Gbagyi people

amí, Gbagyi abẹkí Gbari (plural - Agbagyi/Agbari) aboí chí àbo újo íchí kú má lí ùmàá, kí chama Cha gbenu kí chí lẹ efu  Central Nigeria manyú úwewe má kí kialó tí ímílon mẹ́gwẹ́jí kí chẹ́ kpatùka j‘efu amí statí m‘ẹ́lẹ́ , manyú Abuja ónûgo kpaí í deju-ówó efu amí lócal gomenti èkétá. 3 Oñ lẹ́ bítí ño chí odù íchí má kú má ka í,. Àbo enemolá yé ì újo íchí kí deí akíchí olá mẹjí .ewnú kíchí ku ma kíchí í, má dù-má kí Gwari, má kíchí akẹchí manyú ófúlàní gẹ́, as well as by Europeans during pre-colonial Nigeria,Shekwo, pp. 18. mà ñé‘jú kú má múma kí Gbagyi/Ojìane efú stàtí  Niger má dẹ́..‘ , yé í Federal Capital Territory - Abuja, kpaí  Kaduna State. abelegẹ̀ má ño defu ojìane, statí yẹ́ í Nasarawa,kí dè alumẹ́jí Naijẹria. Gbagyi/Gbari chí íchí kàà efú amí íchí kamone chá mọọ nyọ nyọ ,újoó íchí ě í deju òwò  middle belt kpaí indigenous ló ě í  Federal Capital Territory é í Nigeria. Ya í chí du teju gedé kí amí akí chí Gbagyi chẹ tejugade kí áma ní ugbeta ewọ Naijẹria , Abuja.Chigudu Tanko Theophilus (2008), A brief History of the Gbagyi Speaking People, an unpublished Article 

O'híla.

Social-political structure
Olá ẹta ó‘híla, yé amí chí Gbagyi/Gbari kú má chí ùkocha ona alú .Shekwo, p. 24. ódá yà úyo halawne The lowest tier of authority is found in the extended family compound led by the oldest male. Being a patriarchal community, the Osu (king) is the highest tier of authority in a Gbagyi/Gbari settlement and he is assisted by a group of elders who are charged with the responsibility of ensuring peace in the land.Shekwo

Additionally, Gbagyi familiarity with the lapis lazuli stone has been taken in some quarters as indication of Egyptian origin. The question of Gbagyi origin is further complicated by the fact that the Nupe and Gbagyi languages have recognised affinity and the Koro, whose history seems to have been intricately linked with that of the Gbagyi, actually claim linkage with Wukari and the Kwarafara empire (Cadman, 1913). 

Settlement
The Gbagyi people are found in various locations in Middle Belt (Central) Nigeria. They inhabit the western parts of Abuja, southern Niger State, Chikun Local Government Area with its headquarters at Kujama in Kaduna state and Nassarawa state.Rosendall, pp. 1. Significant Gbagyi towns include Minna, Karu, Kuta, Kwakuti, Kwali, Gawu, Yelwa, Toto, Araba, Nakuse, Rubochi, Abaji, Geku, Gadabuje, Majaga, (Gusolo) Gussoro, (Gbada) Gwada, Guni, Fuka, Galkogo, Maikunle, Manta, Wushapa (Ushafa), Bisi, Bwaya (Bwari), Suleja, Shiroro (Shilolo), Beji, Diko, Alawa, Erena, Paiko/ Paigo, Lambata, Zugba, Nuku, Gbogo and Farin Doki. There are some theories that posit a reason for the scattered settlements and migration of the Gbagyi people. Some historians believe the Gbagyi were displaced from their original settlements during the Fulani Jihad, while some local historians link migration with the need for farmland by the Gbagyi.shekwo, pp. 21–23. Chigudu, pp. 1–2

Gbagyi settlements can be both large and small. In locations where farming is the dominant occupation, the settlements tend to be small so that enough land is available for farming.

Displacement from lands in Abuja
The Gbagyi were the largest among the ethnic groups that inhabited the land proposed for development when Abuja was chosen as Nigeria's new federal capital. The result was dislocation, the removal of people from their ancestral homes, from spiritual symbols such as Zuma Rock,Shekwo, p. 39. seeing their ancestral land referred to as no-man's land, and issues about adjusting to the new environment given by the government. However, many displaced families were given housing, but some lived in transit and settlement camps for a long while.

Culture
The Gbagyi people are known to be peace-loving, transparent and accommodating people.  Northerners are fond of saying in Hausa language muyi shi Gwari Gwari, "let’s do it like the Gbagyi" or "in the Gbagyi way". According to Theophilus Tanko Chigudu, the Gbagyi people have emerged as a unique breed among Nigerians: their culture shows how much they have come to terms with the universe. Daily they aspire to give life a meaning no matter the situation in which they find themselves.Chigudu Tanko T, (2008:2,) The Impact Of Urbanization on the Gbagyi People in Abuja

Language

The Gbagyi language is part of the Kwa sub-division of the Niger-Congo language family,Shekwo, p. 18. however, some researchers such as Kay Williamson put the language in the Benue-Congo family.Rosendall, p. 6. The people speak two dialects that are sometimes called Gbari (Gwari yamma) and Gbagyi dialects.

Religion
The Gbagyi people are typically adherents of the Christian faith, however a growing subset practice Islam and their own traditional religion. In their traditional religion, some Gbagyi believe in a God called Shekwoyi (one who was there before their ancestors)Shekwo, p. 31. but they also devote themselves to appeasing deities such as Maigiro.Shekwo, pp. 31. Many Agbagyi believe in reincarnation.

The rapid growth of Christianity was due to the Sudan Interior Mission (which also came to be known locally as Evangelical Church of West Africa now Evangelical Church Winning All) and the Baptist Missionaries from the south western part of Nigeria.Rosendall, p. 3. Islam first appeared in the region around the 18th-19th centuries due to the impact of the Fula jihads but it was during the colonial and post-colonial period which saw most actual conversions to Islam among the Gbagyi.

 List of notable Gbagyi people 
  Ibrahim Babangida, former president of Nigeria
 Bez, musician
 Ladi Kwali, potter

References

Sources

External links

Category:Ethnic groups in Nigeria