Zangon Kataf

Landscape

In Zangon Kataf LGA, the mountain with the highest peak is Kacecere (Atyecarak) Hill with a height of 1,022 metres (3,353 ft) and prominence of 98 metres (322 ft). Other mountains are: Kankada Hill (1007 m/3303 ft), Bako Hill (949 m/3113 ft), Madauci Hill (939 m/3080 ft), Ashafa Hill (856 m/2808 ft), Kabam Hill (814 m/2670 ft), and Antang Hill (742 m/2434 ft). Bako Hill, however, has the highest prominence of 155 m (509 ft).^[6]

Climate

Zangon Kataf town and environs have an average annual temperature of about 24.8 °C (76.6 °F), average yearly highs of about 28.6 °C (83.5 °F) and lows of 18.8 °C (65.8 °F), with zero rainfalls at the ends and beginnings of the year with a yearly average precipitation of about 28.1 mm (1.11 in), and an average humidity of 53.7%, similar to that of neighbouring towns Kagoro and Zonkwa.^[7]

Boundaries

Zangon Kataf Local Government Area (LGA) shares boundaries with Kachia LGA to the west, Kajuru LGA to the northwest, Kauru LGA to the north and northeast, Kaura LGA to the southeast, Jema'a LGA to the south and Jaba LGA to southwest, respectively.^[8][9]

Administrative subdivisions

The Local Government Area is divided into the following administrative subdivides or electoral wards:^[10][11]

• Atak Nfang ( Zaman Dabo)
• Gidan Jatau
• Ikulu (Bakulu)
• Jei (H. Unguwar Gaya)
• Kamantan (Anghan)
• Kanai (H. Gora)
• Madakiya (J. Bata̱don)
• Unguwar Rimi (J. Za̱nta̱ra̱kpat)
• Zango Urban (T. Nietcen-A̱fakan)
• Zonkwa
• Zonzon

List of council chairmen

• Juri Babang Ayok^[13] (1989-1992)
• Timmy Kambai^[14]
• Elias Manza^[15] (2018-2021)
• Francis Sani Zimbo^[16] (2021-2024)
• Joseph Bege Gaiya^[17] (2024-date)

Population

Zangon Kataf Local Government Area according to the March 21, 2006 national population census was put at 318,991. Its population was projected by the National Population Commission of Nigeria and National Bureau of Statistics to be 430,600 by March 21, 2016.

People

The people predominantly belong to the Atyap (Nenzit) Ethno-Linguistic group. These people include: the Bajju, Atyap proper, Bakulu, Anghan and A̱tyeca̠rak. There are also the Hausa settler elements and other Nigerian peoples settling among the aboriginal people.

Languages

The five indigenous people found in the Local Government Area speak related dialects of a common language, Tyap. The largest of them is Jju, closely followed by Tyap proper, then by Kulu, then by Nghan and then by Tyeca̱rak. However, due to the British colonial influence, Hausa language is also widely spoken.

Traditional states

There are four chiefdoms in the Local Government Area, namely:

1. Akulu chiefdom, headed by the Agwom Akulu, Agwom Yohanna Sidi Kukah. Headquarters at Kamuru.
2. Anghan chiefdom, headed by Ngbiar Anghan, Ngbiar Adam Alkali. Headquarters at Fadan Kamantan.
3. Atyap chiefdom, headed by the A̱gwatyap (A̱gwam A̱tyap), A̱gwam (Sir) Dominic Gambo Yahaya (KSM). Headquarters at A̠tak Njei, Zangon Kataf.
4. Kajju chiefdom, headed by the A̱gwam Ba̱jju, A̱gwam Nuhu Bature A̱chi (OON). Headquarters at Zonkwa.

Cuisine

The major cultural delicacies enjoyed by the people of Zangon Kataf include:

• Ka̱ti/Kpukpei (a semi-liquid food made from coarse maize flour and vegetables)
• Tuk (flour paste) - which can be eaten with any kind of soup one desires.
• Pork and dog meat are also well consumed in this divide of the earth.

The main non-alcoholic drinks synonymous with this region is known as ta̱bwai tsuntswa in the Tyap tongue (kunu tsuntswa in Hausa).

The region has also for long been synonymous for the brewing of the alcoholic drink known as a̱kan in Tyap proper and Tyeca̠rak, dikan in Jju and burukutu in Hausa, although its brewing has been banned in some areas.