The People, the Culture
Part 3: Exploring the distinct languages/dialects and their speakers in Bayelsa State
In most cases, language is the first passport to identifying an individual. It is the ‘meow’ sound that informs one that there is a cat around even when it is not in sight.
This explains why language is the first means of Identification. As a matter of fact, this writer has seen occasions where an individual was asked to speak his or her language/dialect in local employment or promotion interviews with the intention of ascertaining whether the interviewee was truly from where h/she claimed h/she hails from.
Many a times, the interviewees who failed to show competence and performance in their claimed language, were scolded even with the presentation of other documents of identification. The fact is, the culture of a people begins with Language, followed by the rest; hence, the reason for exploring the distinct languages and dialects of our darling state, Bayelsa.
It is true that many Bayelsa indigenes do not know these facts about their state; you would be surprised by the number of people who, apart from not being able to speak, know nothing about their own language—that is, which linguistic family their dialects belong to. This could largely be blamed on media globalisation and many other factors and circumstances beyond them.
It is on this premise that the ‘DO YOU KNOW BAYELSA SERIES’ is conceptualised; to bring to the knowledge of Bayelsans, residents and the world, these facts about Bayelsa State, using this very medium of socialisation and globalisation—the new media.
Having exhausted all there is with the IJOID languages of the NIGER-CONGO family in the last edition, we shall in this edition, consider the BENUE-CONGO languages of the NIGER-CONGO family in Bayelsa State which fall into EDOID and CENTRAL DELTA.
EDOID is further subgrouped into SOUTHWESTERN EDOID and DELTA EDOID.
The SOUTHWESTERN EDOID, has Isoko and Urhobo speaking communities in Sagbama LGA.
There are six communities in total that speak Isoko in Sagbama LGA. They include: Anibeze, Kenan, Igule-Ogbokiri, Abuetor, Osifo and Osekwenike, located on the Forcados, Nun, and Niger rivers. Interestingly, Urhobo is spoken only in Ofoni.
The DELTA EDOID has two languages: EPIE-ATISA (ATISSA) and ZARAMA-ENGENNI; both spoken in Yenagoa LGA.
Communities that speak ATISSA include: Agbure (Agbura), Akaba, Bebelebiri, Famgbe, Ikolo, Ogbogoro, Ogu, Onupan, Opuama, Ovomu, Swali, Yenagoa and Yenaka.
It was also identified that EPIE has several dialects whose divisions would need further clarity, but the towns that speak it include: Amarata, Azikoro, Agudama-Epie, Biogbolo, Edepie, Ekenfa, Ekeki, Etegu, Igbogene, Kpansia, Okaka, Okutukutu, Opolo, Ovelemeni, Yenegue, Yenizue-Epie and Yenizue-gene.
For ZARAMA-ENGENNI, it is spoken in four communities: Epie, Nyambiri, Iwen and Afinieki.
Remember we had been told that the other subcategory of the BENUE-CONGO languages of Bayelsa State is CENTRAL DELTA.
Well, the Central Delta Languages are often referred to as Ogbia. They are grouped into five, namely: Oloibiri, Anyama, Agholo (Kolo), Kugbo and Abureni. Here are the towns that speak them under the groupings:
a. OLOIBIRI GROUP: Abob iri, Akipilai, Akoloman 1, Akoloman 2, Amakalakala (Emakalakala), Otu-Abi (Ewema) Ewoi, Itokopiri, Ogbia Town (Omom-Ema), Oloibiri, Otu-Aba, Otu-Abagi, Otu-Abula 1, Otu-Abula 2, Otu-Akeme, Otu-Aka, Otu-Egila and Otu-Ogidi. The foregoing are all in Ogbia LGA. However, the following under this group are in Nembe LGA (based on political grouping); they speak Nembe as first language, and Ogbia as second language. They include: Otu-Ogu (Oguama), Okoroma and Ekpeinkiri (Ekperikiri)
b. ANYAMA GROUP: The towns in this group are all in Ogbia LGA. They include: Anyama (Out-Okpesi), Ayakoro, Ema-Dike, Epebu, Iwo-Ama, Okiki, Okodi, Ologi, Ologi-Oghe, Ono-Ebum, Otu-Edu, Otu-Aganagu, Otu-Ege, Otu-Egwe, Otu-Ekpein, Otu-Obhiy, Otu-Ogori and Otu-Okpoti.
c. AGHOLO (KOLO) GROUP: the towns under this group are all in Ogbia LGA Emeyal 1, Emeyal 2, Elebele, Imiringi, Kolo 1, Kolo 2, Kolo 3, and Otu-Asega. Although Oruma and Ibelebiri speak an Ijo language, as was indicated earlier, they linguistically fall under this group.
d. KUGBO GROUP: Only town grouped here is Amurukeni in Ogbia LGA
e. ABURENI GROUP: they are namely, Agribasa (Obo-Emeke) in Brass LGA; Opume and Ideme in Ogbia LGA; and Okoroba (Okorobo) in Nembe LGA.
Based on the available documentation, these are all you need to know with regard to the distinctive languages/dialects in Bayelsa State. The series continues as we look forward to exploring the ‘orientation to life and beliefs’ (religion) of the people, dances, music, food in the subsequent edition.
Stay safe!
Authored by: Ikiemoye Iniamagha
References
- Spencer-Oatey, H. What is culture? A compilation of quotations. GlobalPAD Core Concepts. Available at GlobalPAD Open House. 2012 https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/al/globalpad/openhouse/interculturalskills/global_pad_-_what_is_culture.pdf (Accessed May 26, 2020)
- Alagoa, EJ. Traditions of Origin, In Ebiegberi Joe Alagoa (ed) 1999, The Land and People of Bayelsa State: Central Niger Delta. Port Harcourt: Oyoma Research Publications, 1999
- Williamson, K & Efere, EE. Languages in Ebiegberi Joe Alagoa (ed) 1999, The Land and People of Bayelsa State: Central Niger Delta. Port Harcourt: Oyoma Research Publications, 1999
