14/10/2025
There is another Oworo in Kogi state.
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๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐จ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ โ ๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ค๐จ๐ฃ๐
The Oworo (แปwแปrแป) are the indigenous Yoruba people of Lokoja and the Niger-Benue confluence in present-day Kogi State, Nigeria. They are widely regarded as the original aborigines of Lokoja town.
Linguistically and culturally, the Oworo are grouped with the Okun people alongside the Yagba, Owe, Bunu, Ekirin-Adde and Gbede subgroups forming part of the Northeast Yorubas.
Origins and Legends
Oral traditions trace the Oworo origin to three brothers who left Ile-Ife to hunt around what is now Oworo land. Their fruitful expedition inspired the name
โ๐จ๐ฐ๐จ ๐ฆ๐ข ๐ซ๐จโ, meaning
โ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ.โ
Early European observers, such as Temple O. referred to them as โAworo.โ
Language and Culture
The Oworo speaks a Yoruba dialect closely related to other Okun dialects. Mutual intelligibility allows them to communicate with neighboring Okun groups. In the eastern axis of their territory.
Geography
Oworo land lies on the western bank of the River Niger at the Niger-Benue confluence. It is bordered by:
North: Igbira Igu (Egbura)
Northwest: Kakanda
West: Bunu
South: Ebira land
The terrain is mountainous with several communities on the Agbaja Plateau. Notable Oworo towns and villages include:
Agbaja, Jamata, Obajana, Tajimi, Emu, Jakura, Omuwa, Otada, Agbodo, Adamogu, Otuga, Gbonla-Odo, Aleke, Igaa, Ojigi, Owara Igaachi, Igbonla, Ogbabon, Gbande, Adogbe, Ijiho, Karara, Banda, Okonoke, Akpata, Oyo, Irimi, Gbaude, Iwaa, Osokosoko, Okomoba, Ogbongboro, Felele (the northern suburb of Lokoja town).
Edited from: Yoruba Nostalgia, Ilรฉ-Ife
