THE TOR TIV.

THE TOR TIV.

THE TOR TIV.

🔹Nestled in Nigeria’s middle belt region, the industrious Tiv people boast a history that traces back to the 16th and 17th centuries.

🔸They’re believed to have migrated from the Congo basin through the Cameroon mountains to their present location.

🔹Early Tiv settlers peacefully coexisted with the Jukun and Idoma, though occasional confrontations marked their shared history.

🔸According to legend, the Tiv people share a common ancestor named Tiv, who is said to have had two sons, Chongo and Pusu. These ancestral figures are at the heart of the Tiv tradition, with all Tivs tracing their lineage back to this familial origin.

🔹Historically, Tiv communities thrived in settlements where farming and hunting defined their way of life, devoid of a centralized system of governance.

🔸However, the 20th century ushered in change with the arrival of colonialists. In 1946, the Tor Tiv stool was established to unify and facilitate the administration of Tiv communities. The Tor Tiv, also known as Begha U Tiv or the Lion of Tiv People, leads the Tiv Traditional Council from Gboko, Benue state.

🔹Since its inception, there have been five Tor Tiv. Pictured is Gondo Aluor, Tor Tiv II, in 1958. Presently, James Ayatse serves as Tor Tiv V, continuing the legacy of leadership and unity among the Tiv people.