People and Culture
People and Culture
People and CultureLanguage is a crucial part of a people’s culture and a powerful tool for preserving and transmitting values and systems from one generation to the next. Most Nigerian languages belong to three main language families. The first is the Niger-Congo group of languages, with its sub-groups, which include such major languages as the Birom in Plateau, Chamba and Jukun in Taraba, Edo (including Bini and Urhobo) in Edo; Efik and Ibibio in Cross River; Idoma in Benue; Tiv in Benue, Nassarawa and Taraba; Igbo in the southeastern and Nupe in Niger states respectively. Others in this family include the Yoruba in the southwestern states, Ijaw in the Niger Delta region, Fulfulde, Kambari, Vere, Busa among other ethnic groups. The second prominent language family (also known as the Afro-Asiatic), consists of the Angas, Bachama, Bura, Hausa, Higi, Mergi, Shuwa, etcetera. The third dominant language group is the Nilo-Saharan spreading through the likes of Kanuri, and Dendi, and so on (See Arikpo O. “Who are the Nigerians?” Lugard Lectures, Lagos, 1957; Hambly W.D. Culture Areas of Nigeria. Chicago: Field Museum of Natural History, 1985; Nente-Lucas R. Handbook of Ethnic Groups in Nigeria, Studien Zur Kulturkunde, 74 Franz. Steiner verlag, Weisbaden, Stuttgart, 1985).
Nigeria’s three language families or socio-cultural units evolved, over centuries of diverse historical experiences (including war, enslavement, scholarship, diplomacy, commerce, and the diffusion of political and religious ideas) in different geographical regions, into the more recent complex heterogeneity of nations and cultures dovetailing into an aggregated 373 ethnic groups. The fact that many of the peoples now located in the present-day Nigeria shared several social values and cultural traits in the distant pre-independence past as aptly demonstrated by the language classification is a colourful display of the universality of Nigeria’s people and Taraba State in particular. Thus, the history of long migrations and settlements with such a fusion of social and cultural relationships that is often the case makes it difficult to separate the people within these settlement into neat socio-cultural groups. In other words, unity in diversity is what is required to live together as heterogeneous cultures. As such, the unity and peace of this nation and this great state cannot be sacrificed on the altar of ethnic, religious or political bigotry because the good people of Nigeria in general and Taraba in particular, have come a long way, and they share common distant tap roots[i].
The ethnic composition of Taraba State is highly heterogeneous. Like the other middle belt states in the federation, it is composed of multi-ethnic groups with about 80 indigenous ethnic groups speaking different languages. Some of the major indigenous ethnic groups include Jenjo, Kuteb, Jukun, Kaka, Kambu, Banso, Mambilla, Mumuye, Wurkum, Ichen, Ndoro, and Tiv, each one forming a mosaic in at least one local government area. The minority groups like the Bellere, Kode and Lo are very small tribes living harmoniously with other groups, although their abysmal numerical strength tends to render these groups politically insignificant in a democratic polity.
The culture of the indigenous people of Taraba is as varied and numerous as the multiethnic groups inhabiting the nature’s gift state. Their belief systems, social values, behavior, arts, music, dance, fashion, song, craft, musical instruments, festivals and food of these groups speak volumes about the folks’ unique but differentiated culture, customs, traditions and native practices. There is no better way to appreciate the spicing which the variety of cultures brings than observing their manifestations such as burial ceremonies and general entertainment, initiation into manhood or womanhood, during coronation to install traditional rulers, marriage rites and cultural festivals mostly performed to mark harvest or other commemorative events.
Some examples of the prominent cultural festive celebrations among the major ethnic groups in the state include Kuchicheb festival of the Kutebs in Takum, Puje festival of the Jukuns in Wukari, Kati of the Mambilla folks in Sardauna, Nwunyo fishing festival in Ibi, Mantau and Nsense festivals of the Mumuye people in (Pantisawa) Yorro and Zing, Chrismas/New Year and Easter festivals among the Kaka people of Sardauna Local Government Area, and Sharo of the Fulanis in Ardo Kola local government areas.
Closely associated with these festivals are the traditional music and dances performed by the ever bubbling and cheerful people. Some of these dances include the Ichen dance of the people of Donga and Bali, Akishe and Goge dance steps in Wukari, Mazawaje dance in Kurmi, Lera dance in Donga, Bali and Takum, and Nyawala dance in Ardo-Kola local government areas of the state. These cultures also have their various hand-woven and dyed costumes which are worn during such festivals. All these are a manifestation of rich cultural heritage, which also showcases the huge tourism potential of the state.
The settlement pattern of Taraba State is predominantly rural in nature, due largely to its under-development condition, small ethnic groups and remote location. The 1999 projection placed the urban population at about 12 per cent, followed by the small towns and rural areas in ascending order.
The people of this great state are very hard working. They are occupied with various economic activities ranging from majorly agriculture, to other primary occupations such as wood carving, pottery, fishing, cloth-weaving, dying, mat-making, embroidery, and blacksmithing are carried out in various parts of the state – which among other activities form the cradle of the state’s rural economy – Although the civil service has claimed a bulk of the people who are now civil servants, thus rendering the state to a mere status of civil service state without significant economic activities.
Of the many crafts for which Taraba is known, pottery, waving, (mat and basket making), carving (calabash, mortars, etcetera), and knitting are among the most widely distributed. Pottery[ii] is widely practiced in some parts of the state, and because of the numerous uses for pot, the art of pottery has such a wide distribution. As a vehicle for cooking and storage, coupled with its great advantage of being cheaply produced, pots of many kinds can be found in most homes, particularly among Tarabans who live in the rural communities. This popularity of pots in the rural areas can be attributed to the fact that cooking pots can be used over wood fires, a common practice where there is neither electricity nor gas. Although the pottery industry has long been threatened by imported and locally-made pots, the industry can still be revamped by adding value to compete favourably in the global market even as more and more people would rather prefer handcrafted to machine-made goods. This innovation is imperative in the light of the current economic recession in the country.
King James Nkum is a Lawyer, Author/Researcher and Entrepreneur
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