Dominant and Co-Cultural Groups in Kabba, Kogi State, Nigeria: Social Ordering, Dynamics and Outcomes

Cultural interactions in many African communities are often between historically dominant groups and co-cultures. The existence of a co-cultural group is normally a product of migration. The cultural setup of Kabba community is made up of two groups: 13 Kabba clans and Omodo clan. While the dominant 13 Kabba clans enjoy wide privileges, the story is different for the co-culture – the Omodo clan – with a history of exclusion. This study examines the interactions between the two groups and how the Omodo’s history of exclusion has been a major source of contestation. To demonstrate this, the work adopts five units of analysis. These include ascension to traditional positions of authority, religious practices, women in the religious sphere, marriage and burial rites and land ownership. The paper observes that the two groups share physical characteristics in terms of language, however, they differ in their cultural beliefs and practices. Therefore, the study recommends peaceful coexistence between the two groups without infringing on individual ‘sacred’ areas.