The Ndola People of Taraba State: History, Culture, Festivals & Traditions

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High in the fertile mountains and valleys of Taraba State, a people with an ancient heritage continue to live in harmony with the rhythm of the land. They are the Ndola, one of Nigeria’s lesser-known ethnic groups, yet a community whose history, traditions, and peaceful spirit set them apart. For more than a thousand years, since the days following the fall of the Bantu Kingdom, the Ndola have called this region home.

Today, they are found across Bali, Donga, Gashaka, Kurmi, and Sardauna Local Government Areas, though their largest populations are in Kurmi and Gashaka. In Kurmi, they coexist with the Tigun and Ichen, while in Gashaka, they share space with the Jibu, Fulani, and other groups. The headquarters of Kurmi Local Government, Ba’Issa, bears its cultural mark: its name combines “Ba,” which means “Daddy” in Ndola, with “Issa”, the Hausa word for Jesus, after Issa, the first settler of the land.

The Ndola language is one of the Mambiloid languages, a cluster of related tongues spoken across the Mambila Plateau region. Other Mambiloid languages with similar phonology include Mambila, Suga, Kwanja, Vute, Kamkam, Twendi, and Wawa. This linguistic heritage situates the Ndola within a broader cultural-linguistic family that stretches across parts of Taraba and neighbouring Cameroon, enriching their identity and connecting them to the broader history of the Plateau.

This deep connection to land and ancestry continues to define the Ndola identity. From their rich agricultural practices to their festivals, spiritual beliefs, and peaceful coexistence with neighbours, the Ndola people offer a window into how ancient customs endure, adapt, and inspire modern Nigeria.

 

Everyday Practices

To understand the Ndola, you must first walk their farmlands. Farming is not simply work here; it is life itself. Hillsides are carved into fertile plots where coffee and tea thrive, while the valleys echo with the planting of maize, rice, and millet. Each November, families gather together to clear the forest, preparing the land for another cycle of planting before the rains arrive.

Harvests are treated with reverence. Maize, for instance, is carefully stored in traditional hoods, granaries crafted either on the farm or at home. These practices, passed down for centuries, reflect not only survival but also unity and cohesion. Younger generations now blend this inherited wisdom with modern tools and market opportunities, creating a bridge between the old and the new. Increasingly, Ndola farmlands are becoming attractions for ecotourism, where visitors marvel at how ancient farming traditions remain alive in contemporary times.

 

Indigenous Belief Systems

Imagine a world where every harvest, every breath of good health, and even the mystery of death is tied to the watchful presence of ancestors. For the Ndola, this world was real. Long before the arrival of Christianity and Islam, their lives revolved around Ana, the ancestral spirit believed to guide, protect, and judge.

What makes this worldview unique is its duality. While Ana governed earthly matters, the Ndola also recognised a supreme god as the creator of the universe. This balance of earthly guardianship and divine authority remains a powerful influence today. Even as churches and mosques have grown across Ndola lands, many families still honour ancestral memory in subtle ways through prayers, stories, or symbolic rituals. Among younger Ndola, Ana often reappears in art, music, and folklore, not as religion but as a cultural compass reminding them of their roots.

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Rites of Passage

Becoming an adult in the Ndola tradition was never just about reaching a certain age; it was about demonstrating readiness for responsibility and maturity. In the past, young people progressed through distinct stages marked by rites of passage, from birth ceremonies that invoked ancestral blessings to initiation into farming and adulthood rituals that sealed one’s role in the community.

Although many of these ceremonies have faded with the spread of world religions, their essence survives. Farming initiation, for example, is now reflected in youth training programmes, where children learn responsibility through agricultural and community work. Cultural songs and traditional attire often accompany weddings and graduations, serving as subtle reminders that modern milestones remain rooted in ancient values. In this way, Ndola youth are reimagining rites of passage for today’s world, weaving ancestral memory into contemporary celebration.

 

Cultural Festivals

No story of the Ndola is complete without the thunderous energy of the Gbala Festival. Picture masked dancers sweeping through village squares between July and September, the air filled with drumming, laughter, and the quiet reverence of a people celebrating the fertility of their land. Gbala is more than performance; it is identity. It tells the story of the farmer’s dependence on the earth and honours the soil that sustains life.

Although the festival’s prominence has declined as many in Ndola have embraced Christianity and Islam, it has found new life in cultural tourism and community events. Younger generations now reinterpret Gbala through stage performances, cultural days in schools, and heritage festivals that welcome visitors from across Nigeria. What was once a purely spiritual celebration has become a bridge, connecting the past with opportunities for cultural preservation, tourism, and artistic expression.

Conclusion

The Ndola people offer more than just history; they offer an experience. From the vibrant rhythms of the Gbala masquerade festival to the quiet spiritual reverence for Ana, from fertile farmlands that sustain entire communities to the warm hospitality that welcomes strangers as family, the Ndola story must be felt as much as it is told.

Visiting Ba’Issa, the cultural heart of Ndola, or walking through their farmlands in Kurmi and Gashaka, offers a glimpse into a way of life where tradition and modernity blend seamlessly. Here, ancient customs still permeate everyday practices, and younger generations are reinterpreting heritage through music, art, and tourism.

For travellers, cultural enthusiasts, and anyone seeking to understand Nigeria’s soul, the Ndola are not just another ethnic group; they are a must-visit whose story continues to enrich the nation’s collective identity. To encounter them is to step into living history, where the past speaks to the present and inspires the future.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who are the Ndola people?

The Ndola are an ethnic group in Taraba State, Nigeria, mainly found in Kurmi, Gashaka, and the Ngada Special Development Area.

What is unique about the Ndola culture?

The Ndola people are unique for their Gbala masquerade festival, strong belief in the ancestral spirit Ana, and deep farming traditions.

Where can visitors discover the Ndola people?

They are primarily located in the Kurmi and Gashaka LGAs, with Ba’Issa serving as their cultural and administrative centre.

What do the Ndola people farm?

They cultivate crops such as maize, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava, yams, coffee, and tea in the fertile lands of Taraba.

Do the Ndola people welcome visitors?

Yes, the Ndola are known for being peaceful and hospitable, which makes them a must-visit community for cultural enthusiasts and travellers.