Isoko people are an ethnolinguistic group who inhabit the Isoko region of Delta State and Bayelsa State, Nigeria.[2] They are people of southern Nigeria, near the northwestern Niger delta.[3] Delta State and Bayelsa State are part of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
 Isoko girl | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 1,000,000[1] () | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Isoko region (Nigeria) | |
| Languages | |
| Isoko | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity and Traditional African religions | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Urhobo, Bini, Esan, Afemai |
The Isokos speak the Isoko language, a language of the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo family[4] which is also very linguistically similar to the Urhobo language, Epie-Atissa language, Engenni language. James W. Welch asserted erroneously that Isoko language cluster is a dialect of Urhobo language.[5]
The Isoko culture is related to several cultures in the Niger-Delta - namely, Urhobo, Ijaw and Anioma.[1] Urhobo are related in language and culture, leading to the invaders erroneously labelling the Urhobo and Isoko cultural groups as Sobo.[4] This name was strongly rejected by both tribes.[6][7]
The Isoko ethnic group consist of nineteen clans ,namely: Uzere, Ozoro, Erowha, Owhe, Iyede, Okpe, Emede, Igbide, Emevor, Ofagbe, Ellu, Oyede, Umeh, Irri, Aviara, Olomoro, Enwhe, Okpolo and Oleh.[8]
Notable people
edit- Don Jazzy, Famous music producer and singer
- Obaro Ikime, Professor of History, University of Ibadan
- Stella Omu, Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
- Jonathan Akpoborie, Nigerian international footballer
- D'Prince, Afropop singer
- Victor Ikpeba, Nigerian international footballer and brand ambassador
- Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, Senator currently representing Delta South
- Zeb Ejiro, Veteran Film Maker
- Chico Ejiro, Veteran Film Maker
- Eva Alordiah, rap musician[9]
- Fred Amata, actor[10]
- Jeta Amata, filmmaker[11]
- Bovi, comedian[12]
- Patience Oghogho Maseli, first female Deputy Director of Upstream Division at the Department of Petroleum Resources[13]
- Evi Edna Ogholi, reggae musician[14]
- Orezi, musician[15]
- Daddy Showkey, garala singer[16]
- Masai Ujiri, President and former GM of the Toronto Raptors[17]
- Solid Star, musician[18]
- Samuel Oboh, Canadian architect[19]
- Cornelius Adam Igbudu (1914-1981), founder of the Anglican Adam Preaching Society
- Ogaga Ifowodo, human rights activist, lawyer, and writer
- Moses James, Boxer, Olympic medalist 1992, two time world boxing champion.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Isoko in Nigeria". Joshua Project. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ^ The Isoko Tribe, James W. Welch
- ^ "Isoko | people | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
- ^ a b "Isoko | people". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
- ^ Welch, James W. (1934). "The Isoko Tribe". Africa: Journal of the International African Institute. 7 (2): 160–173. doi:10.2307/1155529. JSTOR 1155529. S2CID 145669865.
- ^ "Isoko Kingdom in Delta Nigeria Guide". www.nigeriagalleria.com. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ^ Tobor, John Oghenero (2014). Urhobo Culture and the Amnesty Program in Niger Delta, Nigeria: An Ethnographic Case Study (Thesis). Walden University.
- ^ Okpevra, Uwomano Benjamin (19 August 2020). "A discourse on the history and identity of the Isoko of the Niger Delta of Nigeria". African Identities. 19 (4): 536–553. doi:10.1080/14725843.2020.1804828. ISSN 1472-5843. S2CID 225394849.
- ^ "Elohor Eva Alordiah, Musician, Recording Artist, Nigeria Personality Profiles". www.nigeriagalleria.com. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "Fred Amata". IMDb. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "Filmmaker Jeta Amata raises the alarm over whereabouts of ex-wife". Punch Newspapers. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "Bovi Ugboma, Actor, Comedian, Nigeria Personality Profiles". www.nigeriagalleria.com. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "18 Notable Alumni of the University of Port Harcourt". EduRank.org - Discover university rankings by location. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "EVI EDNA OGOLI -Biography". Enorecords LLC. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "Talent without money a waste of time - Orezi". Vanguard News. 29 June 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "Daddy Showkey Rewards Outstanding Students In Ajegunle – KapitalFM 92.9 Abuja". kapital929.fm. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ Rush, Curtis. "Future Remains Uncertain For Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri". Forbes. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ (Musician), Coco Solid (2006), Denim & leisure : Coco & Erik remixes 02-05, Coco Solid, OCLC 156760207, retrieved 11 September 2021
- ^ "Samuel Oboh inducted as the 76th President of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada". Canadian Architect. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
External links
edit- Isoko information
- Isoko History Archived 8 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine - information about Isoko Society by Hon. Chief Clement O. Akugha
Further reading
edit- "The history of Isoko people". EdoWorld.net. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.