One Adamawa, Many Tribes
The Adamawa Pulse Initiative
Adamawa is a land where the hills speak, the rivers carry stories, and every tribe is a living archive of heritage. Through the “One Adamawa, Many Tribes” series by the Adamawa Pulse Initiative, we continue to uncover and celebrate these histories.
Today, we focus on the Verre people — an ancient hill-dwelling community whose mastery of iron, deep spirituality, and resilience against conquest make them one of Adamawa’s most remarkable groups.
The Verre People: Masters of Iron, Keepers of the Hills
The Verre people, sometimes called Vera, are one of the oldest ethnic groups in Adamawa State. They are concentrated in the Verre Hills, stretching through parts of Jada, Mayo-Belwa, Fufore, and Ganye Local Government Areas, with some communities spilling into northern Cameroon.
Their homeland — rugged hills, caves, and narrow valleys — served as both a natural fortress and a cradle of culture.
Origins and Historical Background
The Verre trace their roots to the Benue Valley region, migrating into the Verre Hills centuries ago. Oral traditions and archaeological findings link them to ancient iron-smelting communities, which flourished long before colonial contact.
The hills offered protection from slave raids during the Sokoto Jihad and Fulani expansion in the 19th century. This geographical defense allowed the Verre to resist external domination longer than many neighboring groups. Even after coming under the Adamawa Emirate’s orbit, the Verre preserved much of their autonomy and culture.
Language and Identity
The Verre language belongs to the Adamawa branch of the Niger-Congo family, closely related to Bwatiye and Bata. While Hausa and Fulfulde have become lingua francas in Adamawa, the Verre language remains a symbol of identity and pride, especially in rural communities and cultural gatherings.
Iron and Craftsmanship: The Heart of Verre Heritage
What sets the Verre apart in Adamawa is their historic mastery of iron-smelting and blacksmithing. Archaeologists have found remnants of ancient furnaces in the Verre Hills, proving that the community once produced iron tools, weapons, and ornaments on a scale that supported regional trade.
Beyond iron, the Verre are also gifted in pottery, weaving, and woodcarving, but it is their iron heritage that gives them a unique place in Adamawa’s history. In fact, some oral traditions suggest that neighboring groups once relied on the Verre for farming tools and weaponry.
Beliefs and Spiritual Worldview
Traditional Verre religion centers on a Supreme Being but places great emphasis on ancestral spirits and sacred landscapes. Hills, rivers, and groves are seen as spiritual domains, with priests and elders serving as custodians of rituals.
Before Christianity and Islam, the Verre practiced ceremonies tied to farming, fertility, and protection against misfortune. Even today, some traditional practices survive, especially in festivals and rites of passage.
Festivals and Cultural Life
Verre festivals are deeply tied to the agricultural calendar and the ancestral spirit world. They feature colorful dances, elaborate masquerades, and communal drumming. Masquerades in Verre culture often symbolize ancestral spirits, protectors, or judges, appearing in times of crisis or celebration.
Heroic songs celebrate hunters, warriors, and blacksmiths — ensuring that the achievements of ancestors are never forgotten.
Society and Family
Verre society is organized along clan lines, with elders playing key roles in governance and conflict resolution. Respect for age and lineage defines social relationships.
Marriage historically involved bridewealth in livestock or iron tools, emphasizing the value of craftsmanship in their culture. Weddings were community affairs, marked by drumming, feasting, and symbolic rituals linking families together.
Agriculture and Livelihood
While renowned for iron, the Verre are primarily farmers. They cultivate millet, guinea corn, groundnuts, maize, and beans. Hunting and fishing supplement their diet, while crafts — especially blacksmithing and pottery — remain important aspects of their economy.
Colonial and Modern History
During colonial rule, the Verre Hills attracted attention for their iron heritage. British administrators noted their resilience and distinct cultural identity. The Verre were grouped administratively under the Adamawa Province, but their rugged terrain allowed them to preserve their autonomy longer than many groups.
Today, the Verre have embraced Christianity and Islam in large numbers, but cultural pride runs strong. Their language, iron heritage, and festivals remain pillars of identity.
Conclusion: A People Forged in Iron and Hills
The Verre are not just hill dwellers — they are a people forged in iron, resilience, and unity. Their story is one of survival against conquest, mastery of ancient technologies, and devotion to ancestral traditions.
They remind us that Adamawa is not only a land of tribes but also a land of heritages that shaped Nigeria’s history itself.
Because one Adamawa, many tribes — one pulse.
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