Bakulu people (also Ikolu, Ikulu, Bekulu) are a people found in Zangon Kataf, Kachia and Kauru Local Government Areas of southern Kaduna State of Middle Belt, Nigeria.[1] They speak a Plateau language called Kulu.[2] They call their land Akulu.

Bakulu
Total population
50,000 (1998)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Nigeria
Languages
Kulu
Religion
African Traditional Religion, Islam, Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Adara, Anghan, Bajju, Atyap, Ham, Tarok, Jukun, Efik, Igbo, Yoruba and other Benue-Congo peoples of Middle Belt and southern Nigeria

Religion

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A majority of the Bakulu people were reportedly adherents of traditional religion, numbering about 29.5% of the entire population, while Muslims number 0.5% and Christians with 70.0% of the population. Among the Christians, Independents have 60.0%, Protestants 15.0% and Roman Catholics 45.0%.[3]

Politics

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The paramount ruler of the Bakulu people is addressed as "Agwom" (or Agam).[4] The current monarch is His Highness (HRH) Agwom Yohanna Sidi Kukah, Agwom Akulu II, who is a younger brother to Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto. The Agwom Akulu is the head of the Akulu Traditional Council of Akulu (Ikulu) Chiefdom, whose headquarters is at Fadan Ikulu[5] in Kamuru.[6]

Land subdivisions

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The land of the Bakulu people is known as Akulu (Hausa: Ikulu). Ikulu is one of the 11 subdivisions of Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of southern Kaduna State. It is in turn divided into the following:[7]

  1. Anchuna
  2. Ungwan Akokah
  3. Gidan Pate
  4. Gidan Zomo
  5. Kamaru Ikulu (Kamuru)
  6. Kamaru Hausawa (Kamuru)
  7. Katul
  8. Kamuru Dutse
  9. Kolosok (Ungwan Jirayi)
  10. Kurmi Biri
  11. Ungwan Jada
  12. Ungwan Jatau
  13. Katul Crossing
  14. Ugwan Rana
  15. Ungwan Pa (Ashafa Gida)
  16. Ungwan Sani
  17. Yadai
  18. Akupal
  19. Ungwan Gauta
  20. Ungwan Rimi (Ghidol)
  21. Fadan Ikulu (Ansang)
  22. Gidan Ali (Ginkpon)
  23. Fansil (Antang)
  24. Ungwan Makama
  25. Ampaga (Boto, Lisuru)
  26. Ashafa (Agwenshe)
  27. Gidan Bako (Gunyua)
  28. Dutsen Bako (Gekon'Unyua)
  29. Anzaah

A prominent Bakulu son, Rev. Fr. Matthew Kukah decried in an interview with This Day News that the Bakulu alongside the Anghan are the smaller of the groups in the local government with each having just a ward only despite their numbers.[8]

Notable people

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  • Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto
  • Baba Psalm Duniya Inusa Professor of Paediatric Haematology King's College London, first Ikulu medical doctor and paediatrician, chair, National Haemoglobinopathy Panel, England.
  • Late Hon. (Chief) Charles Garba Ali Madaki, Politician, Former Minister Federal Ministry of Works and Housing
  • Hon. Ali Wakili, Politician, Former House of Assembly Member, Kaduna State
  • Hon. Allahmagani Yohanna, Politician, Former Commissioner Culture and Tourism, KEPA, Local Government and Chieftaincy. The last political appointment was the PPS of the Late His Excellency Patrick Yakowa Kaduna State Governor
  • Prof. Joseph Mamman, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
  • Mr. Ishmail Yusuf Ashafa Asst Director FCDA
  • Prof. Abdullahi Musa Ashafa, Former Ag. vice-chancellor (Academic) Kaduna State University, Kaduna
  • Prof. Benjamin Chindo, Former dean Faculty of Pharmacy (Academic) Kaduna State University, Kaduna
  • Hon. Ben Bako, Politician, Former commission for Information and Home Affairs, Kaduna State
  • Barr. (Chief) Joseph Maimagani, seasoned administrator and lawyer
  • Prof. Aje Tokan, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, (ATBU) Bauchi
  • Professor Stephen Yohanna, Bingham University,Jos.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ikulu". Ethnologue. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  2. ^ "Glottolog 3.0 -Ikulu". glottolog.org. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  3. ^ "Joshua Project entry on Ikulu in Nigeria".
  4. ^ "Ministry of Local Government Affairs: Composition of the State's Council of Chiefs". Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Fadan Ikulu/Kaduna State". Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Kamaru Ikulu Map - Satellite Images of Kamaru Ikulu". Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Ikulu, Zangon Kataf, Kaduna, Nigeria". Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  8. ^ Damina, Francis (17 July 2020). "Nigeria: 'Mediatrix' - a Tribute to Maman Fr. Kukah". All Africa. This Day. Retrieved 8 August 2020.