13 Interesting Facts About the People of Tarok Ethnic Group in Nigeria

Tarok is a big tribe in the northeastern, and also the north-central region. Although, they are more significant in the northeastern region than in the north-central region. They have a rich practice of culture which the people still practice till date. This article contains 13 Interesting Facts About the People of Tarok Ethnic Group in Nigeria.

13 Interesting Facts About the People of Tarok Ethnic Group

You will not only be learning about the Tarok ethnic group today, but you will also get to learn about the state they reside in. That way, you will understand more about the people’s tribe and culture.

13 Interesting Facts About the People of Tarok Ethnic Group in Nigeria

The following are interesting facts to learn about the people of Tarok ethnic group in Nigeria and also the states they reside in;

1. State of Residence in the Country

The people of the Tarok ethnic group in Nigeria can only be found in two regions in Nigeria: the northeastern as well as the north-central region of Nigeria where they occupy three states. These states are Plateau State in the north-central, Taraba State in the northeastern, and also Nasarawa State in the north-central.

2. Local Government Area

Tarok people of Plateau state occupy four local government areas mainly; Langtang North, Langtang South, Wase, Mikang, and also Kanke local government areas.  In Taraba state, they occupy the Wukari local government area.

However, in Nasarawa state their current location is not possible to identify but below are the local government areas in Nasarawa state and they are up to 13. These 13 local government areas have divisions into the west senatorial district, the north senatorial district as well as south senatorial district.

Nasarawa West Senatorial District

  • Karu
  • Keffi
  • Kokona
  • Nasarawa
  • Toto

West Senatorial District

  • Akwanga
  • Eggon
  • Wamba

Nasarawa South Senatorial District

  • Awe
  • Doma
  • Keana
  • Mafia
  • Obi

Therefore, you can find and locate the Tarok people in these different local government areas.

3. Population; Interesting Facts About the People of Tarok Ethnic Group

Altogether, the Tarok people in Nigeria have a population estimate of about 560,000 people as of the 2006 population census. Of this population estimate, it is very important to note that the Tarok people are more dominant in Plateau state than in any other location.

Also, in Plateau state, there are more of Tarok-speaking people in Langtang North and Langtang South than in any other local government area. Just a few of the population is spread across Taraba state as well as in Nasarawa state. And some people from Bauchi in places like Tafawa Balewa local government area claim the Tarok tribe.

4. Language

The primary language belonging to this ethnic group is Tarok or iTarok. It is most dominant and prominent in Langtang North and Langtang South as well. Language names like Appa and Yergam or Yergem are sometimes used instead of Tarok in terms of literature. Appa is significant to the Jukun people because to them it means friendship, hence they call the Tarok people Appa.

5. Religion

The largest and the leading religion in the Tribe is Christianity. They have been Christians for a long time since almost their origin. According to their history, Christianity has been the most dominant religion since 1904 when it was first introduced in the Tarokland. Another significant religion is ethno-religion. Muslims in the tribe are not very many.

6. Ethnicity; Interesting Facts About the People of Tarok Ethnic Group

Affinity Bloc: Sub-Saharan People.

People Cluster: Benue.

People Group: Tarok.

Ethnic Code: NAB56b.

7. History

The new people of Tarok are a conglomerate of different migrants who migrated in the early 1900s in search of work. They first came to Tarokland in Plateau state where they underwent a lot of changes like colonialism by the missionaries into the Christian body and coming together to unite the different people into becoming a single distinct culture of the Tarok tribe.

The list of people that form the present-day Tarok ethnic group is Pe, Ngas, Jukun, Boghom, Tel (Montoi), and also a few from Tal origins. The Pe people were the first speakers of the Tarok language hence its name Pe-Tarok.

8. Geography

In Langtang, their main town which is the land of iTarok or Tarokland is about 186 kilometres southeast of Jos which is the state capital of Plateau state.

9. Geography; Interesting Facts About the People of Tarok Ethnic Group

Shira local government area of Bauchi state has an area of 1,321 kilometer square and it has its headquarters in the town of Yona.

10. Cult

In all Tarok settlements, there are cult activities that take place in sacred environments. It is through that majority of them are Christians but they have not abandoned some of their culture as well.

The cult is an ancestral cult with prestige and importance in honour of their tribe and forefathers. The Orim which is their ancestor is usually played or represented by a male wearing a full mask and also by women that are post-menopausal.

This ancestral cult parade’s main goal is to ensure peace and also maintain order. It is also to prepare the people for warfare. And also, for some people to make contact with the dead especially mothers who lost their children. They can come with special meals to feed their dead children.

11. Marriage

One of the biggest reasons young people anticipate the Orim ancestral cult parade is that they get to know their bride or groom from the Orim on that day. It is called the Orim marriage-broking function.

Sometimes, the young men or women can tell the Orim of the person they intend on getting married to and then in return, the Orim will have to send a message across to the person.

12. Occupation; Interesting Facts About the People of Tarok Ethnic Group

The Tarok people are not like every other tribe in Nigeria that focuses more on farming. True, they are farmers but farming is not their major form of occupation. It is the people spread across Nasarawa and also in Plateau state as well as Bauchi state that have farming communities.

However, during the colonialism by the missionaries education was part of the package they were impacted with. And now, most Tarok people who are educated are at the helm of affairs in Nigeria.

13. Notable People of Tarok

Since their Western education, some are joining the army while some have an interest in Nigerian affairs. And so these are some of the prominent people of the tribe;

  • Esther Bali
  • John Nanzip Shagaya
  • Joseph Nanven Garba
  • Apostle Joshua Selman
  • Solomon Dalung
  • Jeremiah Useni
  • Victor Lar
  • Beni Lar

These people are in different sectors. Some are in the military, while others serve in politics, business, as well as in the work of God which is preaching.

Conclusion

In summary, this article has been able to establish good facts about their states of origin which are Plateau State, Taraba State and also Nasarawa State. Of these states, they are more concentrated in Langtang North as well as Langtang South in Plateau state.

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