Ijoid · Nigeria’s peoples

Ijaw

The Ijaw (Izon) are the people of the Niger Delta’s creeks and coast, over 4 million strong.

At a glance

Where do the Ijaw people live?: Their homeland is in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Ondo States, across 16 local government areas. They are also a large share of Patani, Warri North and Warri South-West in Delta State and Yenegoa in Bayelsa State.
What language do the Ijaw speak?: Izon (Ijaw), a language of the Ijoid family (Ijoid › Ijo).
Which kingdoms are part of Ijaw history?: Bonny, Kalabari, Nembe, Opobo

Overview

The Ijaw (Izon) are the people of the Niger Delta’s creeks and coast, over 4 million strong. Western clans such as Ekeremor, Sagbama, Kolokuma-Opokuma and Arogbo had no central kings; the eastern city-states, Kalabari, Okrika, Bonny and Nembe, had powerful kings and grew rich on the Atlantic trade.^[2]High confidence

Where the Ijaw live

Local government areas by state. Homeland: the group is the majority. Shared area: a large share of a mixed area. Smaller presence: present, but a small share.

Rivers
- Akuku Toru(Homeland)
- Asari-Toru(Homeland)
- Bonny(Homeland)
- Degema(Homeland)
- Ogu Bolo(Homeland)
- Okrika(Homeland)
- Opobo/Nkoro(Homeland)
Delta
- Bomadi(Homeland)
- Burutu(Homeland)
- Patani(Shared area)
- Warri North(Shared area)
- Warri South-West(Shared area)
Bayelsa
- Brass(Homeland)
- Ekeremor(Homeland)
- Kolokuma/Opokuma(Homeland)
- Nembe(Homeland)
- Sagbama(Homeland)
- Southern Ijaw(Homeland)
- Yenegoa(Shared area)
Ondo
- Ese Odo(Homeland)

Areas are approximate and show where people live. They are not claims of land ownership.

Communities beyond the homeland

Ekeremor clan

Ekeremor, Bayelsa State: Aleibiri, Azagbene, Ayamassa, Isampou, Ndoro, Ogbosuwar, Tamogbene, Lalagbene.^[12],[13]High confidence

Home of the Ekeremor clan of the Ijaw, in thirty-one towns and villages.^[12]

Southern Ijaw (Izon)

Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State: Oporoma, Igbomotoro, Peremabiri, Opuama, Eniwari, Angiama, Diebu, Ondewari, Aziama.^[14],[13]High confidence

Twon-Brass

Brass, Bayelsa State.^[15],[16]High confidence

A traditional fishing town of the Nembe Ijaw on Brass Island. Brass and Nembe sent war canoes into the interior to capture slaves, and the palm-oil trade moved here by 1856.^[15],[16]

Fishing, net-making, canoe building, and farming oil palm, plantain and sugarcane.^[15]

Language

Izon (Ijaw), a language of the Ijoid family (Ijoid › Ijo). ISO 639-3: ijc.^[1],[2]High confidence

In history

Sources

Every claim carries a confidence level: high (well attested), medium (one source or approximate) or disputed (sources disagree).