Igala Kingdom

Igala Kingdom

The Igala Kingdom also known as the Kingdom of Idah was a pre-colonial West African state of what is now Nigeria. The kingdom was founded by the Igala, a people living north of the Igbo with its capial at Idah. It was heavily influenced by the Yoruba, Bini and Jukun kingdoms.

The first "Attah" (king) of the kingdom is know as Ayagba om Idoko (Ayagba son of Idoko). He led a great war of liberation against the Jukun culminating in the sacrifice of his daughter, Enekpe to ensure victory.

The attah-ship of Idah rotated among four branches of the royal clan. Anthropologists believe the Igala kingdom was founded in the mid-16th century. The kingdom was ruled by nine high officials called the Igala Mela whom are custodians of the sacred Earth shrine.

The kingdom of Igala survived well into the 19th century. It became a British protectorate in 1901.

ee Also

*List of Rulers of the Igala state of Idah
*Igala
*Idah

References

*cite book |author=Isichei, Elizabeth. |title=A history of African Societies to 1870 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |year=1997 |pages=590 Pages |isbn=0-52145-599-5


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