In our weekend couture today, Debshowcases Gbagyi culture using Gbagyi attire as she also explain in an article below why the Gbagyi people carries load on their shoulder and not on their head. Read article below:


“Gbagyi/Gbagri predominantly live in the Niger, Kaduna States and the Federal Capital Territory. They are also found in Nasarawa and Kogi States in central Nigerian Area.
Gbagyi is the most populated indigenous ethnic Group in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Nigeria, where their major occupation is farming.The Gbagyi/Gbari people are known to be, noble, peace-loving, transparent, hospitable and accommodating people. Culturally, Gbagyi/Gbari put their personal loads and luggage on their shoulders not their head. As an ethnic group they respect the HEAD and believe that there can be no life without head.

John N. Paden posits that “two things make the Gbagyi people more distinct from any other people in Nigeria, and it is pertinent  to note that those two things are their undying clamour for peace and their impenetrable cultures.” It is interesting to also note that the observation made Paden in his book about three decades ago is still associated with the Gbagyi/Gbari people today, most especially their cultures that are still kept intact despite the fact that they saw colonialism and keep seeing western education daily. One of these undying cultures, according to Paden, is carrying loads on their shoulders rather than putting loads on their heads as it is the case among other Nigerian people. This singular art and act of culture is unique in Nigeria and largely admired other ethic nations.
Another cultural practice among Gwarinkwa/Gbagyi nation to note is the Gbagyi/Gwari food. Every Gbagyi man or woman is a lover of “ezhe” popularly known as “tuwo” in the purely Hausa community. Ezhe is a special meal found in every home of the Gbagyi/Gwari nation. This is prepared using maize or Guinea-corn. potassium or the popular ashes water called “osanh” can be added to give it a unique taste. Ezhe can be taken solid with gbagyi soup or any soup of your choice. It can also be mashed and taken liquid with Gbagyi sauce called Khandolo and Akunyna( garden egg). This sauce is a long time sauce that can not be relegated or replaced any thing among the Gbagyis.
Conclusively, Gbagyi/Gwari or Gbari is a nation that is greatly and largely admired in and outside Nigeria.”
Written by Deborah Amubwo Samuel.
See more photos below of Deborah Amubwo Samuel on Gbagyi cultural attire: