BRIEF HISTORY OF AKPANYA people of Kogi State

BRIEF HISTORY OF AKPANYA people of Kogi State

Akpanya is located in Igalamela/Odolu LGA of Kogi State.
Akpanya literally means “red clay” or “red soil”. Akpanya was founded by Igala people from Idah, some who went for hunting and farming.

The nature of the soil led to the name. Majority of them are from Igalaogba Idah though some from Igalamela and Attah Igala clans are part of Akpanya people. They are under the control of Achadu Oko Attah, the Prime Minister of Igala kingdom. He crowns or beads the traditional rulers of Akpanya. The traditional ruler or leader of Akpanya is Abagbo Ina Achadu. Similar title is Attah Ina of Odekpe in Anambra West LGA of Kogi State. Abagbo Ina is of Igalaogba clan. Akpanya as a town has others communities making up the town.

Some are Agbedo (strong one, like Igbedo Igala town in Anambra West), Ajobi (location near water or behind), Oji-Akpanya (ahead of Akpanya), Agbokete (Agbo quarter), Ogboligbo (busy area), Amaka (we hide here or this side), Afurugo/Avurugo (We searched for settlement or location), Aneke (we can settle here), etc All these towns have chiefs in addition to the overall traditional ruler, The Abagbo Ina, but they are all under Achadu Oko Attah.

For instance, the traditional title of Amaka is Odokina/Odekina Achadu just like Odekina Attah Igala. The traditional title of the ruler of Aneke is Amana Achadu like Amana Attah Igala, etc. There are other traditional title in the area such as Achema Achadu, Oche, Ochai, etc. Odolu was a community which rose suddenly as many people migrated to the area and built their houses within a shortest time. It gave rise to the name, Odo-lu, meaning walls have sprang up. Till date, all the trade rulers are beaded by Achadu Oko Attah in Idah palace. Akpanya shares boundaries with other Igala towns in Enugu State like Unadu, Ichi, Ibagwa,… As a result of this, some of them speak Igbo and Igala languages. The variation of some of the names of the towns was during the missionaries time in which their interpreters who followed them from the East was giving names in his own tongue just like the Hausa interpreter gave the name Kogi State which means river in Hausa whereas Kogi is not a Hausa state. Eg: Ozara is Ojara, meaning many have moved or escaped.

The list of Abagbo Ina of Akpanya from 1800 are 1. Onuche, 2. Okwuma 3. Abutu 4 . Adehi 5. Ali 6. Ajogwu 7.Attah 8. Idoko 9. Abba . 10. Onoja 11. Attah 12. Achimugu 13. Anthony 14. Akwubo…
Pic: The Achadu Oko Attah, and Prime Minister of Igala Kingdom.