Town 6 of 10 · Okrika Island
Ibaka
Ị̀bàká
The island town with Kalabari roots.
- Came from
- Bukuma, in Kalabari
- Settled
- About 1730
- In the reign of
- King Boike (Boka), Ado III
- Dialect
- Shares forms with Ogoloma
History
The story of Ibaka.
Wakirike USA records that the people of Ibaka migrated from Bukuma, in Kalabari territory, and settled on Okrika Island about 1730, during the reign of King Boike (Boka), Ado III.
The dictionary describes Ị̀bàká as “one of the towns on the island of Okrika” and records words from an Ibaka dialect, such as gbérí for “one” in counting, a form it also gives for Ogoloma.
In recent years Ibaka’s town market has hosted the Wakirike International Trade Fair.
Founding stories come from oral tradition and differ between sources.
From the dictionary
Words that belong to Ibaka.
Sources
- Sika, L. (1995), ed. Blench, R. (2005). Kịrịkẹnị Ọkụẹịngbọlụ Diri — Okrika Dictionary.
- Wakirike USA — History of the Wakirike People
- Niger Delta People — Okrika Kingdom
- BusinessDay — Wakirike International Trade Fair
From Ibaka?
Tell us your town’s story.
House histories, festivals, photographs and corrections are welcome. An editor reviews every submission.