History of Gwari People of Nigeria
Tuesday, September 7, 2021
Gwari People can be found in Nigeria they are also known as Gbayi or Gbari they are related to the Koro People, Kamberi People they are part of the Niger- Congo family branch.
According to Gwari Anthropologist , It is said they migrated from Borno into the Abuja region , they inhabit the Western parts of Abuja the southern Niger state and according to Dr. Mailafiya Filaba he claimed the Koro and Gbayi migrated from Borno and still living together in Central parts of Present day Nigeria .
They can be indetify with the Nupe ethnic group, Koro ethnic group, Gade ethnic group, Kamberi ethnic group and other ethnic groups with a common tribal marks and traditions.
Gwari traced it origins back to Ancinet Bornu they were part of the Bornu Empire as early as the 1750 along with the Koro because of conflict or war in Bornu, the Gbayi resistance to coversion to Islam .
The first hunter who was a Gwari hunter went for hunting in Paikokun land a thick forest it is said that Paikokun was the name of the mountain where the first settlers inhabited they also celebrate many festivals such as Agbamaya, Zhibaje and other festival.
Agbamaya is a festival celebration to welcome the coming of the rain during the rainy seasons and Zhibaje is a festival takes place on Christmas they wear clothes such as Ajeside is made up of local cotton and traditional woven it is designed by dressmarkers in their culture most of them are agriculturalist and grow many crops as well followed by Carving pots, Sculptures, wooding.
Fetching the Sculptures are made up of Iron, domestic craft and smelting some are made up of copper and other metals women carry loads on their shoulders it makes it easier, more convenient due to long distance and when going to family house, market when they carry it on their heads it is believed that it makes the loads very heavy but men carry loads on their heads this originated from Ancient Bornu and dates back to About 35 BCE.
Which became part of their cultures, music plays a big role in Gwari Culture Dancers perform a traditional dance for traditional music and folklore music the carved ceramic pots dates back from 19th- 20th Century along with the Textile made up of woven indigo, Cotton and Silk.
