Kagoro, also known as Gworok, is a large town in the southern part of Kaduna State, in North West Nigeria. Gworok is attractive for tourists because of its mountainous scenery and cultural events such as the Afan Festival, a national festival which is celebrated annually on 1 January.

Understand

Kagoro or Gworok is one of the towns in Southern Kaduna that had been independent until it got subjugated in the early 20th century by the British colonial troops, but not by warefare. It also happens to be the seat of one of the oldest chiefdoms in the area.

The town is a large one, mostly composed of rocky terrains with natural flowing water bodies like rivers and streams, surrounding it.

The people of the town (the Agworok, also spelt Oegworok) speak Gworok, one of the dialects of the Tyap language cluster.

Climate

Kagoro is renowned for its cool weather and high altitude. Tropical, with frequent rainstorms. The driest time of year - when the Falls may be just a trickle - is from December to April.

Get in

Kagoro is 210 km southeast of Kaduna, about 3 hours by car, or US$80 by taxi (2021).

It is 80 km west of Jos, or about 1 hr 45 min by car, and 220 km northeast of Abuja, 3 hr 40 min by car.

Kagoro also has an airstrip, active during the colonial period, which for some reason or the other had gone out of use today.

See

The town is renowned for its pristine mountainous scenery and has dozens of churches.

• 1 Afan Agworog (Kagoro Mountain), Near Agban. Take a trip up the Akǝtǝn (Peak) of the mountain), to view the entire town and get to see the next town of Kafanchan from the tops of the cloud-covered peak. Please note that it could take a whole day to get up and come down. You have to be physically fit to do so. You would also need hunter guides to go up with you to help you climb the sliding parts of the mountain. (updated Jan 2023)
• 2 Agwam Agworok's Palace (Kagoro Chief's Palace), Ucyio. Constructed in the mid-1940s by one of the longest serving paramount rulers in Africa, Dr. Gwamna Awan (reigned 1945-2008). (updated Jan 2023)
• 3 Gwamna Awan's Tomb, Ucyio. Tomb of one of the longest serving paramount rulers in Africa, Dr. Gwamna Awan. (updated Jan 2023)
• Katagwan's Footprints, Uza, Agban. Katagwan Mungwob, the giant whose foot prints litter the rock top said to be his home, right beside the Gworog mountain. (updated Apr 2023)
• 4 Matsirga Waterfalls (13 km west of Kagoro; take Kagoro Road (A235) west to Madakiya and turn north). The waterfall has its source from the springs on Kagoro hills which cascade from four different hollows of about 25-m rock cliff to form a large pool at its bottom. Matsirga waterfalls, otherwise known by the natives as Ka̱byiek Tityong or River Wonderful, is between Batadon and Aduwan V, in Kafanchan. The smaller settlement of Batadon (Madakiya) is negotiable by foot. Trips up to the Falls, however, will be in a dugout canoe, or bike. The 30-minute or so walk from the closest point on the river to the base of the falls is not easy going because of large tree roots on the path - take sports shoes or kicking boots for this hike. (updated May 2021)

Do

Afizere (Jarawa) dancers from Toro, Bauchi State, at Afan National Festival

• 1 Afan National Festival (Kagoro Day), Ucyio (Fada) (J95V+277 Kagoro,). New Year's Day. One of the main attractions of Kagoro is the Afan National Festival. It showcases the cultural heritage of Southern Kaduna and the central Nigerian plateau, marking the end of the annual grain harvest and the beginning of hunting expeditions. (updated Jan 2023)
• 2 Mini Stadium, Kukum (J92H+GJ6 Kagoro). Go watch a football match. (updated Jan 2023)

Buy

Gworok is a community that is known for agricultural activities, so most of the grains you know you can get them from the community at a subsidised rates. The major occupation of the community is farming.

• 1 Kagoro Market, Kpak. (updated Jan 2023)

Eat

• Rice and ginger juice

Learn

• 1 ECWA College of Heath Technology, Ucyio (Fada) (along Market Road to Chief Palace, Kagoro). (updated Jan 2023)
• 2 ECWA Theological Seminary, Agban (near Kafanchan-Kagoro Road). (updated Jan 2023)
• 3 SMA Vocational Centre (along Kagoro Road). (updated Jan 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Kagoro Monai Motel & Garden, Ucyio (Fada) (along Kaduna Road, Fadan Kagoro). One of the largest and oldest visitor accommodations in the town. (updated Jan 2023)
• 2 Labesta Guest House, Ucyio (Fada). (updated Feb 2023)
• 3 Palm Garden Hotel, Ucyio (Fada) (Water Board Road). (updated Jan 2023)
• 4 Bashonshon Motel, Ucyio (Fada). (updated Jan 2023)

Connect

Cellular networks like MTN, Glo, 9mobile and Airtel are used here. The network strengths vary from one part of the town to the other.

Go next

• Jos - capital of Plateau State
• Kafanchan - the economic capital of Southern Kaduna
• Samaru Kataf - junction town linking Kagoro to Zonkwa and Zangon Kataf
• Zangon Kataf - seat of the Agwatyap and home or the Ayet Atyap annual festival