If you are a fan of Nigerian hip-hop,you would have heard of a place called Gwagwalada used by various musicians like Wiz- kid and the PSquare brothers in their songs.

Gwagwalada is an area council in the federal capital territory of Nigeria. Gwagwalada is also the name of the main city in the local government area which has an area of 1,043 km square and a population of 157,770 at the 2006 census.

The University of Abuja is currently located in Gwagwalada Area council.
The name " Gwagwalada" in the Rubassa dialect means "Plain land".

The Bassa Nation

The dialect of the Bassa is Rubassa. It is a Bantu speaking tribe. History has it that,the Bassas migrated from Douala Cameroon.

The progenitor of the Bassa Nation was known as " Ihilo lomu" which means " Fertile Land".The Bassa are predominantly farmers.

The Bassas migrated into the middle belt in 1840 after defeating the Fulanis and the Igalas.

The Bassas are having tribal affinity with pongo,bahause,Fulani bororo ,the kamaku and the Bantu tribe

Bassa Land in Contemporary Times

The Bassa are of diverse groups though one progenitor

1.The Bassa dwell in Nassarawa province, Umaisha district, Ugba district, Keffi emirate, Ugya(Toto LGA) in Nassarawa state.

2.Gbaghi Ngala speaking Bassa all dwell in Nassarawa- Niger province, Ashara division, Tegina and Alawa district and Gwagwalada district, Fct.

3.Bassa Yalaye- dwell in Plateau state, Bassa LGA.

4.Bassa dwell in the Republic of Liberia.

5.Bassa dwell in Kogi state,Nassarawa state, Benue State,F.C.T Abuja( Gwagwalada,Kwali,Abaji,Kuje LGC)

Customs and Traditions Of the Bassa

In Bassa land, each clan owes allegiance to it's own chief who were the tribal judge .These customs is binding on the Bassa in the Niger Province, each centre is administered by a judicial council under a headman who has little authority.

Guilt:
If a person is suspected to be lying,he or she made to drink boiling oil from a calabash ,should he spilt any,his guilt is considered proven.

Murder:
Punishment was by death in Umaisha ,the murderer was obliged to hang himself before the court but they often committed suicide in their own house without awaiting trial.

Manslaughter:
Punishment was by death or slavery,though in certain cases the quality of intention was tested.

Theft:
Punishment was by flogging in addition to which all his goods were seized and given to the plaintiff. A serious offence could be slavery but in minor cases,restitution sufficed.

Bassa Dance

The Bassa dances are many and of various purposes and significance .Some are for funerals or entertainment .

1.Araga dance: It is in honor of the dead of old persons I.e for persons over forty years and above.

2.Utace dance: It is performed mainly in the day time .The performance could be at any type of ceremony. Its performance is usually tied to or informed by another ceremony like the Ugunu ,Ukusuaye or even a coronation ceremony.

3.Ike Masquerade Dance: It is usually performed by the male youths of the village. The masquerade is made with a type of grass called tienyi which is tied to the waist ,and to the head.When they dance,they twist their waist to enable the grass to also twist rhythmically presenting a beautiful pattern.