Idoma people

The Idoma people are a West African ethnic group that primarily inhabit the lower western areas of Benue State, Nigeria. The bulk of their territory is inland, south of the Benue River, some seventy-two kilometers east of its confluence with the Niger River. The Idoma language is classified in the Akweya subgroup of the Idomoid languages of the Volta–Niger family, which include Igede, Alago, Agatu, Etulo, Ete, Akweya (Akpa) and Yala languages of Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Enugu, and Northern Cross River states. The Akweya subgroup is closely related to the Yatye-Akpa subgroup.

The Idoma tribe are known to be 'warriors' and 'hunters' of class, but hospitable and peace loving. The greater part of Idoma land remained largely unknown to the West until the 1920s, leaving much of the colorful traditional culture of the Idoma intact. They have many forms of local crafts, masquerades, performances, religious traditions, and food traditions. Each Idoma community has their own government of elders, including the igabo and the Oche. All twenty-two Idoma communities together are administered by the Och'Idoma who was introduced by British colonization and is the head of the Idoma Area Traditional Council.