 Isoko girl | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 1,000,000 (2019) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Isoko region (Nigeria) | |
| Languages | |
| Isoko | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity and Traditional African religions | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Urhobo, Benin, Esan, Afemai |
The Isokos are an ethnolinguistic group who inhabit the Isoko region of Delta State and Bayelsa State, Nigeria. They are people of southern Nigeria, near the northwestern Niger delta. They speak the Isoko language – a language of the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo family.
The Isoko culture is related to several cultures in the Niger-Delta – namely the Urhobo, Ijaw and Anioma. The Urhobo are closely related in language and culture, leading to the invaders erroneously labelling the Urhobo and Isoko cultural groups as Sobo. This name was strongly rejected by both tribes.
The Isoko tribal group consist of nineteen clans – namely Uzere, Ozoro, Erowha, Owhe, Iyede, Okpe, Emede, Igbide, Emevor, Ofagbe, Ellu, Oyede, Umeh, Irri, Aviara, Olomoro, Enwhe, Okpolo and Oleh.
In addition to the core nineteen clans, Isoko communities are also found in Bayelsa State. In Sagbama Local Government Area, the Isoko-speaking communities include Abuetor, Osifo, Osekwenike, Abolomadiere, Aleibiri and Ogbobagbene. Oral histories indicate that Abuetor, Osifo and Osekwenike migrated from Okpe-Isoko in present-day Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State through the Isoko creek near Patani in search of farmland and fishing grounds.
