Sons of the soil: the history of the Gbagyi people of Abuja

The history of Abuja was originally the south western part of the ancient Habe (Hausa) Kingdom of Zazzau (Zaria). It was populated for centuries by several semi-independent tribes. The largest of these tribes was the Gbagyi. Other areas where they are predominantly found are in Niger and Kaduna states, and also in Nasarawa, Kogi and Kwara states in central Nigeria.

The Gbagyi’s are the most populated ethnic group in the FCT and their major occupation is farming, pottery and hunting. They are the original settlers of Abuja the federal capital city of Nigeria, and the Gbagyi language is the most widespread. They are known to be noble, peace loving accommodating and warm. Their hospitable and cordial nature earned them the phrase ‘ Muyi shi Gwari-Gwari’ ( Which means let’s do it like the Gbagys). Interestingly the word Gwari, which the Gbagyi are famously called, is the name of a particular yam in Gbagyi.

The Gbagys are culturally soaked people, who despite the over-whelming force of civilization still cling to the basic rudiments of their culture. A few have remained aloof to the attractions of modernity, especially the older Gbagyians, who still stand strong against the devastating effects of civilization. For instance, in the past the Gbagyi women were distinguished with the way they carried any load on their shoulder, either heavy or light; because they   are of the believe that the head should be accorded a royal status as the King of the entire body, saddled with the task of thinking for the body, so therefore it should not be burdened with manual or pedestrian task, such as ferrying goods from place to place. But this is not so today, as the venom of civilization has since overtaken and eclipsed it, and the traditional sight has become a rarity except for the older women who still hold on true to this belief and practice.

 Another fabric of their culture that has suffered some degree of extinction is the process of marriage. In time past, a suitor seeking the hand of a girl in marriage would have to devote seven 7years of his engagement or notice of interest on the bride to be to the father’s farm and also supply grains to the bride’s house in order to get her robust and ripe for the D-day. Presently the suitor goes ahead to pay pride price without serving notice to the father.

The Gbagyi initial habitat was the mountain top and had eight kings crowned to rule over them, and when westernization brought in the rain track, they decided and agreed among themselves to come down, except for their forefathers who opined that it was safer to stay on the mountain than the plains, as this would make it easier to haul stones at advancing enemies. The mountains/rocks were a refuge as well as a mystical source of strength.

Islam and Christianity enjoy almost equal following. Islam first came to the Gbagyis in the 19^th century during the Sokoto Jihad of 1804 by Usman Danfodio, while Christianity came in the 20^th century through the southerners. Islam was able to gain more converts than Christianity, the reason for this was that the practices encouraged by the Gbagyi religion conformed with Islam, such as polygamy, devotion, using of rings or amulets. These similarities made it easy for the Gbagyi’s to receive Islam whole heartedly. But regardless of the twin influences of Islam and Christianity the Gbagyi people still practice their Knunu, which is their primal religion, as they claim that Knunu safeguard them and their families from certain evil forces and uncertainty. Knunu tradition for the Gbagys is a special tree in the Kurmi (Forest), where offering of fowl and beers are made.

The favourite food of the Gbagys is known as Wyizhe, made from guinea corn to form Zhepwo a special drink  use to drink with Knadolo  a spicy soup made with locus beans, and their famous dress is call Ajesida, made from local cotton and traditional woven and dyed by their skillful dressmakers. Some of their popular festivals is the Agbamaya festival and the Zhibaje.  The Agbamaya festival is a celebration usually perform to welcome the rain during the raining season, while Zhibaje is a traditional Christmas celebration.

Presently the transformation of FCT as the capital of Nigeria has almost swallowed these peace loving tribe. They were persuaded to give out their farmland and settlement for the actualization of the national vision of a modern cosmopolitan city. But the Gbagys years after, are still reeling under the weight of what they have come to see and interpreted as betrayal on the part of the federal government, who they feel have short-charged them and deprived them of their land. And land is one issue an average Gbagyi man does not play with, as majority of them told KNOW Abuja that the worst thing that could happen to any Gbagyi person is to deprive him of his land, because as farmers they see land as the most important aspect of their life. They are mostly of the opinion that the federal government land swap policy has no direct significant to that lives, instead they see the policy as a way of taking over their ancestry lands. The question they want answer is what happens to a family of five since the government plan is to allocate a three bedroom to those who might be affected by the land swap policy. They also questioned why the land policy should only be concentrated in the FCT, why not in Bauchi , Katsina, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Niger and other states  across the country? They counsel the government to be sincere in its developmental programme for the ingenious people in the FCT instead of antagonizing them all the time with unfavorable land policy.

Though today, the Gbagys especially the new generation have embraced western education and now have different professionals in various fields, as medical doctors, lawyers, surveyors, architects, soldiers, policemen and women, including top politicians like senators, house members and journalists. In fact, with the exception of Abaji area council in the FCT, five out of the six area council chairmen are Gbagys.  

Some phrases and words in Gbagyi:

1.       How are you?        -   Agbowolona

2.       Let’s go  -    Beyalo

3.       We are farmers -  Yizhi’afayinu

4.        Gwari-  Yam

5.       I am going to school – Milo ynabanu

6.       Grass – Gbebe

7.       Tree -  Shuwa

8.       Man-  Zanugbayi

9.       Woman – Eyikoza

10.   Sleep – Genwa

11.   Wake up-  Kwagyewi

12.   Mountain – Epe