The title, Attah was our Nome/clan title as well as the name we bear while we were in Qau (Tjebu) in Egypt. An example was an Igala Queen, Aat/Ata, who was the wife of one of the twelfth dynasty Egyptian Pharaohs (Amenemhet III who ruled from c 1860 BC – c 1814 BC, 46 years), and that twelfth dynasty been the last one in which Igala was part of in the Egypt ruling. The choice of the title, Ata is because he was our ancestor, and the 4th Pharaoh of the first Dynasty Pharaohs. Ata ruled Egypt from 3000 BC to 2990 BC. Ata as an ancient Egyptian word/name means “The Great one, Elder, Father” just like Pharaoh the traditional title in Egypt means “The Great House”. Recall the Igala took part in the formation and unification of the Lower Egypt (location of Igala people around the River Nile) and Upper Egypt around c 3150 BC. They were also part of the third dynasty that ruled Egypt (c 2686 BC – c 2613 BC). Then, they (Igala) alone ruled Egypt for Ninety years (c2130 BC – c 2040 BC) as the tenth dynasty Pharaohs, and were part of the twelfth dynasty (c 1991 BC-1802 BC). But we left Egypt during the conquering of Egypt by the Kush Kingdom around 8th BC (0700 BC) to Attagara Community in Borno state, and had been having a king or ruler as Ata even while we were in Kwarafara in the present day Taraba state, as each tribe had her own head. The same continued to Idah when we arrived Idah around 500 BC according to archeological findings after spending around 200 years in Attagara Community, Kwarafara.
Although, the archeological evidences have stated that Igala migrated to Idah around500 BC, lack of documentation made it difficult to get the names of the Attah Igala between the period of 500 BC to around late 900 AD.
However, the list of Attah Igala from late 900 AD to 2020 AD, gotten from various sources – oral sources and hardcopy materials from both Igala and non-Igala historians, elders and their likes, as well as online sources are as follow:
1. Amene: One who knows you; familiarity, closeness.
2. Oko: Farm, Labour, Hardworking.
3. Uchenu/Uchonu: Leader, ruler, head.
4. Idu: Lion; braveness, power.
5. Ogijo: Elder, senior, the big one.
6. Egwu: Task, responsibility.
7. Ogah: The greatest among them, leader, winner.
8. Iduko/Idoko: A male child born when the father was on the farm or went for fishing, hunting, …
9. Enyote: Goodness, Good time, happiness, joy.
10. Okwute: Spirit of the gods or father; guard, protector.
11. Agaba: Lion, braveness.
12. Itanyi: Difficulty; a male child born when things were not going on smoothly for the parents or family.
13. Aja: A child born on market day or on a particular occasion involving many people in the gathering.
14. Okolo: Power, honour.
15. Idenyi: To stay with, guard, protection.
16. Egwu: Task, responsibility, denoting a child presumed to be a future leader or role player
17. Abba: The one who boasts; courage.
18. Alegu: A child that fell sick very well after; the strong one, one who sees beyond the ordinary.
19. Ijagwu: Identiy of Egwu afia masquerade clan.
20. Amana: A child believed to be the semblance of one late family member, familiarity, visit.
21.Unubi: Wealth, richness, one who has people.
22. Amen/Ameh: One who has the ability of over powering people; strength, power.
23.Ogbadu: Supporter, one who encourages other.
24. Odo: A child born in a new settlement.
25. Adolo: Fertile farmland or to settle and later move away.
26. Ottah: One who prevent enemies, guard, protector.
27. Uloko: Literally means Iroko which denotes power and strength.
28. Adogbe: Neighbourhood; a child born while the mother was not close to their house but not in their own house.
29. Unache: One who makes it happen; determination, encouragement.
30. Ogohi: The greatest, desired result or outcome.
31. Edime/Edeme: It is better to wait for your own time; endurance, perseverance.
32. Atulukwu: One who reproduces will not die; continuity.
33. Agbo: Longevity, old age.
34. Anone: One who has people; comfort, wealth.
35. Anegbe: Proverbial name meaning “to ignore, concentrate, remain focused”.
36. Ayegba: Light, one who makes a place or period lively, brightness.
37. Alita: Protected/protector, Secret, Hideout, child born or conceived without letting other know until after birth.
38. Opaluwa: The clan continues despite death; continuity.
39. Okwo: Sword; denoting strength, warriorship.
40. Agwu: Power.
41. Okwoli: Linen for covering the eyes of the dead mostly elder before burial, Symbol of death, fearfulness.
42. Onata: Literally means the road has ended probably born after the death of a prominent family member.
43. Ogwu/Ogu: Twins/war.
44. Edemona: Throne has lineage.
45. Akor: One who commands; authority, power.
46. Ocholi: Braveness.
47. Ogu (Warrior or child born during war).
48. Ogala Eri (10th century) (Ogala means a leader will never go astray; confidence. Eri means one who makes choices or selects, peculiarity, Ogala was his real name and Eri was his nickname just like Itodo Aduga).
49. Aji (The young one, people of recent character, strength or power).
50. Olema I (It is one who goes that knows it; experience, knowledge, expertise).
51. Anogens/Anoge (We will continue to increase; expansion, population increase, wealth).
52. Agbo: Longevity, old age.
53 Agoshi (Narrow bridge; difficulty, endurance).
54. Olema II (It is one who goes that knows it; experience, knowledge, expertise).
55. Abutu Ejeh (Abutu means a child who was conceived after the mother might have taken various medicines or herbs from various places. Ejeh is leopard which denotes braveness and strength).
56. Amichi (Ebulejonu) (Amichi: The one who stays calm in the presence of trouble; quietness, comporting, endurance, perseverance).
57. Agana Apoje (Agana :The strong one, difficult to be controlled one, Apoje is a nickname meaning extraordinary power).
58. Idoko (A male child born when the father is not at home; either on the farm, went for hunting or fishing or for his occupation).
59. Ayegba (Light, one who makes a place or period lively, brightness) (15s, i.e. 16th century AD)
60. Akumabi (one who joins one or supports one to fight a battle; supporter, wedge-like).
61. Akogu (One who announces war or one who rejects war).
62. Agadaelema (Lion; braveness).
63. Aidoko (Guard, protector).
64. Ohiemiobogo (My reward or the great one).
65. Amacho (Ame: Strength, power, one who is always capable of over powering others, Acho: One who humbles one; power).
66. Itodo Aduga (Aduga denotes braveness, courage).
67. Ogala (A leader will never go astray).
68. Idoko Adegbe (Adegbe means hardworking).
69. Onuche (God’s messenger or an incarnate of a family elder).
70. Ekele Aga (1834) (Ekele means male; denoting strong one, head).
71. Ameh Ocheje (1835 1856) (Ocheje denoting one who works will get his reward).
72. Akwu Odiba (1856 1870) (Odiba means supporter, helper, comforter).
73. Okoliko (1870 – 1894) (Quiet one).
74. Ame Aga (1895 – 1900) (Check above).
75. Ocheje Onakpa (1901 – 1903) (Check above).
76. Oboni Akwu (1905- 1911) (Oboni is a male child with six fingers and digits).
77. Ogwuche Akpa (1911 1919) (Ogwuche literally means the medicine has worked ).
78. Atabo Ijomi (1919 – 1926) (Atabo means my father has come back to meet me or reincarnated).
79. Obaje Ocheje (1926 -1945) (Obaje is a male child born in the evening or at sunset).
80. Ameh Oboni (1946-1956) (Ameh is one who is always capable of over powering others).
81. Aliyu Obaje (1956 – 2012) (Obaje is a male child born in the evening or at sunset).
82. Idakwo Ameh Oboni II (2013 – 2020) (Idakwo literally means it has stopped; a male child born when things begin to change for the better for the parents or family e.g. getting a good job, having a sudden good surprise).
83. Alaji Mathew Opaluwa (2021 – )
(Note: The list of Attah which has 28 names is just the era of Abutu Ejeh but Igala existed before him and had been having Attah before he (Abutu) came to meet other Igalas- Igalamela/Igalogba in Idah )
Amb Dr Ayegba Abdullahi Adojoh,
(Attah Igala General Ambassador of Igala Nation)
Teacher, Researcher and Igala Identity/Culture/Unity Advocate.
(Updated on 17th Nov, 2021)
