The Igala Kingdom

Posted by Chief Musa Adegbe  at April 14th, 2014

Historical overview

Originally, in the height of its fame precisely in the first quarter of the sixteenth through eighteenth century, Igalaland stretched further than what obtains today as Igala kingdom. It is worthwhile to note that the reduction in the size of the vast land that was hitherto known to be the territory of Igala kingdom came as a result of colonial rule in Nigeria {1900-1960}.It was the colonial masters in their deliberate effort to claim the confluence region that reduced indiscriminately the vast landmass covered by the sphere of Ata Igala’s political influence in the pre-colonial era to its present size. The scope and size of Igalaland today is precisely half of what it was prior to the advent of British rule in Nigeria.
However, currently, the Igala people are occupying a vast land that constitutes the entire kogi east with nine local government councils. And according to experts, the Igala people are occupying a landmass covering about 40,000 square kilometers that is centrally located in Nigeria bellow the confluence of rivers Niger and Benue.

LANGUAGE.

The Igala people speak a language known as Igala which according to linguists belongs to kwa sub-family of the Niger-congo group of languages. It is spoken throughout the entire Igalaland. It is today famed as the first language in kogi state and one of the principal languages in Nigeria. Although one cannot rule out minor dialectical differences found mainly on the fringes and coastal areas of the kingdom, which is as a result of close contact with neighboring communities, the language is generally understood throughout the length and breath of the kingdom.
It is note worthy that the Igala language has been systematically and scientifically developed to rank among other major Nigerian languages like the Hausa, Yoruba and the Ibo. In the olden days, Igala language was taught in the schools in Igalaland especially in the 1960s. Similarly, eminent indigenous scholars like Dr. Tom A. Miachi mni, Mr Yusuf Etu and others were greatly instrumental to the development of Igala autography and its subsequent approval by the Federal Government. Equally gratifying and praiseworthy is the collective efforts of Kogi State University and the Ankpa College of Education towards further development of the language in recent years.

Origin

There are various shades of opinion regarding the origin of the Igala people. Both written and oral traditions have intricately linked the origin of the Igala people to the Yoruba, Jukun, Edo, Middle East or the mythical leopard. Others are of the opinion that the Igala people descended from Heaven; yet, some scholars have in recent years traced the origin of the Igala people to internal source. But a veteran historian, who is equally an accomplished anthropologist, Dr. Tom Miachi mni says, ‘Issues about the exact origin of people cannot be taken too rigidly and with too much assurances since it is a matter of time and space much of which is lost in unrecorded oral tradition. Perhaps what should interest us today, more than ethno genesis is, and who are the Igala people…’
In the light of historical researches so far conducted, it is certain that the Igala people are heir to multiple traditions of origin. Thus there is need for more scholarly and insightful researches with perceptive excavations that will reveal the exact origin of the Igala people.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS

Historically, early settlement in Igalaland was a true reflection of one group of people with nearly everything in common. {Adegbe, 2004}. This is because the system of early settlements in villages was lineage oriented. And it was these villages that developed into communities. Initially, concentration of people was said to have been centered in the Idah area, the abode of the Igalamela community believed to be the king makers in Igala kingdom. And above all, they are the proprietors of Igalaland.
It is interesting to note that the three major factors that influenced early settlements in Igalaland were sufficient supply of water, fertile land for enough supply of food and safety of life and property. These conditions were easily satisfied in Igalaland because of availability of rivers, fertile lands and the topography of the area which in the ancient times made it almost inaccessible unless through the sea. Another major salient factor that facilitated large scale diffusion of Igala population was the famous tradition of ‘Igala kwuro’. It was a political tool used in the ancient times to scare away families and strong men of any deposed or deceased Ata Igala from the capital to avoid threats to the new government. Other factors that stimulated quick movement of people were catastrophic situations, infertility of the land or outbreak of an uncommon ailment.

EARLY POLITICAL ORGANIZATION

In the olden days, Igala people were well organized with relatively stable kingship relations. The kingship was said to have developed early in the history of the kingdom. And one important point that is note worthy in the formative stages of Igala kingship was that, the basic unit of social or political organization was a whole range of institutions which ranges from the head of the nuclear family to the leader of the extended family; from the leader of the extended family to the village head; from the village head to the provincial or district head. And all district heads were ultimately accountable to the central government at Idah under the leadership of the Ata Igala, the sovereign ruler of the kingdom. This was because leadership in Igalaland was in the ancient times a unique system of natural disposition that was strictly based on first comes, first served. This is to say that the eldest in any family is usually the leader of that family. Similarly, the most senior or eldest in any given community was the leader of that community or village head. This is because the Igala people have great respect for age especially old age, which they believe, is an epitome of knowledge and wisdom. This customary form of respect and deference to elders underscores the moral philosophy that forms the bedrock of Igala culture. Thus old age was one of the criteria for appointing leaders in the olden days.This was the system in vogue prior to the commencement of hereditary chieftaincy or the development of monarchy in Igalaland.

KINGSHIP DEVELOPMENT.

With the passage of times following the early settlements of nuclear and extended families in a cluster of houses, tremendous increase in population led to the evolution of semi-urban settlements in Igalaland. Similarly, the massive influx of immigrants was another important factor that facilitated the speedy development of Igalaland.
It is interesting to note that the emergence of Igala kingdom had a synonymous historical development with the evolution of the kingship. According to historians, the Igala kingship developed first in the area of Amagedde in the remote past where several kings were said to have ruled Igalaland. Although the number of those that ruled then could not be ascertained because it was the pre-Ata era which antedates the historic reign of Ata Ayegba Om’Idoko.
“A study of the Ata dynasty and the observances at the Ata’s installation leads to the inference that an earlier state had developed at Amagedde on the south bank of Benue, close to the boundary of Igala and Idoma languages. The evidence of the one time importance of Amagedde is unequivocal: a number of kings, Abutu Eje, Ebulejonu, Agenapoje, and Idoko are vaguely thought to have reigned there and the collective significance of these personalities to the Ata dynasty as expressed in rituals underlines the importance of the Amagedde phase in the Igala kingship” {Ajayi, Ade and Crowder, Michael, 1976; 229}
But of special interest to us is the development of Igala kingship in the plains of Idah about the 15th century. This was an era that occasioned the reign of Ata Ayegba Om’Idoko. And it was a remarkable period in the history of Igala Traditional Institution. His reign marked a period of political transition from the primitive political system to modern democratic dispensation. This was informed by the fact that Ata Ayegba Om’Idoko in his hey-days enjoyed the companionship of a council of elders who were selected for their wisdom and piety. These leaders were the core of the royal family that were later elevated to the dignity of high chiefs ‘Am’Ohiala Ata’ which means Ata’s ministers. Consequently, the leadership of Igala kingdom developed a unique polity that took all of its component communities ‘including immigrants’ into its fold, thus forming a broad central government with its headquarters at Idah. And that was how Idah became the seat of government, cultural and political nerve center of the kingdom.
In a nutshell, Ata Ayegba Om’Idoko is the progenitor or founder of the present traditional institution in Igalaland and the father of the entire Igala sons and daughters. He will be remembered for long because of his unprecedented political antecedence and heroic struggle that won for the Igala people a unique sovereignty.

RELIGIOUS GROWTH.

The history of religious development in Igala kingdom is an interesting field of spiritual endeavour especially if one is to consider the significant role the Igala traditional religion had played in the life of its adherents in the ancient times. The tremendous role of religion in the development of the kingdom can hardly be overemphasized because it was the vogue of the ancient society and the essence of the traditional moral philosophy.
Another point note worthy is that the traditional concept of worship {Ichebo} which provided spiritual fulfillment to the people consists mainly of the followings;

1.  Belief in the Supreme Being God.
2. Ancestral worship.
3. Worship of the spirits.
4. Divination.
5. Magic and sorcery.

In the ancient times, the entire Igala concept of beliefs and rituals centered round the person of Ata Igala who was believed to be a demigod. He was the political and spiritual leader of the kingdom.
In a nutshell, the overriding significance of the traditional religion is derived from the fact that it was in the ancient times a major factor that held the kingdom together. It was also a major source of political control as people were scared of breaking the various forms of taboos that constituted the bedrock of moral philosophy in the kingdom. The religion has certain features like the fulfillment of prayers and attainment of quick positive results which justified its tenacious existence and rapid spread in the kingdom even beyond the shores of Igala kingdom.