Bariba is an ethnic group and a language of Benin and Nigeria. . The Bariba are the fourth largest ethnic group in Benin and comprise approximately 1/12 of the population.[1] The Bariba are concentrated primarily in the north-east of the country, especially around the city of Nikki, which is considered the Bariba capital. [2] They originally migrated from Kwara state Nigeria and were renowned horsmen. One of their noted festivals is the annual Gani festival which horseriding is very much a part of and is engrained in their culture.[2]
The Bariba tribe holds an important place in the history of the country. During the late 19th century, Bariba was known to constitute independent states and dominate with kingdoms in cities like Nikki and Kandi in the northeast of the country. In the town of Pehunko there are approximately 200,000 Bariba people out of 365,000 inhabitants.[3]
The Bariba society consists of a higher-ranking official as chief of the town and their subordinates’ chiefs. Social status and titles are inherited in families, but the status of a person may be given by the families’ nature of work. [3] Notable subdivisions of the Bariba include the ruling Wasangari nobles, Baatombu commoners, slaves of varying origin, Dendi merchants, Fulbe herders, and other divisional ethnic groups.
Agriculture is the dominant occuption for the Bariba. They grow corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts and some poultry and livestock. [3] Religion plays an important part in Bariba tribes and they are primarily Islamic. The religion was introduced to Bariba people by Dendi traders who were preaching in the north. However a number of Bariba communities have their own indigenous beliefs.[3]
Language
It is spoken mostly in Borgou, Alibori and part of Atacora in northern Benin. It belongs to the language group gur. It is a relatively complex language, which has nominal classes and levels of tones. Since about 1970, it was written and was the first language of the country to be used for literacy, including through the organization of village farmers (cooperatives). Transcription using the Beniois national alphabet requires, in addition to the Latin letters, the following special characters (from the phonetic alphabet):
/ ɔ / o open for / ɛ / for the open and è nasal vowels / ã ɛ ɔ ĩ U /. As in other African languages / u / is pronoce or / e / = é.
References
- ^ Encyclopedia Britannica
- ^ a b Butler, Stuart (2006). Benin. Bradt Travel Guides, The Globe Pequot Press, Guilford, Connecticut. pp. 21.
- ^ a b c d Sargent, Carolyn Fishel (1982). The Cultural Context of Therapeutic Choice. D. Reidel Publishing Company, Holland..
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