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Lokoja is a city in Nigeria , It lies at the
confluence of the <a href="/2019/04/the-river-niger.html">Niger rivers</a> and Benue rivers and is
the capital of Kogi State . 
[2] The Ebira ,
Bassa Nge , <a href="/2019/05/the-history-of-nupe-people.html">Nupe</a> , Igala are indigenous to the
area, other ethnic groups of Nigeria , including
the Igbo , Bini / Edo , and Tiv , have recently
established themselves.

Etymology

<li>The Igala believe the name Lokoja comes from the
expression Lewa ka je Eja (" Come, let's eat
fish ").

<li>The <a href="/2019/05/the-history-of-nupe-people.html">Nupe</a> believe the name Lokoja comes from Patti
Lukongi (" The hill of doves ").

<li>The Hausa believe the name Lokoja comes from
Loko Ja (" A red corner ") and that the city was
named by the emir of Zazzau.

<li>The Yoruba and Oworo people believe the
name Lokoja comes from Ilu Oke Oja (" The
settlement located on the hill did not fall ").

ALSO SEE: 
<a href="/2019/06/the-history-of-gbagyi-people.html"> The History Of The
Gbagyi People
</a>

<center>Below Are Pictures Of Lokoja Indigenous Tribes
</center>

<li>Ebira Tribe

<li><a href="/2019/05/the-history-of-nupe-people.html">Nupe</a> & Bassa Nge Tribe

<li>Igala Tribe

ALSO SEE: 
<a href="/2019/07/ireku-ajinomoh-nupe-invasion-of-ebira.html"> Ireku Ajinomoh (Nupe
Invasion of Ebira
Land)
</a>

History

The area that would become Lokoja has been
inhabited for thousands of years by people from
different ethnic groups prior to the arrival of
Europeans. The migrations of these groups to
the area could be in part accounted for by its
nearness to the banks of the <a href="/2019/04/the-river-niger.html">Niger rivers</a> and Benue
rivers. Some of the first groups of people to
settle in Lokoja were the Ebira , Igala , <a href="/2019/05/the-history-of-nupe-people.html">Nupe</a> , Bassa Nge ( Oworo people / Yoruba
from Ile Ife ). 
It is said that
they migrated from Baro and some parts of
present-day Niger state to the confluence of the <a href="/2019/04/the-river-niger.html">Niger rivers</a> and Benue rivers. This area eventually
became a center of trade.

The <a href="/2019/05/the-history-of-nupe-people.html">Nupe</a> and Zazzau emirs agree with the
Hausas to be the leader , while the <a href="/2019/05/the-history-of-nupe-people.html">Nupe</a> to be
the religion leader as chief imam of Lokoja. 
Lokoja was ruled by the following Maigari of
Lokoja ( Hamza, Dauda , Musa , Muhammadu
Maikarfi , Abigel ) that the British installed who
claim to be converted to Islam and called Bukar
and reside at Yaragi Madabo Junction of Lokoja
as the then new Lokoja palace .

ALSO SEE: 
<a href="/2018/12/list-of-nupe-villages-and-towns-in.html"> The List Of Nupe Villages And
Towns In Niger State, Kwara
State And Kogi State</a>

Later follow the
turn of leadership to Alhaji Yahaya Muhammadu
Maikarfi, and after his demise Alhaji Kabiru son
of Yahaya Muhammadu Maikarfi take on. 
They
were able to sustain themselves by engaging in
farming and hunting activities at Agbaja hill. 
Even
the Patti word is a <a href="/2019/05/the-history-of-nupe-people.html">Nupe</a> word meaning hill,
Mount Patti hill and other surrounding hills are
hunting areas of the Lokoja people, at Mount
Patti there is aged three that most of the former
hunters write their name in Ajami and the Latin
script, that will make you observe that there is
no settlement at Mount ( Patti ).

This was the status
quo until the Europeans arrived , When Dr William
Balfour Baikie arrived at Lokoja first in 1854 and
later in 1857, through his efforts and
encouragements, the people descended from
Lokoja. He did this through Muhammadu
Maikarfi, then the Maigari of Lokoja, in which
after he demise the white men use their power
and give it to their servant by the Abigel Which
was converted to Islam and name him as Bukar,
mean Abubakar in Kanuri tun.

ALSO SEE: 
<a href="/2019/05/the-history-of-nupe-people.html"> The History Of The Nupe People</a>

The Bassa Nge people believe that they settled at the
foot of Mount Patti when they came into Lokoja
before later moving again and migrating to settle
across the Benue just to the north of the Igala . 
Whatever the case may be, it is difficult to
categorically state in what order any or each of
these groups came after the Oworos to settle in
Lokoja town .
 These different groups lived in
different quarters of the town but were closely
related socio-politically. 
They interacted freely
and tolerated one another. 
Present day Lokoja is
ruled by the Maigari (chief) of Lokoja , and his 12
Hakimi ( Sub chiefs ) It is important to note
however, that each group have their own local
criteria: for example, the Maigari has no
jurisdiction over the Olu of Oworo, but he does
have authority over Ganaja, Kwakware, Sarkin
Numa, Adankolo, ward A to ward E and other
villages of the Lokoja.

The present modern settlement at Lokoja was
established in 1857 by the British explorer
William Baikie at the site of an earlier model
farm constructed during the failed Niger
expedition of 1841. 
Lokoja was the capital of
the British Northern Nigeria Protectorate and the
chief of Lokoja as at that time is Alhaji
Muhammadu Maikarfi. 
Lokoja remained a
convenient administrative town for the British
colonial government after the amalgamation of
Northern and Southern Nigeria in 1914. 
[3] The
first Governor-General , Sir Frederick Lugard ,
governed the new nation of Nigeria from Lokoja . 
Other subsequent settlers into the city include
the Yoruba ( mainstream ), the Igala , the Igbira
( Igbira Tao and Igbira Koto ), and the Bassa Nge
people . 
However, there are other groups apart
from the ones mentioned above but they are
classified as temporary visitors and non
indigenous. 
These include the Igbo , Hausa , Yoruba , Tiv & Edo ,
etc.

ALSO SEE: 
<a href="/2019/06/rich-nupe-lagosians-of-19th-century-by.html"> The Rich Nupe Lagosians
Of The 19th Century By
Ndagi Abdullahi</a>

The city's population has since grown to an
estimated count of over 90,000 inhabitants . 
[4] It
is a trade center with respect to its agricultural
products ; this is because it is situated at the
confluence of the <a href="/2019/04/the-river-niger.html">Niger rivers</a> and Benue rivers , and is
close to the new federal capital of Nigeria in
Abuja . 
It is also home to Kogi State Polytechnic
and the newly established Federal University
Lokoja . 
[5]
Near Lokoja, in Ajaokuta , are metallurgy facilities
and iron ore mines.

ALSO SEE: 
<a href="/05/the-first-professor-in-nupe-land.html"> The First Professor In
Nupe Land</a>

The Local Government
Area

Lokoja is also a Local Government Area of Kogi
State with an area of 3,180 km² and a
population of 195,261 at the 2006 census . 
It is
bounded by the Niger State in the north and east
upstream from the capital until the border with
Kwara State , and includes the city of Lokoja , The
postal code of the area is 26. 
[6]

Geography

 
<img alt="The History Of Lokoja , Lokoja Map , Lokoja History , Brief History Of Lokoja , Lokoja People , Lokoja Tribes , Lokoja Indigenes , Lokoja Town , Lokoja Location , Lokoja City , Lokoja Kogi State , Nigeria" border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="940" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uU5_ziNjNHQ/XYHYRgaKu9I/AAAAAAAACks/Jk48pd8UxKM9DmNi_s9gSsWt3ftlJImMgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1568790144425.jpg" />

Lokoja lies about 7.8023° North of the equator
and 6.7333° E east of the Meridian. It is about
165 km Southwest of Abuja as the crow flies,
and 390 km Northeast of Lagos by same
measure. Residential districts are of varying
density, and the city has various suburbs such
as Felele, Adankolo, Otokiti and Ganaja. The
town is situated in the tropical Wet and Dry
savanna climate zone of Nigeria, and
temperature remains hot all year round.

ALSO SEE: 
<a href="/2019/01/nupe-timeline-by-ama-ndagi-abdullahi.html"> The NUPE TIMELINE By
Áma Ndagi Abdullahi</a>

ALSO SEE: 
<a href="/2018/12/san-bushmen-people-world-most-ancient.html"> San
Bushmen People, The World Most
Ancient Race People In Africa</a>

Religion And Culture

Given the multiethnic nature of the town, there
are various festivals, events and socio-cultural
activities depending on the people group. Thus,
no particular group’s festivals or their socio-
cultural activities can be said to be the most
prominent. For instance, the Agbo masquerade
festival is celebrated by the Oworo people
between the months of March and April every
year. Other Okuns also celebrate the Oro /
Egungun festival while generally, the fishermen in
Lokoja celebrate the Donkwo fishing festival and
this also comes up in March/April. It is also
worthy to mention that editions of Lokoja boat
regatta are held, albeit not regularly. Religiously,
Islam, Christianity and traditional religion exist in
Lokoja .The Muslims go to their Mosques for
their worship while the Christians do the same in
their various churches. Religious festivals
include the Muslim Eids and the Christian
Christmas and Easter.

Markets

 
<img alt="Lokoja Market Kogi state , Lokoja Old Market Kogi Nigeria" border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="798" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i3gWtIDzpYc/XYJTGfa1nkI/AAAAAAAACk8/V5egoJTePZ0cTcUlkgGO_sNiyjuUYEdZACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1568821872978.jpg" />

<center>Market place in Lokoja</center>

Lokoja has three major markets: New Market
(International Market); Old Market; and Kpata
Market. Kpata Market and New Market have their
market day every Five Days. The essential
products sold in these markets are grains,
vegetables and general household items.

Abstract

Lokoja is situated in the middle belt of Nigeria in
the confluence of the <a href="/2019/04/the-river-niger.html">Niger rivers</a> and Benue River. It lies
on Latitude 7 50 N and Longitude 6 44 E. In this
area temperatures are generally high.

The highest
temperature are usually recorded in the afternoon.1
Lokoja rose to fame due to its location at the
confluence of the two great waterways in West
Africa the <a href="/2019/04/the-river-niger.html">Niger rivers</a> and Benue Rivers. These natural
waterways served as major means of
communication and transportation especially for the
riverside dwellers during the colonial period.

ALSO SEE: 
<a href="/2019/06/the-hairstyles-in-african-culture.html"> The Hairstyles In African Culture
</a>

Because of its location at the confluence, Lokoja
served as a commercial rendezvous during the North , East and West kolanut trade in West Africa . 
With the arrival of
the Europeans, Lokoja rose to international fame
when it served as the first British settlement in
Nigeria and as a major inland port for European
companies.

ALSO SEE: 
<a href="/2019/08/the-brief-walk-into-land-of-kukuruku.html"> The Brief Walk Into
The Land Of Kukuruku Hills (Etsako
Central)
</a>

The town grew to become a
cosmopolitan settlement peopled mostly by
different ethnic groups from the middle belt and
Hausa from northern Nigeria. 
This cosmopolitan
nature remains to date the dilemma of Lokoja as
various ethnic groups - notably the Oworo , <a href="/2019/05/the-history-of-nupe-people.html">Nupe</a> ,
Igbira , Igala claim to the ownership of
the town. 
These claims and counterclaims have
affected the development of the town since
Nigeria’s independence.

References

1. <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lokoja">^ Wikipedia</a>
 
2. <a href="https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jhds/article/view/68463">^ Ajol</a>

The Brief History Of Lokoja

Lokoja is a city in Nigeria , It lies at the confluence of the Niger rivers and Benue rivers and is the capital of Kogi State...

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The Brief History Of Lokoja

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