Ndoki (also Ndoki Igbo) is an Igbo variety spoken in southern Nigeria, mainly in parts of Abia State and Rivers State. In Rivers State it is spoken in Oyigbo Local Government Area. Linguist Ethelbert Emmanuel Kari classifies Ndoki as Igboid, while earlier descriptions identify the speech of the Ndoki people as a form of Igbo.^[1]

The dialect is associated with the Ndoki people, whose communities lie on both sides of the present Abia–Rivers boundary. Akwete in Abia State is one of the better-known Ndoki communities.

Ndoki belongs to the Igboid branch of the Volta–Niger languages. Kari's classification of the languages of Rivers State places Ndoki in Igboid together with Echie, Egbema, Ekpeye, Ikwere, Ndoni and Ogbah.^[1]

Ndoki has also been described more specifically as a form of Igbo. In their account of the languages of Rivers State, Ozo-mekuri Ndimele and Kay Williamson describe the form of Igbo spoken in Oyigbo as being commonly known as Ndoki.^[2]

The classification is consistent with older descriptions of Ndoki speech as Igbo while recognising its local features. Ndoki is therefore normally discussed both as an Igbo variety and, in broader comparative classification, as part of Igboid.

Ndoki is spoken across an area divided today between Abia and Rivers states.

In Abia State, Ndoki communities are concentrated around Ukwa East and neighbouring areas. Communities in the area include Akwete, Azumini, Obohia and Ohanso.

In Rivers State, the main Ndoki-speaking area is in Oyigbo. Kari's survey lists Ndoki as the indigenous speech form of Oyigbo Local Government Area.^[1] Communities in the Ndoki part of the LGA include Afam, Umuagbai, Okoloma, Obeta and other settlements.

The present state boundary divides communities which historically formed part of the same Ndoki area. The effect of Nigerian boundary changes on Ndoki communities has been discussed by Okere Steve Nwosu in a study of boundary adjustment in Nigeria.^[3]

Ndoki is spoken near several other Igbo and Igboid varieties. To the north and northeast are varieties associated with Ngwa and other communities of southern Abia State. Other Igboid varieties are spoken farther west in Rivers State.

The relationship between Ndoki and neighbouring Igbo varieties has been noted in both linguistic and historical descriptions. Earlier descriptions distinguished the local speech of Ndoki from neighbouring Ngwa while still identifying it as Igbo.^[2]

The wider area contains a number of local speech forms, and the names used for them do not always correspond to present state or local government boundaries.

Ndoki forms part of the linguistic diversity of Rivers State. Kari's 2019 survey identifies 28 indigenous languages in the state. In his classification, Ndoki is one of several Igboid speech forms found there, together with Echie, Egbema, Ekpeye, Ikwere, Ndoni and Ogbah.^[1]

Kari's earlier study of multilingualism in Rivers State listed the language of Oyigbo as "Igbo (Ndoki)". He also noted that Igbo was spoken in Rivers State despite not being recognised at the time as one of the languages of the state, which he attributed to political reasons.^[4]

In his later 2019 classification, Kari lists Ndoki by name as the speech form of Oyigbo and places it within Igboid.^[1]

Ndoki and its local varieties have received some linguistic and cultural documentation. Akwete, an Ndoki community in Abia State, has been the subject of work on its local form of Igbo.

Edith Chuta published Akwete Dialect of Igbo Language in 2015. The work deals with the dialect, expressions and linguistic identity of Akwete and the wider Ndoki community.^[5]

Ndoki also appears in broader studies of Igbo dialects and the languages of the Niger Delta. The different descriptions generally retain its relationship with Igbo while recognising Ndoki as a named regional speech form.

• Dialects of the Igbo language
• Igbo language
• Igboid languages
• Ndoki people
• Ngwa dialect
• Oyigbo
• Ukwa East

• Chuta, Edith (2015). Akwete Dialect of Igbo Language. ISBN 9781511523172.
• Kari, Ethelbert Emmanuel (2019). "The Languages of Rivers State of Nigeria: An Overview". Marang: Journal of Language and Literature. 31: 1–22.
• Ndimele, Ozo-mekuri; Williamson, Kay (2002). "Languages". In Alagoa, E. J.; Derefaka, A. A. (eds.). The Land and People of Rivers State: Eastern Niger Delta. Port Harcourt: Onyoma Research Publications.
• Nwosu, Okere Steve (1998). "The National Question: Issues and Lessons of Boundary Adjustment in Nigeria—The Ndoki Case". Journal of Third World Studies. 15 (1): 81–98.