The Daka are an ethnic group in Nigeria, primarily known as a major division and language group of the larger Chamba people, a diverse community found across the Nigerian-Cameroonian border. The name Daka itself is often used interchangeably with Chamba Daka or other variations like Samba, Tchamba, and Tsamba.

They are renowned for their complex social organization, rich artistic traditions, and deep connection to the land. Here is an overview of the Daka people in Nigeria.

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Identity, Location, and Language

The Daka people are central to the Chamba ethnic identity.

Geographical Focus

The Daka primarily inhabit the grassland regions of northeast Nigeria, specifically dominating areas of the borderlands of Adamawa and Taraba States. This region is located in east-central Nigeria, bordering Cameroon.

The Daka Language

The term “Daka” specifically refers to the language group:

• Chamba Daka (or Sama Nnakenyare) is the dominant language spoken by the majority of the Chamba people.
• It belongs to the Dakoid branch of the Niger-Congo language family (specifically, a disputed sub-group, sometimes considered Bantoid or Benue-Congo).
• Chamba Daka is distinct from the other major Chamba language, Chamba Leko, though they are distantly related.

Population

The Chamba people (including the Daka speakers) number around 250,000, though reliable, current census figures for the Daka group specifically are difficult to confirm.

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Social Structure and Political Life

Daka society is structured around a balance of kinship, monarchy, and specialized secret societies that maintain social order.

Clan and Kinship System

• Organization: Social life is centered on clans, which are the basis for political and residential organization.
• Leadership: The Daka have traditionally formed small, centralized kingdoms led by kings, who are advised by councils of elders. Importantly, leadership can be varied—some groups are led by men, others by women, or sometimes a dual-gender structure.
• Balance of Power: Authority is often balanced by powerful male and female secret societies (jup), which play a vital role in regulating power, preserving tradition, and managing misfortune or disease within the community.

Life in the Village and the Bush

Daka communities maintain a cultural distinction between the settled village (the heart of social life) and the surrounding bush (the wilderness).

• The outer bush is used for gathering firewood, hunting, and collecting materials for crafts.
• The inner bush is viewed as more dangerous, holding a symbolic connection to the male gender, and is often where ritual sites and secret society activities are held.

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Cultural Traditions and Artistry

The Daka are highly regarded in West African art and culture for their vibrant ritual practices and craftsmanship.

Art and Craftsmanship

The Daka/Chamba people are widely known for their skills in:

• Sculpture and Masking: They create impressive volumetric wooden statues and masks, which often represent the raw power of the wild, particularly the buffalo or bush cow mask. These powerful masks blend human and animal features and are performed during critical ceremonies.
• Metalwork and Pottery: They are skilled artisans in pottery and metalwork, historically producing iron tools, weapons, and even iron currency for economic and ritual purposes.

Rituals and Initiation

• Cults (Jup): Social control is managed through the use of cults or jup, each of which is associated with a specific misfortune or disease. Membership is gained through initiation.
• Male Initiation: Circumcision is a central part of the men’s cult initiation, marking the boys’ transition into manhood and instruction in sacred knowledge.
• Female Transition: For women, the transition to womanhood is usually marked by marriage, and they often join women’s cults after they are married.

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Religion and Spirituality

Daka cosmology is complex, integrating a high god with ancestral and local spirit veneration.

Ancestor Veneration

A practice central to Daka spiritual life is the veneration of ancestors. Clans preserve the skulls of their forebears, which are believed to act as powerful protectors and sources of blessing for their descendants.

Belief in Su

The Daka traditional religion acknowledges Su, a distant solar creator god who is the source of life and order but generally does not intervene in daily affairs. Daily life is more directly influenced by ancestors and localized nature spirits.

Modern Influences

Like many groups in Northern Nigeria, the Daka have seen significant influence from both Islam and Christianity over the centuries, with many practitioners blending these faiths with their traditional beliefs. Today, roughly 15% of the Chamba population are estimated to be Muslims. Sources