Ogonoid · Nigeria’s peoples

Ogoni

The Ogoni, just over 2 million people, live in Ogoniland east of Port Harcourt, in six kingdoms.

At a glance

Where do the Ogoni people live?: Their homeland is in Eleme, Gokana, Khana and Tai in Rivers State, across 4 local government areas.
What language do the Ogoni speak?: Khana (Ogoni), a language of the Ogonoid family (Atlantic-Congo › Volta-Congo › Benue-Congo › Delta Cross › Ogonoid).

Overview

The Ogoni, just over 2 million people, live in Ogoniland east of Port Harcourt, in six kingdoms. Their homeland has suffered heavily from oil spills.^[2]High confidence

Where the Ogoni 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
- Eleme(Homeland)
- Gokana(Homeland)
- Khana(Homeland)
- Tai(Homeland)
- Oyigbo(Smaller presence)

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

Communities beyond the homeland

Bori (Khana)

Khana, Rivers State.^[3],[4]High confidence

Fishing, hunting and farming.^[3]

Gokana kingdom

Gokana, Rivers State: Giokoo, Kpor, Bodo, Bomu, Kegbara Dere, Biara, Deeyor, Lewe, Mogho, Bera, Barako.^[5]High confidence

Seventeen towns of one common ancestry, each under its own king, under the Gbere Mene of Gokana, whose stool is at the traditional headquarters, Giokoo.^[5]

Tai kingdom

Tai, Rivers State: Korokoro, Sakpenwa, Borobara, Botem, Kpite, Gio, Nonwa.^[6],[4]High confidence

Tai has two sections, the Tua Tua kingdom and the Barasi Nonwa kingdom, both under the Gbene Mene Tai, whose seat is Korokoro; most people speak the Tee and Baan languages.^[6]

Eleme

Eleme, Rivers State: Ogale, Nchia, Odido.^[7]High confidence

Eleme's two districts, Nchia and Odido, are under one crown, the Oneh Eh Eleme; the Eleme language is of the Cross River branch.^[7]

Language

Khana (Ogoni), a language of the Ogonoid family (Atlantic-Congo › Volta-Congo › Benue-Congo › Delta Cross › Ogonoid). ISO 639-3: ogo.^[1]High confidence

Sources

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