Isoko people
Isoko people are an ethnolinguistic group who inhabit the Isoko region of Delta State, and Bayelsa State Nigeria.[2] They are people of southern Nigeria, near the northwestern Niger delta. Delta State and Bayelsa State are part of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
 Isoko girl | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 641,000[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Isoko region (Nigeria) | |
| Languages | |
| Isoko | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity and Traditional African religions | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Urhobo, Igbo, Ijaw |
The Isokos speak the Isoko language, which is very linguistically similar to the Urhobo language, Epie-Atissa language, Engenni language. James W. Welch asserted that Isoko language is a dialect of Urhobo language,[3] and many people share that opinion.
The Isoko culture is related to several cultures in the Niger-Delta - namely, Urhobo, Ijaw and Anioma. Urhobo are related in language and culture, leading to the missionaries erroneously labelling the Urhobo and Isoko cultural groups as Sobo. This name was strongly rejected by both tribes.
Notable people
- Eva Alordiah, rap musician
- Fred Amata, actor
- Jeta Amata, filmmaker
- Bovi, comedian
- Patience Oghogho Maseli, first female Deputy Director of Upstream Division at the Department of Petroleum Resources
- Evi Edna Ogholi, reggae musician
- Orezi, musician
- Daddy Showkey, garala singer
- Masai Ujiri, President and former GM of the Toronto Raptors
References
- "Isoko in Nigeria". Joshua Project. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- The Isoko Tribe, James W. Welch
- Welch, James W. (1934). "The Isoko Tribe". Africa: Journal of the International African Institute. 7 (2): 160–173. doi:10.2307/1155529. JSTOR 1155529.
External links
- Isoko information
- Isoko History - information about Isoko Society by Hon. Chief Clement O. Akugha
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