Ika language (Nigeria)

The Ika Language is a language classified under the Igboid cluster of languages spoken in Delta and Edo States.[2]

Ika
RegionAnioma and Edo state. Nigeria
EthnicityIgbo
Native speakers
500,000 (2020)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3ikk
Glottologikaa1238
Ika

The Ika Language is an Igboid Language spoken primarily by the Ika people of Delta State and Edo states of southern Nigeria.[3] It has different dialects, spoken across Edo and Delta State. Some of which are the Agbor dialect, the Ede dialect, Awu (Abavo) dialect, Owa dialect, Akumazi dialect, Igbanke dialect, Ekpon dialect e.t.c.

More specifically, the Ika people are in the North-West of Delta State; but some, like Igbanke, Inyelen and Ekpon, are currently in Edo State. Ika communities mostly comprise the following: Agbor, Owa, Umunede, Mbiri, Abavo, Orogodo, Otolokpo, Igbodo, Ute-Okpu, Ute-Ugbeje, Idumuesah, Akumazi, Ekpon, Igbanke, Inyelen, Iru egbede (Edo State).[3]

Other Ika-speaking communities found in Edo State are Owanikeke, Owa-Riuzo Idu, Igbogili, Ute Oheze, Owa Ute, Oheze Ute, Obagie N’Oheze, Oghada, and Ogan and Ute Obagie N’Oheze. On Delta Radio there is now news in the Ika dialect. Ikas have started to write the Bible in their dialect , and the gospels of Mark, Luke, Matthew and John have been published in Ika along with other books.[4] Ifeanyi Okowa is a prominent son of Ika background.[5]

Ika phonological comparisons

A concise phonological juxtaposition among three distinct Ika dialects.[6]

EnglishAkumuzi (North-East) dialect of IkaOwa (North South) dialect of IkaAgbor (South) dialect of Ika
‘cloth’akwaekwaekwa
'paper'akuwoekukwoehuhwo
‘chewing stick’atuetuetu
‘sponge’eluerueru
'sweet'usousouswo

Further reading
  • Uguru, Joy Oluchi (2015). "Ika Igbo". Illustrations of the IPA. Journal of the International Phonetic Association. 45 (2): 213–219. doi:10.1017/S0025100315000067, with supplementary sound recordings.

References
  1. Ika at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed access icon
  2. "Glottolog 4.8 - Ika". glottolog.org. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  3. Uguru, Joy Oluchi (2015). "Ika Igbo". Journal of the International Phonetic Association. 45 (2): 213–219. doi:10.1017/S0025100315000067. ISSN 0025-1003.
  4. "Complete Bible now in Ika language". Ika Weekly Newspaper. 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  5. Dr, Mefor (28 June 2022). "Igbo ancestry: Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has nothing to prove". Thecable.ng.
  6. "The Ika community: a sociolinguistic description - PDF Free Download". docplayer.net. Retrieved 2024-01-02.


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