The Kuteb People of Taraba: History, Culture, Language, & Spiritual Heritage

In Taraba State, Nigeria, where rolling hills meet fertile valleys and ancient paths wind through history, the Kuteb people reside as one of the region’s oldest and most enduring ethnic groups. For centuries, they have carried a legacy shaped by migration, kingship, and spirituality, building a culture where governance, art, and faith are deeply intertwined.

The Kuteb are remembered as the heart of the Kororofa Kingdom, once a powerful force in West Africa; yet, their heritage is more than just the echoes of a kingdom. It lives in their language, which protects wisdom; in their festivals, which restore unity; and in their art, which connects the human and the spiritual.

To explore Kuteb life is to step into a story of resilience, identity, and creativity, one that still inspires pride not only in Taraba but also wherever Kuteb communities are found today.

 

Traditional Systems of Governance

The Kuteb traditional system was founded on a theocratic and federal model of governance. At its core stood the Kwe Kukwen (chief priest), the Akwen (clan priests), and the Ndufu (council of elders), who represented the major sub-clans and extended families. The Kukwen, chosen from any clan but required to reside at Teekum (Mbarikam Hill), served as the supreme custodian of authority. His role combined political leadership with spiritual oversight, making him the paramount mediator of the Kuteb nation. The Akwen functioned as priests and clan heads, maintaining order within their clans, while the Ndufu upheld collective wisdom and unity through counsel.

Despite the Likam clan’s senior status, the system remained essentially federal. Each clan enjoyed autonomy in managing internal disputes, protecting its members, and safeguarding peace, but this authority ended where national issues began. Matters affecting multiple clans or the collective welfare of the Kuteb were taken before the Kukwen, whose decisions carried binding force across the land.

What distinguished the Kuteb system was the inseparability of governance and spirituality. The authority of the Kukwen and Akwen extended beyond leadership into sacrifices, rituals, and religious duties. Leadership was therefore not only political but also sacred, ensuring harmony between people and the spiritual forces that guided the nation.

 

Language: The Soul of Identity

The Kuteb language (also known as Kutep, Ati, Kutev, or Mbarike) is the native language of the Kuteb people in southern Taraba State, Nigeria. Belonging to the Jukunoid branch of the Niger-Congo family, it is spoken primarily in Takum, Ussa, and the Yangtu Special Development Area, with a smaller community also present across the border in Cameroon.

For the Kuteb, language is more than a medium of communication; it is a symbol of identity and belonging. The Kuteb language transmits oral traditions, history, and proverbs from one generation to the next. Festivals, songs, prayers, and daily interactions all revolve around it, anchoring the people’s cultural life.

Surrounded by larger languages, Kuteb has survived as a resilient marker of heritage. Ongoing preservation and promotion efforts are crucial to ensuring that the voice of the Kuteb community remains heard for generations to come.

 

Monarchy and the Ukwe

Ukwe is the supreme head of Kutebland. By tradition, as ordained by Kuteb himself, the stool is reserved for the Likam and Akente clans, the two senior lineages of Takum. The principle of seniority symbolises Kuteb’s reverence for age and authority, guaranteeing the constant consultation of elders before making significant decisions.

While the Ukwe serves as the political head and symbol of unity, the Kukwen priests retain spiritual leadership, acting as fountains of wisdom and guardians of sacred law. This balance between political authority and spiritual authority has long defined Kuteb governance.

In 1975, however, a government gazette (No. 21 of 22nd May) altered the system by renaming the Ukwe Takum as “Chief of Takum” and expanding eligibility beyond the original Kuteb lineages. Although a subsequent legal notice reinstated the title ‘Ukwe Takum’, disputes resurfaced after the death of Ukwe Ali Ibrahim Kufang in 1996. For nearly three decades, the stool remained vacant as arguments over succession persisted. The issue regained urgency in January 2024, when renewed efforts were made to resolve the long-standing crisis.

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Art and Cultural Expression

Kuteb art reflects a profound union of creativity, spirituality, and daily life, encompassing pottery, basketry, masquerade figures, and other crafts that have been preserved across generations. These art forms are not merely decorative but embody cultural values tied to agriculture, festivals, and ancestral beliefs. During the Kuchicheb Festival, artistry comes alive in colourful costumes, body painting, and masquerades (Iki), each mask carrying a symbolic meaning that connects the people to their land and spiritual heritage.

Living near the Yukuben and southern Jukun, the Kuteb developed distinctive artistic traditions around Takum. Among the most striking are the horizontal fusion masks, a regional form reinterpreted with unique Kuteb variations. Their blend of abstraction and naturalism gives them a powerful identity.

These masks often feature upswept horns, broad snouts, and striated crests, fusing human and animal traits. This imagery reflects the Kuteb worldview, in which art serves as a bridge between the physical and spiritual realms. In this way, Kuteb’s art stands as both cultural expression and spiritual testimony.

 

History: From Migration to Kororofa

The Kuteb Nation, formerly known as Ndetirikwen or Zompere, traces its origins to a migration from Egypt around 1000 BC, led by their ancestor Kuteb. Moving through Central Africa and Cameroon, they eventually settled in the hills of present-day Takum, Taraba State. Oral traditions recall that Kuteb’s sons, Ussa and Uppa, founded the principal clans, though another version names Likam as the true ancestral leader. The title Mbarikam (“Children of Likam”) reflects this heritage, honouring Kuteb as the founder and Likam as the symbolic father of the people.

By the 16th century, Kuteb is remembered to have divided the land among his descendants, assigning each clan its own hill and territory. Around 1600, the capital shifted from Ussa Hill to Mbarikam Hill, with nearby Takum (Teekum) emerging as a centre of authority. Before his death, Kuteb named Likam his successor, reinforcing Likam’s centrality in Kuteb’s identity.
It was during this expansion that the kingdom became known as Kororofa, from the Kuteb word korofafae, meaning “come closer in your number,” a call that symbolised unity in war and strength in peace.

Over time, Kuteb clans expanded into city-states such as Likam, Akente, and Ticwo, later giving rise to new settlements including Arifun, Fikyu, Kpambo-Puri, Lissam-Sambo, and Lissam-Jatau. Though scattered, these communities remained united by shared ancestry, culture, and tradition, forming the foundation of the Kororofa Kingdom’s enduring legacy.

 

Kuteb Spirituality

For the Kuteb, spirituality is the living bond between the people, their ancestors, and the divine. At its core are the ipien, ancestral spirits believed to guard the land, bless harvests, and protect families. Each family preserved its own inheritance, passed from father to the most beloved son. Its physical form, the iki, appeared only during sacred occasions such as the Kuchecheb Festival, the installation of an Ukwe, the burial of elders, or rituals of land cleansing.

Above all, the Kuteb worshipped Rimam, the supreme God, creator of heaven and earth, giver of rain, health, and abundance. The Kukwen served as the intermediary between Rimam, the ancestors, and the people, ensuring divine order. His authority was so revered that disputes and conflicts often ended in his presence.

In the 20th century, new religions reshaped Kuteb spirituality. Christianity arrived in 1915 through the Sudan Interior Mission at Lupwe, while Islam spread in the 1930s through Hausa influence from the north. Today, although most Kuteb are Christians or Muslims, the ancestral reverence, respect for elders, and sacred connection to land and Creator remain central to Kuteb spiritual life.

 

Conclusion

The story of the Kuteb people is one of harmony between the sacred and the human, the past and the present. Their traditional system of governance, built on a theocratic and federal model, demonstrates how leadership was never solely about power but about preserving balance among clans and with the unseen world. Their language, still spoken in Taraba and Cameroon, is more than just words; it is a memory, a heritage, and an identity carried from one generation to the next.

The monarchy of the Ukwe, though tested by political upheavals, continues to symbolise unity and the Kuteb principle of seniority and respect for elders. Their art, alive in pottery, basketry, and striking masquerades, is not just aesthetic expression but a spiritual bridge between ancestors and descendants. Their history, stretching from migration out of Egypt to the heights of the Kororofa Kingdom, is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the enduring bonds of kinship. And their spirituality, rooted in reverence for Rimam, the ipien, and the sacred role of the Kukwen, reveals a worldview where life is always connected to the divine.

Together, these strands weave the fabric of Kuteb identity, a people whose culture is at once ancient and alive, challenged yet unbroken. To learn about the Kuteb is to discover a living heritage of unity, creativity, and faith that continues to guide them in modern times. Their story reminds us that culture is not just about where we come from, but about the values and connections that provide meaning to who we are and where we are going.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions About the Kuteb People

Who are the Kuteb people?

The Kuteb are one of the oldest ethnic groups in Taraba State, Nigeria, known for their deep cultural heritage, spiritual traditions, and historical role in the Kororofa Kingdom.

How do the Kuteb trace their origins?

Oral history links them to a migration from Egypt around 1000 BC, a journey that shaped their identity and eventual settlement in present-day Takum.

What does Rimam represent in Kuteb belief?

Rimam is the supreme God, giver of rain, health, and abundance. While Rimam is worshipped above all, ancestors (ipien) are honoured as guardians of the land and families.

What language do the Kuteb speak?

The Kuteb language, also called Kutep, Ati, or Kutev, belongs to the Jukunoid branch of the Niger-Congo family and serves as a vital symbol of identity and heritage.

What festivals or cultural expressions are important to the Kuteb?

The Kuchicheb Festival is a major celebration featuring masquerades (Iki), art, songs, and rituals that renew unity and preserve ancestral traditions.