Isoko people
 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, Benin, Esan, Afemai |
The Isokos 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] They speak the Isoko language – a language of the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo family.[4]
The Isoko culture is related to several cultures in the Niger-Delta – namely the Urhobo, Ijaw and Anioma.[5] The Urhobo are closely 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 tribal 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
- 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
- Evi Edna Ogholi, reggae musician[13]
- Orezi, musician[14]
- Daddy Showkey, garala singer[15]
- Masai Ujiri, President and former GM of the Toronto Raptors[16]
- Solid Star, musician[17]
- Samuel Oboh, Canadian architect[18]
- 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.
- Paul Ufuoma Omu (July 1940 – 29 April 2025), Nigerian Major General, politician, and former Military Governor of South-Eastern State (1975–1978).
- Gen. Alexander Ogomudia, retired Nigerian Army general who served as Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria from 2003 to 2006 and Chief of Army Staff from 2001 to 2003.
See also
References
- ^ "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.
- ^ Isoko Culture: A brief walk into the lives of one of Nigeria's finest tribe (2020-02-23). Pulse.ng.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "EVI EDNA OGOLI -Biography". Enorecords LLC. 13 February 2020. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. 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
- Isoko information
- Isoko History Archived 8 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine - information about Isoko Society by Hon. Chief Clement O. Akugha
Further reading
- "The history of Isoko people". EdoWorld.net. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
