Jukunoid · Nigeria’s peoples

Jukun

The Jukun are the heirs of Kwararafa, the Benue valley confederacy that once rivalled Kano and Bornu.

At a glance

Where do the Jukun people live?: Their homeland is in Ibi in Taraba State, across 1 local government area. They are also a large share of Wukari in Taraba State.
What language do the Jukun speak?: Jukun (Wapan), a language of the Jukunoid family (Atlantic-Congo › Volta-Congo › Benue-Congo › Jukunoid).
Who is the traditional ruler of the Jukun?: Aku Uka of Wukari, seated at Wukari.
Which kingdoms are part of Jukun history?: Kwararafa

Overview

The Jukun are the heirs of Kwararafa, the Benue valley confederacy that once rivalled Kano and Bornu. The Wukari Federation, headed by the Aku Uka, is now their main centre; the Jukun of Wukari, Ibi and Wase call themselves Wapa.^[2]High confidence

Where the Jukun 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.

Taraba
- Ibi(Homeland)
- Wukari(Shared area)
- Donga(Smaller presence)
- Takum(Smaller presence)
Gombe
- Akko(Smaller presence)
- Shomgom(Smaller presence)
Nasarawa
- Awe(Smaller presence)
- Obi(Smaller presence)
Benue
- Guma(Smaller presence)
- Makurdi(Smaller presence)
Plateau
- Wase(Smaller presence)

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

Communities beyond the homeland

Wukari

Wukari, Taraba State: Puje (Kwararafa Area).^[7],[8],[9]High confidence

Seat of the Aku Uka, king of the Jukun, since the court settled here in 1855; heir of Kwararafa. In 1780 the Aku Uka confirmed the Kanuri founder of Lafia as Sarkin Lafia Bare-Bari. The crocodiles of the Marmara pond, said to have guided the Jukun on their migration, are still protected.^[7],[8]

Biepi (Byepi)

Ibi, Taraba State.^[2],[10]High confidence

Api or Biepi, the old capital of Kwararafa near Ibi; the Aku Uka is still crowned here.^[2],[10]

Ibi (Jukun Wanu)

Ibi, Taraba State.^[11],[2]High confidence

Home of the Jukun Wanu and Wurbo, mostly fishermen, where the land route from eastern Igboland crossed the Benue. The Royal Niger Company set up a station here in 1883.^[11],[12]

Fishing on the Benue; cotton was ginned here from the 1920s.^[11]

Wase Tofa

Wase, Plateau State.^[2],[13],[9]High confidence

The Jukun (Wapa) living near Wase befriended the Fulani Giwa when he came in about 1813; Wase Tofa is one of the six Jukun dialects Meek recorded.^[13],[2]

Pindiga

Akko, Gombe State.^[14],[2],[9]High confidence

A Jukun town founded, by Kwararafa tradition, by the hunter Gidi-Gidi; it held out against Gombe from 1815 until British rule. Meek counted its speech with Kona and Gwana as one Jukun dialect.^[14],[2]

Kona

Jalingo, Taraba State.^[2],[12],[9]High confidence

The Jukun of Kona call themselves Jiba; their neighbours call them Kwana. Kona fought Muri emirate through the 19th century and was taken by the Royal Niger Company in 1892.^[2],[12]

Jibu

Takum, Taraba State.^[12],[2],[9]High confidence

A Jukun town burned by the Royal Niger Company in 1884, 1888 and 1891; Jibu is one of the Jukun dialects.^[12],[2]

Abinsi

Guma, Benue State.^[2],[9]Medium confidence

Meek put the western limit of Jukun settlement at Abinsi; its Jukun Wanu stayed politically separate from Wukari in the 1920s.^[2]

Language

Jukun (Wapan), a language of the Jukunoid family (Atlantic-Congo › Volta-Congo › Benue-Congo › Jukunoid). ISO 639-3: juk.^[1]High confidence

Traditional ruler

Aku Uka of Wukari, seated at Wukari.^[2]High confidence

In history

KwararafaKwararafa at its height, 1650

Sources

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