TIV, A NON CENTRALIZED STATE IN PRECOLONIAL NIGERIA.

 ORIGIN OF TIV

Tiv are the largest ethnic group in Benue state which is located in North central geopolitical zone of Nigeria. According to historical sources, it was stated that the history of tiv is tracd to an individual , a man named Tiv / Taruruku who had two sons , ipusu and ichongo. Ichongo had seven sons while Ipusu had three sons. Tiv alongside his sons and grand children made up the first tiv tribe.

The following were the political administrative system of Tiv as a non centralized state in pre colonial Nigeria:

1.Ityo: The Tiv people had a segmentary lineage society  and the smallest segment was the ityo and it was patrilineal.

2. Orya:  The orya was the head of each compound  even as the Tivs lived in large huts known as ya. The orya  provides assistance in settling disputes  between members of a compound and other compounds.

3.The Age grade system / Kwav: They assisted with sanitation, building market structures and implementation of laws.

4. Tor Tiv: Tor Tiv was a title for the leader of Tiv tribe. It was introduced in 1946 as a result of the british indirect rule, tha t means using locals or natives in the administration of people during the colonial era.The seat of the Tor Tiv, the paramount ruler of the Tiv people, is located in Gboko, a town in Benue State, Nigeria. Gboko is considered the traditional and cultural headquarters of the Tiv people, where the Tor Tiv's palace and the Benue State Traditional Council are established.The current Tor Tiv, the paramount ruler of the Tiv people, is His Royal Majesty Professor James Ayatse, also known as BEGHAU OR LION OF TIV tribe.

THE OCCUPATION OF TIV TRIBE

The Tiv people enganged in agriculture(subsistence farming) and reared animals like sheep and goats. Also, they were hunters and blacksmiths. Tiv people have their traditional attire A`nger ( a black and white fabric) as well as locally made instruments basically used for entertainment like kakaki, indyer  and ilyu.

Kakaki played by TIV.

His Royal Majesty,James Ayatse.

                                                

 A child on a Tiv attire.