The major tribes in Kwara State have their origin from some other African countries across the continent. How they came to be found in Kwara State, one of the northern states in Nigeria, is not a mystery that cannot be read through.
The capital city being Ilorin, and having up to 16 local government areas, Kwara is the ninth largest in area, but the sixth least populous, with an estimated population of about 3.2 million as at 2016. Geographically, Kwara state is split between the West Sudanian savanna in the west, and the Guinean forest–savanna mosaic ecoregion in the rest of the state.
Kwara state was created on 27 May 1967, when the Federal Military Government of General Yakubu Gowon broke the four regions that then constituted the Federation of Nigeria into 12 states.
In the pre-colonial period, majority of the area that is now Kwara state was part of the Oyo Empire, with part of the western portions in the Borgu Kingdoms peopled by the Bariba, Boko and Bissa people, and Nupe Kingdom (1531-1835).
In the 1890s and 1900s, British expeditions occupied the area and incorporated it into the Northern Nigeria Protectorate. The Northern Nigeria later merged into British Nigeria in 1914, before becoming independent as Nigeria in 1960.
Economically, Kwara state is largely based around agriculture, mainly of coffee, cotton, groundnut, cocoa, oil palm, and kola nut crops. Other key industries are services, especially in the city of Ilorin, and the livestock herding and ranching of cattle, goats, and sheep.
The Major Tribes in Kwara State
The principal ethnic groups, just as similarly known as the major tribes in Kwara state, are Yoruba, Nupe, Fulani and Baruba. Residents of the state are sometimes referred to as Kwarans. This article shall then be lining out some details you need to know about these major tribes below:
Baruba Tribe
The Bariba tribe, also called Baruba and Baatoumbu (plural), are found in Kaiama and Baruten local government areas of Kwara state with a population of about 400,000. In Nigeria, they are found spread between western Kwara State and the Borgu section of Niger State. Geographically, 80% of the Baribas inhabit the neighboring Benin Republic with about one-eleventh of Benin’s total population.
With a stress-free business connection between this tribe and the Benin people, the Baruba language is primarily spoken in Benin, but also across the border in adjacent Kwara State and Niger State, Nigeria, and some Bariba are in Togo and Burkina Faso.
Nupe Tribe
The Nupe tribe is a popular and influential tribe in the middle belt region. More often than not, the people of Nupe are mistaken for Yorubas. This predominantly Muslim tribe has a lot in common with the Yorubas and Hausas.
The Nupe people farm and trade for a living.
Yoruba Tribe
The Yoruba tribe in Kwara state is one of the major tribes in this state. This group of people are just like the Yorubas in other states. As a result of the large population of Yorubas living in Kwara state, this state is regarded as a Yoruba state. As a matter of fact, the Yorubas in Kwara make up to about 75% of the total population of the state. They are in control of the economy and the political seats of Kwara state.
Due to the fact that the Yorubas in Kwara were conquered by the Fulanis in pre-colonial days, these people are predominantly Muslims. Farming and trading are the major occupations of thus people. Meals are made from yam flour (elubo) and vegetable (efo).
Read Also:
The Top 10 Major Tribes in Nigeria and Their Languages
Ogori Tribe
The Ogori tribes are located in the southwestern area of Nigeria. Although little is known concerning the specific lifestyle and culture of the Ogori. Like most other peoples in this part of Nigeria, the Ogori tribe are subsistence farmers, growing millet, maize, guinea corn, and beans. They also rear animals such as goats, sheep, chickens, dogs, and horses. Goats, sheep, and chickens are eaten, along with monkey and iguana, which is a delicacy.
Òkó is believed to be the local language of the Ogori tribe. It is believed that nearly all are ethnic religionists, still practicing their tribal religion.
Fulani Tribe
They constitute the major ethnic group found in the Ilorin capital of Kwara state. Although it is true that almost all of them speak Yoruba and not Fulfulde, we cannot deny their Fulani ethnicity.
This is not to say all the indigenous people of Ilorin are Fulanis but that most of them are ethnically of Fulani descent. It is also believed that there are also some (of the Afonja stock) that are of Oyo-Yoruba descent. Other than this, there are true Fulanis who can speak Fulani that are present in Ilorin.
They occupy Kwara Central alongside ethnic Yorubas. They are known to be farmers most especially livestock as they are known for,
Oworo Tribe
The oworo people are a tribe that is believed to be a break out from the Yoruba tribe. History has it that the oworo people migrated from Ile-Ife and settled in present-day Oworo land. They live in a mountainous region that is at the western bank of the river Niger.
The people of Oworo speak a Yoruba dialect and can communicate in Yoruba easily. Farming, as well as trading, are the major occupations of this people.
