The word "Okun" is a generic term used to describe the Yoruba descendants in Kogi state.
Kogi is a multi ethnic and diverse state, and Okun people make up over 20% of the entire population of the state. Which is about 662809 out of 3,314,043, according to 2006 census figures.
Okun spread across six local government areas in Kogi State, which are; Kabba-Bunu, Yagba-West, Yagba-East, Mopa-Muro, Ìjùmú and Lokoja local government Areas.
They speak various Yoruba dialects…Owé, Ìyàgbà, Ìjùmú,
Bùnú and Oworo, but their language is generally called Okun.
One beauty of this is that, if you are not an Okun person, you might not be able to figure out the slight differences in the dialects because every speaker flaunts his dialect at will, with full confidence that the other Okun person will understand without stress. Which is true.
More so, almost all of them speak the common Yoruba fluently even without ever stepping foot out of Kogi.....Isn't that interesting.
Their dialects and way of life is largely influenced by
various reasons. Such as:
Kogi is a multi ethnic and diverse state, and Okun people make up over 20% of the entire population of the state. Which is about 662809 out of 3,314,043, according to 2006 census figures.
Okun spread across six local government areas in Kogi State, which are; Kabba-Bunu, Yagba-West, Yagba-East, Mopa-Muro, Ìjùmú and Lokoja local government Areas.
They speak various Yoruba dialects…Owé, Ìyàgbà, Ìjùmú,
Bùnú and Oworo, but their language is generally called Okun.
One beauty of this is that, if you are not an Okun person, you might not be able to figure out the slight differences in the dialects because every speaker flaunts his dialect at will, with full confidence that the other Okun person will understand without stress. Which is true.
More so, almost all of them speak the common Yoruba fluently even without ever stepping foot out of Kogi.....Isn't that interesting.
Their dialects and way of life is largely influenced by
various reasons. Such as:
1. Diversity of the state
Due to the abundance of great ethnic diversity which makes Kogi state a cultural hub with a huge number of ethnic groups like Ebira, Igala, and other minorities like Bassa, a small fraction of Nupe mainly in Lokoja and Bassa Local Government Area, the
Ogugu subgroup of the Igala, Gwari, Kakanda, Oworo people (A Yoruba Group), Ogori, Bassa komo, and Magongo.
Also including the Eggan and Hausa community under Lokoja Local Government.
2. Boundries
Another great factor that may have shaped the Okun people is that Kogi state shares boundaries with a total number of ten states which are; Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, Niger, Benue, Nassarawa, Anambra, Enugu, Edo and the Federal capital territory.
3. History
History has has also played its part in shaping the Okun identity. Therefore, Nupe wars of the 19th century and interaction with the Hausas due to geographical zoning have left an indelible
mark on the Okun people and their way of life.
According to oral source, Okun people migrated from Ile Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba race when Yorubas were spreading to occupy more lands, before spreading out, each and everyone was instructed to report to Ile Ife for a yearly meeting.
The man, that led a group of young people to a location (now called YAGBA) in Kogi state did not return over a long period of time.
When he eventually returned and explained that he lost larger part of his acquired land to some other migrants.
He was blamed for the loss and he said in yoruba, ''ÌYÀ ÀGBÀ LÓ JEMÍ'' meaning that invasion of his acqured land was due to lack of having elderly people with him.
Since then, they started mocking him at Ile Ife, calling him Iya agba. They associated this name with him whenever they wanted to send
messages across to him after returning to his occupied area, now called Yagba.
Over the years, Okun people faced numerous challenges, ranging from geo political zoning, marginalisation and problem of identity. Their problem started during the colonial era when they were
politically ceded to the Northern protectorate by Lord Lugard, the Governor-General of Nigeria. The abolition of the provincial and
regional administrative units in 1967 led to their merging with Ilorin to form old Kwara state.
Then, Igala was merged with old Benue State. However, on 27th of august 1991, Okun people was removed again and merged with Ebira, Igala from Benue state and some other
tribes to form Kogi state.
Okun indigenes moved against merging them with completely different tribes but they were forced into this marriage.
Their efforts to break away and form Okun State, which could make it possible for them to be more closer to their Kiths and Kins in the South West, failed to materialise. Concerning Identity problem.
Okun people bear Typical Yoruba names like Edo people, lots of them speak yoruba and many of their settlements are named in Yoruba language such as:
Ayegunle
Ayetoro
Kajola
Egbeda
Egbeda Ega
Okedayo
Oke-aba (Kabba)
Odo Ere,
Odo Eri
Ife
Iyamoye
Agbaja
Igbo Nla
Obajana and
Ikoyi.
Even, groups that make up Bunupeople of Okun are Okemeta, Okemesan, Akumerindinlogun and Kiri groups.
Some notable Okun indegenes are:
Smart Adeyemi
James Faleke
Shola Amoebi
Caardinaal Onayekaan
Tunde E dnut
Jaywon
Dino Melaye
Nike Davies Okundaye
Sam Allle
Bayo Ojo
Ty bello
Dare arts Alade
Suday Bada
juwon oshaniwa
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