Isoko people

{{Infobox ethnic group

| group = Isoko

| image = Uniben-Jeune fille isoko.jpg

| image_caption = Isoko girl

| total = 1,000,000

| total_ref = {{cite web|url=https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12266/NI|title=Isoko in Nigeria|website=Joshua Project|access-date=14 February 2019}}

| regions = Isoko region (Nigeria)

| languages = Isoko

| religions = Christianity and Traditional African religions

| related_groups = Urhobo, Benin, Esan, Afemai

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| total_source = Estimate

}}

{{Citation |title=Edo people |date=2024-12-26 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edo_people |access-date=2025-01-17 |language=en}}File:IsokoMask.jpg

Isoko people are an ethnolinguistic group who inhabit the Isoko region of Delta State and Bayelsa State, Nigeria.[https://www.jstor.org/stable/1155529 The Isoko Tribe], James W. Welch They are people of southern Nigeria, near the northwestern Niger delta.{{Cite web |title=Isoko {{!}} people {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Isoko |access-date=11 April 2022 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}} Delta State and Bayelsa State are part of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Isokos speak the Isoko language, a language of the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo family which is also very linguistically similar to the Urhobo language, Epie-Atissa language, Engenni language. James W. Welch asserted erroneously that Isoko language cluster is a dialect of Urhobo language.{{Cite journal |jstor = 1155529|title = The Isoko Tribe|journal = Africa: Journal of the International African Institute|volume = 7|issue = 2|pages = 160–173|last1 = Welch|first1 = James W.|year = 1934|doi = 10.2307/1155529| s2cid=145669865 }}

The Isoko culture is related to several cultures in the Niger-Delta - namely, Urhobo, Ijaw and Anioma.[https://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/food-travel/isoko-culture-a-brief-walk-into-the-lives-of-one-of-nigerias-finest-tribe/yr1j4qz.amp] Urhobo are related in language and culture, leading to the invaders erroneously labelling the Urhobo and Isoko cultural groups as Sobo.{{Cite web |title=Isoko {{!}} people |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Isoko |access-date=11 June 2021 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en}} This name was strongly rejected by both tribes.{{Cite web |title=Isoko Kingdom in Delta Nigeria Guide |url=https://www.nigeriagalleria.com/Nigeria/States_Nigeria/Delta/History-of-Isoko-Kingdom-in-Delta-State.html |access-date=17 September 2021 |website=www.nigeriagalleria.com}}{{Cite thesis|last=Tobor|first=John Oghenero|date=2014|title=Urhobo Culture and the Amnesty Program in Niger Delta, Nigeria: An Ethnographic Case Study|url=https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1127&context=dissertations|publisher=Walden University|volume=|pages=|via=}}

The Isoko ethnic group consist of nineteen clans, namely: Uzere, Ozoro, Erowha, Owhe, Iyede, Okpe, Emede, Igbide, Emevor, Ofagbe, Ellu, Oyede, Umeh, Irri, Aviara, Olomoro, Enwhe, Okpolo and Oleh.{{Cite journal |last=Okpevra |first=Uwomano Benjamin |date=19 August 2020 |title=A discourse on the history and identity of the Isoko of the Niger Delta of Nigeria |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14725843.2020.1804828 |journal=African Identities |volume=19 |issue=4 |language=en |pages=536–553 |doi=10.1080/14725843.2020.1804828 |s2cid=225394849 |issn=1472-5843}}

Notable people

Don Jazzy, Famous music producer and singer
Obaro Ikime, Professor of History, University of Ibadan
Stella Omu, Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Jonathan Akpoborie, Nigerian international footballer
D'Prince, Afropop singer
Victor Ikpeba, Nigerian international footballer and brand ambassador
Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, Senator currently representing Delta South
Zeb Ejiro, Veteran Film Maker
Chico Ejiro, Veteran Film Maker
Eva Alordiah, rap musician{{Cite web |title=Elohor Eva Alordiah, Musician, Recording Artist, Nigeria Personality Profiles |url=https://www.nigeriagalleria.com/Nigeria/Personality-Profiles/Musicians/Eva-Alordiah.html |access-date=11 September 2021 |website=www.nigeriagalleria.com}}
Fred Amata, actor{{Cite web |title=Fred Amata |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1676074/ |access-date=11 September 2021 |website=IMDb}}
Jeta Amata, filmmaker{{Cite web |date=17 June 2021 |title=Filmmaker Jeta Amata raises the alarm over whereabouts of ex-wife |url=https://punchng.com/filmmaker-jeta-amata-raises-alarm-over-whereabouts-of-ex-wife/ |access-date=11 September 2021 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}
Bovi, comedian{{Cite web |title=Bovi Ugboma, Actor, Comedian, Nigeria Personality Profiles |url=https://www.nigeriagalleria.com/Nigeria/Personality-Profiles/Comedians/Bovi.html |access-date=11 September 2021 |website=www.nigeriagalleria.com}}
Patience Oghogho Maseli, first female Deputy Director of Upstream Division at the Department of Petroleum Resources{{Cite web |date=11 August 2021 |title=18 Notable Alumni of the University of Port Harcourt |url=https://edurank.org/uni/university-of-port-harcourt/alumni/ |access-date=11 September 2021 |website=EduRank.org - Discover university rankings by location |language=en}}
Evi Edna Ogholi, reggae musician{{Cite web |date=13 February 2020 |title=EVI EDNA OGOLI -Biography |url=https://enorecordsllc.com/evi-edna-ogoli-biography/ |access-date=11 September 2021 |website=Enorecords LLC |language=en}}
Orezi, musician{{Cite web |date=29 June 2019 |title=Talent without money a waste of time - Orezi |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/06/talent-without-money-a-waste-of-time-orezi/ |access-date=11 September 2021 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-US}}
Daddy Showkey, garala singer{{Cite web |title=Daddy Showkey Rewards Outstanding Students In Ajegunle – KapitalFM 92.9 Abuja |url=https://kapital929.fm/ajegunle-soldier-daddy-showkey-rewards-outstanding-students-hood/ |access-date=11 September 2021 |website=kapital929.fm}}
Masai Ujiri, President and former GM of the Toronto Raptors{{Cite web |last=Rush |first=Curtis |title=Future Remains Uncertain For Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/curtisrush/2021/05/19/future-remains-uncertain-for-toronto-raptors-president-masai-ujiri/ |access-date=11 September 2021 |website=Forbes |language=en}}
Solid Star, musician{{Citation |last=(Musician) |first=Coco Solid |title=Denim & leisure : Coco & Erik remixes 02-05 |date=2006 |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/156760207 |publisher=Coco Solid |oclc=156760207 |access-date=11 September 2021}}
Samuel Oboh, Canadian architect{{Cite web |date=28 January 2015 |title=Samuel Oboh inducted as the 76th President of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada |url=https://www.canadianarchitect.com/samuel-oboh-inducted-as-the-76th-president-of-the-royal-architectural-institute-of-canada/ |access-date=11 September 2021 |website=Canadian Architect |language=en-US}}
Cornelius Adam Igbudu (1914-1981), founder of the Anglican Adam Preaching Society
Ogaga Ifowodo, human rights activist, lawyer, and writer
Moses James, Boxer, Olympic medalist 1992, two time world boxing champion.

References

External links

[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/296289/Isok Isoko information]
[http://www.isokonewyork.org/history.html Isoko History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208060401/http://www.isokonewyork.org/history.html |date=8 February 2015 }} - information about Isoko Society by Hon. Chief Clement O. Akugha

Isoko people

Notable people

See also

References

External links

Further reading