Isoko people

Isoko people are an ethnolinguistic group who inhabit the Isoko region of Delta State, and Bayelsa State Nigeria.[3] They are people of southern Nigeria, near the northwestern Niger delta. Delta State and Bayelsa State are part of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Isoko
Isoko girl
Total population
2.1 million + [1][2] ()
Regions with significant populations
Isoko region (Nigeria)
Languages
Isoko
Religion
Christianity and Traditional African religions
Related ethnic groups
Urhobo, Bini, Esan, Afemai
Isoko mask

The Isokos speak the Isoko language, which is very linguistically similar to the Urhobo language, Epie-Atissa language, Engenni language. James W. Welch asserted that Isoko language is a dialect of Urhobo language,[4] and many people share that opinion.

The Isoko culture is related to several cultures in the Niger-Delta - namely, Urhobo, Ijaw and Anioma. Urhobo are related in language and culture, leading to the missionaries erroneously labelling the Urhobo and Isoko cultural groups as Sobo. This name was strongly rejected by both tribes.[5]

Notable people

References
  1. https://m.thenigerianvoice.com/news/103138/who-is-who-in-isokoland.html
  2. "Isoko in Nigeria". Joshua Project. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  3. The Isoko Tribe, James W. Welch
  4. Welch, James W. (1934). "The Isoko Tribe". Africa: Journal of the International African Institute. 7 (2): 160–173. doi:10.2307/1155529. JSTOR 1155529.
  5. Tobor, John Oghenero (2014). "Urhobo Culture and the Amnesty Program in Niger Delta, Nigeria: An Ethnographic Case Study". Walden University.
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