Katamba in Nupe Land in Nigeria: Its Origin, Importance and Modern day modification

The Nupe ethnic group is one of the minority ethnic groups in Nigeria. It is located in the middle belt of Nigeria and has some connections with Northern Nigeria. Most research is focused on the major ethnic groups with little being said about minor ethnic groups like Nupe. One of the most valued spaces in the Nupe community is the katamba (entrance hall) ((Muhammad & Said, 2015). The katamba in the Nupe land is more than a structure as conceived by many people. The cultural values of the Nupe people are tied to it. Interactions with respected elders and youths within the Nupe community have shown that this single room structure is found in every compound in the Nupe village. Each compound has a family name thus, the katamba is called accordingly. This study shows the many ancestral and modern-day significance of katamba in the Nupe land. There are several significances and uses of katamba even till today. Visitors are received there, and ceremonies and meetings take place there. Much more, it is synonymous to the modern-day sitting room or parlor where family members relax and gist. In this seminal paper, the Nupe Heritage Cekpa Project provides information on the rich past, present and current history for the katamba.