International Journal of Trend in Research and Development, Volume 7(4), ISSN: 2394-9333

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A Study of Igala Origin: An Evidence-Based Approach
Ayegba Abdullahi Adojoh
Education and Research Unit, United Igala Kingdom, Attah Igala Palace, Idah, Kogi state, Nigeria

Abstract: The aim of this work was to subject the Jukun, cultures ranging from traditional titles, burial practices, Ocho
Yoruba, Igbo/Eri, and Benin versions of Igala origins as festival, Ulor festival, Egwugwu incarnate beings or ancestral
claimed by various previous historians and researchers to test feast celebration, language, tribal names, etc
using scientific and investigative approach. The results of the
II. SOME IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS
reexaminations showed that they are all found to be false as
they are “unprovable” and lacking in evidence which is the 2.1 Who is an Igala: An Igala is anyone who has Igala blood
basic element or property of history. As a result of the Yoruba, inside of him or her; either of Igala father, Igala mother or
Jukun, Igbo versions of Igala origin not having any provable both.
evidence, they were concluded to be false and to be discarded,
while the Egyptian origin which provided enough evidences 2.2 Where is Igala territory: Igala territory is any community
or land or location ruled by an Igala traditional ruler. Attah
such as numerous similarities in vocabularies, similar cultures,
Igala is the only king of Igala nation or kingdom, and he has
similar burial processes of any late Attah with that of ancient
other chiefs under him, ruling various communities for him and
Pharaoh as well as installation of any new Attah, the same
on his behalf. All the lands or locations ruled by these Igala
royal crown of Attah with that of ancient Pharaohs, the
wearing of earrings by Attah like ancient Egyptian Pharaohs as rulers are Igala territories, and any land belonging to Igala or
well as numerous proofs from ancient Egyptologists and ruled by Igala is the land or territory of Attah Igala irrespective
of the locations.
Archeologists,… was concluded to be the true and provable
origin of Igala people. It was also recommended that the 2.3 Meaning of Igala: Igala was initially Gala/Galla, the letter
locations of the remnants of the Igala/Galla people still at the “I” was later added as it became common with Igala people to
place (Qau El Kebir formerly Tjebu, Egypt) where Igala/Gala add “I” to the beginning of words starting with consonants
migrated from should be investigated with a view to such as Ipeter instead of Peter, Imotor instead of Motor,
reconnecting with them. Iwindow instead of window, Ipaul instead of Paul, Igala
instead of Gala. Igala/Gala means free men, indigenes,
Keywords: Ancient Egypt, Benin, Igala, Igbo, Jukun
aborigines, “children of the soil” or Omane in Igala language.
I. INTRODUCTION The term, Gala/Igala is of ancient Egypt origin.
A tribe is defined as a society or division of a society whose 3.0. Methodology: This work adopted investigative and
members have common ancestry, common customs, common scientific approaches to verify the provability and validity of
beliefs, and common leadership. This means it is not correct to the different versions of Igala origin by previous researchers
call the people that do not have a common ancestry or ancestor and/or historians as well as investigating further beyond the
as the same tribe irrespective of how long they stayed together. scopes of these works by previous researchers with a view to
Igala is a tribe as well as the language of Igala ethnic group in coming out with an Igala origin which is backed by provable
Nigeria. Igala ethnic group is indigenous in the Federal Capital proofs and evidences and not based on assumption, sentiment
Territory and twenty nine states of Nigeria. Indigenous Igala or fabrication.
people are also found in Kenya (Igara/Atigara/Galla), Haiti
(Olukumi), Sierra Leone, Brazil (Nago), Togo (Atakpame), III. ORIGINS OF IGALA ACCORDING TO SOME
Cuba, Tanzania, etc. PREVIOUS RESEARCHERS AND HISTORIANS AND
WHY THEY ARE ALL FALSE OR NOT CORRECT
The states of Nigeria in which indigenous Igala are found are
i. Jukun origin: According to Miles Clifford (1936), Igala
1. Abia 2. Akwa Ibom 3. Anambra 4. Bayelsa 5. Borno
6.Benue, 7. Cross River 8. Delta, 9. Ebonyi 10. Edo 11. Ekiti people or ruling house are of Jukun origin. The attribution of
12. Enugu 13. FCT 14. Imo 15. Kebbi 16. Kaduna 17. Kwara Igala origin to Jukun in the present day Wukari, Taraba, was
because of Igala migration from Wukari to Idah. Well,
18. Lagos 19. Niger 20. Nasarawa 21. Ogun 22. Ondo 23.
according to Palmer (1936), a group of people called Ahel
Osun 24. Oyo 25. Rivers 26. Taraba 27. Adamawa 28. Kano
Gara (natives) now Gala/Igala/Ngara were said to have settled
29. Plateau and 30. Kogi states.
around Benue valley (Taraba state) as natives when the
The ancestral home and headquarters of all Igala people is Idah warriors; Ahel Dirk, migrated to the area.
in the present day Kogi state. Idah is also the location of the
seat of Attah Igala. Attah Igala also known as the Attah of all Palmer’s words, “a branch of the Ahel Dirk of Kanem
established themselves on the Benue at Wukari and called the
Igala people is the supreme ruler of the entire Igala people
aborigines they found there Gara, which, by the common meta-
across the world. The present Attah Igala, HRM (Dr) Agabaidu
thesis, becomes Gala…)
Idakwo Ameh Oboni II, is the 82nd Attah Igala on the list of
Attah Igala who ruled from late 0900 AD till date. Athough This shows that Igala people were already there before others
Igala migrated to Idah around 500BC according to joined them, thus will be incorrect to say that the one (Igala)
archeological evidences, lack of adequate documentation made who was in a location before the coming of the other (Jukun)
it difficult to get the list of Attah Igala before late 0900 AD. will be said to have originated from the later comer (Jukun).
The attribution of Igala ruling house to Jukun origin was also
Although, Igala spread in these various communities or states
wrong because many Attah Igala ruled Igala people before the
across Nigeria, and the world with minor variations in
identities in some cases, they all practice the same Igala arrival Abutu Ejeh from Wukari to Idah as Igalamela and

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Igala-ogba people were already in Idah for very many years while Igala as a tribe had been in existence even before their
before Abutu Ejeh along with Idoko, Agana Apoje, Amichi, migration to Nigeria around 8th century? Were the
Idoma group, founders of Kakanda, Ebira people, … migrated Southwestern part of Nigeria not made up of Igala,
to Idah. In addition, Abutu Eje was wrongly recorded to be of Omooduduwa/Ife, Nupe/Igala (who even ruled Oyo for almost
Jukun origin just because his ancestors remained behind in a century when they chased Oyo ruling dynasty away),
Wukari while other Igalas migrated to Idah, thereby making Olukumi/Igala, Egun, Ijesha, Itsekiri, Returnees from outside
him to have grown in Wukari among the Jukuns with other Nigeria after abolition of slave trade, etc before the umbrella
Igala until he had to leave for Idah after many years. Further, name, Yoruba was given to them as their tribe? Can any of the
Abutu (a male child born after several search including taking above be proved to be true? No! But because Samuel Ajayi
of different herbs by the mother), Ejeh (leopard denoting was the “Eyes” of the whites then, whatever he recorded and
braveness), Idoko (a male child born when the father is not at gave them was true. In fact, an online dictionary:
home; on the farm, or went for fishing or hunting), Amichi (the https://www.meriam-webster.com>.. Defines Igala as “the
quiet or humble one) are all Igala names till date and are not Yoruba-speaking people on the Niger at its confluence with
found among the Jukun. In fact, they have no meaning of these Benue in Nigeria”. This was all courtesy of the false record by
words let alone having them as names except the remnant of Bishop Ajayi Crowther, and this made some indigenous Igala
Igala among them. More so, almost all indigenous Igala people outside Nigeria such as the Nago people of Brazil to
communities across Nigeria outside Kogi state have Igala think that they are Yoruba even though Nago is of Igala and
traditional titles such Attah of Obosi, Anambra state, Attah Ina not a Yoruba word let alone having a meaning in Yoruba
of Odekpe, Anambra state, Attah Okakwu of Igbedor, language. Since all the above were false and can never be
Anambra state, Okakwu of Ossamala, Anambra state, Akor of proved to be right, the version of Igala origin from Yoruba is
Aika Delta state, Akor of Oko, Delta state, Onu Ebu, Delta also false, hence be discarded.
state, Asagba (Achogba) of Asaba, Delta state, Agabaidu of
iii. Benin origin: According to Benin version of Igala origin,
Abbi, Enugu state, Onu Attah of Ogurugu, Enugu state,
Boston (1962) and re-echoed by sergeant (1984) stated that
Agabaidus in Benue state, Eze (Eje) Ogbozzara III of Opi,
there was an Igala ruling dynasty who originated from Benin.
Enugu state, Agabaidus in Nasarawa, etc, there is no single
It was stated that Aji, one of the previous Attah Igala was a
community in Igala land that has Aku Uka (Traditional title of
Benin hunter and a brother of Oba Esigie, the then Oba of
Jukun people) as their traditional title.
Benin, and that he was the Attah who fought the Igala/Idah-
Furthermore, on several occasions, Attah Igala has said that Benin war. They described the war as a war between two
Igala originated from Egypt around the Nile river; one of these brothers- one (Esigie) as Oba of Benin and the other (Aji) as
occasions was during the Igala National Congress hosted by Attah Igala. But, is Aji even a Benin name? There are many
him on the 15th February, 2020, in his palace, Idah, Kogi state people still bearing Aji among the Igalas till date, but no one in
where he told the gathering of six states indigenous Igala Benin is bearing the name, and if someone is even bearing it
delegations that Igala migrated from Egypt around River Nile (which is not yet found), they don’t even have the meaning of
to Wukari and later to Idah. it. Aji in Igala context means “The young one, people of recent
character or behavior, strength, power”.
Also, of recent, the Aku Uka of Wukari, who is the traditional
ruler of the Jukun people in an interview with Ashe Well, that aside, it is on record including that of the Portuguese
Foundation, a social-cultural group in Nigeria, a video which is that Benin-Idah (Igala) was between the Igala ruled by Attah
available on YouTube (Aku Uka of Wukari Unedited Full Ayegba Oma Idoko and Benin ruled by Oba Esigie. Apart from
Ashe interview-You Tube) as well as the Ashe Foundation the record, the Igala- Benin war was the war of 1515-1516
facebook page, stated that Igala and Jukun are not related which Attah Ayegba Oma Idoko buried his daughter, Princess
except through cultural relationship. Therefore, it can be stated Inikpi alive. Till date, the statue of Princess Inikpi is standing
that the attribution of Igala origin or ruling class origin to at her burial spot at Ega market near river Niger in Idah, Kogi
Jukun is completely wrong or false. state. Then, when did Aji fight with Oba Esigie? Was Ayegba
the brother of Oba Esigie or even a Benin? The answer is No!
ii. Yoruba origin: Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther stated in his
book (A comparative word-list of Yoruba, Igala and English Another version also stated that Igala originated from Benin,
languages) after visiting Idah, the ancestral home of Igala adding that the Ejubejuailo (pectoral mask) medal that Attah
people in 1854, that “Igala was a Yoruba sovereign who had Igala wear was of Benin origin, hence the ruler (Attah) wearing
lost his territory to Fulani invaders and ran to Sultan of Nupe that is Benin. This was also wrong because the medal which is
for assistance to enable him have a new habitat. The Sultan still wore by Attah Igala till date was a symbol of victory by
then bought the land and later installed a Yoruba man as Igala warriors over Benin people in the first war with them.
Attah”. So, was he saying that Yoruba were then under the The Igala (Idah)-Benin war was twice. The first was taken by
control of Sultan or Fulani that he was the one installing them Igala soldiers to the palace of Oba of Benin in retaliation of the
to rule a place? Was/is Attah a Yoruba/Hausa/Fulani traditional pushing back of Igala settlers the Oba claimed were
title? Was there any place a Sultan will install a king that the encroaching or expanding towards Benin across the river Niger
title will be different from Emir? In addition, was Igala who on the other side of Idah. The Igala warriors entered the palace
defeated Uthman Danfodio men far away at Koto korfe not of the Oba, defeated the palace men, from where they took the
Lokoja or Ajokuta or Itobe or Okpachala let alone coming to Oba’s pectoral mask from him to Idah, which is the
Idah, defeated Queen Amina of Zazau, Zaria and had her killed Ejubejuailo that Attah Igala wears till date. The second war
and buried at Efokoko Ichekpa (bush of fairies) Okpachala was payback one by the Benin, and because they knew that
Ogbagbada in Idah, defeated the Jukun at Inachalo stream Igala are undefeatable, they had to engage the Portuguese
spiritually,… ever defeated in a war? Never! Also, apart from mercenaries including the use of their imported high power
Attah of Ayede in Ekiti who is related with Igala which is why war machines or war equipment which ordinarily Igala
he is having Attah as his title, is there any traditional ruler in warriors with their local war equipment would not be able to
southwest Nigeria having a title, Attah today or in the past? withstand, hence the spiritual approach taken by Igala as
Beside, was there any tribe like Yoruba before 19 th century prescribed by the gods which led to the sacrifice of Princess
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Inikpi, resulting to spiritual fire “burning” down the entire
Idah, and the Benin warriors with Queen Idia, the mother of
Oba Esigie had to go back home, and the end of the war. Later,
it was discovered that Idah was not really burning but that the
blood of the buried princess covered Idah like fire. In
summary, the medal was not given to Igala but taken by Igala
warriors as a sign of victory, hence, the version of Igala origin
from Benin is also wrong; neither Ayegba nor Aji was Benin.
Also, the Benin-Igala war was during Ayegba as Attah Igala
and Esgie as Oba of Benin and not Aji, hence completely false
and should be discarded.
Sculpture of one late Eze Nri Oraeri
iv. Igbo origin: According to some Igbo historians, Atta, one
of the sons of Eri was the founder of Igala people. But Igala (Source: wikipedia)
was not founded by one person as it is popular that Igala settled From the photos, it can be seen that the Eze Nri Oraeri dressed
in Wukari-Taraba state after coming from Egypt through like Attah Igala, as he had Ejubejuailo (pectoral mask) on the
Borno … and later migrated from Wukari to Idah. In addition, chest. It is worthy of note here that Ejubejuailo is wore by
Attah is a tittle in Igala land not a person as they said, and it Attah Igala and no other traditional leader in the entire world.
means father. So, Attah Igala means Father of Igala. Thus, this It was taken by Igala soldiers from the Oba of Benin in 1515
version does not have any truth. during our first war with them. So, how come the Eze Nri
Another version said that Eri migrated from Igala area to dressed (in 1944) like Attah Igala if he was not of Igala? Weli,
Aguleri and later married an Igala wife who begot a son called the reason is that, Ogala with the alias, Eri was an Attah Igala
Onoja Oboli, and that the Onoja later founded Igala. This is so of Igalamela clan who ruled from 1371-1373when he was
cyclic and very contradictory. If Eri migrated from Igala chased away by Igalogba leading to the Igalaogba man, Aji, to
which was already in existence before even marrying his wife take over as Attah in 1373. Ogala (Eri) then left Idah with
or getting a son, how come the same Igala will be founded by some loyal Igala soldiers and settled in the present Anambra
Onoja? This also does not hold water. state to establish his own territory. In this location, he
established all the Igala structures and started dressing like
The third version said that Eri came from heaven with his wife Attah Igala. When Attah Igala started wearing Ejubejuailo, his
and settled near Omabala river. He later got a child called Idah descendants ruling at that period added that to their royal
who founded Igala. Again, this is very strange to many popular regalia too. The Eze Nri Oraeri as seen in the picture above
world historians as Idah was just a location and not the name of was a typical example. This is also confirmed thus:
person. The name or nomenclature, Idah was from Ona Imuda,
meaning the road has ended because the road or path they were According to Mr Lawton in 1917, “The Nris are of Igara
following during their (Igala people) migration ended at the [Igala] stock, extended themselves southward from Idah”.
bank of river Niger and they Igala people had to settle down “Practically all the towns north of the Onitsha-Akwa road are
there. Till date, no man or ruler or Attah Igala among the royal Nri- including Nteje, Umuleri and Aguleri”. In the Awka
clan had/has Idah as his name. This makes this version also Division, Akwuju, Igbariam and Amanuke, Orumebo, Oreri
false. There is another version which is still different. These are Nris”
inconsistence versions by Igbo historians could not provide In 1955, an Aguleri man, M. C. M. Idigo stated that “The
provable facts. However, all of them point to one direction, and Aguleri people originated from Igara [Igala] and migrated to
that is; Eri or Igbo was the father of Igala people. their present area about three or four centuries ago. The leader
But considering some similar cultures between Eri people and Eri, a warrior, took his people on a war expedition, and after
Igala, and which are not common between Eri and other Igbo long travel and many fights, established his camp at Eri-aka,
towns, some historians have proved that Eri was Igala who left near Odanduli stream, a place which lies between Ifite and
Idah and settled in Eri-aka (Eri’s hideout) around Omabala Igbezunu Aguleri. Eri, with his soldiers, went out regularly
river many century ago just like many other Igala people across from his settlement to Urada, Nnadi and other surrounding
Nigeria and beyond. towns on war raids and captured many of the inhabitants.
These were the Ibo-speaking people and by mixing with them
and inter-marriage, the immigrants adopted the language”.
In 1960, J. S. Boston stated that “The northern Umunri
villages say that the clan was founded by a man called Eri who
came to the Anambra area from Igala country and settled at the
Aguleri…”
Available records show that the names of the children of Eri
are Agulu, Onoja, Ogu, Umi-eri, Iguedo. These are all Igala
tribal names which Igala still bear till date; they are neither
HRM Agabaidu Idakwo Ameh Oboni II, The Attah Igala Jewish or Biblical names or Igbo names which tells the exact
wearing the Ejubeailo medal collected during Igala-Benin war or true origin of Eri or Ogala Eri. Summarily put, Agulu, is an
of 1515-16 Igala name meaning “The one who stays or waits see or find
it”. He was the founder of Aguleri. Menri (Umi-eri). Umi
means rest, settle, confort. He was the founder of Umuleri.
Onogu (Onu-ogu), meaning warrior or leader of war. Onoja
(Onuoja), an Igala name meaning leader or head of the masses

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or multitude. Iguedo, meaning he stays or resides in the middle In the 8th century BC (0700s BC), Egypt was captured by
or centre of; Comfort. Kush Kingdom and this led to the migration of many groups
including Igala from Egypt. Igala migrated through various
From the above evidences, it can be stated was Igala, and Igala
routes and in some cases been aided by their boats since they
existed before him, and he or his descendants cannot be the
were fishing and staying by river Nile as we are today along
founder of Igala which had existed many centuries before they
both sides of river Niger. They later reached a place which is
were born into that same tribe, hence the version of Igala origin
the present day Wukari in Taraba state and settled down before
from Igbo or Eri is totally false, and should be discarded too.
other groups started joining them.
3.2. Real origin of Igala
After staying in Wukari for close to two centuries (200 years)
Igala as a tribe originated from ancient Egypt. This had been and the population of Igala became very much, two Igala
confirmed by various Egyptological and ancient Egyptian groups (the present day Igalamela (Etemahi, Onubiogbo,
Archeologists reports, some of which are as follows: Egwuola, Onede, ...) and Igalogba (Achadu, Achikala, Agbalo
Attah, ...) migrated from Wukari and came to Idah (Opuata and
1. “The third Dynasty, Sir Harry Johnson writes: “The
Igalogba) around the 6th century BC (0500BC) according to
Dynastic Egyptians were not far distant from the Galla [Igala]
archeological evidences.
of today, …”, Lewis Spence, 1915.
After many years, some Igala clans remaining in Wukari along
2. “… the third Dynasty which led to the fourth shows a with some Igala sister tribes like Idoma, Alago, Ebira, led by
strongly Ethiopian face in Sa Nekht; the 12th Dynasty (1991-
Abutu Ejeh joined the first two Igala groups already in Idah.
1802 BC) we can trace to a Galla [Igala] Origin, …”, Petrie
Flinders, 1927. But as stated above, Igala had been in existence and she was
one of the few tribes whose names are on the ancient list of
3. “According to Professor Sergi of Rome, … the ancient tribes of ancient Egypt as confirmed by archeological proofs
Egyptians belonged to Nubians, Abyssinians, Galla [Igala], above. This makes Igala one of the very few ancient tribes in
Masail, Somali, …”, Oxford W.E, 1915.
Africa in General and Nigeria in particular. That is why, today,
4. “The primitive population of Nubia Nile valley from indigenous Igala territories can be found across 29 states of
predynastics period and up to the first dynasty belonged to a Nigeria and FCT because we were probably the first or one of
race consisting of Bejas, Galla, Somalia, Nubians, … ”, the first few tribes in Nigeria.
UNESCO, 1978. Note: The changing of Gala to Igala was as a result of our way
5. “The Galla, a people now in southeast Africa, came down of adding "I" to any word not starting with a vowel. Till date,
the Nile and established themselves at Qua where they founded among many Igala people, Peter is pronounced as Ipeter,
the tenth Dynasty of Egypt”, Petrie Flinders, 1931. Motor as Imotor, Cup as Icup, Paul as Ipaul, Buhari as Ibuhari,
and Gala as Igala
Pharaoh Merikara of Igala (Gala) was the last and the 18th
Pharaoh of the tenth dynasty. Merikara means “The beloved His Royal Majesty, the Attah Igala, AgabaiduIdakwo
one of the spirit of Ra”. Ra was the sun god, and he was named AmehOboni II, has said on several occasions that Igala people
after the god which denotes power and strength. He ruled from migrated from Egypt around river Nile. In acertain interaction,
ca2075 BC – ca2040 BC. he stated that he was informed by some Jukun elders and other
reliable documents that Igalas were in Wukari before the
In other words, Igala existed right from the beginning of the arrival of Jukun people. Also, during the historic Igala
world till the predynsatic period around 6000 BC through reunification festival, Igala National Congress which was
formation time of Egypt in ca 3150 BC. hosted by the Attah Igala in his palace in Idah, Kogi state, with
In addition, after many centuries of our migration, there are six states indigenous Igala people in attendance, His Majesty,
still numerous similar Igala words and ancient Egyptian words Attah Igala also stated that Igala migrated from Egypt through
that are of same meanings till date which is another various places Borno state to Wukari where Igala settled with
confirmation of Egyptian origin of Igala. Furthermore, the some tribes before they migrated to Ife and then too Idah to
wearing of earrings by Attah Igala and Ancient Egyptian form a new territory.
Pharaohs, the wearing of white and red crowns by Attah Igala Some similar vocabularies between Igala and ancient
and Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs, the same crowning processes Egyptian till date
for Attah Igala and Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs, the same
processes of burial of any transited Attah Igala and ancient 1. Spirit or breath in English is Em/Mi in Ancient Egyptian and
Egyptian Pharaohs including his excursion by servants (though Imi in Igala 2. Black/Dark in English is Dud in Ancient
no longer done in Igala) and other things to use in the other Egyptian and Edudu in Igala 3. Settlement in English is Dor in
world are further confirmation of Egyptian Igala Origin. Ancient Egyptian and Do/Odo in Igala 4. To know in English
is Ma in Ancient Egyptian and Ma/Uma in Igala 5. To
After taking part in the formation of Egypt (unification of create/make in English is Se in Ancient Egyptian and Che in
lower Egypt (Igala location near River Nile) and upper Egypt) Igala 6. Evil in English is Ubi in Ancient Egyptian and
in 3150BC, and taking part in the rulership/Pharaoh council in Ubi/Ejunubi in Igala 7. Talk in English is Ro in Ancient
the third dynasty (2686 BC – 2613 BC) i.e. 73 years, and Egyptian and Ro (as romiolo) in Igala 8. Children in English is
ruling as the tenth dynasty from 2130BC to 2040BC for 90 Amu in Ancient Egyptian and Oma in Igala 9. Ground/land in
years, and taking part in the 12th dynasty rulership (1991 BC English is Ani/Ren in Ancient Egyptian and Ane in Igala 10.
to 1802 BC), which was 189 year, they (Igala) left Egypt when Open in English is Fa in Ancient Egyptian and Fa (as in pull)
Egypt started facing different problems such as famine (too in Igala 11. Dawn/Night in English is Utcha in Ancient
much hunger), bad weather conditions, wars, regular foreign Egyptian and Ich/Idu in Igala 12.Yes, in English is Ehn in
invasions, etc. Ancient Egyptian and ehi in Igala 13. Father or elder in English
is Ata in Ancient Egyptian and Ata/Attah in Igala 14. Hill in
English is Oke in Ancient Egyptian and Oke in Igala 15.
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Rejoice in English is Hoo/Yooin Ancient Egyptian and Yo in [4] Pentrie flinders, John P M. and Joseph G. M. A history
Igala 16. Head of a city in English is On in Ancient Egyptian of Egypt; Vol 5, 2018, Palala Press.
and Onu in Igala 16. Confess in English is Beka in Ancient [5] Abdullahi M. Yusufu (2016): A study of the origin of
Egyptian and Ka/Ka aluwe in Igala 17. Boat in English is Oko an indigenous Community in Central Nigeria:
in Ancient Egyptian and Oko in Igala 18. Not Known in Interrogating Akpoto- Igala Phenomenon.
English is Amon in Ancient Egyptian and Aman/Amon in [6] Weise, Constanze (2013): Governance and Ritual
Igala 19. Finish in English is Tan in Ancient Egyptian and Sovereignty at the Niger-Benue Confluence and
Ita/Itakpa in Igala 20. Serpent in English is Edjo in Ancient Nupoid-Speaking Peoples to 1900 CE, PhD Thesis,
Egyptian and Ejo in Igala, 21. Fire in English is Unas in University of California (accessed online)
Ancient Egyptian and Una in Igala, etc [7] Nwanko T. Nwaezeigwe (2013): The politics of Igbo
origin and culture: The Igbo-Ukwu and Nri factors
CONCLUSION
Reconsidered. (https://www.africaresources.com>rasta)
I have been able to apply scientific and investigative approach [8] Margaret Bunson, Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt.
to subject the Jukun, Yoruba, Igbo/Eri, and Benin versions of Infobase Publishing, 2009
Igala origins to tests and they are all found to be false as they [9] Augustine Oghanrandukun and Eyebira Agharowu
are “unprovable” and lacking in evidence which is the basic (2008): Relationship between Egypt and Negro Africa:
element or property of history, hence all are concluded to be The Yoruba Model- A linguistic Analysis. Yoruba
false. History and Linguistic society.
[10] 10 Michael Rice (1999): Who is who in Ancient Egytp
From the various ancient archeological and Egyptologists
Routledge, London
evidences shown in the work, coupled with numerous similar [11] Pentrie Flinders (1991): History of Egypt: From the
vocabularies and same meanings between ancient Egyptian and earliest times to the XVIth Dynasty, Vol. 1, Histories
Igala till date, the Attah Igala crown being similar to that of
and Mysteries of man Ltd.
ancient Pharaohs till date, the wearing of earrings by Attah
[12] R. A. Sergeant (1984): On the methodology of
Igala till date just like ancient Egyptian Pharaohs, the
Chronology: The Igala Core Dating Progression.
Gala/Igala tribe being on the list of the tribes of ancient Egpty
https://www.jstor.org
without any of the above tribes (Jukun, Benin, Igbo, Yoruba [13] Lewis N. (1983): Life in Egypt under Roman Rule.
which are recent nomenclatures gotten in the present Nigeria Oxford; Clarendon Press
some just even two centuries ago), the processes of installation
[14] Clifford, Miles and Palmer, Richard (1936) The
of new Attah Igala being the same till date with that of ancient
Journal of Royal Anthropological Institute of Great
Egyptian Pharaohs, and the burial processes or stages of
Britain and Ireland, Vol.66
ancient Egyptian Pharaohs including the mummification being
https://www.jstor.org/stable/2844088
the same with any Attah Igala who travelled to the other world [15] Sergeant (1976): The Igala mornachy: The origin of the
till date (joined the ancestors), it can be concluded that Igala Igala Dynasty. In Benue valley project, No. 16
originated from Egypt.
[16] Boston, J, (1962):” Notes of the origin of Igala
Recommendation Kingship. Journal of Historical society of Nigeria, Vol.
3.
It is recommended that the present locations and situations of [17] Clifford, M (1936): A Nigerian Chiefdom: Some notes
the descendants of the remnants of the Igalas/Galla left behind on Igala tribes in Nigeria and the divine King. Journal
in Qau and by the Nile River or Nile valley during the of R. A. I, Vol. LXVI
migration of Igala to the present day Nigeria be carried out for [18] Oxford W. E. B. Du Bois and Henry Louis (1915):
possible reconnection with those in Nigeria. Black Folk then and now: An essay in the history and
Acknowledgement sociology of the negro Race
[19] Lewis Spence (1915): Myths and legends ancient
I sincerely acknowledge the following for sponsoring the Egypt accessed online at gutenberg.org
publication of this paper [20] Samuel Ajayi Crowther (1854): A comparative word-
1. HRH Akor E. C. Obiechina, Akor of Aika Ezeolu, list of Yoruba, Igala and English Languages
Delta state [21] The people of Ancient Egypt and the deciphering of
2. HRH Onuh Paul Opili Odilile, Onu Ebu, Delta state Meroitic script, www.unesco.org
3. Mr Ibrahim Usman, Abuja
4. SP Agboni Jacob Christopher KBS Jp, Great Great
Grandson of Akwunede Amocheje, Kogi state.
5. Arc Labran Abalaka, Kogi state.
(For sponsorship of other papers on Igala projects, call
08186396784 or email unitedigalakingdom@gmail.com)
References
[1] Ayegba Abdullahi Adojoh, Valentine Opaluwa and
Angela Omatokole Gabriel (2020): Scientific Approach
to Igala History, Mathson Group Publisher, Abuja.
[2] Ayegba Abdullahi Adojoh (2019): “Indegenous Igala
People, How Many states can we find you in Nigeria
and Beyond?”. Mathson Group Publisher, Abuja,
Nigeria.
[3] Jacob Abdullahi (2018): “The first Nigerian People”.
Winners Studio Nigeria Limited, Anyigba, Nigeria.

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