GEMBU TOWN (BOMMI)
SOME FORMERLY DISTINCT VILLAGES/BACKYARDS THAT FUSED INTO ONE TOWN (GEMBU) OVER THE YEARS AS THE TOWN EXPANDED
| S/N | FORMER VILLAGE/WARD | DESCRIPTION OF AREA |
| 1 | Lebòm | The entire area of the oldest settlement of the Town of Bommi (Gembu). |
| 2 | Tanyàng | This is the old section of Bommi Town, especially where the religious Sanctuary of Mambilla Traditional Religion (Bel, Jìirr) stands today, behind the Mambilla Baptist Convention of Nigeria Headquarters. It is contiguous with an dovetails into Le-Bòm (the-Bommi-home) and commonly interchanged. “Bommi” is derived from the preponderant bòm trees (ceasalpinia sp.) found here in olden times. Bommi settlement is also known as “Tuung” (elsewhere spelt “Tong”) and “Tiyu” (from the older site on the declivity to the Donga). |
| 3 | Nzămnzĕrà | From the MBCN Headquarters to the junctions with the so-called “Pegge” area and Bem. Nzămnzĕr trees (botanical name yet unidentified) were common in this area in olden times. |
| 4 | Làbolá | Southern Tanyàng at Lebòm. I.e. behind Lebòm on the way to the Donga. There was an old Sùu Sanctuary here. |
| 5 | Gòochirr | (”across on the road”). Part of Tanyàng (Lebòm), Hausa named it “Barrikin Gelmvu” in colonial times as the Ngwa Gelmvu’s Palace was nearby. |
| 6 | Gòodòr | Another part of Lebòm. |
| 7 | Tòlà | The acropolis housing the D.O’s residence in British times, and Government Lodge today down to the Post Office and the Mini-Market near the Police Divisional Hqts. ‘Tòl’ because the topography is a “peak”. “Tòl” = “tuft” or “mount” as “tòrr” (Mvùp Dialect). The Mbùu (Mbùubò) were formerly the occupants of Tòlà Village, Gòobarr and what from about the 1960’s became known as “Kaka Quarters”. These were housing and farming areas of the Mbubò. [The ‘Obasanjo’ area is technically another tòl, though not so named]. In 1938, it was still a Mbùubò settlement (DAP, 1937). |
| 8 | Farbùu | Area of the Local Secretariat and the defunct Palace. Includes the Prison, UBA, down to the junction with the former Tiv Quarter (now Banso Quarter). By extension, the area of the MBCN Good News Church is within Farbùu. Literally, “Knife Sharpener”. It is an area where rocky outcrops existed (some surviving within the defunct palace) on which knives of various sorts were sharpened by the Bòm and the Mbu people during various activities, e.g. while going hunting, farming.. |
| 9 | Nzìwulì | The entire area of the General Hospital, Gembu. Literally, “Having to do with Bambara nuts”. This was a vast bambara nuts (peanuts, wul) farm in ancient times. |
| 10 | Ndiàb | The area from the Councillors’ Quarters of today (now housing Tambon’s Palace down to the Mizpah MBCN Church. Bounded in the southwest after Mizpah by the brook in the valley. Named after the Ndiàb Brook found east of the former Councillors’ Quarters. Upper Ndiàb therefore is the area from the Councillors Quarters through the Stadium to Mizpah, while Lower Ndiàb is the area beyond this until the border with Nzìwulì at the brook towards General Hospital Hill. (Nasarawa was introduced recently when “Nasarawa” state was popularized in central Nigeria, but this is incorrect). Nasarawa was formerly unknown before the early 2000s. |
| 11 | Bàngerrá | The Hill of the Old Market, Tiv (now Banso) Quarter, Kambu Quarter, Upper Area Court II, “Barkadazuwa” Lodge at junction with Nzămnzĕrà are all included |
| 12 | Gìbànyuà | The area around the Water Treatment Plant (“Water Board”). |
| 13 | Ndàrmi | The area of the former Teachers’ College (“TC Quarters”) to the Veterinary Office area. |
| 14 | Nìnigirr | The valley and brook between Ndiàb and Ndàrmià. So-named because it was a shaky marshland. Nègìrr–nègìrr is onomatopoeic of the shifting soil when trodden upon. |
| 15 | Mbájùrì | An area towards the old Mambilla Baptist Hospital in the far eastern outskirts of the town. “Mbájùrì” have distant connections with “Jùrì” Clan (Jùrò, Jùlù). |
| 16 | Wèmin | The area of the old Mambilla Baptist Hospital stretching to the area overlooking Gùlkal. Said to have been once owned or occupied by the Dièb (Dembe). |
| 17 | Yùngnòrrà | The aerodrome area. On the way to Wèmin. |
| 18 | Kwurra | The last settlement before Yùngnòrrà. |
| 19 | Kwúnátu | The Upper Benue Basin Office area. |
| 20 | Gòobarr | The Lepers’ Settlement down to the Government Rest House and adjoining areas. |
| 21 | Nyimsu | The hill housing the current Taraba State Broadcasting Service (TSBS) mini-station. |
| 22 | Bem | The section towards the cemetery behind Bem. Bem was formerly in 3 sections: Wia, Kum and Mbórrà. They came up from the Wiàh at the north Donga Bank. |
| 23 | Mbórrà | A section of the Bem Hill |
| 24 | Dib | Originally the valley and stream between Ndiàb and Nyimsu hills and by extension the hill of the New Market and New Motor Park. |
| 25 | Lěmià | The col near the top of declivity to Barrngua and Juula. |
| 26 | Barr-ngùa
|
An area above Juulà on the descent to the Gelkin/Gèlbon ferry points. One Ngùuya, a famed lord, settled here. Relics of the Bel (Sanctuary Grove) was still seen there recently. |
| 27 | Min | The Mìn Gorge is the very deep valley between Juulà and Gùlkal. The brook there is of the same name. |
| 28 | Juulà | The area of the junction between the Gelkin/Gèlbon ferry points between Bommi and Ngeah. |
| 29 | Lang | Area above Gelbon’s ferry point. Nearby is Old Tanyàng too. |
| 30 | Wìa (Wiàh) | The settlement on the north bank of the Donga River below Bem. |
| 31 | Tiyu (Tiu) | General name for Juula, Barrnguà, Lěmì areas. The Tiyu left to become the new Gùlkal and Bommi. It is why “Tiyu” is another name of Bommi. |
Sept 2020 by Nzikachia Isaac Bami-Yuno