CHAPTER ONE: THE GYONG LANGUAGE ……………………………………………………….. IX

1.0      AN INTRODUCTION

Introducing the Gyong language and its speakers will go a long way in preparing the mind of the reader for a discussion and analysis of the language since the concentration on the linguistic forms and forgetting the people who use the forms in ordinary communication will distort the reality of the language in use. It is therefore important to provide information on the historical background and geographical setting of the people. The people (and their language) are known as Gwong while their Hausa neighbors call them Kagoma/Yeskwa. The origin of these names has been a subject of great debate.

A powerful source has it that when the first Hausa traders visited Gwong/Nyakpa-land, they asked our people what they call themselves. It is said that they were told that we call ourselves Gwong (meaning a multitude) while Khi-Gong means our land and our territory. The Hausa people are said to have found it very difficult to pronounce the words Gwong or Khi-Gong and therefore coined the term KAGOMA. They also coined the name Yeskwa to replace NYAKPA, which they could not pronounce. Evidence abound that both Gwong and Nyakpa have a common origin i.e Gwong Thona and Nyakpa Thona. There are other brothers in addition to Gwong and Nyakpa who are said to have left us and settled across the river of Godogodo district known as Ninem Thona. The brotherly links between these people guided the district officer in charge of Jema’a division to create the Kagoma/Yeskwa district in 1949 A.D, until of recent when the two were divided with each being a district of its own.

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1.1      LOCATION

Gwong land, otherwise known as Khi-Gong is found in the Northern part of middle belt in Nigeria. It occupies the area now known as Southern Kaduna in Kaduna State of Nigeria. Khi-Gong is in the Guinea savannah area of Nigeria, the vegetation being largely grassland integrated with medium high trees. There are some clusters of hilly areas scattered all over the area. It is within the climatic zone characterized by wet and dry seasons. The dry season stretches from November-April, while the rainy season starts from April to early October.

The immediate neighbors of Gwong include Bejju and Atyap in the north, Kagoro on the northeastern side; Kaninkong and Fontsuam are to the south eastern side. The Ham (Jaba) spread along a considerable length of the western side.

1.2.     AFFINITY OF G