Misplaced Pages

#239760

96-593: Port Harcourt ( Pidgin : Po-ta-kot or Pi-ta-kwa) is the capital and largest city of Rivers State in Nigeria. It is the fifth most populous city in Nigeria after Lagos , Kano , Ibadan and Benin . It lies along the Bonny River and is located in the oil rich Niger Delta region . As of 2023, Port Harcourt's urban population is approximately 3,480,000. The population of the metropolitan area of Port Harcourt

192-600: A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) base which is the location of the only other airport used by commercial airlines Aero Contractors, Caverton Helicopters and Bristow Helicopters for domestic flights, two seaports (FOT Onne , Port Harcourt Wharf). The city has three stadiums, the Sharks Stadium , the Yakubu Gowon Stadium located in Elekahia and Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium located at Omagwa. Port Harcourt

288-571: A stratified society , some clans are believed not to have had any centralized confederacies until the arrival of the British. Individual communities in the western Niger Delta also had chiefs and governments at the village level. For women, there are traditional rights of passage throughout life, marked with iria ceremonies . Funeral ceremonies, particularly for those who have accumulated wealth and respect, are often very dramatic. Traditional religious practices center around "Water spirits" in

384-445: A tonal language , having a high tone and a low tone. The high tone can be written with an acute accent , and the low tone, though typically left unmarked, can be written with a grave accent . Additionally, monosyllabic high-tone words shift into a high falling tone before a pause. However, this has been contested by subsequent linguists, due to variance in pitch intonation on lexemes, especially for questions. One rival suggestion

480-641: A battle against the Europeans. Though a short lived victory, a huge precedent was set by way of this. King Frederick William Koko (Mingi VIII) of the Nembe-Brass Kingdom (1853–1898) led a successful attack on the British Royal Niger Company trading post in 1895. King Koko also took over 40 British people as hostages, whom he later allegedly ate . King Koko was offered a settlement for his grievances, but he  found

576-405: A canoe and fabrics like Ankara, Hollandis, or George, among other items. However, the cash portion of the dowry is not paid in full upfront. When the bride’s father passes away, the groom is expected to pay the remaining cash balance as part of his contribution to the funeral expenses. In this marriage system, children trace their lineage through either their mother’s or father’s side, allowing them

672-411: A distinct language and ethnic group for over 5,000 years. Agadagba-bou, the first ancient Ijaw city-state, existed for more than 400 years, lasting until 1050 CE. Due to internal conflict and violent weather patterns, this city-state was abandoned. Some of the descendants of this city-state created another in the 11th century called Isoma-bou, which lasted until the 16th century. This city-state, like

768-497: A distinguished look, often worn over a wrapper or trousers. The George wrapper , a long piece of luxurious fabric such as Hollandis or George , is tied around the waist and drapes elegantly to the ankles or knees, often adorned with intricate patterns. Men complete their look with a hat, such as a fedora or bowler, adding a touch of sophistication. They also carry a walking stick, typically made from wood and designed with intricate carvings, which adds an element of status. Coral beads in

864-515: A maritime people, many Ijaws were employed in the merchant shipping sector in the early and mid-20th century (pre-Nigerian Independence). With the advent of oil and gas exploration in their territory, some are now employed in that sector. Another major occupation is service in the civil service sector of the Nigerian states of Bayelsa and Rivers , where they are predominant. Extensive state-government sponsored overseas scholarship programs in

960-454: A royal family. This additional dowry serves to compensate the bride's village for the loss of her children. Unlike many other ethnic groups, the Ijaws observe two distinct types of marriage. The first type of marriage, known as the small-dowry marriage, involves the groom making an initial payment to the bride’s family. This payment typically includes cash, traditional beads, and items such as

1056-711: A search interface in Pidgin. In 2017, BBC started BBC News Pidgin to provide services in Pidgin. Many of the 250 or more ethnic groups in Nigeria can converse in the language, though many speakers will use words from their native tongues. For example: Nigerian Pidgin also varies from place to place. Dialects of Nigerian Pidgin may include the Sapele - Warri - Ughelli dialect that has majorly influenced large parts of Nigeria , Benin City dialect that has its influence from Bini language , Port Harcourt dialect that has elements of

SECTION 10

#1732791300240

1152-556: Is Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital . Founded in 1925, the 375-bed facility provides general and specialist medical and surgical services along with a range of diagnostic and support services. Between 2009 and 2013, the Rivers State government commissioned two additional hospitals. This includes Kelsey Harrison Hospital and the Rivers State Dental and Maxillofacial Hospital . Some other notable hospitals in

1248-546: Is Ezebunwo Ichemati . Port Harcourt's primary airport is Port Harcourt International Airport , located on the outskirts of the city; the NAF base is the location of the only other airport and is used by commercial airlines Aero Contractors and Air Nigeria for domestic flights. The port was built in 1912, but not given a name until August 1913, when the then Governor of Nigeria, Sir Frederick Lugard , named it "Port Harcourt" in honor of Lewis Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt , then

1344-421: Is almost twice its urban area population with a 2015 United Nations estimate of 2,344,000. In 1950, the population of Port Harcourt was 59,752. Port Harcourt has grown by 150,844 since 2015, which represents a 4.99% annual change. The area that became Port Harcourt in 1912 was before that of a farmland of the people of Rebisi (Ikwerre). The colonial administration of Nigeria created the port to export coal from

1440-556: Is also known for its vibrant late-night activities and entertainment scene. There are several public houses , lounges, clubs, dance bars and restaurants spread out around the city. Partyers and revellers tend to spend a chunk of their night time at New GRA , where most of the bars and high-end nightclubs are located. Uptempo and club-friendly music can be heard in nearly every corner of the city at night. There have been increases in sex-oriented businesses including strip clubs and brothels. Port Harcourt city has produced great musicians in

1536-980: Is considered unhealthy for everyone and E.P.A advises residents of such areas to avoid heavy and prolonged exertion, and move activities indoors. "For a 15-month period ending in June [2018] ... air quality was in the unhealthy range on 240 days, with 85 days ranking very unhealthy, and 13 days as hazardous ." The increased deterioration of ambient air quality led to a state protest in February 2017. There were experiences of black soot settling in nostrils, on cars, floors, roofs, windows, bathtubs, bathrooms, kitchen sinks and household furniture surfaces resulting in frequent cleaning of affected surfaces and places. potable, domestic and rainwater were equally affected. Abuloma, Iwofe, Rupokwu, Okrika , and Woji were mostly affected with other areas such as Rumuigbo, Eleme, and Oyigbo Local Government Councils, as well as Ogoni. The covering of

1632-425: Is covered with a layer of black soot. Official PM2.5 information from the state's environmental commissioner, Roseline Konya , states a high reading of 270 micrograms per cubic meter for air pollution in the city from a 2016 sampling. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) index air quality index (AQI), a reading of 0 – 50 is good, readings between 200 – 300 which Port Harcourt falls under

1728-483: Is estimated at over 15 million, accounting for around 6.9% of the country's 223 million people, positioning them as the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria. The Ijaws are the most populous tribe inhabiting the Niger Delta region, and one of the world's most ancient peoples. They have long lived in locations near many sea trade routes, and they were well connected to other areas by trade as early as

1824-613: Is highly congested as it is the only major city of the state. In 2009, a law was passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly and Governor Amaechi's administration to spread development to the surrounding communities as part of the effort to decongest the Port Harcourt metropolis. The Greater Port Harcourt region, spans eight local government areas that include Port Harcourt, Okrika , Obio-Akpor , Ikwerre , Oyigbo , Ogu–Bolo , Etche and Eleme . Its total population

1920-703: Is home to one of the most popular soccer clubs in Nigeria and Africa, the Rivers United F.C. In September 2019, the-governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, unveiled plan to launch a football academy in cooperation with the Spanish giants, the Real Madrid football club. The academy was to be known as the Real Madrid Academy . 18 months later, the academy was commissioned by the governor and the national sports minister, Sunday Dare. Port Harcourt

2016-489: Is less pronounced in Port Harcourt. Port Harcourt's heaviest precipitation occurs during September with an average of 367 millimetres or 14.45 inches of rain. December on average is the driest month of the year, with an average rainfall of 20 millimetres or 0.79 inches. Temperatures throughout the year in the city are relatively constant, showing little variation throughout the course of the year. Average temperatures are typically between 25 and 28 °C (77.0 and 82.4 °F) in

SECTION 20

#1732791300240

2112-469: Is located in Trans Amadi, Abuloma . Port Harcourt is a major industrial centre as it has a large number of multinational firms as well as other industrial concerns, particularly business related to the petroleum industry. It is the chief oil-refining city in Nigeria and has two main oil refineries located at Eleme. Both refineries process around 210,000 barrels of crude oil a day, both operated by

2208-516: Is that Nigerian Pidgin "is something of a pitch-accent language in which, given a word there may be only one high tone, or one sequence thereof in opposition to one low sequence"; downdrift is attested in the intonational system. Most written texts in Nigerian Pidgin do not show any tonal markings, and do not reflect any lexical pitch differences. Ijaw people The Ijaw people, also spelled Ịjọ , are an ethnic group found in

2304-501: Is the Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation (RSBC). As of December 2013, more than 5 local FM stations some of which were privately owned by media conglomerates Silverbird Group, South Atlantic Media, Globe Broadcasting and Communications and The Multimesh Company were already commercially licensed. There is an international airport, Port Harcourt International Airport on the outskirts of the city,

2400-473: Is the first and only private polytechnic established in the state. Media in Port Harcourt consists largely of print, online blogs, social media and broadcast. Information is generally disseminated to the public through radio, television, newspapers, magazines and the Internet. The government owns a number of the existing communications media, although, some private media is permitted. As a regulatory authority,

2496-400: Is the leading hub for medical services in Rivers State . Many healthcare facilities including hospitals and research facilities are located in Port Harcourt. The city has a prominent tertiary health institution University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) is situated on East West Road. Government hospitals are widely favoured and caters to a larger pool of patients. One of the oldest

2592-540: Is the tallest building in the Southeast and South-South geopolitical zones combined. Port Harcourt is primarily composed of coastal Ikwerre , Ijaw , Obulom , and Ogoni peoples. As in other cities in the country's south, the predominant religion of Port Harcourt is Christianity . Roman Catholics make up a significant portion of the Christian population. There are scores of churches, parishes and priests within

2688-483: Is very similar to both American and British English , and it is often referred to as a group of different sub-varieties. Although there is not a formal description of Nigerian English, scholars agree that Nigerian English is a recognizable and unique variety of English. Nigerian Pidgin, like many pidgins and creoles, has a simpler phonology than the superstrate language. It has 23 consonants , seven vowels , and two tones . Nigerian Pidgin has been described as

2784-604: The Bight of Benin ). For example, you sabi do am? means "do you know how to do it?". Sabi means "to know" or "to know how to", just as "to know" is saber in Portuguese. (According to the monogenetic theory of pidgins , sabir was a basic word in Mediterranean Lingua Franca , brought to West Africa through Portuguese pidgin. An English cognate is savvy .) Also, pikin or " pickaninny " comes from

2880-661: The Caribbean , as does the presence of words and phrases that are identical in the languages on both sides of the Atlantic, such as Me a go tell dem (I'm going to tell them) and make we (let us). A copula deh or dey is found in both Caribbean Creole and Nigerian Pidgin English. The phrase We dey foh London would be understood by both a speaker of Creole and a speaker of Nigerian Pidgin to mean "We are in London" (although

2976-594: The Central Powers in German Kamerun . After the discovery of crude oil in Oloibiri in 1956, Port Harcourt exported the first shipload from Nigeria in 1958. Port Harcourt became the center of the Nigerian oil economy and it subsequently reaped benefits of its associations with the petroleum industry by undergoing modernization and urbanization . Port Harcourt's growth is further due to its position as

Port Harcourt - Misplaced Pages Continue

3072-563: The Government of Rivers State are also located in the city. They include Rivers State University , Kenule Beesor Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic (Former Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori), Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic , Ignatius Ajuru University of Education and Rivers State College of Health Science and Technology . The notable private institutions are Catholic Institute of West Africa and Eastern Polytechnic . The latter

3168-490: The Namatibi/Feni, Peletebite, Don, and Ojubulu attires . The Don outfit, in particular, holds royal significance. Historically, it was worn primarily by royals and high-ranking individuals. The Don ensemble was heavy on the body and featured an elaborate display of wealth, including a cache of jewels, expensive beads, gold studs, and other coral ornaments. This attire was completed with a stylish hat, further emphasizing

3264-632: The Niger Delta region in Nigeria , with significant population clusters in Bayelsa , Delta , and Rivers . They are also in Edo , and small parts of Akwa Ibom occupying six Nigerian states. Many are found as migrant fishermen in camps and settlements in Benue , Ondo and Kogi states and as far west as Sierra Leone , Ghana and as far east as Gabon . As of 2023, Nigeria's Ijaw population

3360-735: The Port Harcourt Catholic diocese . The central church is the Corpus Christi Cathedral Parish in D-line . The city is also home to other Christian denominations such as Anglicans , Methodists , Baptists , Presbyterians , Jehovah's Witnesses and members of Evangelical and Pentecostal groups. A very small number of residents adhere to the Islamic faith. The Port Harcourt Book Festival , formerly known as Garden City Literary Festival remains one of

3456-485: The Port Harcourt Refining Company . Rivers State is one of the wealthiest states in Nigeria in terms of gross domestic product and foreign exchange revenue from the oil industry, crude oil being its principal export earner. Microapartment architecture is quite common in certain parts of Port Harcourt. The Point Block of Rivers State Secretariat is an icon of the city. An 18-story building, it

3552-503: The Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications is responsible for overseeing the entire broadcasting system, as well as promoting competition and ensuring the provision of qualitative services throughout the city. Since English is much more popular in the country's urban areas, media content such as publications, news, radio and television programmes are available mostly in the English language. In print media,

3648-816: The Secretary of State for the Colonies . The Okrika word for the city is Hakoti Kiri or Parakot . The native Obulom name for the city is Obomotu , lit.   ' Big House ' . Port Harcourt was founded in 1912 by Frederick Lugard , governor of both the Northern Nigeria Protectorate and the Southern Nigeria Protectorate . Its purpose was to export the coal that geologist Albert Ernest Kitson had discovered in Enugu in 1909. The colonial government caused

3744-728: The collieries of Enugu located 243 kilometres (151 mi) north of Port Harcourt, to which it was linked by a railway called the Eastern Line, also built by the British . Port Harcourt's economy turned to petroleum when the first shipment of Nigerian crude oil was exported through the city in 1958. Through the benefits of the Nigerian petroleum industry , Port Harcourt was further developed, with aspects of modernization such as overpasses , city blocks , and taller and more substantial buildings. Oil firms that currently have offices in

3840-470: The 1950s. The Ijaw people live by fishing supplemented by farming paddy - rice , plantains , Cassava , yams , cocoyams , bananas and other vegetables as well as tropical fruits such as guava , mangoes and pineapples ; and trading. Smoke-dried fish, timber , palm oil and palm kernels are processed for export. While some clans (those to the east- Akassa , Nembe , Bille, Kalabari , Nkoro , Okrika , Andoni and Bonny ) had powerful kings and

3936-462: The 1970s and 1980s have also led to a significant presence of Ijaw professionals in Europe and North America (the so-called Ijaw diaspora). Another contributing factor to this human capital flight is the abject poverty in their homeland of the Niger Delta , resulting from decades of neglect by the Nigerian government and oil companies in spite of continuous petroleum prospecting in this region since

Port Harcourt - Misplaced Pages Continue

4032-553: The 1980s. The main city of Port Harcourt is the Port Harcourt City in the Port Harcourt local government area , consisting of the former European quarters now called Old GRA and New Layout areas. The urban area (Port Harcourt metropolis), on the other hand, is made up of the local government area itself and parts of Obio-Akpor and Eleme accordingly. Port Harcourt, which is the current capital of Rivers State,

4128-878: The Ahoda regions in Rivers State. The second is the  Eastern Ijaw (Ijo) found in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States. They include Kalabari ( Abonnema , Buguma, Degema etc.), Okirika, Ogu , Opobo , Port Harcourt South, Bonny , Finima, Nkoro, Andoni , and Obolo people (part of Andoni) ), who can also be traced to Akwa Ibom State, near the border with Rivers State. Third is the Western Ijaw (Ijo) , found in Delta, Ondo and Edo states. They can be found in Ondo state due to migrations many years prior. The Arogbo Ijaws and

4224-513: The Benin monarchy. 'Pere' means king in some of the Ijaw languages. T.T Clan The Ijaws were one of the first of Nigeria's peoples to have contact with Westerners and were active as go-betweens in the trade between visiting Europeans and the peoples of the interior, particularly in the era before the discovery of quinine , when West Africa was still known as the "White Man's Graveyard" because of

4320-594: The Caribbean. Linguists posit that this is because most of the enslaved that were taken to the New World were of West African descent. The pronunciation and accents often differ a great deal, mainly due to the extremely heterogeneous mix of African languages present in the West Indies, but if written on paper or spoken slowly, the creole languages of the Caribbean are for the most part mutually intelligible with

4416-754: The Ilaje. The clan also shares border with the Arogbo Ijaw to the south of Ondo and the Furupagha Ijaw to the east across the Siloko River. The founding ancestors of the Arogbo were part of the same migration from Ujo-Gbaraun town. After a brief stop at Oproza, led by Eji and his younger brother, Perebiyenmo and sister, Fiyepatei, they went on to Ukparomo (now occupied by the towns of Akpata, Opuba, Ajapa, and Ukpe). They stayed here for some time, about

4512-603: The Jamaican is more likely to say Wi de a London and the Surinamese way is Wi de na London .) The word originates from the Igbo word di meaning the same thing and pronounced similarly : anu di na ofe (literally "meat is in pot") and anyi di na london (lit. "we are in London"). Other similarities, such as pikin (Nigerian Pidgin for "child") and pikney (used in islands like St.Vincent , Antigua and St. Kitts , akin to

4608-455: The Niger river, and around tribute to ancestors . Marriages among the Ijaw clans are vibrant, lively, and share many cultural similarities. The Ijaw traditional wedding ceremony is a grand celebration that showcases the beauty and diversity of Ijaw culture. The marriage process typically culminates in the payment of a bridal dowry, which increases if the bride comes from a different village or

4704-585: The Portuguese words pequeno and pequenino , which mean "small" and "small child" respectively. Similar to the Caribbean Creole situation, Nigerian Pidgin is mostly used in informal conversations. Nigerian Pidgin has no status as an official language. Nigerian English is used in politics, education, science, and media. In Nigeria, English is acquired through formal education. As English has been in contact with multiple different languages in Nigeria, Nigerian English has become much more prominent and

4800-465: The West African coast. While Pidgin is spoken by many, there are wide swathes of Nigeria where Pidgin is not spoken or understood, especially among those without secular education in core northern parts — Gombe State , Yobe State — of Nigeria. Nigerian Pidgin, along with the various pidgin and creole languages of West Africa , share similarities to the various English-based Creoles found in

4896-624: The Western Apoi tribe of the Ijaw people live in Ondo State, Nigeria. The tribe (also called Ijaw Apoi or Apoi) consists of nine settlements: Igbobini, Ojuala, Ikpoke, Inikorogha, Oboro, Shabomi, Igbotu, Kiribo and Gbekebo. The Apoi inhabited higher ground than most of the other Ijaw tribes. They speak the Yoruba language and Ijaw. They are bordered to the north by the Ikale and to the west by

SECTION 50

#1732791300240

4992-482: The blouse. The headgear, usually a stiff fabric head tie, is an essential part of the outfit, worn in various stylish formations to complement the blouse and wrappers. Like the men, women wear coral beads—necklaces, bracelets, and earrings—that denote both beauty and social status, completing the look. In addition to the Etibo, George, and other common attire, the Ijaw people also wear special traditional garments such as

5088-1069: The city and found out to be 11 times higher than WHO specifications for PM2.5 and PM10. This non-compliance was tackled by shutting down the Chinese Government Company (CGC), H&H Engineering Company, and AUC Asphalt Company located in the Aluu community, found to be the location of high volume discharge of emissions thereby contravening environmental regulations. Illegal refineries, burning of tires, gas flaring , liquefied natural gas (LNG) operations and processes, petro-chemical companies and refineries were other suspected sources of soot pollution . Some of Port Harcourt's more popular and well-known residential areas are known as Port Harcourt Township (or just "Town"), GRA (Government Reserved Area) phases 1–5, Elekahia, Rumuomasi, D-line , Elelenwo , Eliozu, Iboloji , Ogbunabali, Rumuola, Rumuigbo, Mgbuoba, Diobu , Woji, Amadi Flats, Umuchitta, Rumuokoro and Borikiri . The main industrial area

5184-410: The city are Meridian Hospital and Rehoboth Specialist Hospital which are private. The Port Harcourt Water Supply and Sanitation Project aims at delivering sustainable water supply to the people of Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor local government areas. The project is the first phase of the rehabilitation of the old Port Harcourt water supply system and its extension to new areas of the city. It involves

5280-447: The city include Shell and Chevron . There are a number of public and private tertiary institutions in Port Harcourt. These institutions include Rivers State University , University of Port Harcourt , Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic , Ignatius Ajuru University , Rivers State College of Health Science and Technology , Madonna University , PAMO University of Medical Sciences , National Open University of Nigeria . The current mayor

5376-578: The city's most important and popular events since its inception in 2008. Established by the government of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi , the yearly gathering improves local literacy levels, promotes reading habits among denizens, and benefits exhibitors seeking a wider audience. Throughout its annual run, Port Harcourt Book Festival has hosted renowned publishers such as Heinemann , Learn Africa Plc, Africana First Publishers and EPP Books Services. The festival currently continues to draw writers, literary connoisseurs, booksellers and publishers from every walk of life to

5472-431: The city. The yearly temperature in Port Harcourt is 26.55 °C (79.79 °F) and it is -2.91% lower than Nigeria's averages. Rivers typically receive about 330.36 millimeters (13.01 inches) of precipitation and has 304.91 rainy days (83.54% of the time) annually. Residents of the city have been experiencing particle ( soot ) pollution since the last quarter of 2016. Residents state their clothes and everything outside

5568-601: The city. In July 2012, UNESCO , IPA , IBF and IFLA named Port Harcourt the World Book Capital for the year 2014, making her the 14th city in the world to be selected as World Book Capital and the first in Black Africa. The city also features in Looking for Transwonderland , one of the first volumes of travel writing written by a Nigerian, Noo Saro-Wiwa . Aside from being the oil capital, Port Harcourt

5664-508: The commercial center and foremost industrial city of the former Eastern Region ; its position in the Niger Delta; and its importance as the center of social and economic life in Rivers State. After the Republic of Biafra seceded from Nigeria in 1967 Port Harcourt fell to Nigerian forces on 19 May 1968. From an area of 15.54 km (6.00 sq mi) in 1914, Port Harcourt grew uncontrolled to an area of 360 km (140 sq mi) in

5760-441: The creation of a new city to be called Greater Port-Harcourt City. The new city is to be located at the outskirt of Port Harcourt close to the Port-Harcourt International Airport . The total coverage area for the Greater Port Harcourt city development is about 1,900 km (730 sq mi) spanning eight local governments in Rivers State , including Ogu Bolo, Eleme, Ikwerre , Etche, Obio Akpor, Okrika. The Authority ( GPHCDA )

5856-420: The creation of specialized institutions for service delivery. Key agencies include the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RWSSA), the Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation (STWSSA), the Port Harcourt Water Corporation (PHWC), and the Rivers State Water Services Regulatory Commission. Port Harcourt Water Corporation (PHWC) was established pursuant to the Water Sector Development Law #7 of 2012 to replace

SECTION 60

#1732791300240

5952-457: The creole languages of West Africa. The presence of repetitive phrases in Caribbean Creole such as su-su (gossip) and pyaa-pyaa (sickly) mirror the presence of such phrases in West African languages such as bam-bam , which means "complete" in the Yoruba language. Repetitious phrases are also present in Nigerian Pidgin, such as koro-koro meaning "clear vision", yama-yama meaning "disgusting", and doti-doti meaning "garbage". Furthermore,

6048-419: The early 800s BCE. The timeline that the archaeological excavations provide offers about 3,000 years of evidence of Ijaw history and presence in the Niger Delta. There has been much argument about which tribe in Nigeria is the oldest. The Ijaws started inhabiting the Niger Delta region of what is now Nigeria as far back as 800 BCE, thus making them one of the world's most ancient peoples. They have existed as

6144-409: The endemic presence of malaria , fever and heat. Some of the kin-based trading lineages that arose among the Ijaws developed into substantial corporations which were known as " houses "; each house had an elected leader as well as a fleet of war canoes for use in protecting trade and fighting rivals. The other main occupation common among the Ijaws has traditionally been fishing and farming. Being

6240-461: The events at the 17th national sports festival tagged "Garden City Games". Port Harcourt has the following sister city relationships , according to Sister Cities International : See also: List of schools in Port Harcourt See also: List of hospitals in Port Harcourt Nigerian Pidgin It can be spoken as a pidgin , a creole, dialect or a decreolised acrolect by different speakers, who may switch between these forms depending on

6336-403: The father's family. However, this form of marriage rarely practiced. A distinctive feature of the Ijaw traditional wedding ceremony is the bride’s expectation to remain composed and unemotional until she is fully satisfied with the gifts presented by the groom and his family. During this rite, the groom showers the bride with money and valuable items, and she only smiles once she is content with

6432-405: The form of necklaces and bracelets (called Ibolo ) are often worn as accessories, symbolizing wealth and social standing. Ijaw women's traditional attire is equally stunning. The blouse is a loose-fitting, long-sleeved garment that is often richly embroidered. Paired with it are wrappers, typically two pieces made from Ankara, Hollandis, or George fabrics , which can be matched or contrasted with

6528-411: The former Rivers State Water Board and to ensure the provision of potable drinking water and waste water treatment services. The corporation formally took off in September 2014 with the recruitment of the pioneer managing director, Kenneth Anga with a mandate to convert it to a self-sustaining public service corporation. Under the leadership of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi , plans was announced for

6624-579: The former group of languages being Izon , which is spoken by about nine million people. There are two prominent groupings of the Ijaw language. The first, termed Central Izon (Ijaw) consists of central Ijaw speakers: Tuomo Clan , Egbema, Ekeremor , Sagbama (Ogobiri-Mein) , Bassan , Apoi , Arogbo , Boma (Bumo), Kabo (Kabuowei) , Ogboin, Tarakiri, and Kolokuma-Opokuma. Nembe , Kalabari , Ibani , okrika , Ogbia , Brass and Akassa (Akaha) dialects represent South-eastern Ijo (Izon). Buseni , Epie and Okordia dialects are considered Inland Ijo. It

6720-425: The freedom to choose which heritage, culture, and traditions they wish to follow as they grow older. They can identify with both parents' ethnic backgrounds and live with either family. This form of marriage is the most common and widely practiced across all Ijaw clans. The second type, known as the large-dowry marriage, involves a significantly higher dowry, and in this case, the children are considered to belong to

6816-471: The gifts. This tradition serves as a test of the groom’s love and commitment, as he must prove his ability to provide for her and make her happy. It also serves as a challenge to the bride, demonstrating that she is not easily swayed by material wealth and values her dignity and pride. Another important aspect of the Ijaw wedding celebration is the Bibife , a feast hosted by the bride's family. This event includes lively music, dancing, and performances, marking

6912-508: The government. Each trader purchased as many enslaved people as possible, valuing ability over genetic kinship as most enslaved people's families were split apart and not valued for their rich culture and heritage. Because an able enslaved person could inherit the business of a trader with no heir, it was possible to have (non-Ijaw) leaders who had been born into slavery; such a leader was King Jaja of Opobo . The Ijaw People bought slaves from Igboland , including Jubo Jubogha , an Igbo man, who

7008-548: The haze of soot in most parts of the city has resulted in visibility impairment by PM2.5, soil, and water deposition, and disruption in ecosystem diversity. This also made the city dwellers spend more time indoors than outdoors. Residents in cities such as Rumosi and Rumuodumanya in Obio/Akpor Council have relocated to other safe cities leading to a decline in business activities. The Ministry of Environment took action by analysing air samples from various sites in

7104-460: The joyous union of the couple and celebrating their new life together. The traditional attire of the Ijaw people reflects both elegance and cultural significance, incorporating rich fabrics and intricate accessories that showcase their heritage. For Ijaw men, the Etibo shirt serves as the main garment, typically made from materials like linen, cotton, or brocade. Its high neck and embroidery give it

7200-478: The largest-circulated daily newspaper published in Port Harcourt is The Tide . It is state-supported and has an online version. Another popular newspaper is the weekly tabloid National Network which is owned by local politician Jerry Needam . Additionally, other noteworthy papers like The Neighbourhood published by Nativity Communications Company and The Newswriter published by Writers House have begun competing for market presence and are both headquartered in

7296-537: The last, was founded in the Central Delta Wilberforce Island region. The Wilberforce Island region remains the most Ijaw-populated area of Nigeria. The Ijaws are believed by some to be the descendants of an autochthonous people or an ancient tribe of Africa known as the Oru; the Ijaws were originally known by this name (Oru). These were believed to be the aboriginal people of West Africa and

7392-460: The late 14th and early 15th centuries. In their languages, they often refer to themselves using the endonym Izon . The Izon or Ijaw People have lived in the Niger Delta region since before the fifth millennium BCE, and they were able to keep a separate identity because they lived where the agriculturally dependent Benue-Kwa groups were unable to penetrate. Some of the earliest archeological findings of Ijaw tribes have been dated to as far back as

7488-657: The length of the reign of two Agadagbas ( military priest-rulers of the shrine of Egbesu ). They then moved to the present site of Arogbo. From this place descendants spread out to found the Arogbo Ibe. The Isaba, Kabo, Tuomo, Kumbo, Ogulagha, Patani, and Gbaramatu peoples of Delta state are also part of the Western Ijo subgroups. In Edo state, the Ijo first settled in an area called Ikoro. Their traditional rulers are called Peres and Agadagbas, and are thought to predate

7584-594: The likes of Rex Lawson during jazz, highlife and old skool days. Several institutions of tertiary education in Port Harcourt offer a wide range of professionally accredited programmes and qualifications. Most of these institutions are publicly funded, while others are run by private entities. The University of Port Harcourt was ranked sixth in Africa and first in Nigeria by Times Higher Education in 2015. The federal government owned university has its main campus at Choba district. Universities and colleges administered by

7680-409: The metropolis. Radio is an important mass medium in these parts. Not only has it become a strong source of news and entertainment, it is also wide reaching and has proved a cheap means to reach a mass audience. Many of Port Harcourt's radio stations are in private hands with just a few are state owned. Radio Rivers , founded 1981 offers programs in English and various indigenous languages. Its operator

7776-493: The mixed tribes in Rivers State , Lagos (particularly in Ajegunle influenced by sizeable Niger Deltan populace); and Onitsha varieties that draws influence from Igbo language . Nigerian Pidgin is most widely spoken in the oil state Niger Delta where most of its population speak it as their first language. There are accounts of pidgin being spoken first in colonial Nigeria before being adopted by other countries along

7872-540: The people of Diobu to cede their land, and in 1912 the building of a port-town was started. Other villages that were later absorbed into the city included Oroworukwo, Oromeruezimgbu, Nkpogu, and Rumuomasi; In the creeks to the south of the original port were the fishing camps and grounds of the Wakirike - Ijaw group. During the First World War , Port Harcourt was used as a point for military operations against

7968-519: The region of Niger/Benue. Before the arrival of Europeans, the Ijo people had about 51 different clans and were trading amongst themselves. Their settlements in the Bini region, lower Niger and the Niger Delta were aboriginal (i.e. being the first). They are known to be exceptional sea people. In the 12th century, the number of Ijaw states grew, and by the 16th century, the Ijaws formed a number of powerful kingdoms with strong central rule. The Ijaw economy

8064-548: The rehabilitation and upgrade of the stations in Rumuola, increasing its current capacity to 187,000 m (6,603,843 cu ft) per day. In Rivers State, Water sector and utility reforms were initiated in 2009 and included the enactment of the Rivers State's Water and Sanitation policy 2012 and the enactment of the Rivers State Water Sector development law #7of 2012. The policy and Law provided for

8160-432: The rich history, cultural pride, and social standing that the Ijaw people continue to uphold. Although the Ijaw are now primarily Christians (65% profess to be), with Roman Catholicism , Zion Church , Anglicanism and Pentecostalism being the varieties of Christianity most prevalent among them, they also have elaborate traditional religious practices of their own. Traditionally, the Ijaws hold celebrations to honour

8256-441: The social setting. Variations of what this article refers to as "Nigerian Pidgin" are also spoken across West and Central Africa , in countries such as Benin , Ghana , and Cameroon . Nigerian Pidgin is commonly used throughout the country, but it has not been granted official status. Pidgin breaks the communication barrier between different ethnic groups and it is widely spoken throughout Nigeria. In 2011, Google launched

8352-485: The standard-English pejorative/epithet pickaninny ) and chook (Nigerian Pidgin for "poke" or "stab") which corresponds with the Trinidadian creole word juk , and also corresponds to chook used in other West Indian islands. Being derived partly from the present day Edo/Delta area of Nigeria, there are still some words left over from the Portuguese language in pidgin English (Portuguese ships traded slaves from

8448-578: The terms unacceptable. After some reprisal attacks by the British, his capital was ransacked. King Koko fled, and so was deposed by the British. He died in exile in 1898. The Ijaws speak nine closely related Niger-Congo languages , all of which belong to the Ijoid branch of the Niger-Congo tree. The primary division between the Ijo languages is that between Eastern Ijo and Central Ijo, the most important of

8544-536: The use of words of West African origin in Surinamese Creole (Sranan Tongo) and Jamaican Patois , such as unu and Bajan dialect wunna or una – West African Pidgin (meaning "you people", a word that comes from the Igbo word unu or unuwa also meaning "you people"), display some of the interesting similarities between the English pidgins and creoles of West Africa and the English pidgins and creoles of

8640-408: The wearer's elevated status. The Don dress was not just a garment, but a powerful symbol of power, prestige, and the cultural heritage of the Ijaw people. Together, these attires not only display the Ijaw people’s taste for elegance but also emphasize the importance of social hierarchy, beauty, and tradition within their culture. The different garments and accessories worn by both men and women reflect

8736-420: Was bought by the Ijo people of Bonny. He later earned his way out of slavery and was renamed Jaja. Historically, various Ijaw clans engaged in the practice of acquiring slaves from Igboland for purposes such as gifting to newlyweds and showcasing wealth. However, the Ijaw's approach to slavery differed from many other cultures. They permitted slaves to earn their freedom after a specified period of service, and it

8832-419: Was common for Ijaw men to marry enslaved women, granting them freedom through marriage. This practice facilitated social mobility and led to some Ijaw clans having remote Igbo ancestry due to these unions. Overall, the Ijaw's relatively limited participation in the slave trade reflects a more integrated and complex relationship between the two cultures. The Nembe Ijo people were the first Ijaws to fight and win

8928-1138: Was discovered in the 1980s that a now extinct Berbice Creole Dutch , spoken in Guyana, is partly based on Ijo lexicon and grammar . Its nearest relative seems to be Eastern Ijo, most likely Kalabari. The Ijaw People can be grouped into three. The first, which is termed as Central Ijaw (Ijo) , consists of Central Ijaw languages and subgroups: Ogbia subgroup and language, Epie-Atisa (Epie) subgroup and language, all part of Ijo people in  Bayelsa. The centeal Ijaw Language, spoken by people in Ekeremor, Sagbama (Kumbo), Amassoma, Apoi, Arogbo, Boma (Bumo), Kabo (Kabuowei), Olodiama, Ogboin, Tarakiri, and Kolokuma-Opokuma, Tungbo, Tuomo, etc. all in Bayelsa. Nembe Language, spoken by people in Nembe , Brass , and Akassa (Akaha) in Bayelsa. Abua language, spoken by Abua/Odual people in Rivers State. Other Central subgroups are Biseni People, Akinima, Mbiama, Engeni and some subgroups in

9024-797: Was established by law in April 2009 with a mandate to facilitate the implementation of the Greater Port Harcourt master plan and build the new city. The Authority is led by an administrator, Dame Aleruchi Cookey Gam, supported by a pioneer management team comprising the Secretary to the authority and Board, Silva Opusunju, Director Finance Aaron Obelley, Director Administration (Permanent Secretary) MI Tella, Director Public Affairs Kenneth Anga, Director Legal Justice Nwobike, Director Projects Edmund Altraide, Director Development Control Sir Ngozi Worgu. The Greater Port Harcourt city hosted several of

9120-529: Was estimated at 2,000,000 as of 2009, making it one of the largest metropolitan areas in Nigeria. But that number has greatly increased according to recent studies. Port Harcourt features a tropical monsoon climate ( Köppen : Am ) with lengthy and heavy rainy seasons and very short dry seasons . Only the months of December to February truly qualify as dry season months in the city. The harmattan , which climatically influences many cities in West Africa ,

9216-510: Was predominantly supported by fishing, and each clustered group claimed a specific culture and autonomy from the others. They were among the first people in Nigeria to come in contact with Europeans, the earliest explorers arriving in the early 15th century. After contact with European merchants around 1500 CE, communities began trading in enslaved people as middlemen while they also traded in palm oil . Traders who amassed wealth within this business market found themselves parading power over

#239760