13 Interesting Facts About The People Of Gamergu-Mulgwa Ethnic Group In Nigeria

June 5, 2023

Are you interested in learning about different ethnic groups in Nigeria? Do you wish to know more about the Gamergu people? This is just the right guide and article for you. Scroll down to learn more as this post will give you 13 Interesting Facts About the People of the Gamergu-Mulgwa Ethnic Group in Nigeria.

There are so many key facts that a lot of people don’t know about this ethnic group in Nigeria. These facts include their states, food, language(s), population, history, culture, occupation, and more. This article will give you an insight into the people’s life and culture

Interesting Facts About The People Of Gamergu-Mulgwa Ethnic Group In Nigeria

The people of the Gamergu Ethnic Group have some interesting facts about them and these facts would be shared with you in this post.

1. State

One interesting fact about the Gamergu people is that they reside in Borno state Nigeria. Although they have a long history with the northerners, Borno state is their settlement today. Their settlement area is located in an area in Borno state and shares a connection between Maiduguri, Dikwa, and Bama.

They also share a connection with Lake Chad through the alluvial settlement of River Yedzeram flowing through the centre of the Gamergu area.

2. History

Now known as the Malgwe, the Gamergu people were known to be the original settlers in the northeastern region of Nigeria. They share a history with Cameroon because of the language they speak.

They were the first settlers of the region and so they got benefits pf the region for a while before the Kanurization era. The kanurization happened between the 14^th and the 15^th century.

This was when the Kanembi and Kanuri people started to migrate into the region from Lake Chad. With the increase in migration, the Gamergu people had to leave that settlement. The majority of them are settled in Borno state while some remain scattered within the country and abroad.

3. Population is one of the Interesting Facts About The People Of the Gamergu-Mulgwa Ethnic Group

From the population census, it is easy to tell that the majority of this ethnic group are in Nigeria. In comparison to the Cameroon population which is between the range of 1500-2000 population per head, the Nigeria population count for the Gamergu people is over 25,000 per head.

4. Occupation

The major occupation for them is craft making. There are bits of farmers and fishermen but crafts making is the major occupation. Their occupation history of crafts dates back to the making of calabashes, rope, and dye-making.

These crafts are still done but not as they were before in the past. Now, the most popular crafts-making involves carving images, leather works, pottery, repairs of calabash, mat-making, and others.

5. Women’s Role

It is interesting to know that the role of women does not just stop at marriage and child-bearing. The women are also involved with some special crafts peculiar to them. While the men are only allowed to build, smelt iron, and carve, women on the other hand decorate calabashes.

6. Marriage is Among the Interesting Facts About The People Of Gamergu-Mulgwa Ethnic Group

The Gamergu people believe in marriage to a different tribe or group entirely. Sometimes, they inter-marry, however, they practice exogamy more. The men mostly take their brides from the Kanuri tribe. This kind of marriage strengthens the bond between the two ethnic groups.

7. Language

Wandala is the language native to them. Wandala is also known as Mandara/Mura. The language belongs to the Afro-Asiatic family in the Chadic branch. It is native to both Nigeria and Cameroon with over 40,000 speakers.

8. Religion

During the 17^th century, a large number of the population were in the practice of the Islamic religion. However, it is important to note that some claim to be pagans while others are non-Islamic. Christianity is either not in practice or is not so common among these people.

9. Local Government Area is one of the Interesting Facts About The People Of Gamergu-Mulgwa Ethnic Group

The Gamergu people are settled in Damboa local government area, Gwoza local government area, and Konduga local government area in Borno state.

10. Ethnicity

People Group: Gamergu, Mulgwa.

People Cluster: Wandala, Malgwa.

Affinity Bloc: Cameroon, Benue, Chadic people.

11. Bordering Tribes

The Gamergu people share borders with different tribes and some local government areas to the north, south, west, and north. To the southeast, they are bordered by the Lamang, Glavda, and Mandara tribes.

They are bordered to the east by Kanuri as well as Kotoko. They also share a border with Margi alongside Mulgwe to the Southwest. Of these tribes, Gamergu is closer to the Kanuri tribe than any other of the neighbouring tribes. This is mainly because of the shared marriage ties they have with them.

12. Geography is Among the Interesting Facts About The People Of Gamergu-Mulgwa Ethnic Group

The Gamergu settlement area is surrounded by rivers. The area is that of fertile clayey plain soil. During the rainy seasons, the area is flooded with just a few soils uncovered with a flood. The soil is fertile and it helps with their farming. They are also able to fish because of the rivers surrounding them, although the river bed dries up periodically and fills back.

13. Bordered By 3 States

Borno states shares borders with Yobe to the west, Gombe to the southwest, and Adamawa to the south, Also importantly, Borno state shares its national borders with Cameroon to the eastern region.

Conclusion

In summary, the Gamergu people speak the Walang language and are also currently residing in the north-eastern region part of Nigeria, Borno state, with over 20000 population filled with majorly Islamic believers and pagans, their major source of livelihood which include farming, fishing, and craft making.

Also, Check Out;