile Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba race. The migration occurred as a quest by the Yorubas to spread and occupy more territory.

Before spreading out, there was an agreement that everyone would report to Ile-Ife in present day Osun state for a yearly meeting.

The man who led a group of Yoruba people to a location (now called YAGBA) in Kogi state broke the covenant and did not return for the yearly meeting after several years.

When he eventually returned, he explained that he faced challenges and had lost a larger part of his acquired land to some other migrants.

He was blamed for his incompetence which led to the loss, so he lamented in Yoruba language, ”ÌYÀ ÀGBÀ LÓ JEMÍ” which literally means the invasion of his acquired land by immigrants was due to lack of having elderly people to guard him.

Since then, everyone started mocking him at Ile-Ife. They nicknamed him Iya agba, associating this name with him whenever they want to send messages across to him while he’s at his occupied territory, now called Yagba.

For many years, the Okun people faced numerous challenges, ranging from geo-political zoning, disunity, marginalization and problem of identity.

The challenges started during the British colonial era when they were politically ceded to the Northern protectorate by Lord Fredrick Lugard, the then Governor-General of Nigeria.

Abolition of the provincial and regional administrative system in Nigeria in the year 1967 led to their merging with Ilorin to form old Kwara state.

Their neighbor, the Igalas were merged with old Benue State.

However, on the 27th of august 1991, Okun people were separated from Kwara and merged with Ebira, Igala from Benue state and some other tribes to form the present Kogi state.

Their persistent efforts to break away and form a new Okun State, which could make it easier for them to be closer to their Kitts and Kin in the South Western part of Nigeria have failed on numerous occasions.

Okun people bear typical Yoruba names and many of their towns and villages are named in Yoruba language.

Stunning Similarities Between Igala and Okun-Yoruba Language

Some popular Okun towns and villages are

Ayegunle
Ayetoro
Okedayo
Ikoyi
Kajola
Egbeda
Egbeda Ega
Oke-aba (Kabba)
Odo Ere
Odo Eri
Ife
Iyamoye
Agbaja
Igbo Nla
Obajana and
Ikoyi

Some popular Okun indigenes

Eyitayo Lambo
Pastor Sam Adeyemi
Smart Adeyemi
James Faleke and
Shola Amoebi
Chief Kola Jamodu
Others include;
Tunde Ednut
John Obaro
Jaywon
Dino Melaye
Nike Davies Okundaye
Sam Alle
Bayo Ojo
Ty bello
Dare Art Alade
Suday Bada, etc