Alago, or Idoma Nokwu, is an Idomoid language spoken by the Sub-Saharan peoples of Nigeria. The alago people were originally one with the Idoma people of mordern day Benue state in Nigeria. However, the Alago people are believed to have broken up with their Idoma counterpart around 1200 AD.[2]

Alago
Idoma Noku
Native toNigeria
RegionNassarawa State
Native speakers
350,000 (2000)[1]
Niger–Congo?
Dialects
  • Keana
Language codes
ISO 639-3ala
Glottologalag1242
ELPAlago

Alago people are an agrarian group who grow most of the food they eat. These include egusi, yam, guinea corn, maize and millet grain.[citation needed] Popular meals eaten by the alago include ona-g'ishi (pounded yam) and ona-g'iye which are eaten with soups like Owo'oho and Okeshe.

Alago people are known for religions freedom as it is common to find single families with a mix of Christians, Moslems and traditional religion practitioners. The practice of the later is however, fast disappearing among the younger generation.

There are several dialects of the language, with the main one being Keana.[citation needed] Additional dialects are:[3]

  • Agwatashi
  • Akpanaja
  • Aloshi
  • Ana
  • Assaikio
  • Doma
  • Ibi

References edit

  1. ^ Alago at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ Agbo, J. O. (1984). "Alago-Jukun relations: a process of state elaboration". Nigeria Magazine (150): 48–51.
  3. ^ "Alago: Keana language". globalrecordings.net. Retrieved 2022-06-13.