Gbong Gwom Jos

The Gbong Gwom Jos stool (// ^ⓘest. 1935 – present) is a traditional royal institution in the Middle-Belt region of Nigeria, that reigns over the Berom tribe of Jos and Greater Jos (Jos North, Jos South, Riyom and Barkin-Ladi) + parts of Southern Kaduna in what is a collective traditional government called the Jos Joint Traditional Council of Chiefs of which the Gbong Gwom is President. It was preceded by the Berom Tribal Council of Chiefs crafted under the auspices of the Government of British Colonial Nigeria and presided over by DaGwom Dachung Gyang of Riyom since 1935. When he died, his successor Rwang Pam with the help of the colonial government forged the Gbong Gwom Jos monarchical institution as it is today.^{[2][3][4] [5]} Besides governing the Jos Joint Traditional Council, the occupant of the stool and bearer of the title also doubles as the Chairman of the Plateau State Traditional Council of Chiefs. The Gbong Gwom Jos is the embodiment of a unique blend of royalty and the collective tradition of the Berom peoples. Though embedded in the geographic north of Nigeria, it differs from neighbouring royal institutions that are mostly Islamic emirates and vassals of the Sokoto Caliphate such as Bauchi, Zazzau, Lafia, Bida and Ilorin.^[6][7]

At the coronation of His Royal Highness Fom Bot on 20 March 1970, the Gbong Gwom Jos monarchical institution was elevated to first class by His Excellency, the Military Governor of Benue-Plateau State Joseph Dechi Gomwalk.

Following the death of His Royal Highness Fom Bot, in 2003 renowned historian of the Berom people and the then BECO (Berom Education and Cultural Organisation) president Sen Luka Gwom Zangabat cautioned his fellow tribesmen to desist from portraying divergent views on the succession process to fill in the vacant throne.^[8]

• Dachung Gyang (1935–1941)^[9]
• Rwang Pam (1947–1969)^[10]
• Fom Bot (1970–2002)^[11]
• Victor Pam (2004–2009)^[12][13]
• Jacob Gyang Buba (incumbent since 1 August 2009)^[14]