OGIDI

'Ogidi', in Kogi State, Nigeria, is a Yorùbá town, renowned for its formations of igneous mountains, a traditional art industry, hospitality, and a deep tradition of self reliance.
Ogidi is a three-and-a-half hour drive from Abuja, Nigeria's capital. The people of the town endured raids from and eventually defeated the Nupe imperialists in the late 19th century, thus sealing their access to the western part of the country.[1]. Ogidi is on the southwestern tip of the old Northern Region. It has deep historical ties with the northern and western part of Nigeria. Administratively, it was under the Northern Region with Kaduna as the capital, then Kwara State with Ilorin as the capital, and now Kogi State with Lokoja as the capital. It currently falls under Ijumu Local Government. Ogidi is currently the seat of the rotational Olujumu I — the traditional ruler of the Ijumu people.

Contents

Language and people

Agriculture

Religion and tradition

External links

Language and people

The language of the people is the Okun dialect of Yorùbá. The men are traditionally farmers and hunters, and the women are renowned for arts and crafts and for trading.
S. A. Ajayi, a lieutenant of Ahmadu Bello and a Federal Minister in the Government of Tafawa Balewa, was from Ogidi. It is the home town of Nike Davies-Okundaye, a batik artist, Sunday Bada, a world-renowned sprinter, and it is where artist and musician Twins Seven Seven spent his early years (his mother was from the town).

Agriculture

The vegetation is a mix of forest and savannah. Coffee, cocoa, cassavas, cashews, yams, maize, sweet potatoes, groundnuts, and kola are some of the popular produce from the town. Livestock, including cattle, goats, sheep, poultry, and their products are also available in Ogidi.

Religion and tradition

Ogidians, traditionally believed in worshipping one God through stone — not surprising, considering the abundance of igneous mountains and caves, and the reliance on them to ward off invaders. Ogidians defeated the Nupe, who were Muslims; however, they later accepted Islam through peaceful means — trade and interaction. Christianity came much later with British colonialism. Imam Haruna is currently the Imam of the town. The town is ruled traditionally by an Oba, which is rotated between two arms (Okelare and Itaji) of the royal family.

External links

★ Nigerian Field Society Account — includes photographs

★ A Tourist Account with Photographs

★ Nike Art

★ Paintings by Twins Seven Seven