Igala is a language of the Yoruboid

Yoruboid languages

Yoruboid is a group of languages composed of Igala, a language spoken in central Nigeria, and the Edekiri group, the members of which are spoken in a band across Togo, Benin and southwestern Nigeria. The name Yoruboid derives from its most widely spoken member, Yoruba, which has more than 20...

 branch of the Volta–Niger language family

Volta–Niger languages

The Volta–Niger family of languages, also known as West Benue–Congo or East Kwa, is one of the branches of the Niger–Congo language family, with perhaps 50 million speakers...

, spoken by the Igala

Igala

Igala are an ethnic group of Nigeria. Igala practice a number of different religions, including animism, Christianity, and Islam.The home of the Igala people is situated east of the river Niger and Benue confluence and astride the Niger in Lokoja, Kogi state of Nigeria...

 ethnic group

Ethnic group

An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...

 of Nigeria

Nigeria

Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...

. In 1989, an estimated 800,000 spoke Igala, primarily in Kogi State

Kogi State

Kogi state is found in the central region of Nigeria. It is popularly called the Confluence State because the confluence of River Niger and River Benue is at its capital, Lokoja, which is the first administrative capital of modern-day Nigeria....

, Delta State

Delta State

Delta State may refer to:*Delta State, a state in southern Nigeria.*Delta State , a Canadian animated television series.*Delta State University, a public university located in the U.S. state of Mississippi....

 and Edo State

Edo State

Edo State is an inland state in central southern Nigeria. Its capital is Benin City. It is bounded in the north and east by Kogi State, in the south by Delta State and in the west by Ondo State.-History:...

. Dialects include Ebu, Idah, Ankpa, Dekina, Ogugu

Ogugu

Ogugu is a community of Igala-speaking people in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State in North Central Nigeria. They are predominantly subsistence farmers....

, Ibaji, Ife. The Agatu, Idoma

Idoma

The Idoma are an ethno-linguistic group that primarily inhabit lower and western areas of Benue State, Nigeria, and kindred groups can be found in Cross Rivers and Nasarawa States in Nigeria. The Idoma are closely related to the Igbo people. The Idoma language is classified in the Akweya subgroup...

, and Bassa

Bassa

-People:Three unrelated ethnic groups of West Africa:*Bassa ** Basaa language is a member of the Bantu languages family.*Bassa **Bassa language is a member of the Kru languages family.**Bassa script-Places:*Bassa, Kogi State, Nigeria...

 people use Igala for primary school. Igala is related to Yoruba

Yoruba language

Yorùbá is a Niger–Congo language spoken in West Africa by approximately 20 million speakers. The native tongue of the Yoruba people, it is spoken, among other languages, in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo and in communities in other parts of Africa, Europe and the Americas...

. The Igala language as well as Igala culture and tradition has influenced other languages and cultures around the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers