Eggon in Nigeria

Introduction / History

The Eggon receives its name from the hill where the people lived before coming down to the plain. The word eggon refers to that hill which means "a good sense hearing". They are called "Madan Dutse" which means the Hill Mada but the Eggon are different from the Mada who are popularly called "Madan Kasa". However, they share similarities in cultural belief and moral code. The Eggon are also known as Mo Eggon.

Where Are they Located?

The people are from Nasarawa State in central Nigeria. They are mainly found in Lafia, Akwanga, Keffi and Nasarawa Eggon local government areas of the state. They can also be found in Kokona, villages around Doma, Obi, Keana and Wamba.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Eggon generally believe in Ahogben (God) who is far beyond the sky and they believe he created man and the universe and anything good is from him, because he is far above they feel they can only communicate to him through Ashim (a close god to humans) which is a supreme God. Individuals or families also keep items like a pot or stone as their god at home which they believe in and also make sacrifices to. But with the coming of missionaries, Islam and Christianity have spread widely in their land. Today Islam and Christianity are the major religion in the land. The supreme god is called Angbashim. In order to consult this god a libation is poured on the ground seven times with some confession by the elder or priest. Apart from the Ashim, there are some religions practiced by individuals or families such as Akuk, Arikya, Gango and Yamba. They use items like stones, cowries, pots and sticks as gods. Such items are kept mostly at home in a separate room for worshiping and they offer sacrifices to the item, believing it chases away evil spirits in the land or away from the family and make land fit for farming.

Text Source:   Anonymous