View source for Ukelle people (Nigeria)

The '''Ukelle''' people (''Ba'kelle'') make up roughly half of the population of the [[Yala, Nigeria|Yala]] Local Government Area in [[Cross River State]], [[Nigeria]].<ref>{{citation |author1= Lambert M. Surhone |author2= Miriam T. Timpledon |author3= Susan F. Marseken |title=Ukelle |publisher =VDM Publishing |date = 2010}}</ref> The language of the Ukelle people is [[Kele language (Nigeria)|Kukelle]] belonging to the Kukelle-Korring language family.<ref>{{Citation |author1= Eberhard, David M |author2= Gary F. Simons |author3= Charles D. Fennig |title= Ethnologue: Languages of the World. Twenty-fifth edition. |publisher= SIL International. Online version|date= 2022 |url= http://www.ethnologue.com}}</ref>
The major groups among the Ukelle are:
* North Ukelle in [[Cross River State]]: The subgroups here are Wanihem (including Wanibolor), Wanikade (including Uzenyi), Wanokom (including Otikili) and Uzekwe (including Okom).<ref>{{citation |author1= Lambert M. Surhone |author2= Miriam T. Timpledon |author3= Susan F. Marseken |title=Ukelle |publisher =VDM Publishing |date = 2010}}</ref>
* South Ukelle in Cross River State: Subgroups are Uzilagar (Ijiraga), Uzikatom, Uzokom (Ujokom) and Otiligom (Ntrigom).<ref>{{citation |title= Neighbours at War|url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/08/06/neighbours-at-war/amp/ |publisher = This Day Newspaper|date= 2018}}</ref><ref>{{citation |author1= Lambert M. Surhone |author2= Miriam T. Timpledon |author3= Susan F. Marseken |title=Ukelle |publisher =VDM Publishing |date = 2010}}</ref>
Ba'kelle are closely related to:
* Orring people of [[Effium]] (Uffium), [[Ntezi]] (Eteji), [[Amuda people|Amuda]] (Idzem) and [[Okpoto language (Upper Cross River)|Okpoto]] in [[Ebonyi State]].<ref>{{citation |author= Chijioke Agwu |title = Rare unification in Ebonyi |publisher = The Sun Newspaper |date= January 12, 2022}}</ref>
* Utonkon (also known as Uffia or Wanffia) in [[Benue State]].<ref>{{citation |author= P. Amauray Talbot |title = The Peoples of southern Nigeria; Volume 2 Enthnology |publisher = Frank Cass and Co |date= 1969}}</ref>
== Language ==
{{main|Kele language (Nigeria)}}
Kukelle, the language of Ukelle people is grouped by some authorities as belonging to the [[Benue–Congo languages|Benue–Congo]] sub group of African Languages.<ref>{{cite book|last=Greenberg|first=Joseph|title=The Languages of Africa|year=1966|publisher=Indiana University }}</ref>  However, E. Alagoa in ''Groundwork of Nigerian History'' further stated that Ukelle people who speak one of the [[Cross River languages]].<ref>{{citation |author= E. J. Alagoa |title= Groundwork of Nigerian History |editor= Obaro Ikime |publisher= Heinemann Books |date=1980}}</ref>
The Lutheran Church of Nigeria, through its Literature Centre in Wanikade, translated the [[New Testament]] of the [[Bible]] into Kukelle in 1979 using a Latin script.<ref>{{citation |author=<!--Not stated-->|title= Kukelle 1979 edition |date =2021|publisher= Digital Bible Society}}</ref>
== History ==
The history of Ukelle is still sketchy. Some argue that their ancestors moved downwards from Benue state, others contend that the ancestors may have moved from the [[Igboland|Igbo country]], displaced by the arrival of the Igbos.<ref>Simon Olem ''Kekpaa ka wanikaade''; Lutheran Literature Centre, 1956.</ref> Ukelle people share sociocultural similarities with the neighbouring [[Igede]] people of Benue state and [[Yala, Nigeria|Yala]] people of Cross River state.<ref>{{citation |author= E. J. Alagoa |title= Groundwork of Nigerian History |editor= Obaro Ikime |publisher= Heinemann Books |date=1980}}</ref> Major ceremonies such as marriage, burials and dances bear striking resemblances {{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}. Ukelle people refer to Yala people as Ollah, Igede people as Ollah-ewoh and the [[Idoma people]] of Benue state as Ollah-akpoto {{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}.
== Location ==
The primary Ukelle region is bounded in the north by the Igede people of Benue state, in the south and west by the [[Izzi people]] of [[Ebonyi State]] and in the east by the [[Yala people|Yala]] and [[Yatche]] people of [[Cross River State]] {{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}. Much of Ukelle land in Cross River State is agrarian. However, development and urbanisation are coming into Ukelle. The provision of electricity in north Ukelle and the construction of bridges into the hinterlands of Ukelle are signs of urbanisation {{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}. [[Yam (vegetable)|Yam]] (various species), [[cassava]], rice and domesticated animals are the primary agricultural products of the Ukelle people.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}
== Government and culture==
In the Ukelle region, the day-to-day Government authority at the local level resides in the village assembly (called ''ojilla''). The village assembly is made up of the king or one or more chiefs, the elders and the youths. In earlier times, a typical Ukelle community had a village square, with the ''ojilla'' at its center. Until any settlement of Ukelle people makes an ''ojilla'', they are considered an appendage of the nearest community with an ''ojilla''. In fact, the term ''ojilla'' is used interchangeably to refer to the village, its square or the village assembly.<ref>Simon Olem ''Kekpaa ka wanikaade'';  Lutheran Literature Centre, 1956.</ref>
A group of villages make up a clan (called an ''essam''). For example, in Wanikade, there are three essam: ''Ogumogum'', ''Otuka'' and ''Opuolom'' respectively.<ref>Simon Olem ''Kekpaa ka wanikaade'';  Lutheran Literature Centre, 1956.</ref>  Traditionally, disputes within each village are adjudicated by the assembly, while disputes between villages within a clan are settled by the assembly of the clan. Disputes between villages in more than one essam as well as matters such as [[capital punishment]], economic use of trees, the forest, rivers etc. are resolved at the general assembly called ''lutse''. The king (''ubet'') or chief (''uyini'') wields ceremonial power rather than political power {{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}.
Burial ceremonies (''kulu'') for deceased persons in Ukelle is the traditional responsibility of the family and of the village {{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}.
The Ukelle people are linked to the constitutional government by six wards of [[Yala, Nigeria|Yala local government]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/ukelle-communities-demand-nomination-of-candidate/ |title= Ukelle communities demand nomination of candidate|author=Emma Una |date= October 23, 2018|website= www.vanguardngr.com|publisher= Vanguard Newspaper|access-date= January 27, 2023}}</ref> namely Ijiraga, Njrigom, Wanokom, Wanikade and Wanihem. Ukelle also has a representative in the Cross River State House of Assembly.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.crispng.com/ukelle-beyond-2023/ |title=Ukelle Beyond 2023 |author=Lukpata James |date= |website= www.crispng.com |publisher= Crispng |access-date= January 27, 2023}}</ref>
== Festivals ==
The Ukelle people celebrate several festivals, the most prominent of which is the New Yam festival ({{lang|kez|likpee}}) which is celebrated to mark the beginning of the harvest season. Before {{lang|kez|likpee}}, minor harvest of biannual crops and vegetables may take place as well as harvest of small farms close to homes.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}
==Conflicts==
The last two decades have seen an upsurge in violent conflicts over land and resources involving the Ukelle.<ref>{{citation |title= Neighbours at War|url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/08/06/neighbours-at-war/amp/ |publisher = ThisDay Newspapers}}</ref> Notable conflicts include the Ukelle - Izzi crisis and Wanihem - Wanikade conflict.<ref>{{citation |title= Cross River - Ebonyi communal conflict escalates |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/06/13-killed-ebonyi-c-river-inter-communal-conflict-escalates/ |publisher = Vanguard Newspapers}}</ref> Increased conflicts may be related to the increasing resource requirements of a growing population. The absence of substantial military or police forces within the Ukelle homeland have been identified as contributing factors which the Cross River State government has tried to address.<ref>{{citation |author= Emma Una |title= APC stalwart commends Gov Ayade on 30 boreholes, police station at Ukelle |publisher= Vanguard Newspaper |date= November 4, 2022|url= https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/11/apc-stalwart-commends-gov-ayade-on-30-boreholes-police-station-at-ukelle/amp/}}</ref> In addition the National Boundary Commission has failed to properly demarcate the appropriate boundaries.
<ref>{{cite web| title= FG wades into Cross River - Ebonyi land dispute |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/07/fg-wades-into-criver-ebonyi-land-dispute/}}</ref>
==References==
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[[Category:Ethnic groups in Nigeria]]