An ethnic group that is often confused with Igbo people because of the language similarities, the Ika people are however a distinct people that are found in the Delta and Edo states.
Geographically, the Ika speaking people are found in the north west of Delta State. They are the major occupants of the Ika South and Ika North Local government areas of Delta. It is however quite challenging to distinguish the Ika people from other ethnic groups in Delta region. This is because they do not have their own distinct physical characteristics or features that set them apart.
They also share borders linguistically in the west with the Edo speakers, in the north with the Ishan speakers, in the East with the Aniocha language speakers and in the south with the Ukwuani speakers. Though the Ika tribe shares a lot of similarities with the Igbo or Benin people, they, however, are a different ethnic group. Some of the manifest similarities with the Igbos can be found in the very language they speak, as well as some of the name they bear. Kay Williamson in his 1968 research reaffirms this by stating that, the dialect of Ika people is of the Igboid group; meaning it has largely been influenced or is a derivative of the Igbo and Bini. This similarity has led to speculations that they are largely connected to the Igbo stock.
The Ika people also exhibit a lot of similarities in terms of their culture and lifestyle with the Benin people. This is not regarded as strange however because oral tradition has stated that the Ika communities were discovered by the Benin Princes and Chiefs. Ika communities can also be found in parts of Edo state such as Igbanke, Inyelen, Owanikeke, Ute Obagie, Owa-Riuzo Idu, Igbogili. Iru and Ekpon. In Delta, they can be found in Agbor, Owa, Umunede, Owerre Olubor, Ekuoma, Emuhu, Mbiri, Abavo, Orogodo, Otolokpo, Igbodo, Ute-Okpu, Ute-Ogbeje, Idumuesah and Akumazi.
The heterogeneous characteristics of the Ika people, especially with regards to the various clans, has amplified the stance that their ancestry cannot be traced to a common origin. Moreso, while the language has similarities with the Igbo language, the name of the ethnic group is suggestive of Bini origin. Ika historians have however argued that changes in language can occur due to large migrations or trade or due to other factors.
Cultural Preservation
Ika people speak the Ika language. In order to preserve the language from phasing out, the Ika people have opted to provide News reporting in their indigenous Ika language on Delta radio. The influence of Christian missionaries has also contributed to this preservation. The Ika now have the Four Gospels of the Bible; Mathew, Mark, Luke and John published in their indigenous language. There are also books written in the Ika language as well.
Ika Economy
The Ika people boast of being the home to the sweetest African Palmwine; however without solid empirical evidence to that. The people of Ika tribe are majorly Farmers and the wealthiest engage in Palm kernel business with red oil extraction or other forms such as palm wine tapping.
Religious Beliefs
The Ika people are predominantly Christians although traditional worship is still much in progress. Historically, the Ika people resisted Europeans greatly. Ika people refer to God as Oselobue and Chukwu.
Sources:
Joshua Project
Pulse NG
Featured Image Source: Pulse NG
You might also like:
- Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove – A Living Connection to Ancient Traditions
- Kelechi Ndukwe Makes History as the First Nigerian to Become US Navy Captain
- Makoko: The Floating Village of Lagos
- Did You Know? Nigeria’s Ancient Kano Dye Pits
best online casino slots
casino 777
casino play slot machine realmoneyonlyhr
buy a dissertation
phd without dissertation
dissertation acknowledgements
dissertation help for phd candidates
dissertation help service
dissertation abstract
dissertation help scam
phd thesis vs dissertation
help with dissertation writing
dissertation writing tips
dissertation consulting
disertation
dissertation meaning
cheap dissertation writing
dissertation writing uk
writing the doctoral dissertation
buy dissertation
dissertation literature review help
dissertation assistance
buy dissertation writing services
dissertation proofreading services
thesis dissertation
buy dissertations
dissertation writing assistance
dissertation template
professional dissertation help
mba dissertation help
dissertation paper writing service
phd without dissertation
dissertation proposal writing services
what is a dissertation
rutgers dissertation proposal help
need help with dissertation
custom dissertation writing help
dissertation help ireland editing
chicago illinois dissertation help
art dissertation help
what does dissertation mean
dissertation express
best casino deposit bonus
casino bonuses online
sign up bonus casino no deposit
dissertation help leicester
help with writing dissertation proposal
dissertation writing tutors
casino mobile
online casino no deposit bonus 2021
real money casino online
acknowledgements dissertation
dissertation introduction
uk dissertation writing service
writing
art dissertation help
dissertation help ireland editing
casino usa online
best us online casino
deposit casino bonus
dissertation writing tutor
writing your doctoral dissertation
writing the doctoral dissertation
free money casino
free spins casino
no deposit casino bonus
best dissertation writing service uk
dissertation example
dissertation topics
best online casinos for usa players
real casino online
no deposit online casino real money
best online casino to win money
casino no deposit welcome bonus
usa online casinos
welcome bonus no deposit
free bonus no deposit
no deposit sign up bonus casino
best online casino
free bonus slots
us online casino
sign up bonus no deposit casino
biggest online casino bonus
free money no deposit
welcome bonus casino
best casino online usa
cash casino games
online casinos for us players
best us online casino
mobile gambeling
best vpn for dark web
free vpn for roobet
free vpn client
no deposit free bonus casino
online casino usa real money
blackjack app real money
cisco vpn client download
buy vpn client
buy vpn online
online casino review
online casino us
best usa online casinos
best google chrome vpn
nord vpn download
express vpn free windows
best online casinos for real money
best online casino
online bingo real money
best vpn 2022
free vpn server list
nord vpn
casino no deposit free bonus
best real money online casino
mobile casinos for real money
reddit free vpn
vpn free trial
free vpn for computer
top usa online casinos
mobile casino online
online real money casinos
cnet best vpn
netflix vpn free
free vpn\
online blackjack for real money
online real money casinos
best casino welcome bonus
hotspot free vpn
best free vpn for firefox
vpn chrome extension free
private internet access vpn
apple vpn free
best vpn for bbc iplayer
best free vpn app
vpn router buy
vpn free pc
casino no deposit bonus
usa casinos
casino games for money
online usa casinos
top us online casinos
online casino games real money
gay dating sites in nc
gay latino’s, dating site’s
gay dating websites for kids
hiv gay black men dating sites
gay christian dating
slv alamosa casual dating gay
gay dating show youtube
dating gay latin men
gay dating sites black dating white
single senior dating site online
casual dating sites
local free chatline
best singles sites
free dating site for usa
facebook dating
victoriasonlinedating
zoosk login
totally free dating sites near nelson
gay dating game
dating gay anacortes
free gay dating skwerts
free online adult dating site
singles online dating
totally free chat dating site
gay bdsm dating
north leeds gay dating
discreet gay dating
best online dating websites
free dating apps no fees
online dating site
gay dating us marine
growls gay dating
adam for adam gay dating
dating sites free
free online sex dating websites
dating site free
casino bonuses
kasino bonus
top usa online casinos
dating dating site
free meeting online
dating singles site
online casino bonuses
cherry jackpot casino
real money online slots
gay chat’
boy chat strip nude webcam male gay
gay chat for windows
gay dad chat
gay porn chat random
gay chat roullette
gay chat rooms
gay chat lines in atlanta
lady gaga gay chat emoji
free gay video chat r
gay chub chat
free iowa gay chat rooms
sex chat gay
free nude gay video chat
free chat with men – live gay cams, free gay webcams at chaturbate
zoom cams gay sex chat
wed chat gay free
nipples gay chat
gay video chat sites realty to dirtyrouletty
local gay chat rooms
chat gay con camara
gay cam chat avenue
m4m chat phone free rochester ny gay
gay chat roullette
gay sc chat
gay webcam chat sites
m4m chat phone free rochester ny gay
bbc gay chat room free
snap chat gay boy dick
free gay web cam chat rooms
free iowa gay chat rooms
gay chat lines
gay advise chat
single women phone numbers
facebook dating site
personals dating
best free dating site
free dating sites for single men and women
best sites online dating
zoosk online dating site
free for online chatting with singles
dating websites best
chatting dating site
adult chat dating site
who is brent rivera dating
gay mature dating
completely free dating sites
fdating international
good essay writing websites
essay writing service law school
cheap essays
essay writer reviews
custom essay org
college essay help long island
best essay writer
academic essay writing services
essays about community service
top rated essay writing services
someone to write my essay
help me write a essay
us based essay writing service
help in writing essays
best custom essay site
best websites for essays
buy college essay
the help essay prompts
cheap essays to buy
nursing essay help
academic essay writing services
write my essay paper
essay proofreading service
essay writers online cheap
cheap essay online
order custom essays
easy essay help
best custom essay writers
help with essays assignments
college entrance essay writing service
custom written essay
college application essay writing help
best online essay writing service
buy essay online cheap
do my essay for me cheap
best essay cheap
custom my essay
custom essay company
essay help 123
pay someone to write my essay
mba essay service
buy an essay online cheap
tok essay help
essays about service
essay writing service review
cheap essay buy
custom law essays
community service essays
custom essay writing reviews
professional essay help
the help essay
my custom essay
essay paper writing service
which essay writing service is the best
essays on community service
cheap law essay writing service
college admission essay service
custom college essay
essay writing services legal
buy an essay online
write my essay south park
personal statement essay help
essay help chat room
essay help
online custom essay writing service
essay writing service canada
do my essay for me cheap
essay writing service toronto
the essay writer
buy an essay cheap
essay writing service law
mba essay editing service
persuasive essay writer
best essay website
application essay writing service
law school essay editing service
top essay editing service
essay writing service law school
best essay writing
can someone write my essay
help with essay
help with writing an essay
academic essay help
buy an essay paper
can somebody write my essay
paid essay writers
custom essays for sale
best essay writing service
college admission essay editing services
custom essay toronto
differential equations coursework
coursework online
coursework marking