This book is a comprehensive history of the Igala kingdom (Kogi state, Nigeria), people, land and language based on the study of the oral traditions, cultural practices, articles, published and unpublished works on Igala history. It is a compendium of the history of the Igala people from the Pre-16th century to the present day using the Igala cultural and rituals practices as evidence of historical events. It is a scholarly work on the chronology of the events that led to the establishment of the present dynastic monarchy in Igala land and the creation of the Igala kingdom which became the greatest pre-colonial kingdom in the River Niger-Benue confluence area in Nigeria, with its influence on the cultural, political and commercial developments on the northern Igbo country and along the River Niger down to the Niger-Delta area. The chronology was discussed under three main eras; the Pre-Dynastic Monarchy Era, the Proto-Dynastic Monarchy Era and The Dynastic Monarchy Era. The events that took place in each of these eras were extensively reported. The book illustrates the cultural leadership development of the autochthonous Igala clans, the Benin vassal Aji-Ata dynasty, the Achadu clan and the Empire building escapades of Ayegba oma Idoko starting from his progenitor “Abutu-Ejeh” breakaway from the ancient Jukun led Kwararafa Kingdom. Other subjects discussed include; the real history behind the sacrifice of Princess Inikpi and Oma-Odoko, the funeral rites and coronation rituals for the Ata-Igala and the origin of the name “Igala”. This book is recommended for students of history and those who want to enrich their knowledge on Igala, people, land, language and other related cultural matters.

Indigenous language publishing in Africa started with Christian missionaries, and in part by Islamic clerics. The socio-political and economic changes since then have greatly affected indigenous language media. Here, twenty scholars examine aspects of those changes; they are from Nigeria, Uganda, Malawi, Cameroon, Kenya and Congo; with contributions also from USA and UK. Future prospects are explored, and the possibilities for improving the prospects of the genre. Covering the written word and the broadcast media, the work is a pioneering documentation of a neglected subject of academic study.

Ígálá language, which is spoken in parts of Kògí, Énúgu, Ánámbra, Delta and Bénúé States of Nigeria, is one of the world’s increasingly endangered languages. Unless something changes soon, it will be lost forever. John Idakwoji spent more than thirty years researching the language so that he could share with the world its oceanic depth and the sacred, unique but under-exploited culture that it nurtures even in its seldom written, rarely described and sparsely documented state of being. The book takes the bull by the horns, as it equips Igala teachers and students with the tools they need to engage in practical learning and instruction. You’ll find: insights on the properties and characteristics of the language, including its alphabet, tones, grammar, parts of speech, dialects, loan-words, and more. features of the lexicon and how readers can recognize and use vocabulary. over five thousand head-words presented in alphabetical order and bearing diacritical marks, phonetic symbols, and tone marks to enable interested non-Igalas to read the book. Research-based information on Igala’s prehistoric origins and the three successive dynasties that have ruled the land bring a personal touch to the lexicon. There is a desperate need and a vociferous call for Ígáláà to be preserved, and An Ígálá-English Lexicon answers that clarion call with an impressive trove of data, analysis, and documentation.

This work examines the world's indigenous peoples, their cultures, the countries in which they reside, and the issues that impact these groups.