Takau is a district in Fantswam (Kafanchan) Chiefdom of Jema'a Local Government Area in southern Kaduna state in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria.[2][1] It is a suburban area of the town of Kafanchan. The postal code of the area is 801139.[3]

Takau
Katak-Kakau(-koo)
Takau junction off Kafanchan-Kagoro road
Takau junction off Kafanchan-Kagoro road
Takau is located in Nigeria
Takau
Takau
Coordinates: 09°34′N 08°18′E / 9.567°N 8.300°E / 9.567; 8.300[1]
Country Nigeria
StateKaduna State
LGAJema'a
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (WAT)
ClimateAw

Etymology edit

The word Takau comes from two words in the Fantswam dialect of the Tyap language, ka̠tak ka̠koo, meaning "leeward side of mahogany trees".

Demographics edit

Ethnic composition edit

Indigenous people edit

The indigenous people of Takau are the Fantswam people. The district consists of villages occupied by this people.

Atyap peoples edit

The Atyap ethnolinguistic group is composed of about eight subgroups of which the Fantswam are a part. Other members of this group with significant populations in the area include: Agworok, Asholyio, Atakad, Atyap and Bajju.

Other ethnicities edit

Other peoples found in Takau district include those of Southern Kaduna extract, most notably the Gwong, Ham, Nikyob-Nindem; the Igbo people, most of whom came during the early part of the 20th century after the Kafanchan railway line was completed in 1927. They make up a significant population in the area and live mostly in quarters built for the railway workers.[4]

Religion edit

 
New church building, ECWA 1, Takau, Kafanchan
 
Old church building, ECWA 1 Takau, Kafanchan
 
New church building, ECWA 2, Takau, Kafanchan
 
Old church building, ECWA 2, Takau, Kafanchan

The main religion practiced in this area is Christianity. The Protestant denomination is the larger one, especially among indigenous people and Catholicism especially among Igbos. There are a number of churches in Takau, including: ECWA 1, ECWA 2, ECWA Gospel, St. Timothy Catholic church, St. Thomas Catholic church,[5] and others.

Politics edit

Government edit

Takau is led by a District Head, appointed by the Agwam Fantswam (Chief of Kafanchan), who has under him Village Heads and each village head likewise has Ward Heads under his authority.

Village units edit

Takau is made up of settlements such as:[3]

  1. Baita (also Bainta)
  2. Kuka
  3. Madaki
  4. Maji
  5. Sot Rago (H. Ungwa Rago)
  6. Sot Shemang (H. Ungwa Shemang)
  7. Takau Bunian (also Takau I, Ma-Kanat)
  8. Takau Kali (also Zagyong; H. Takau Gida)
  9. Takau Takai (also Takau II; Ma-Akau)
  10. Yashie (Nyanshyie)

Education edit

 
Main entrance, GGSS Kafanchan

The Kafanchan campus of the Kaduna State University is located in Takau. There are also a number of primary and secondary (high) schools such as Government secondary school, Takau, amongst others.

Economy edit

 
A ginger warehouse

Among the economic activities in Takau are small farm holdings (subsistence farming), ginger processing, metal welding works, block making industry, etc.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Takau, Takau, Jema'A, Kaduna State, Nigeria". mindat.org. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  2. ^ "Takau". Geolocated. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Nigeria Postcode". Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  4. ^ Archibong, Maurice (October 26, 2006). "Kafanchan: Rising from rot wrought by Railways' woes". Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  5. ^ "St. Thomas Catholic Church Takau, Kafanchan". MapsUs. Retrieved May 13, 2022.

External links edit

  Media related to Takau at Wikimedia Commons