Gbagyi or Gbari (plural - Agbagyi/Agbari)[1] is the name and the language of Gbagyi/Gbari ethnic group who are predominantly found in Central Nigeria, with a population of about 1 million people. Members of the ethnic group speak two dialects. While speakers of the dialects were loosely called Gwari by both the Hausa Fulani and Europeans during pre-colonial Nigeria[2] they prefer to be known as Gbagyi/Gbari. They live in the Niger, the Federal Capital Territory - Abuja, and Kaduna State.[3] They are also found in Nasarawa central Nigeria Area. Gbagyi/Gbari is one of the most populated ethnic and indigenous group in the middle belt and Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria and their major occupation is farming. Pottery is also an occupation practiced by the women.[4][5]
Historically, the Gbagyi/Gbari practice a patrilineal kinship system.[6] The lowest tier of authority is found in the extended family compound led by the oldest male. The compound consist of small huts and rectangular buildings. The Esu/Osu (king) is the highest tier of authority in a Gbagyi/Gbari settlement and he is assisted by a group of elders.[7] e Gbagyi/Gbari people are predominantly farmers but they are also hunters whilst some are involved in making traditional arts and craft products such as pottery and woodwork like mortar and pestle.[8] The Gbagyi/Gbari are proficient with mixing clay to produce decorative household products such as pots. They are also known to be very good farmers, as they use local farm instruments like hoes and cutlasses to farm yams, maize, millet and groundnuts.
Settlement
The Gbagyi people are found in various locations in Middle Belt (Central) Nigeria. They inhabit the western parts of Abuja, southern Niger State, ChikunLocal Government Area with its headquarters at Kujama in Kaduna state and Nassarawa states.[9] Significant Gbagyi towns include Minna, Karu, Kuta, Kwakuti, Kwali, Gawu, (Gusolo) Gussoro, (Gbada) Gwada, Guni, Fuka, Galkogo, Maikunle, Manta, Wushapa (Ushafa), Bisi, Bwaya (Bwari), Suleja, Shiroro (Shilolo), Beji, Diko, Alawa, Erena, Paiko/ paigo lanbata, zugba and farin doki are some theories that posits a reason for the scattered settlements and migration of the Gbagyi people. Some historians believe the Gbagyi were displaced from their original settlements during the Fulani Jihad, while some local historians link migration with the need for farmland by the Gbagyi.[10] Chigudu, pp. 1–2
Gbagyi settlements can be both large and small. In locations where farming is the dominant occupation, the settlements tend to be small so that enough land is available for farming.
Displacement from lands in Abuja
The Gbagyi were the largest among the ethnic groups that inhabited the land proposed for development when Abuja was chosen as Nigeria's new federal capital. The result of the dislocation was the removal of people from their ancestral homes, from spiritual symbols such as Zuma Rock,[11] seeing their ancestral land be referred to as no-man's land and issues about adjusting to the new environment given by the government. However, many displaced families were given housing, but some lived in transit and settlements camps for a long while.
Culture
Hand-Built pot by Ladi Kwali (YORYM-2004.1.919)
The Gbagyi people are known to be peace-loving, transparent and accommodating people. Northerners are fond of saying in Hausa language muyi shi Gwari Gwari, "let’s do it like the Gbagyi" or "in the Gbagyi way". According to Tanko Chigudu, the Gbagyi people have emerged as a unique breed among Nigerians: their culture shows how much they have come to terms with the universe. Daily they aspire to give life a meaning no matter the situation in which they find themselves.[12]
The Gbagyi language is part of the Kwa sub-division of the Niger-Congo language family,[13] however, some researchers such as Kay Williamson put the language in the Benue-Congo family.[14] The people speak two dialects that are sometimes called Gbari (Gwari yamma) and Gbagyi dialects.
Religion
The Gbagyi people are adherents of Islam, Christianity and their own traditional religion. In their traditional religion, some Gbagyi believe in a God called Shekwoi (one who was there before their ancestors)[15] but they also devote themselves to appeasing deities of the god such as Maigiro.[16] Many Agbagyi believe in reincarnation.
Islam became more prominent among the people after the Fulani jihad while Christianity was introduced to the people by the Sudan Interior Mission (which also came to be known locally as Evangelical Church of West Africa) and the Baptist Missionaries from the western part of Nigeria.[17]
^Smith, B. J. (1981). "Slope Evolution in the Gwari Hills, Kaduna State, Nigeria". Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography. 2 (1): 57–67. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9493.1981.tb00119.x. ISSN 0129-7619.
^Chigudu Tanko Theophilus (2008), A brief History of the Gbagyi Speaking People, an unpublished Article
^Mefor, Law (16 December 2008). . Daily Independent. Nigeria: Independent Newspapers Limited (Lagos), via odili.net. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 2009-12-20.
Shekwo, Joseph (1984). Understanding Gbagyi folktales : premises for targeting salient electronic mass media programs (Thesis). Northwestern University.
Rosendall, Elias (1998). Aspects of gbari grammar (Thesis). University of Texas at Arlington.
March 10, 2023
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Gbagyi or Gbari plural Agbagyi Agbari 1 is the name and the language of Gbagyi Gbari ethnic group who are predominantly found in Central Nigeria with a population of about 1 million people Members of the ethnic group speak two dialects While speakers of the dialects were loosely called Gwari by both the Hausa Fulani and Europeans during pre colonial Nigeria 2 they prefer to be known as Gbagyi Gbari They live in the Niger the Federal Capital Territory Abuja and Kaduna State 3 They are also found in Nasarawa central Nigeria Area Gbagyi Gbari is one of the most populated ethnic and indigenous group in the middle belt and Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria and their major occupation is farming Pottery is also an occupation practiced by the women 4 5 Gbagyi Gbari people Agbagyi Agbari Total populationc 1 millionRegions with significant populations NigeriaLanguagesGbagyi GbariReligionChristianityIslamTraditional African religionRelated ethnic groupsNupe people Contents 1 History 1 1 Social political structure 2 Settlement 2 1 Displacement from lands in Abuja 3 Culture 3 1 Language 3 2 Religion 4 List of notable Gbagyi people 5 References 6 SourcesHistory EditSocial political structure Edit Historically the Gbagyi Gbari practice a patrilineal kinship system 6 The lowest tier of authority is found in the extended family compound led by the oldest male The compound consist of small huts and rectangular buildings The Esu Osu king is the highest tier of authority in a Gbagyi Gbari settlement and he is assisted by a group of elders 7 e Gbagyi Gbari people are predominantly farmers but they are also hunters whilst some are involved in making traditional arts and craft products such as pottery and woodwork like mortar and pestle 8 The Gbagyi Gbari are proficient with mixing clay to produce decorative household products such as pots They are also known to be very good farmers as they use local farm instruments like hoes and cutlasses to farm yams maize millet and groundnuts Settlement EditThe Gbagyi people are found in various locations in Middle Belt Central Nigeria They inhabit the western parts of Abuja southern Niger State Chikun Local Government Area with its headquarters at Kujama in Kaduna state and Nassarawa states 9 Significant Gbagyi towns include Minna Karu Kuta Kwakuti Kwali Gawu Gusolo Gussoro Gbada Gwada Guni Fuka Galkogo Maikunle Manta Wushapa Ushafa Bisi Bwaya Bwari Suleja Shiroro Shilolo Beji Diko Alawa Erena Paiko paigo lanbata zugba and farin doki are some theories that posits a reason for the scattered settlements and migration of the Gbagyi people Some historians believe the Gbagyi were displaced from their original settlements during the Fulani Jihad while some local historians link migration with the need for farmland by the Gbagyi 10 Chigudu pp 1 2Gbagyi settlements can be both large and small In locations where farming is the dominant occupation the settlements tend to be small so that enough land is available for farming Displacement from lands in Abuja Edit The Gbagyi were the largest among the ethnic groups that inhabited the land proposed for development when Abuja was chosen as Nigeria s new federal capital The result of the dislocation was the removal of people from their ancestral homes from spiritual symbols such as Zuma Rock 11 seeing their ancestral land be referred to as no man s land and issues about adjusting to the new environment given by the government However many displaced families were given housing but some lived in transit and settlements camps for a long while Culture Edit Hand Built pot by Ladi Kwali YORYM 2004 1 919 The Gbagyi people are known to be peace loving transparent and accommodating people Northerners are fond of saying in Hausa language muyi shi Gwari Gwari let s do it like the Gbagyi or in the Gbagyi way According to Tanko Chigudu the Gbagyi people have emerged as a unique breed among Nigerians their culture shows how much they have come to terms with the universe Daily they aspire to give life a meaning no matter the situation in which they find themselves 12 Language Edit Main article Gwari language The Gbagyi language is part of the Kwa sub division of the Niger Congo language family 13 however some researchers such as Kay Williamson put the language in the Benue Congo family 14 The people speak two dialects that are sometimes called Gbari Gwari yamma and Gbagyi dialects Religion Edit The Gbagyi people are adherents of Islam Christianity and their own traditional religion In their traditional religion some Gbagyi believe in a God called Shekwoi one who was there before their ancestors 15 but they also devote themselves to appeasing deities of the god such as Maigiro 16 Many Agbagyi believe in reincarnation Islam became more prominent among the people after the Fulani jihad while Christianity was introduced to the people by the Sudan Interior Mission which also came to be known locally as Evangelical Church of West Africa and the Baptist Missionaries from the western part of Nigeria 17 List of notable Gbagyi people EditBez musician Ibrahim Babangida former president of Nigeria Ladi Kwali potter Abdulsalami Abubakar former military leader of NigeriaReferences Edit Homeland Appears to be Between Niger and Benue Confluence The African Guardian January 1986 Retrieved 2016 04 16 Shekwo pp 18 Smith B J 1981 Slope Evolution in the Gwari Hills Kaduna State Nigeria Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography 2 1 57 67 doi 10 1111 j 1467 9493 1981 tb00119 x ISSN 0129 7619 Chigudu Tanko Theophilus 2008 A brief History of the Gbagyi Speaking People an unpublished Article Mefor Law 16 December 2008 Is FCT truly a federal zone Daily Independent Nigeria Independent Newspapers Limited Lagos via odili net Archived from the original on 7 August 2020 Retrieved 2009 12 20 Shekwo p 24 Shekwo Shekwo p 29 Rosendall pp 1 shekwo pp 21 23 Shekwo p 39 Chigudu Tanko T 2008 2 The Impact Of Urbanization on the Gbagyi People in Abuja Shekwo p 18 Rosendall p 6 Shekwo p 31 Shekwo pp 31 Rosendall p 3 Sources EditShekwo Joseph 1984 Understanding Gbagyi folktales premises for targeting salient electronic mass media programs Thesis Northwestern University Rosendall Elias 1998 Aspects of gbari grammar Thesis University of Texas at Arlington Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gbagyi people amp oldid 1119198651, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
