Naikpikhel (also Nekbikhel Pashto: نیکپی خیل') is the name given to the area surrounding Kabal, lying just opposite to Mingora (Mingawara) on the western bank of River Swat, Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
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Ethnicity
Naikpi khel are the decedent of Khwaja Zai, who are direct descendant from Malak Yousaf and are from true lineage of Yousufzai. The family distriution from Yousafzai to Naikpi Khel are further be classified as under. Yousuf which are sub divided to Ako Akozai Musa-Ilyas Ilyaszai Esa Esazai Mali Malizai and Orya Badi Khel. Ako Zai had two wives Gohara and Rani Ranizai. The Gohara had four ancestors namely Bazid Baizai Khwaja Zai Abazai and Khadakzai. Khwaja Zai are further sub divided into sub Khel Malizai Shamizai Sujni Naikpi Khel. Naikpi Khel sub Khel can be further classified as Aba Khel Sheikh Sena Aisha Khel and Musa. The Aba Khel has further sub Khel's which are known as Mata Khel Sahib Khel and Zina Khel. Mata Khel are the most known sub clans in the Naikpi Khel are which are further divided in Karam Ali Khel Maryam Khel Saran Khel Jora Khel Khusal Khel Bemi Khel Ranjo Khel and some descendant from wasli Khattak.
Etymology
The name is a portmanteau of Nikpi (نیکپی), which is Pashto for "fortunate", and khel (خیل), which is Pashto for "tribe" or "clan".
Place of Residence in Naikpi Khel
The Nikpikhel are divided into two clans, Aba Khel Aisha Khel Sheikh Sena and Musa. The Asha khel comprises villages named Kanju, Dherai, Damghar, Kuza Bandai, Momdherai, Sigram, Lalu Bandai, Kamar Bandai, Jut Kot, Maloka, Bara Bandai, Ghorijo, Dhelay, Jalawan and Ningolai.
Aba Khel is divided into Bar ("upper") Aba Khel and Koz ("lower") Aba Khel. Koz Aba Khel includes Dedahara, Gadi, Dagay, Kotlai, Akhud Kilay, Kabal, Sirsinai, Hazara, Aligrama and Malooch. Bar Aba Khel includes Kalakalay, Totano Bandai, Manja, Golden, Devlai, Nasrat, Shahdeari, Samai, Maira, Tall, [Dardyal],kamkhwalai, chur, penawrhai and Kamyari.
Bar Aba Khel is divided into three clans or tribes: Mata Khel, Zaina Khel, and Sahib Khel. Karam Ali Khel Maryam Khel Saran Khel Jora Khel Khusal Khel Bemi Khel Ranjo Khel and some descendant from wasli Khattak reside in Shahderai, Totano Bandai (Totanobandai), Golden, Manja and Dardyal. There is no definite information on Zaina Khel. Sahib Khel is further divided into many subkhel like Baro Khel based in Devlai, Golden, Nasrat, Shalhand, Tagma, Malakana and sirsinai. The grave of Baro baba famous as (Zyara Baba) is situated in sirsinai.
Nikpikhel was ruled by Audal Khel one of the strongest clan of Yousafzai since the time of Audal Baba The Great. Audal Khel reside in Bara Bandai, Kuza Bandai and Dherai. Taj Muhammad Khan a well known pashto poet was one of the descendents of Audal baba the Great. Who remained advisor of Wali Swat Mian Gul Abdul Haq Jehan Zeb also. He wrote down several books on the history of Swat. And did a great contribution to Pashto literature.