Amongst the numerous places where the Tiv or "Tiiv" or the "Tivoid ethnic group" or "Munchi/ Munshi" as called by the Fulani ethnic group(even though it is against their concession) might have settled in according to history, the Benue Valley which is the today basic Central Nigeria is the most recognized. Apart from being the first inhabitants and major occupants of the valley among other ethnic minorities or tribes who later migrated to join them; majority of the Tivs settled there.
Other places some of the Tiv tribe settled in are "Mdema", "Waka District" and "Benue River" after moving from the South East, and loafing through South,Western-Central, and South-Central Africa. The beginning of 1500 Christian Era (C.E) marks the date of when the Tiv tribe arrived at the Savannah lands of West African Sudan through the Riva Congo and Cameroon Mountains and settled at Swemkaragbe, which is the area neighboring Nigeria and Cameroon. Their wandering journey did not stop as they came down in batches with some of them moving Southward across Obudu mountains, while others moved to the core Central Nigeria, the Benue Valley.
Moving into the 1600 Christian Era (C.E), social relationships and interactions started, as more people migrated there. The Tiv people practiced an acephalous system of government. They were a non-stratified society like the Igbos, and each clan or kindred was put under check by the eldest man called "Orya", and this resulted into more people cohabiting with them, as it was more of a lawless community. This peaceful coexistence was frustrated by the Europeans.
The Europeans attempted different ways of ruling over the Tiv tribe like imposing the Tiv under the control of the close by Jukun, and attempting to force control through the councils of elders known as the "Jir Tamen" before introducing kinship, and entering the land from the East in 1906, and the Southern area was invaded from the the south (what southern Tivs called "the eruption" of the Europeans), in 1911, which was as a result of the conflict between Tiv and other minorities within the Benue Valley. The Tiv tribe stood strong and depicted themselves as inalterable as their occupation of the river bank remains the same as in 1950, and in 1950, they said they have conquered the British forces before conjuring them for negotiations.
As at 1907, the colonisers were able to gain more space in the Tiv tribe, as the the tribe started to contact with the European culture, and as at November of the same year to spring 1908, a trip of the Southern Nigeria Regiment led by Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Trenchard related with the Tiv. One of the ways the British colonisers used to get the Tiv tribe's listening ears was bringing gifts for the tribal chiefs. After gained more space amongst the tribe, they built roads and trade links were created between them. Also, a missionary named Mary Slessor went throughout the Tiv region attending to the it's people's needs.
Tourist attractions in Tiv are: IKYOGEN HILLS, DAJO POTTERY, ANWASE-ABANDE RANGES, THE RARE MANATEE, KATSINA-ALA RIVER, TOR TIV PALACE, GBOKO, USHONGO HILLS, TIV ANGER WEAVERS TOMB OF THE FIRST TIV MISSIONARIES, among others.
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