Tiv origin: brief history of the tribe
What do you know about Tiv tribe history and origin? Where the tribe came from, and who are their ancestors? In this article we are going to tell you some known historical facts about this ethnic nation of West Africa. Let's see more.
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Origin and history of Tiv tribe
According to oral tradition of Tiv origin, those people came to their current location (Benue River in Nigeria) from the southeast. Official history recorded that the Tiv tribe had the first contact with Europeans in November 1907. It was the contact with Southern Nigeria Regiment led by Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Trenchard.
The tribe has a story of their first ancestor, a man known as Takuruku, Gbe, Shon, Awanje, and Karagbe. Tiv people believe that he is their founding father. The ancestor gave birth to two children Ipusu and Ichongoa. Ichongo gave birth to Ikyura, Gondo, Nongo, Mase, Ihar, and Turan, while Ipusu gave birth to Kum, Kpar, Shitire. See also: Tiv culture in Nigeria
Today the tribe is considered one of the major ethnic groups in Nigeria, the tribe has a population of more than six million people. There are many theories about Tiv origin. The most popular and proven theory traces the origin of Tiv to Bantu people who lived in the Shaba area of the present Democratic Republic of Congo.
Photo: Pulse.ng
READ ALSO: Ethnic groups in Nigeria
There are several pieces of evidence of this version, one of them is linguistic. R. C. Abraham compiled a list of 67 Tiv words with words of Bantu Nyaza, and as a result, he showed a strict similarity in the phonetic and semantic items of the languages. This is one of several pieces of evidence that ancient Tiv people migrated from Congo to their present place of location.
Oral traditions of Tiv history confirm the theory of their migration from the southeast. According to Rubingh, the migration occurred about eleven generations ago.
As for social organization, it is known that Tiv society was completely egalitarian, without any central authority. It might sound surprising, but they did not have kings. The compounds were administrated by the oldest men. The elders of compounds meet to discuss important questions of society. See also: Traditional food and dressing of Tiv people
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The tribe supported such form of administration until 1946 when the colonialists established a new administration. Since these time there appeared Tor Tiv, the paramount ruler, the city Gboko (built in 1932) was chosen as a headquarters town of a new leader.
The ancient tribe continues to preserve its traditions even in the modern world. The language of Tiv tribe has no dialects that is why the people can understand each other in any region of their settlement. This fact helps the ethnic group to save their culture and identity over the years. The culture of the tribe has retained its uniqueness, customs, folk crafts, and art.
The people of Tiv have one of the most unique cultures in Nigeria. This can be seen in various aspects of their lives: clothes, the tradition of marriage, music, dance, and food.
Here is a brief description of Tiv tribe history, this unique culture has many things to tell, so see more in new publications about the tribe.
READ ALSO: History of Idoma: interesting facts to know
Source: Legit.ng
