Niger-Congo · Benue-Congo
Afizere
Also known as Jarawa, Izere
The people of Jos East and the hills north of the city, with the most fully documented dress and colour symbolism of any group on the Plateau.
History
The Afizere occupy Jos East, Jos North and parts of Jos South and Mangu, and extend beyond Plateau State into Toro and Tafawa Balewa in Bauchi State.
Traditional authority is held by the Agwom, supported by district heads drawn from five royal families: Fobur, Forsum, Maigemu, Shere and Federe.
Christianity and Islam are both widely practised, alongside traditional belief in which Adakunom is the supreme deity.
Asharwa dance groups have performed abroad, including in Canada, Germany and South Africa.
Dress
Dress is graded by role, and the colour scheme is explicitly symbolic rather than decorative.
- Kukpra
- Kings, with a distinctive hairstyle
- Itak
- Men
- Akpi
- Women, made from plant material
- GreenAgriculture
- WhitePeace
- YellowLanguage
- BlackStrength
- CowriesWealth
Food
- Ikam Itson
- Hungry rice — acha, the small highland grain.
- Akare
- A maize-based dish.
Dance
- AsharwaYoung men
- The dance Afizere groups have carried furthest, performed internationally.
- AmataWomen
- A women's dance.
Pictures
Sources
- Afizere — Wikipediaread 2026-08-27