Igala
Encyclopedia : I : IG : IGA : Igala
The Igala or Igara are an ethnic group of Nigeria. Igala practice a number of different religions, including animism, Christianity, and Islam.
The home of the Igala people is situated east side of the river Niger and Benue confluence and astride the Niger to form the confluence in Lokoja.
Igala land 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 two million, they are the major ethnic group in present Kogi State but can be found in Delta, Edo, Enugu and Anambra State of Nigeria. They are Africans belonging to the Kwa sub groups of the Niger Congo language family.
In Igala tradition, infants 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. However, this practice is becoming less common.
References
- Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.), 2005. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Fifteenth edition. Dallas, Tex.: SIL International.
External links
Nigeria's Fading 'Identity Card'"], from Awake! magazine (January 8, 1999)
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