Bayelsa State — The Pride of the Nation: History, Culture, Languages and the People of the Niger Delta (Part 1)

 

Written by Douye Soroh — a microbiologist and writer from Bayelsa State, Nigeria. This article is part of an ongoing series exploring the history, culture, and languages of the Niger Delta.

Bayelsa State — The Pride of the Nation

I am from the southern part of Nigeria, in the Niger Delta — a state named Bayelsa State. Bayelsa State was created on the 1st of October 1996 by the General Sani Abacha-led military regime, but truthfully, Bayelsa State has been there even before Nigeria gained her independence. The state had been part of the old Rivers State. Bayelsa State is one of the largest states in Nigeria — it is even bigger than Lagos — but because the greater part of the state is covered by rivers and ocean, many people think it is a small state because it has only eight local government areas. Honestly, Bayelsa State could have up to thirty local government areas, but I believe it is due to politics that does not favour the state that no successful government has looked into the matter of creating more local government areas.

On January 15th, 1956, crude oil was discovered in a small village in the eastern part of Bayelsa State named Oloibiri. As you can see, Bayelsa has always been there — it was simply formally acknowledged in 1996. Mind you, that discovery turned out to be a bane for the people of that community, which I will address in another story.

Bayelsa State has one of the best beaches in the world, but sadly it is not widely known because of a lack of awareness and the government's lacklustre attitude toward tourism. One thing about Nigeria is that the government focuses more on politics than on proper development, and this is a fact that all thirty-six state governors are guilty of — and that is why you see the country declining inch by inch.

The Languages of Bayelsa State

There are four main languages spoken in Bayelsa State.

The first is the Izon (Ijaw) language, spoken by the people of the southern part of the state. The south is rich in seafood and is the home of almost all the major rivers and ocean in the state. The south is also rich in crude oil, and this has been one of the factors that led to the rise of militancy in the creeks of the Niger Delta.

The second major language is the Epie-Atissa language. The Epie people are the second dominant group in Bayelsa State after the Izon (Ijaw). The Epie people occupy the central area of the state and are known as the most welcoming people in Bayelsa — peaceful, loving, and overall accommodating. They host the capital of Bayelsa State and are well known as the best makers of FUFU. FUFU is made from cassava that has been soaked for weeks until it softens, then boiled and pounded into a smooth dough that can be eaten with various kinds of soup. It is a delicacy to many — but not to me, though.

The Nembe People — Warriors of the Niger Delta

Then there is the Nembe dialect. The Nembe people are known as warriors — their hearts are fiercer than a furnace and they are easily provoked. They occupy the eastern part of Bayelsa State and share a close relationship with the people of Brass. Brass is an island surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean — a place once ruled and dominated by Europeans. Brass used to be a central hub for the slave trade due to its location. It was a place where human beings were transported to Europe to work on farms and perform domestic chores.

Here is what history tells us about the slave trade in Brass:

The slave trade in Brass, located in present-day Bayelsa State, occurred primarily from the early 19th century and continued until around the 1830s. Here is a timeline of how it unfolded:

Early 1800s: Brass rose to prominence as a leading slave-trading state. Its position up the Brass River became a strategic advantage after the British blockaded the major ports of Bonny and Calabar to suppress the trade.

Around 1830: After Britain officially banned slavery, the nearby Kingdom of Bonny began using Brass's concealed delta ports as a secret outlet to continue exporting enslaved people to markets in Brazil and Cuba.

Mid-19th Century (c. 1856): As demand for slaves declined, the economy transitioned to palm oil. By 1856, palm oil had become the more important commodity, and trade shifted to the coastal town of Twon-Brass.

This shift to legitimate commerce eventually led the Nembe chiefs to sign a treaty with Britain in 1856, formally agreeing to end the slave trade in exchange for duties on palm oil exports.

I will write more on the history of the slave trade in Brass in the coming days — it is a beautiful and sad story. The defiance of the Nembe people against the slave trade is exactly why I say they are warriors with hearts hotter than a furnace. The Europeans shaped them into who they are today. The Nembe people are always suspicious and guarded. It is considered a breach of custom to wander alone in the ancient city without a guide — they have rules and taboos that, if broken, can bring heavy consequences, including death, to intruders.

Mind you, Nembe is one of the most beautiful places in Bayelsa State and has the highest concentration of tourism attractions, along with Brass. To this day, you can see the old buildings used by the Europeans, the chains used to bind enslaved people, ships built centuries ago, and all manner of historical artefacts. There is also a lighthouse — the first in the history of Nigeria.

The Ogbia People — A Beautiful Mystery

Then there is the Ogbia language, spoken by the Ogbia people in the eastern part of Bayelsa. The Ogbia, Nembe, and Brass people share a similar background, but what differentiates them is the language. For example:

In Nembe and Brass, good morning is Bia kuro

The Epie say Buebio

The Ogbia say Gba Gba gbo

The Ijaw say Ayibapa

As you can see — different languages, but one people.

Bayelsa State — A Home for All

Bayelsa State is a home for all. It is a state that has been dubbed The Pride of the Nation because of its various resources and the overall friendliness of its people. I hope to tell a deeper part of the story of Bayelsa State and its beautiful tourism attractions that would wow anyone. It is a state moulded out of the sweat and blood of those long gone. It is a state that beats its chest and says: the slave trade never broke me — I conquered, and I went on to feed the world my crude oil.

More about my state will be shared in the coming days when I am less busy with work.

The Ogbia and the Secret of Palm Oil

Back to the Ogbia people — they are a mystery. Yes, I said it, because even I, having lived among them, cannot fully define them. They change like a chameleon — not physically, please — but in their mindset. It is hard to pin them down in one particular area before they surprise you in another, leaving you completely flabbergasted. But one thing that can never be taken away from them is this: they are the best in the world when it comes to palm oil production. I can boldly say the Ogbia people are the inventors of palm oil. The world may not know this because of the way many people look down on Nigeria — people judge us before they hear our story.

For those who do not know what palm oil is, let me explain what I know — and this is not from Google, because Google cannot interact with palm oil the way a human can. Do not listen to people who have never used it but shout about being experts.

Palm oil is made from palm fronds. It is honestly difficult to explain the full process here, but it is a hard and skilled task. Here in Bayelsa, it is done manually — and that is exactly why it is the best. Technology is good, but it can never give you the authentic taste that human hands produce.

Palm oil has so many benefits to the human body. It slows ageing, it heals bones, and it reverses many health challenges. But let me stop here — more is coming. Stay tuned. Work calls.

📖 You Might Also Like

Explore more from Twisted Stories:

• Nigeria: A Country Facing Man-Made Challenges – A critical analysis of economic hardship, institutional failure, and social decay.
• They Traded Their Future for Half a Bag of Rice – A Nigerian election story where a half bag of rice changes a nation's fate.
• The God of Pidgin English 1 – A darkly comic fantasy about corruption, survival, and impossible choices.
• Nigerian Pidgin English Translation – A complete guide to common phrases, meanings, and cultural context.