Epie-Atissa clan
Encyclopedia
The Epie and Atissa are two small tribes that live along Epie Creek, northeast of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
, Nigeria
. Together, they are commonly known at the Epie-Atissa. This people was established by migrants both from Ijaw tribes to the south and from the Engenni
to the north. The Engenni people
are considered to be an offshoot of the Edo people. As a result, the Epie-Atissa share cultural aspects of both the Ijaw and the Engenni
.
Epie-Atissa settlements include: Onopa, Igbogene, Kpansia, Ogu, Edepie, Yenaka, Opolo, Swali, Ikolo, Ekenfa, Yenagoa, and Biogbolo.
They speak the Epie language
.
The Epie and Atissa remain two separate tribes. The Epie have villages that run from Igbogene to Amarata namely Igbogene, Yenegwe, Akenfa, Agudama Epie, Akenpai, Edepie, Okutukutu, Opolo, Biogbolo, Yenizue Gene, Kpansia, Yenizue Epie, Okaka, Ekeki, Azikoro and Amarata. The Atissa have villages that run from Onopa to Ikolo to Ogu to Agbura namely Onopa, Ovom, Yenagoa, Bebelibiri, Yenaka, Ikolo, Famgbe, Obogoro, Akaba, Ogu, Swali, and Agbura.
Bayelsa State
Bayelsa State is a state in southern Nigeria in the core Niger Delta region, between Delta State and Rivers State. Its capital is Yenagoa. The language spoken here is Ijaw language and dialects of the Ijaw language such as Nembe, Atissa, Akassa, Ogbia, etc. However, like the rest of Nigeria,...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. Together, they are commonly known at the Epie-Atissa. This people was established by migrants both from Ijaw tribes to the south and from the Engenni
Engenni people
The Engenni people are considered by themselves and some to be an Ijaw clan and by others to be a branch of the Edo ethnic group. They primarily live in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Although they consider themselves to be Ijaw, the Engenni speak a dialected of the...
to the north. The Engenni people
Engenni people
The Engenni people are considered by themselves and some to be an Ijaw clan and by others to be a branch of the Edo ethnic group. They primarily live in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Although they consider themselves to be Ijaw, the Engenni speak a dialected of the...
are considered to be an offshoot of the Edo people. As a result, the Epie-Atissa share cultural aspects of both the Ijaw and the Engenni
Engenni people
The Engenni people are considered by themselves and some to be an Ijaw clan and by others to be a branch of the Edo ethnic group. They primarily live in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Although they consider themselves to be Ijaw, the Engenni speak a dialected of the...
.
Epie-Atissa settlements include: Onopa, Igbogene, Kpansia, Ogu, Edepie, Yenaka, Opolo, Swali, Ikolo, Ekenfa, Yenagoa, and Biogbolo.
They speak the Epie language
Epie language
-Further reading:* Thomas, Elaine and Kay Williamson. 1967. "Wordlists of delta Edo: Epie, Engenni, Degema." In Occasional Papers 8, p. 105. Accra: Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan....
.
The Epie and Atissa remain two separate tribes. The Epie have villages that run from Igbogene to Amarata namely Igbogene, Yenegwe, Akenfa, Agudama Epie, Akenpai, Edepie, Okutukutu, Opolo, Biogbolo, Yenizue Gene, Kpansia, Yenizue Epie, Okaka, Ekeki, Azikoro and Amarata. The Atissa have villages that run from Onopa to Ikolo to Ogu to Agbura namely Onopa, Ovom, Yenagoa, Bebelibiri, Yenaka, Ikolo, Famgbe, Obogoro, Akaba, Ogu, Swali, and Agbura.
Significant events
- 23 July 2007: Two expatriates working for MTN Nigeria Limited in Akenfa-Epie, a village outside of Yenagoa, were abducted by gunmen.