The Ijaw people, also called the Izon, are one of Nigeria’s major ethnic groups. They reside in the Niger Delta, across Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Edo, Lagos, Ondo, and parts of Akwa Ibom states.

As of 2024, their population is around 14.39 million, about 6.1% of Nigeria’s 234 million people, making them the fourth largest ethnic group in the country.

The Ijaw are among Nigeria’s oldest ethnic groups, with their history dating back to the 15th century.

They traditionally lived along the coast, close to notable trade routes. They speak around 20 closely related languages, with Central Izon being the most common.

About 90% of Ijaw people are Christians. Their culture is tied to fishing and farming, closely connected to the creeks and mangrove swamps of the Niger Delta.

History Of The Ijaw People

The Ijaw, also known as Izon or Ijo, are one of Nigeria’s oldest and largest ethnic groups, residing in the Niger Delta, in states like Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, and parts of Ondo, Edo, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River.

With a population estimated at 14.39 million, they make up about 5% of Nigeria’s total population.

Archaeological evidence shows they have lived in the Niger Delta since at least 800 BCE, almost 3,000 years ago.

Some oral traditions even trace their roots back 5,000 years. According to these stories, the Ijaw descended from the Oru people, said to be divine beings from the sky, led by King Adumu (also called Odudu), who once ruled in ancient Ife.

Linguistic studies suggest the Ijaw migrated from the Nile Valley, passed through the Nupe region, and settled in places like Ile-Ife and Benin before reaching the Delta.

Traditionally, the Ijaw lived in small villages grouped into clans. Each clan had its leaders but worked with others for trade and defense.

They didn’t form large kingdoms like their neighbors. Still, they were skilled traders and boat builders.

By the 1400s, they were already trading palm oil, salt, and fish with Europeans and other West African communities.

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Their mastery of rivers made them key players in regional trades, even during the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

The colonial era brought disruption. British rule changed their way of life. Leaders like Jaja of Opobo and King Koko of Nembe resisted fiercely.

They fought to protect their people and resources, but were eventually overpowered. Colonial policies weakened traditional structures and left the Ijaw politically sidelined.

After Nigeria gained independence in 1960, things didn’t get better. Oil was discovered in the Niger Delta in the late 1950s.

This brought wealth to Nigeria, but not to the Ijaw. They faced pollution, destroyed fishing grounds, and lost farmland.

Movements like the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and MEND emerged as a reaction to the ongoing crisis. They demanded justice, fair resource sharing, and cleanup of polluted lands.

Yet, the Ijaw have kept their culture alive. They speak different dialects of the Izon language.

They hold traditional festivals like the New Yam Festival, and perform dances such as Egele and Ekine.

Many communities still follow clan-based leadership, even as they take part in modern politics.

Geography And Demographics Of The Ijaw People

The Ijaw people’s geography has influenced their way of life, culture, and economy.

Geographic Distribution

The Ijaw live in different southern states, including Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Ondo, and Akwa Ibom.

Smaller Ijaw groups can also be found in Edo and Cross River states. Their main settlements include Yenagoa (the capital of Bayelsa), Sagbama, Brass, and Ekeremor.

In Delta State, towns like Burutu and Patani are notable Ijaw communities. Parts of Rivers State, such as Bonny and Opobo, also have some Ijaw people.

Outside Nigeria, Ijaw fishing communities have spread into Cameroon, Gabon, and even Sierra Leone. These migrations were driven by trade and fishing along the West African coast.

Population Size And Density

As of 2025, Nigeria’s population is about 234.5 million. The Ijaw make up around 5% of this figure, about 14.39 million.

This places them as Nigeria’s fourth-largest ethnic group, behind the Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo.

Population density in the Niger Delta varies. While Nigeria averages about 254 people per square kilometer, the Ijaw areas have dense riverbank settlements but also large stretches of empty mangrove forests.

Demographic Characteristics

The Ijaw have a young population, in line with Nigeria’s median age of 17.9 years. Many are children and youth.

Literacy rates in Ijaw areas are lower than Nigeria’s national average of 59.6%, due mostly to poor access to schools in river-based communities.

Many children have to travel long distances by boat just to attend class.

Religiously, the Ijaw are mostly Christian. However, many also observe traditional customs and beliefs, especially in rural areas.

Urbanization is growing, but still modest. While most Ijaw live in rural or semi-urban areas, cities like Yenagoa and nearby Port Harcourt are seeing steady growth and offer more access to education, jobs, and healthcare.

 

Language And Culture Of The Ijaw People

The language and culture of the Ijaw people are influenced by the rivers, creeks, and wetlands that surround them.

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Language Of The Ijaw People

Ijaw languages belong to the Ijoid group, linked to the Niger–Congo language family. But they are different in key ways.

Unlike most Niger–Congo languages, which follow a subject–verb–object (SVO) word order, Ijaw uses subject–object–verb (SOV).

They also lack the noun class system common in many African languages. Some experts, like linguist Gerrit Dimmendaal, believe Ijoid could even be a separate family.

However, the Ijaw speak at least nine related languages. These fall into three main groups:

• Nembe–Akaha Cluster (e.g., Nembe): Spoken in Rivers State, with about 71,500 speakers (1977).
• Inland Ịjọ Cluster: Found in places like Biseni and Akịta (Bayelsa State).
• Kalaḅarị Cluster (e.g., Kalabari): Kalabari alone had around 200,000 speakers (1987).

These languages are not mutually understood, but the speakers share a common history and culture.

Each group uses its name. For instance, Nembe is also known as Brass or Nempe. Kalabari is sometimes called New Calabar.

In 2013, Bayelsa State and Niger Delta University created Izon Fie books and CDs to teach the language.

Efforts are also ongoing to translate literary works like Gabriel Okara’s Call of the River Nun into Ijaw.

Culture Of The Ijaw People

Ijaw communities once worked as village groups focused on fishing, trade, and defense. Many now see themselves as one ethnic group with shared roots.

Ijaw festivals mark harvests, river gods, and ancestors. Masquerades like Egele and Ekine are important. Even though many Ijaw people are now Christians, they still hold on to some traditional beliefs..

They are skilled boat builders, weavers, and traders. Also, their meals are rich in fish and crops like yams.

Some of their favorites are onunu (yam and plantain mash) and bitterleaf soup.

Economic Activities Of Ijaw People

The Ijaw people’s economy revolves around the riverine and coastal environment of states like Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers.

The natural surroundings, rivers, creeks, swamps, and fertile land affected economic practices.

Fishing

Fishing is the oldest most and oldest economic activity of the Ijaw. With over 60% of households depending on fishing.

The waters of the Niger Delta are rich in fish such as catfish, tilapia, perch, crayfish, prawns, and periwinkles.

Ijaw fishermen use different tools like nets, hooks, traps, spears, and even traditional fishing with arrows or plant-based poisons. They fish in rivers, creeks, and out at sea.

Canoe building is also a strong part of this sector. Skilled Ijaw craftsmen make wooden canoes and fishing gear, which attract buyers from neighboring ethnic groups.

Fish is preserved through smoking, drying, salting, or boiling. Smoked fish is a key export and is sold in both local and regional markets.

Fishing drives the local economy, feeds families, and supports trade across the Niger Delta.

Agriculture

Though limited by the swampy terrain, agriculture plays a part in Ijaw life. Farming is mainly done on dry patches of land.

Ijaw farmers grow yams, cassava, plantains, cocoyams, bananas, and vegetables. They also grow fruits like mango, guava, and pineapple. Rice is planted in wetland areas.

Palm oil is their main cash crop. The oil and kernels are processed locally and sold in bulk.

Palm wine tapping is common and provides income for many.

However, oil spills and gas flaring have damaged farmlands. This environmental harm has led to lower crop yields and threatens the food supply in many Ijaw communities.

Trade And Commerce

Trade has long been a key part of Ijaw economic life. Living along rivers and creeks gives them access to inland and coastal markets.

They trade fish, palm oil, firewood, farm produce, and handmade goods. Dugout canoes serve as their main mode of transport, connecting small villages to larger trade centers.

Markets are more than places of buying and selling; they are centers of social life and cultural exchange.

Trade gives Ijaw people access to items not found in their communities and helps spread their products across Nigeria.

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Hunting And Craftsmanship

Though not as general, hunting and crafts support the Ijaw economy.

Some hunt bush animals like deer, monkeys, and grasscutters for meat and sale. Skilled hands craft pottery, baskets, mats, wood carvings, and metal tools such as knives and machetes.

These items are used in the home or sold in local markets.

Facts About The Ijaw People Of Nigeria

• The Ijaw, also called Izon, are Nigeria’s fourth-largest ethnic group, with a population of about 14.39 million people as of 2024.
• They reside in the Niger Delta, across six states: Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Edo, Lagos, and Ondo, with smaller groups in Akwa Ibom.
• Some Ijaw communities are found outside Nigeria—in places like Sierra Leone and Gabon—due to years of migration and maritime history.
• The Ijaw speak around 20 related languages, including Kalabari, Ogbia, Nembe, and Central Izon. These belong to the Ijoid language family.
• They are among the oldest ethnic groups in Nigeria, known to have traded along coastal routes as early as the 14th century.
• The Ijaw population grew from 5.3 million in 1991 to about 14.39 million in 2024, making up 6.1% of Nigeria’s 233.9 million people.
• About 90% of Ijaw people are Christians. Roughly 5% still follow traditional beliefs, while only 0.1% practice Islam.
• Fishing and farming are the main sources of income for many Ijaw people, due to the rivers and rich soil in the Niger Delta.