Isoko people

Isoko people are an ethnolinguistic group who inhabit the Isoko region of Delta State and Bayelsa State, Nigeria.^[3] They are people of southern Nigeria, near the northwestern Niger delta.^[4] Delta State and Bayelsa State are part of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Isoko

Isoko girl
Total population
300,000 + ^[1]^[2] ()
Regions with significant populations
Isoko region (Nigeria)
Languages
Isoko
Religion
Christianity and Traditional African religions
Related ethnic groups
Urhobo, Bini, Esan, Afemai

Isoko mask

The Isokos speak the Isoko language, a language of the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo family^[5] which is also very linguistically similar to the Urhobo language, Epie-Atissa language, Engenni language. James W. Welch asserted that Isoko language is a dialect of Urhobo language,^[6] and many people^[who?] share that opinion.

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.^[5] This name was strongly rejected by both tribes.^[7][8]

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.^[9]

Notable people

• Eva Alordiah, rap musician^[10]
• Don Jazzy, record producer^[11]
• Fred Amata, actor^[12]
• Jeta Amata, filmmaker^[13]
• Bovi, comedian^[14]
• Patience Oghogho Maseli, first female Deputy Director of Upstream Division at the Department of Petroleum Resources^[15]
• Evi Edna Ogholi, reggae musician^[16]
• Orezi, musician^[17]
• Daddy Showkey, garala singer^[18]
• Masai Ujiri, President and former GM of the Toronto Raptors^[19]
• Solid Star, musician^[20]
• Samuel Oboh, Canadian architect^[21]
• Emily Eriarie Arhagba, first Vice Principal at the Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, Delta State.^[22]
• Frank Shell Ogodo (Stage Name: Funky Franky), Musician^[23]

References

1. "Who is Who in Isokoland?".
2. "Isoko in Nigeria". Joshua Project. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
3. The Isoko Tribe, James W. Welch
4. "Isoko | people | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
5. "Isoko | people". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
6. 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.
7. "Isoko Kingdom in Delta Nigeria Guide". www.nigeriagalleria.com. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
8. Tobor, John Oghenero (2014). Urhobo Culture and the Amnesty Program in Niger Delta, Nigeria: An Ethnographic Case Study (Thesis). Walden University.
9. 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.
10. "Elohor Eva Alordiah, Musician, Recording Artist, Nigeria Personality Profiles". www.nigeriagalleria.com. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
11. "Don Jazzy: Nigeria's Finest Music Producer". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
12. "Fred Amata". IMDb. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
13. "Filmmaker Jeta Amata raises the alarm over whereabouts of ex-wife". Punch Newspapers. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
14. "Bovi Ugboma, Actor, Comedian, Nigeria Personality Profiles". www.nigeriagalleria.com. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
15. "18 Notable Alumni of the University of Port Harcourt". EduRank.org - Discover university rankings by location. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
16. "EVI EDNA OGOLI -Biography". Enorecords LLC. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
17. "Talent without money a waste of time - Orezi". Vanguard News. 29 June 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
18. "Daddy Showkey Rewards Outstanding Students In Ajegunle – KapitalFM 92.9 Abuja". kapital929.fm. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
19. Rush, Curtis. "Future Remains Uncertain For Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri". Forbes. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
20. (Musician), Coco Solid (2006), Denim & leisure : Coco & Erik remixes 02-05, Coco Solid, OCLC 156760207, retrieved 11 September 2021
21. "Samuel Oboh inducted as the 76th President of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada". Canadian Architect. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
22. "FG appoints Arhagba as PTI Vice President". Vanguard News. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
23. IANY, Isoko Association of New York. "IANY | Isoko Association of New York Inc". www.isokonewyork.org. Retrieved 6 October 2022.

External links

• Isoko information
• Isoko History - information about Isoko Society by Hon. Chief Clement O. Akugha