NIGERIA: Nigeria is ethnically diverse in nature with over 500 languages and 250 ethnic groups, one of them being ‘Abawa’.
The Abawa ethnic group originate from the northern part of Nigeria, north-central region, Niger state, located to the south of Lapai local government area, some occupied part of Kogi and Abuja.
The Abawa speaking people are divided into four sub-groups, including Dibo, Gupa, Kami and Kakanda.
However, Abawa are believed to have been carved out of Nupe ethnic groups.
Abawa speaking villages
Kuchi Kebba, Gupa, Abugi-Jankara, Emirokpa, Favu, Kenigi, Kpotagi, Abete, Avuya, Dagbaje, Eji, Jihun, Yelwa, Cheku, Atsu, Alaba, Gbedu, Emu Sabo, Ezhin, Ebbo, Ekan, Mandela, Evuti, Katapka, Muye, Pele, Gbami and Kirikpo and many others.
Occupation and entertainment culture
Abawa people are professional farmers. They farm crops like rice, millet, cassava, yam, maize, corn, fishing, palm oil, vegetables, kola nuts, cash crops along trading.
Abawa ethnic are majorly into local music ( beating of drums), storytelling and dance. The following are forms of communication and also serve as a form of entertainment to the people and visitors mostly during ceremonial gatherings.
Their type of meals
Abawa people eat foods like pounded yam, swallow made of millet known as tuwon dawa in Hausa language (este), yam, rice, parp, and beans.
Among their soup are Azo (beans soup), Aborubo (draw soup), okro soup, and Igba (stew) among others.
Beliefs and values of the Abawa
Abawa people are followers of the prophet Mohammadu Peace Be Upon Him. They also believe in the oneness of Allah and as well worship Allah and see the Qur’an as their Holy book.
All Abawa speaking communities are referred to as Azza, the Azza consist of all the localities under Lapai local government who are native to one of their communities.
They have Azza Development Association, consisting of all the daughters and sons of Azza land-based in the Azza community or based outside the community.
Azza development association holds its annual meeting every 26th December, where all the sons and daughters of the community gather to discuss issues affecting the community and map out strategies on how to make the community a better and safer place to live.
Azza are peace loving and friendly individuals who admire and welcome strangers to their community anytime.
Abawa people usually organize different types of activities such as carnival, turbaning and wedding ceremonies and it is believed they possess supernatural powers.
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