Vaghat people
The Vaghat people are an ethnic group who traditionally inhabited just over a dozen villages in the hills of Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro LGAs in southwestern Bauchi State, Nigeria. Today, the Vaghat have also moved to many towns and settlements spread across Bauchi State, Plateau State, and Kaduna State (mostly near Zaria). They speak the Vaghat language, one of the Tarokoid languages with over 20,000 speakers.[1]
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 20,000+[1] (2022) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Plateau and Bauchi States (Nigeria) | |
| Languages | |
| Vaghat | |
| Religion | |
| Traditional African religion, Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Tarok, Berom, Atyap, and other Middle Belt peoples |
Clans
Vaghat highland clans are: Āyàlàs, Àyìtūr, Àtòròk, Āyīpàɣí, Āyīgònì, Àyàkdàl, Àyánàvēr, Āyàtōl, Àyàʒíkʔìn, Àyìʤìlìŋ, Áyàshàlà, and Àzàrā.[2]
Vaghat lowland clans are: Āyàlàs, Àyàkdàl, Àyàʒíkʔìn, Àyàgwàr, and Àyàgyēr.[2]
Religion
Traditional Vaghat religion consists of belief in:[2]
- Vi Matur, the universal deity (literally 'sun above')
- Àdàmōrā, the ancestors
- Reincarnation, tya mi karam
- Spirits, woni
The Vaghat people also have shrines, called gataŋ mishiri.[2]
Society
In Vaghat traditional society, positions of authority are:[2]
- ru ma daghal - secular chief
- da mishiri (suŋgwari) - chief priest
- maaji (da ma ayokon) - deputy to the chief
- maɗaki - advisor to the chief
- turaki - advisor to the chief
- igomor - chief of the warriors
- fan shen (faye ma apal) - chief seer
Burials
The Vaghat people have a cave in a mountain where they keep the skulls of their ancestors.[2]
References
- Blench, Roger. 2022. Introduction to Vaghat language. Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
- Blench, Roger. 2022. Skull-cults and soul arrows: the religion of the Vaghat people. Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.
