A Glimpse of Dialects in Ogbadibo

The distinct diversity of dialects around the world demonstrates not just the beauty of language but also the rich tapestry of our collective human history. Our communication styles, dialects, and colloquialisms echo the cultural, geographic, and historical factors that shape us – none more so than in the Ogbadibo region. Embark on a linguistic adventure as we explore the melodic dialects of Ogbadibo.

The Symphony of Linguistic Diversity in Ogbadibo

Ogbadibo, a Local Government Area (LGA) in Benue State, Nigeria, is the epitome of such linguistic diversity. This rural locale gives us deep insights into the wealth of indigenous knowledge and the diversity of dialects that make it culturally rich and unique.

Ogbadibo's Dialect Landscape

<Viewing Ogbadibo’s Dialect Landscape>

As is common in many regions around the world, each community within Ogbadibo has its distinct Idoma dialect. These include:

• Orokam dialect, primarily spoken by the Orokam community

• Otukpa dialect, common to Otukpa town

• Owukpa dialect, often heard in Owukpa vicinity

Each dialect stands out as an exclusive verbal art form, offering distinct phonetics, syntax, and vocabulary. They also carry the region's history and lifestyle intricately interlaced into their linguistic structure.

Mutual Intelligibility

A remarkable aspect of these dialects is their mutual intelligibility. Although they are individually unique, there is considerable overlap, allowing speakers of different dialects to understand each other. It's akin to hearing various music genres – though they have distinct beats and rhythms, the underlying language of music remains the same.

Dialects: A Vehicle of Cultural Transmission

Language, and more specifically dialects, serve as the vehicle for transmitting and preserving culture in each of these communities. They carry age-old folktales, proverbs, idioms, and historical anecdotes and, hence, offer an intimate look into the community's way of life, customs, and traditions.

Folktales and Oral Tradition

The Culture and Customs of Ogbadibo

Embarking on a journey to a new destination, it's not just the geographical terrains that fascinate us but also the multitude of cultures and customs thriving in those places. Today, let's voyage across the Atlantic, deep into the heart of Nigeria, to explore the rich, diverse culture and customs of Ogbadibo, a local government area in Benue State.

The Vibrant Tapestry of Language and Religion in Ogbadibo

Language: A Portal into Ogbadibo's Heart

In Ogbadibo, the mother tongue plays an integral role, in forging strong community bonds. The Idoma language, interwoven with its profound idioms and proverbs, serves as the primary medium of communication. The language imbues conversations with remarkable subtlety and depth, resonating with the community's ethos. Ogbadibo has Three major distinct Idoma dialects: the Otukpa, Orokam, and the Owukpa dialects.

"Every language is a world. Without translation, we would inhabit parishes bordering on silence." - George Steiner

Religion: A Tangible Expression of Faith

The Unique history of Orokam in Benue State of Nigeria:

 HISTORY OF OROKAM

The uniqueness of Orokam district out of the current 22 districts in Idoma land cannot be overemphasized as the name Orokam was never chosen after any of the first settlers. The First-person to settle in the present-day Orokam was elder Inamu, who is the father of Ai'Inamu clan, he came from Ankpa in Kogi state; followed by elder Oko, father of Ai-Oko clan, he migrated from Ai-Odeje family in the present-day Ugboju, the third is elder Ona (aka  Ona Ogbodor, honorary names because of her population) is the father of Ai-Ona clan, he migrated from Otukpo, while elder Agbo, and elder Akor, who is the father of Ai- Agboriko and Ai-Akor family respectively journeyed down via Enugu state from their kits and kin in Etteh.

  The story had it that the first three (3) were much around before the last 2, which gave room to the famous meeting of G3 (Inamu, Oko, and Ona) initiated by elder Inamu. The meeting was always held under Úgba tree, aka umeetini Onchu Ugba, somewhere around the present location of Ukwo market. Later the other 2, elder Agbo and Akor joined them as they continued to meet and charted a way forward in the new environment. Gradually, as their children kept on growing and increasing, coupled with activities of visitors, the meeting venue was renamed Oja -Ukwo, which gave birth to present-day Ukwo-Orokam. Worthy of note was how they cleverly curled their names and would want to be addressed as a community rather than named it after Inamu (the first settler).

Due to its proximity to Igboland and the many presences of Igbos in the new community for commercial purposes in the early days, the name was erroneously pronounced and called Oro-kramu per their mother tongues. Over time the early scholars also shortened it to Orokam. It is with wisdom and patience one could only make a progressive decision in a committee of many hence they accepted to be known and addressed as OKA-AMU.

Reasons for choosing OKA-AMU cannot be farfetched as: Oka - means slow movements but calculative and tactical in approach, while Amu - something is seen as impossible but can be achieved or defeated when approached with pearls of wisdom.

CHIEFTAINCY

Late Chief Okenyi Abah was the first officially appointed Oche' Orokam District by the British colonialist from 1920 to 1948; he reigns for twenty-eight years.

It is on record that during his reign Christianity was brought into Orokam land from Okpo in Kogi State; the likes of James Itodo and other Oko adults were the first set of people who came proclaiming the gospel, telling people to discard their idols and embrace Jesus Christ in the year 1935.

After joining his ancestors, the next Orokam chief came from Ai-Ona clan in the name of late Chief Abah Akochi followed by Chief Daniel Elaigwu Enenche, who is popularly known and addressed as Chief D.E Enenche, father of major general Enenche, pst Doc. Paul Enenche, currently the chief, is said that have gone hunting.

Orokam, which is one of the three districts in Ogbadibo Local Government, is an Agrarian community blessed with fertile land with cash crops like bush mangoes (upi trees), Cashew trees (currently Idoma Cocoa because of its economic values), and Palm tree, which made Orokam home of good palm wine and palm oil in Ogbadibo. Orokam shared a boundary with Enugu Ezike in Udenu Local government in Enugu state, Otukpa in the West, and Owukpa in the South.

The roll call of important personalities in Orokam is endless; late and former minister for Education, Prof Jerry Agada hailed from Ukporo in Orokam, the two Enenches mentioned above, Hon. Moses Oduh from Uture in Ai-ona member Benue house of assembly, former commissioner of Health and Human resources under gov. Ortom, born in 1960, Ms. Cecilia Omale Ojabo hailed from Orokam. 

Ogbadibo:

One out of the 774 local government areas in Nigeria is called Ogbadibo local government area, which was created out of the old Okpokwu local government area in 1991 by the Babangida administration. It derives its name from a stream called Ogbadibo in the area. 

Located 250 km West of Makurdi, Ogbadibo shares a boundary with Olamaboro local government area (Kogi State) in the West, to the East by Udenu local government area in Enugu State and Okpokwu on the South Eastern axis.

Ogbadibo local government council area, with Otukpa as headquarters, has a landmass of about 550 sq km with a population of over 90,000 people (1991 census). 
The local government area is made up of three major districts. These include Otukpa, Orokam, and Owukpa. It has a total of thirteen council wards. Otukpa has six (6) wards, Orokam three (3) while Owukpa has four (4). 

The Okwo of Ogbadibo:

The history of Ogbadibo cannot be complete without mentioning some of the great heroes it has produced. The Late Pa Onogwu Adikwu (Onogwu Okwo) is one of such heroes who lived a selfless life, doing his best to help his people. He lived at Ukalegwu Igwu Orokam in Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State. He was a great warrior who always stood in defense of his people. Onogwu Okwo served in various roles as a Leader across the Board. He was also the oldest man of Ai-Ujah, Ai-Adikwu at all levels, and Ai-Orih-Ofugwu residing in Igwu-Akor Orokam Ogbadibo. He was the eldest man at Ordeche Igwu, comprising all the villages at Igwu-Akor.  He was in charge of Eke-market and even the Head of special traditional masquerades, which earned him the title of "OCHAGWU'.

The Late Pa Onogwu Adikwu (Onogwu Okwo)

While alive, he took several steps to defend and protect the interests of his people. He was married to two wives Onyi Abah and Onyukwo Oche, with children. Some of the children are now late. Pa Onogwu Okwo, as he was popularly called, had grand and great-grandchildren.