Abakwa People of Benue State

Abakwa are Benue Indigenous people mainly from Abakwa, after Tyo-wanye, Buruku Local Government Area, sharing boundary with the Etulo people whose headquarters is Agwan-Abakwa in Gboko Local Government of Benue State.

Abakwa women dressed mostly in hijab while their men are mostly dressed in kaftans and agbada. One of their favourite food is tuwon made with either wheat or guinea corn, kerekeshe and so on. They bow or genuflect while greeting. The majority of them celebrate Salah. Abakwa people practice very simple marital rites, the groom gives the mother-in-law money for a handbag and wrappers for his wife-to-be, and then he buys the men cola nut to break and be shared among them to show unity, love and acceptance, no extravagant spending. They believe that the money spent for the wedding ceremony should be kept for their son-in-law to be able to take good care of their daughter.

The King of the Abakwa people is Inusa. 

The Abakwas are one of the minority groups in Benue state. However, historically they believe that, they were and indeed the original owners of what is today known as Tivland. According to the Abakwas, Abakwa and Katsina-Ala towns were founded more than 200 years ago by the Abakwas before the Tiv people came to Benue Valley. Also, that the abakwas were asked by the colonial masters after the Second World War in 1948 to establish a town for the Tivs and this is the history of Gboko. The Abakwas are the descendants of the original Hausa people that either founded or settled in areas that were later dominated by hostile non-hausa tribes. 

The Abakwas are very hospitable and they’re friendly they embrace anyone with love.