Afizere

The Afizere people (Other: Afizarek, exonym: Jarawa) are an ethnic group that occupy Jos East, Jos North, parts of Jos South and Mangu Local Government Areas of Plateau State and parts of Toro and Tafawa Balewa Local Government Areas of Bauchi State, Nigeria. The Afizere are speakers of Izere language.[2] The neighbors of the Afizere to the north are the Hausa and Jarawan Dass. To the east and southeast are the Zari, Sayawa and Pyem. To the south and southwest are the Berom while the Irigwe and Rukuba lie to the west. On to the northwest of the Afizere are found a number of ethnic groups the closest of which are the Anaguta, Bujel, Ribina, Kayauri and Duguza while the more distant ones include Buji, Gusu, Sanga, Jere, Amoa, and Lemoro.[3]

Afizere

Tribal Map of Africa including the Afizere.
Total population
500,000 (2012)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Nigeria
Languages
Izere, Nigerian English
Religion
African religions, Christianity, Islam
Related ethnic groups
Irigwe, Atyap, Bajju, Berom, Jukun, and other Platoid peoples of the Middle Belt of Nigeria, Yoruba, Igbo

Settlement

The Afizere previously settled in the Chawai region of southern Kaduna State and as time passed different Afizere groups moved southwards.[4] The first group from Southern Kaduna settled at the foot of the hills called Gwash close to the current location of the Jos Museum and others settled at the foot of Shere Hills in the Jos Plateau.[4] Different Afizere clans soon settled southwards of Chawai lands. Currently there are more than 500,000 Afizere people[5] distributed over 16 major traditional districts who inhabit territories within Jos North, Jos East, Mangu, in Plateau State and Tafawa-Balewa and Toro Local Government Areas in Bauchi State. During the pre-colonial period, the people lived in hilly terrains surrounding the Jos Plateau as a defense mechanism against jihadist attacks during and after the Fulani Jihad. Some Afizere towns and villages include Dong, Tudun Wada (Gyese), Kabong, Jos Jarawa, Rikkos, Fudawa, Kwanga, Fobur, Angware, Maijuju, Fusa, and Gwafan (Lamingo), Shere, Zandi, etc.

Culture

Izere towns have a traditional and gerontocratic[6] chieftaincy system that is headed by an Agwom[7] and supported by five districts heads representing the five royal families of the Afizere: Fobur, Forsum, Maigemu, Shere, and Federe. In Afizere land, a district could be a combination of 6 to 12 villages. Historically, the Agwom was also the chief priest of the people

A traditional dance called Asharuwa is one of the cultural heritage the Afizere have maintained over the years. The asharwa dance group represented Nigeria in countries like United States, UK, Canada, Germany, South Africa, Ukraine, and Kenya.

Language
Main article: Izere language

The language of the people is called Izere and it is spoken in five different dialects. The dialects are Ibor spoken largely in the Fobur district, Isum spoken in Forsum villages, Iganang spoken in Shere, Ifudere spoken in Federe and Ikyo.[5] Izere is considered to be part of the Benue-Congo language group that is prominent in Central Nigeria.

Dresses

Kings wear kukpra and have their hair barbed, with the hair like a row in the middle of their heads and step by step horizontal cuts all throughout, signifying the crown. They have a ceremonial staff called an akbong with one strand. Priests wear the same clothes as the king, but what differentiates them is the king's haircut and his staff, as the priest's akbong has two strands.

Men wear itak round their waists. Women wear akpi made from atufa or agindo, covering their chest and going around their waists.

Kurus are used to keep babies tight on the back of their mothers and it is water resistant.

For brides and grooms, the same clothing they would normally wear is used, but it is freshly made.

Izere colors and their order
  1. GREEN [NAYA]: signifies Agriculture
  2. WHITE [CHA’AN]: signifies Peace
  3. YELLOW [IZIZERE]: signifies the Language
  4. BLACK [AGA’AB]: signifies Strength
  5. COWRIES [ICRIBI]: signifies Riches

Religion

Christianity and Islam are the two major religions among the Afizere, but some Afizere still choose to adhere to their traditional beliefs. In traditional Afizere religion, there is a supreme deity called Adakunom, meaning father of the sun, who is considered the creator and source of life and health. A few minor gods exist to act as mediators to Adakunom. Father of the sun is the literal translation of Adakunom, but it can be translated as "father, the sun" or "mighty sun" (the almighty sun).[5] Then there are the spirits or witches who are the source of both good and evil.

Christianity came to Afizere land by the way of Sudan Interior Mission preachers[5] who converted some Afizere individuals who later acted as agents of dispersion of the religion. Islam came to the region after the Fulani jihad when part of Afizere territory came under the authority of the Emir of Bauchi

Names

The Izere people like many other tribes or ethnic groups have unique names given to children at birth. A child could be named in accordance to a situation or circumstance leading to his/her birth. Some traditional Izere names and meaning are:

  1. .Abok = Physician
  2. Adar = Star
  3. Afan = Rest
  4. Agwom = Ruler of people
  5. Ajang/Azhang = Defender
  6. Itse = A strong man
  7. Atsen = A visitor
  8. Arum = A prosperous man
  9. Atu = A blacksmith
  10. Atsi = A priest
  11. Abi= Long awaited female child
  12. Igbarak= A tower
  13. Azong = I ask
  14. Ayisa = Born during isaah festival
  15. Ayong = What have been expected
  16. Akare = clean
  17. Akuben = Good seed
  18. Akutse = Blessing of God
  19. Ikok = A protector or unite together
  20. Ayom = Born during Mourning period
  21. Isha = A player or dancer
  22. Adang = Patience
  23. Azhik = Handsome
  24. Kaze = The only one
  25. Arin = Not to miss again
  26. Igyem = A person with wisdom
  27. Azok = A unique
  28. Agok/Itsegok = Double fruitful
  29. Inyam = Good for fortune
  30. Akassa = Sharing equally.
  31. Atang = The best shooter
  32. Izang = Victorious
  33. Afe = To say something
  34. Azhi or Aizhi = 1st born or my heart desire
  35. Azi = Un-ended/uncountable
  36. Ido = Miracle or surprise
  37. Adubok = An expert on future issue
  38. Ashom = Prophesy
  39. Anap = Born after male child or festival renap
  40. Atong = Born after many male children
  41. Anya = Born with identification mark
  42. Abi = Long awaited female child
  43. Akutsang = Good company out with strength
  44. Atako = To have strong faith as rock
  45. Adizha = Good seed choose
  46. Asang = I was barren or I have no body
  47. Ado/Adado = Gradually reducing naturally
  48. Amaji = First born of the family

With the coming of Christianity, some persons within the Izere circle suggested names that with biblical inclination. Some of this names and their meaning include:

  1. KUMRITEK - Always Good
  2. KUNOMNISHIM - (in short NISHIM) God loves me.
  3. ATOMKUNOM - Messenger of God[8]
  4. KUNOMSINAZA - God is in heaven.
  5. KUNOMBEMI - God with me.
  6. KUNOMSIBEMI - God is with me.
  7. KUKYEM - Ability, Authority or Power. Ability[9] Authority;[10] Power[11]
  8. KUKYEMKUNOM - Power of God; the authority of God.
  9. KUNOMREN - God knows.
  10. KUNOMSAASI - The Lord is coming back.
  11. KURENKUNOM - The knowledge of God.
  12. ATSETSẸK - comforter.
  13. ATSIKUNOM - Priest of God.
  14. AWANKUNOM - Only God; One God.
  15. AZHAUKUNOM - Invisible God.
  16. ATURUKKUNOM - the lamb of God.
  17. KANYẸK - Mystery[12]
  18. CAANG - (pronounce as Chaang) Peace; Peaceful.
  19. KUCẸKUNOM - God's blessing.
  20. IGONZHING (IGON-AZHING) - Child of Wonder; Wonderful Child.
  21. ISHORONG - Reward[13]
  22. ISONGKUNOM - God's breath[14]
  23. KUYAKASHỌỌN/ IYAKASHỌỌN- Progress; Success.

Dance

It is not just Asharwa dance that we have in Izere, below is a list of dances we also performed.

1. The Asharwa dance - predominantly performed by young Afizere boys and men in all occasions.

2. Amata dance - predominantly performed by Afizere women both young and old in all occasions

3. Agba dance - predominantly performed by men both young and old during royal outing, coronations or royal ceremonies.

4. Agafu dance - is predominantly performed by Afizere men in all occasions

5. Asurbe dance - this is performed by all categories of Afizere during funeral rite of an elderly person only.

6. Natoo abarshi/ikap/ isun dance - this is performed mostly during farming/ harvest by predominantly Afizere men

7. Apanga dance - is a dance performed by only the royalties, during ceremonies/ coronation.

8. Natoo rekuron - this kind of dance is predominantly performed by Afizere young and elderly women only during farming activities.

9. Beating of drums and singing on the farm, with the asum - mata leading

Food

The Afizere people have different foods and mode of preparation that distinguishes them from other ethnic groups. A few are:

  1. Ikam Itson (hungry rice), made from muster and water.
  2. Akare (Gwate, Pate), made from grinded maize, vegetables, garden eggs, sorel (yakuwa) and water.
  3. Iririr, made from grinded abusu, meat, little water, salt, pepper and nami rifar (Olive oil).
  4. Nakan, made from hungry rice (muster seed) honey and water.
  5. Akpam, made from hungry rice (muster), red oil and water.
  6. Asirik itcha, made from millet and Tamber.
  7. Asirik Itson, made from Grinded muster (hungry rice) and water.
  8. Asirik Ariron, made from ariron and guinea corn.
  9. Rining Kapkok (soup), made from Izōs, rituh, natok, kapkok, salt and water.
  10. Ishutuk (round about beans), made from Ishutuk, abusu, salt, and pepper namai rifar.

References
  1. Appiah, Kwame Anthony; Gates, Henry Louis Jr. (2005). Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience. Vol. V (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 236. ISBN 0195170555.
  2. "Dialects and Clans - Afizere People". Archived from the original on 2016-06-25. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
  3. Ajiji, D. N. (2011). Colonialism and Intergroup Relations in the Central Nigeria Highlands: The Afizere Story. Ibadan, Makurdi: Aboki Publishers. p. 66.
  4. "Origin - Afizere People". Archived from the original on 2016-06-25. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
  5. Blench, Roger; Kaze, Bitrus (2006). "A Dictionary of the Izere Language of Fubor" (PDF). rogerblench.info.
  6. "Socio-Polity - Afizere People". Archived from the original on 2016-06-25. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
  7. "Glimpses of Plateau's Izere chiefdom". Archived from the original on 2016-09-16. Retrieved 2016-05-18.
  8. aMarkus 1:2 Kyo̱ndi a tá zibir kaye̱e̱r kufumung Ishaya, aner kuzarap ye: "Mi tà tom atom mi nasho̱o̱n wan, aya a tana ka nye iren," | Izere New Testament (IZRNT) | Download The Bible App Now.
  9. Itomong Ámanzo 8:19 a tá fe̱ be ba ye, "Ni nang yin kukyem kuri kuyu gip nong ase̱ ke mi tin sak kubo̱k natoon aner akak ne a se̱ Kabik Kazhe̱l'e." | Izere New Testament (IZRNT) | Download The Bible App Now.
  10. aMatiyu 10:1 Ayong aYeso yis alimazhiri wu kuso̱k be afa ne a ku no̱o̱k ba kukyem ku niturung amaan nabik ne kukyem kusak afe iro̱k ze̱r ze̱r ta te atser. | Izere New Testament (IZRNT) | Download The Bible App Now.
  11. Ibrani 6:5 ne áya a tá kun fok ritek rife̱ Adakunom ne kukyem kufe kasho̱o̱n. | Izere New Testament (IZRNT) | Download The Bible App Now.
  12. Afisa 3:3 Iyong ne i nye ike̱ng Adakunom tin te̱s'e kaye̱e̱r kanye̱k wu kaya sang akak ta ren baꞌ, kyo̱ndi mi tá tsang i ka zibir yin'e cie̱k. | Izere New Testament (IZRNT) | Download The Bible App Now.
  13. Ike̱ng a ta tonong aYohana 22:12 "Di yin, Mi saase kyo̱o̱rna! Ishorong yin se nunaan, mi tà karang koangan tite̱re̱ be ike̱ng ife wu tá nye. | Izere New Testament (IZRNT) | Download The Bible App Now.
  14. 2 aTimoti 3:16 Koakye ike̱ng iya a tá zibir kaye̱e̱r kufumung rife̱ Adakunom nye isong Adakunom. Izibir'e se gye̱r kamok kubo̱so̱p, ne kuzhe̱e̱r anerawe ne kunees kuse anerawe be kubo̱so̱p anerawe iren kuse gye̱r na | Izere New Testament (IZRNT) | Download The Bible App Now.

Further reading
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