23/07/2025
Languages And Dialects In Kogi State
Kogi State has a variety of Languages/Dialects cutting across its 21 Local Government Areas. The striking thing about the state is that majority of its languages fall under the Volta-Niger sub classification of the Niger-Congo group of languages.
Below is a list of its Languages/Dialects and the locations where they are spoken as indigenous languages with Kogi.
1) Igala Language;
The Igala Language in Kogi State comprise of six distinct dialects including;Idah Imane Ogugu Ankpa Ibaji DekinaIfe Dialects.
It is spoken in Olamaboro, Ankpa, Idah, Omala, Igalamela/Odolu, Ofu, Dekina, Ajaokuta, Bassa and Ibaji LGAs.
2) Ebira Language;
The language as found in Kogi comprise four dialects, namely; �Ebira-Ta’o, �Ebira-Koto/Mozum�Ebira Panda and�Eganyi Ebira
They are all spoken in Ajaokuta, Adavi, Okene, Okehi, Kotonkarfi, Lokoja and Bassa LGAs.
3) Yoruba Language
The yoruba People found in Kogi State are collectively called “Okun”. Apart from the major Yoruba Language which they all speak, they also speak varied Yoruba Dialects.
The major Okun-Yoruba dialects spoken in Kogi are Owe Yagba Ijumu Gbede Bunu Ikiri and Oworo.
In Kogi, Okun-Yoruba dialects are spoken in 6 Local Government Areas namely, Ijumu, Kabba/Bunu, Yagba East, Yagba West, MopaMuro and Lokoja LGAs
4) Oko Language;
Oko is spoken among the Ogori people of Ogori/Magongo LGA.
5) Osayen Language;
Osayen is a language of the people of Magongo in Ogori/Magongo LGA.
6) Eni Language;
Eni is spoken in various localities across Ogori/Magongo LGA.
7) Ukaan Language
8.) Akpes Language
9) Ahan Language
10) Ayere Language
11) Akoko Language
Ukaan, Akpes, Ahan, Ayere and Akoko are all language spoken in the boarder communities between Kogi and Ondo State in Ijumu LGA of Kogi State.
12) Bassa-Komu Language;
The Bassa-Komu Language speaking people of Kogi are found in Bassa, Lokoja and Kotonkarfi LGAs.
13) Bassa-Nge Language;