The name of a place is an immensely powerful tool and usually depicts political, economic and even military dominance or dominance of one country or group of people over another. It can be the distinguishing factor between an unconquered territory and a subjugated community. Names of places can also be used to differentiate between which communities won and which ones lost in times of war. 

The name of a place is an immensely powerful tool and usually depicts political, economic and even military dominance of a people over another. It can be the distinguishing factor between an unconquered territory and a subjugated community. Names of places can also be used to differentiate between which communities won battles and which ones lost during times of war. The table below which shows the original and recent names of places in Plateau state, paints a picture of the heritage of the people of Plateau state, depending on which of the two columns you look at.

 

 

 

Hausa/English Name               Original/Native name

Zaria Road                                     Behwol

Anguwan Rogo                              Gura Lomanjei

Rukuba Road                                Kabong

Kasuwan Katako                            Laranto

Dogon Dutse                                 Fwa-Gachik

Kongo Russia                                Chwel Nyap

Tudun Naira                                   Ji-Giring

Dogon Karfe                                  Giring

Dadin Kowa                                   Diye-ji

Mai-Idiko                                        Topp

Wild Life Park                                Mado

Tudun Wada                                  Jishe

Gold and Base                               Yinggi

Anglo Jos                                       Dashonong

Dorowa Karama                             Rahwol Danggwong

Tim Tim                                          Ret

State Low Cost                              Rantya

Sabon Gidan Kanar                       Kul; Kazong

Dorowa Gindin Dutse                     Kang’abe

Kuru Jenta III                                  Gakok

Kuru Baba                                     Bado

Kuru Station                                   Werreng

Sabon Pegi (Trade Center)           Dahwak

Kaduna Vom                                  Zang Kwon; Dagwol

Sabon Gidan Danyaya (Bisichi)     Kara

Sabon Gidan Foron(Korot)            Rahwol Pwatti, Rahwol Dung Ja’an

Mai-Idontoro                                  Rot Nafok (Gyoot)

Barkin Bako                                   Dang’ah

Barkin Kogi                                     Rebet

Tsohon Foron                                Nkan (Kapwis)

Buka da Gindi                                Ratt

Mai Idontoro Tsofo                         Rebung

Barkin Ladi                                      Gwoll

Gana Ropp                                      Kufang

Kurra Falls                                     Kurak

Dorowa Tsofo                                Gwakim

Bawan Dodo                                  Gashet

Werram Camp                               Wereng

ARE WE REALLY DIFFERENT FROM SURROUNDING STATES?

When it comes to names, Plateau state is one of the most unique states in Nigeria. By mere mention of any indigenous Plateau name of either an individual or a location, the average Nigerian would be able to identify the origin as Plateau due to the exotic nature of Plateau names. It is more obvious because when you venture outside the state and into the region in which Plateau is located, you find very common Arabic/Hausa names. Names like of Ibrahim, Mohammed, Umar, Isa, Maryam, Aisha, and Fatima are very common in parts of the middle-belt and northern region of Nigeria. The indigenous people of Plateau state however do not use these names except in rare cases where people convert from Islam to Christianity or where such names like Ibrahim and Maryam are used because from a biblical context. In general however, once in the confines of Plateau state, you  come across names like Chong, Kim, Bot, Akutse at one end of the state, to Longpet, Timchang, Naankang, at the other and Washik, Dimka, Kyentu and Nanle at the centre. These names are not found anywhere else in the world except in South East Asia where the same names have been replicated or similar ones found. While the title of “Emir” is used for the traditional rulers in the northern surrounding states, Gbong Gwom, Long Goemai, Ngolong Ngas, Ponzhi Taroh, Agwom Izere, Long Pan, Mishkaham Mwaghavul, Mishkom Mupun etc. are some of the names used for traditional rulers in Plateau state with the exception of Wase. These again are titular names that are unique to only  Plateau state.

It is a historical fact that present day Plateau state (with the exception of Wase) was among the few territories in the northern part of Nigeria that were never conquered by the rampaging jihadist in the 19^th century. The secret to the success were ancient alliances that transcended tribal barriers and borders in order to repel a scourge that was going to consume each community if they fought individually. Hence the people of the Plateau have been free men from the moment they first step foot on the Plateau, and continue to live as free men up till today.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

Now the question arises, if Plateau state was never conquered, why then does a local government like Barkin Ladi bear such a non-native name? It all boils down to several factors including the colonial administration; mining on the Plateau and to some extent the naivety of our ancestors who never suspected an expansionist agenda was already in the footing.

While this article does not seek to castigate any group of people,  those responsible for the bastardization of the indigenous Plateau names immigrated on mass to Jos due to the mining activities in the 19^th century. Cleverly they gradually formed living clusters, and when their numbers were overwhelming, they started calling the town by a new name native to their ancestral tongue. Eventually when new people moved there, they ignorantly adopted the new (now popular) name of the locality. And that was how the names gradually stuck. Another possible explanation to this anomaly is the obvious fact the National Union of Road Transport Workers (N.U.R.T W) was mostly staffed by people of Hausa and Fulani extraction in the 80’s and particularly the 90’s. The Hausas and Fulanis also monopolized the public transport sector (taxi and bus owners, drivers and conductors) within and outside the Jos metropolis, running transport routes from Jos, to Barakin Ladi, Mangu, Pankshin, Langtang down to Shendam. This control of the public transport sector gave them the leverage and power to name places as they pleased and the names stuck over time. The irony now is that a region that was never subjugated by external invaders is gradually being conquered by a seemingly innocent act of changing the indigenous names of localities to foreign Hausa names.

Recently the State government created an uproar among plateau citizens when it named the governor’s office located at the now Tudun Wada as “Jishe” government house. There was a lot of protest from various quarters about the new name and why it was called “Jishe” not “Tudun Wada” government house. This shows how ignorant we are as a people about the history of Jos and Plateau state. As a people, it is imperative that we know the history of our State or at least our State capital.

WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD?

The State Government should officially, through the House of Assembly revert back to the indigenous names of all localities on the Plateau and make sure that all official documentations contain the revised names, so that future generations on the Plateau will not grow up confused about their identity. Failure to do this will leave the State vulnerble to false future claims by tribes whose names have been adopted as names of important towns and villages in the State. How will our children and grand children in 50 years be able to protect their identity or resist false claims from other tribes when they lay claim to their towns or villages which bear foreign names?

The State government should as a matter of priority consider contacting google via their Nigerian office to effect changes to these names on their google map app. Viewpointnigeria recently wrote an article to that effect.

There is also an urgent need for citizens with writing skills to start writing down the histories of their various tribes or communities. Questions like where did my tribe come from, what were their traditions, communal practices and pre-colonial religion should be adequately answered. The rate at which tribes and cultures are fading into extinction around the world is something we in Plateau state need to be worried about because our diversity and individuality of cultures and traditions holds great potential for the state.

© VPN.

For further comments or discussion on this issue please drop a comment in our Facebook Group at “Movement for the Protection of Plateau Heritage” (MOPPLAH).

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BARKIN LADI, TUDUN WADA, ANGWAN ROGO ETC: HOW DID THESE NAMES COME ABOUT IN PLATEAU STATE?