29/04/2025
*article by Nenman Gowong*
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*Brief History of the Ngas nation and people*
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The Ngas came ultimately from borno empire which further history research shows that originally it was around Chad region, and Niger Yemen in (1100 and 1350) that our ancestors left to the Kanem-borno empire which is part of the pri-Kanuri people after which it was speculated that they left the empire by Mr Ames (1933) to occupy the present day Kanke and Pankshin l.G.A's of plateau state Nigeria.
Pankshin predominantly serves as the headquarters of the Ngas nation, situated about one hundred and twenty kilometers (120km) from the state capital Jos of plateau state Nigeria' from here the Ngas further migrated to Mangu, Shendam, Bokkos and also nearby Bauchi state axis in large numbers to settle.
Also the Ngas people are scattered over the nations in far away states like kano, Kaduna, calabar, Lagos, Benin, Taraba etc for trading and businesses in present day Nigeria with less concentration on the two L.G.A's they
*POSSIBLE ORIGIN OF THE NAME "ANGAS"*
"Ngas" is the original name our people consistently called themselves, but the term "Angas" is being corrupted probably with the coming in contact with the Hausa man which probably cannot pronounce the actual name; therefore adding "A" before the actual "N" to suit his tongue, which till date other non Ngas -speakers usually use it to call us the Ngas speaking people. Note-: it is not a derogatory terms.
Ngas alternatively call themselves "Nkarang" which translates to as "people of God who are welled mannered" as mr Yearwood found out in(1981) .
Also the origin of the Ngas tribal mark is not much known but it translates to "chal" which means cheek and is either on both side of face drawn down to the jaw in curved position or it is a mark which resembles "1" each on a cheek. Today it is also known "as one knife mark one voice in unity" or in Hausa "aska daya magana daya".
Noted:that when we migrated to Borno we only rear sheeps and perhaps cattle and donkey or horse but not Carmel.
Another historian isichei (1982) stated that Ngas tradition recorded in 1930s confirmed that we ultimately came from Borno even though, earlier some historian's disputed the fact that we actually came from that region but we only choose to identify with it during its glorious days.
Rather they claim that we came from the northern region but not particularly Kanem-borno empire.
There are many facts to substantiate and confirm that actually we are from Kanem-borno empire which to which holds water to make it remain indisputably.
Settlements of the Ngas speaking people
The Ngas first settled on the south-eastern region of plateau state axis were it was densely surrounded by rocks and hills, it is right to say that it may be' because they Ngas people were seeking for security, because generally in those unsafe days of savagery and volatile conditions is what makes them to seek refuge among those Hills and mountains.
Before gradually going over the slopes to plain lands when it was safe to do so.
Because they know that security is more readily available among the hills due to their security conciousness and smartness so as to watch enemy from afar and wide.
So you find that in each settlement or traditional palaces it is slightly located in high or more elevated area which serves as a watch tower over the lands.
Note-: that because of such actions the Ngas were never conquered by enemies or warring factions.
We have the hill and plain Ngas, while it is said and confirmed that the plain Ngas is mostly simple and adulterated, it is also copied from the hill Ngas which is the unfiltered and closely to the ancient and original Ngas.
Who are the hill and plain Ngas
Mostly the plain Ngas can be found in kanke in areas such as Tuwan people of (kabwir) district tracing there history back to Wokkos "wukos" of Pankshin, other plain Ngas are Ampang, Garram and Amper areas of Kanke l.G.As of plateau state Nigeria.
Hill Ngas-: while either the Ngas from kanke or Pankshin are seen as one note that predominantly the hill Ngas as a certain are the Ngas from "pangchen" pankshin which their dialect do change in certain tone aspect and it is more difficult to speak or understand by an outsider, also the word "Màr" which means farm in the plain dialect of Ngas can also be called "Mòr" when speaking the hill Ngas and also the word "Mòr" can also means sorry.
Also the Ngas kingdom has twelve districts namely: Ampang (Pang), Amper (Per), Kabwir (Bwir), Wokkos (Wukos), Pai (Dok pai, Dalong) Tal, Fier, Chip, Garram, Kadung, and lastly Langkang.
These districts are under the leadership of the king which is widely known as Ngolong Ngas which other various districts heads under the Ngas kingdom pay homage to.
Culled from ( A look at shik Ngas).
Credit-:goes to (Nde Golar Gochal)
Note-: some words were edited by me as I stand to be corrected also.
