Taraba is a state in the North Eastern part of Nigeria. The
state was carved out of the old Gongola state in 1991 by the Military
government of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. The state is surrounded by five states
which include: Adamawa, Benue, Bauchi, Gombe and Nasarawa state. There are 16
local government areas in the state. The state has some tourist centers that
attract foreign visitors yearly.
state was carved out of the old Gongola state in 1991 by the Military
government of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. The state is surrounded by five states
which include: Adamawa, Benue, Bauchi, Gombe and Nasarawa state. There are 16
local government areas in the state. The state has some tourist centers that
attract foreign visitors yearly.
Taraba state is multi-ethnic, and has many indigenous languages. However, the two
most used languages in
the state are the Hausa
and the English
language. Below are insights into the numerous indigenous tribes of Taraba
state.
most used languages in
the state are the Hausa
and the English
language. Below are insights into the numerous indigenous tribes of Taraba
state.
Mumuye
The Mumuye tribe can be regarded as the largest tribe in
Taraba state. The Mumuye people occupy the larger part of Zing, Jalingo, Bali, Gashaka, Ardo-Kola,
Yorro and Lau LGAs of the state. Mumuye people can also be found in some parts
of Adamawa state. The Kwajji chiefdom was created in 2005 by the Taraba state
house of Assembly and it serves as the administrative capital of the people. The
people mostly engage in rural faming. The Mumuye language is taught in some
secondary schools of the state and even at Diploma levels in Taraba state
University, Jalingo. The people of Mumuye are estimated to be more than 800,000.
Taraba state. The Mumuye people occupy the larger part of Zing, Jalingo, Bali, Gashaka, Ardo-Kola,
Yorro and Lau LGAs of the state. Mumuye people can also be found in some parts
of Adamawa state. The Kwajji chiefdom was created in 2005 by the Taraba state
house of Assembly and it serves as the administrative capital of the people. The
people mostly engage in rural faming. The Mumuye language is taught in some
secondary schools of the state and even at Diploma levels in Taraba state
University, Jalingo. The people of Mumuye are estimated to be more than 800,000.
Kuteb
The Kuteb tribe is one of the largest tribes in Taraba
state. The people are said to have migrated from Egypt before moving to Taraba
state. Kuteb is named after their first ruler and founder. Kuteb is believed to
have been in existence since 1000AD. The Kuteb tribe has 12 clans which are named after the 12 children of
their founder. The people of kuteb are mostly found in Takum LGA of Taraba
state and few found in Cameroun. The major occupation of an average kuteb
person is farming. The people are estimated to be over 600,000.
state. The people are said to have migrated from Egypt before moving to Taraba
state. Kuteb is named after their first ruler and founder. Kuteb is believed to
have been in existence since 1000AD. The Kuteb tribe has 12 clans which are named after the 12 children of
their founder. The people of kuteb are mostly found in Takum LGA of Taraba
state and few found in Cameroun. The major occupation of an average kuteb
person is farming. The people are estimated to be over 600,000.
Gornun
Not
much is known about the origin of the Gornun tribe but since they are mostly
Muslims, it is believed that their origin may be from the Middle East. They dress like
the Hausa people and their major occupation is farming. The Gornun tribe
belongs to one of the minority tribes in Taraba state and they can be found in Gassol
LGA. The exact population of the Gornun people is not known.
much is known about the origin of the Gornun tribe but since they are mostly
Muslims, it is believed that their origin may be from the Middle East. They dress like
the Hausa people and their major occupation is farming. The Gornun tribe
belongs to one of the minority tribes in Taraba state and they can be found in Gassol
LGA. The exact population of the Gornun people is not known.
Yandang
The Yandang people are found in Gassol, Lau and Ardo Kola LGAs of Taraba
state. They are believed to originate from Egypt alongside the Mumuye people.
Before they became Christians, the Yandang people worshipped the sun god Rubi. Majority of the
Yandang people are Christians. Most of the Yandang people live in mountains and they have a
natural environment which attracts tourists from different parts of the world
yearly.The population of the Yandang people is estimated to be over 100,000.
state. They are believed to originate from Egypt alongside the Mumuye people.
Before they became Christians, the Yandang people worshipped the sun god Rubi. Majority of the
Yandang people are Christians. Most of the Yandang people live in mountains and they have a
natural environment which attracts tourists from different parts of the world
yearly.The population of the Yandang people is estimated to be over 100,000.
Mambilla
The Mambilla people of Taraba state live in the Mambilla
Plateau in Sardauna LGA of the state with their capital at Gembu.Those of the
Mambilla dialects are known as
Norrs. A smaller part of the Mambilla people can also be found in Cameroun. The
Mambilla people have different dialects and languages but the most widely
understood dialects among the Mambilla people is the common Mambilla dialect
which is popularly referred to as the Tungbo Dialect by the Mambilla people.
Plateau in Sardauna LGA of the state with their capital at Gembu.Those of the
Mambilla dialects are known as
Norrs. A smaller part of the Mambilla people can also be found in Cameroun. The
Mambilla people have different dialects and languages but the most widely
understood dialects among the Mambilla people is the common Mambilla dialect
which is popularly referred to as the Tungbo Dialect by the Mambilla people.
Chamba
The Chamba tribe originates from a place known as Sham
located in the present day Syria. The Chamba tribe is divided into two parts
which include the ChambaLeko and ChambaDaka. The Chamba people are found in the
old Gongola state. Some of the Chamba people are found in Adamawa state while
the rest are found in Taraba state. The Chamba people occupy Donga LGA of
Taraba state. Their Traditional ruler is known as the Gara Donga. They can also
be found in some parts of Takum, Ardo-Kola and Bali LGAs of Taraba state. They
are estimated to be about 70,000 Chamba people in Taraba state.
located in the present day Syria. The Chamba tribe is divided into two parts
which include the ChambaLeko and ChambaDaka. The Chamba people are found in the
old Gongola state. Some of the Chamba people are found in Adamawa state while
the rest are found in Taraba state. The Chamba people occupy Donga LGA of
Taraba state. Their Traditional ruler is known as the Gara Donga. They can also
be found in some parts of Takum, Ardo-Kola and Bali LGAs of Taraba state. They
are estimated to be about 70,000 Chamba people in Taraba state.
Diba
The Diba Tribe belongs to one of the minority tribes in
Taraba state. Not much
is known about their origin but most of them are Muslims and some of their
cultures look like that of the Hausa tribe. Men from this tribe wear flowing
Gowns like the Hausa people while their women wear blouse and wrapper with
hijab.
Taraba state. Not much
is known about their origin but most of them are Muslims and some of their
cultures look like that of the Hausa tribe. Men from this tribe wear flowing
Gowns like the Hausa people while their women wear blouse and wrapper with
hijab.
Ichen
The Ichen people can be found in Takum, Kurmi and Donga LGAs
of Taraba state. More than half of the Ichen people practice the Christian
religion after the Gospel first got to them in 1909. Small part of the Ichen
people still practice their old traditional beliefs. The Ichen people are most times
faced with ethnic crisis. There are about 84,000 Ichen people living in Taraba
state.
of Taraba state. More than half of the Ichen people practice the Christian
religion after the Gospel first got to them in 1909. Small part of the Ichen
people still practice their old traditional beliefs. The Ichen people are most times
faced with ethnic crisis. There are about 84,000 Ichen people living in Taraba
state.
Karimjo
The Karimjo people are the major occupants of Karim Lamido area of Taraba state. They live very
close to the Fulani people and this has caused constant conflicts between the
two tribes. The people of Karimjo are believed to have originated from the
Middle East. The religion practiced by the people is the Islamic religion with
only 2% of them as traditional worshipers.
close to the Fulani people and this has caused constant conflicts between the
two tribes. The people of Karimjo are believed to have originated from the
Middle East. The religion practiced by the people is the Islamic religion with
only 2% of them as traditional worshipers.
Jukun
The Jukun tribe is one of the interesting tribes in Taraba
state. It is widely believed that the Jukun people originated and migrated from
Yemen in the Middle
East. The Jukun people
trace their ancestors to the leaders of the Kwararafa kingdom. Because of their
fight with the Fulani people in the 19th century, they split into different groups
with some of them migrating
to the Benue basin. Majority
are however inhabitants
of Wukari, one of the largest Cities in Taraba state. The Jukun people have been dominating Wukari since the 17th
century. They are mostly
Christians. The paramount ruler of the Jukun people is the Aku Uka of Wukari.
state. It is widely believed that the Jukun people originated and migrated from
Yemen in the Middle
East. The Jukun people
trace their ancestors to the leaders of the Kwararafa kingdom. Because of their
fight with the Fulani people in the 19th century, they split into different groups
with some of them migrating
to the Benue basin. Majority
are however inhabitants
of Wukari, one of the largest Cities in Taraba state. The Jukun people have been dominating Wukari since the 17th
century. They are mostly
Christians. The paramount ruler of the Jukun people is the Aku Uka of Wukari.